Chapter 1

I grew up training in seclusion, intentionally sealing my royal aura to experience life as a regular werewolf. My family arranged a marriage for me a long time ago, and my fiancé is Derrick, the Alpha of a local pack. Today, I visit a high-end witch boutique to pick out an exclusive dress for my Mating Ball. I immediately spot a one-of-a-kind enchanted moonstone gown. Just as I reach out to take it.

A woman standing nearby shoots me a sideways glance and announces loudly to the people around her, "This dress looks pretty good. I'm taking it."

Before she even finishes her sentence, she steps forward and snatches the gown right out of my reach.

My face darkens, and I speak up to stop her. "First come, first served. I saw this dress first. Snatching it like that is way out of line."

She scoffs, looking me up and down with pure disgust. "This enchanted gown costs a fortune. Look at what you're wearing. Do you really think you're worthy of even touching it? I'm Selene, Alpha Derrick's mate. In this territory, Derrick is the law!"

How ironic. Derrick is the exact same fiancé my family arranged for me.

...

I immediately grip my phone, dial his number, and speak in an icy tone. "Your little girlfriend just snatched my dress in public and insulted me. How do you plan on fixing this?"

The line connects, and I hear the unmistakable sound of a woman's sweet moans and skin rubbing against fabric.

I clutch my phone tighter. "Derrick, who is with you?"

"None of your business. Do I even know you?" Derrick's tone is arrogant and impatient.

"Didn't your father tell you about your engagement? I'm your fiancée."

Derrick lets out a harsh laugh. "Fiancée? You're just a piece of bottom-tier trash my dad tried to force on me. I didn't even save your number. Stop dreaming and get lost!"

The call disconnects.

My nails dig deep into my palms. The pride of a pureblood Lycan royal surges through me, making it nearly impossible to suppress my destructive urges.

I sealed away my royal scent just to see how ordinary werewolves live, only to find out my so-called fiancé is total garbage.

"Oh, so you're the shameless bitch clinging to Derrick?"

A shrill female voice comes from behind, followed by a wave of cheap, overpowering perfume.

I turn around. Selene leans against a clothing rack with her arms crossed, eyeing me up and down.

She uses a manicured finger to flick my collar in disgust. "What kind of cheap rag is this? Did you dig it out of a dumpster? You don't even have a proper pack scent. Since when do filthy rogues get to shop at a high-end witch boutique?"

"Get your dirty hands off me." I slap her hand away without hesitation.

Selene sneers and raises her voice on purpose. "Ladies, come look at this! This broke loser is trying to act all high and mighty. Her entire outfit probably costs less than thirty bucks!"

A few wealthy women nearby gather around, covering their mouths as they let out grating laughs.

"Oh my god, look at her shoes. They're literally falling apart."

"She has a pretty face, but it's a shame she's dead broke. Alpha Derrick is the most powerful leader in this territory. Why would he ever look twice at a rogue?"

Selene smugly lifts my chin with her index finger. "You're not even all that. Take my advice, country bumpkin. Get the hell out of here while you still can."

"Are you done?" I stare at her. "Move out of my way."

I ignore the idiot and turn back to grab the moonstone gown. It is a magical, one-of-a-kind piece crafted only once a year in the werewolf world. The skirt flows like liquid moonlight, making it the perfect dress for my Mating Ball tonight.

But before my fingers even graze the hanger, Selene lunges forward and forcefully yanks the dress into her arms.

"Do you really think trash like you gets to touch this? Do you have any idea how much it costs? A rogue like you could work a lifetime and still not afford it!"

"Bag it up for me! Alpha Derrick is paying!"

My eyes turn ice-cold. I hold out my hand. "I claimed it first. Give it back."

Smack! Selene slaps the back of my hand hard. "You can't even afford to touch it! Back off before you get my dress dirty!"

She intentionally spins around with the dress right in front of my face. "Pretty, isn't it? Too bad you'll never get to wear it!"

"I am going to tell you one last time." I take a deep breath. "Hand it over."

Selene ignores my warning completely. She turns around and slams the dress onto the checkout counter. "Ring it up! Put it on Derrick's account!"

I stride over and grab the other end of the gown.

"You crazy bitch! You think you can steal my things?" Selene shrieks. She grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks backward with all her might.

The force throws me off balance. I stumble backward and slam hard into a marble pillar.

"I'm sick of looking at your face!" Selene claws wildly at my cheek.

A burning pain flares up as her nails gouge three deep, bloody scratches into my right cheek.

The metallic scent of blood instantly ignites my fury. I grab her by the collar, pull her close, and deliver a vicious backhand across her face.

Smack!

The sharp sound of the slap echoes through the entire store. Selene spins half a circle from the impact, her eyes wide with absolute disbelief.

"You... you filthy rogue! You actually hit me?!"

"Touch me one more time," I say, wiping the blood from my cheek, "and I will rip your fangs out of your skull."

Selene shakes with rage. She pulls out her phone and screams into it. "Derrick! Get over here right now! Some bitch just assaulted me in the store! And she's trying to steal my Mating Ball dress!"

She hangs up and points a trembling finger right at my nose, screaming like a maniac. "You are completely dead! Derrick is on his way. I'm going to make you drop to your knees and lick my shoes clean!"

The rich women around us back away, watching me with gloating smiles.

"This rogue is done for. Alpha Derrick is super protective of his own."

"Last time some idiot crossed Selene, her whole family got their legs broken and were thrown out of the territory. They're probably beast food by now!"

Selene crosses her legs and sits down on a leather sofa.

I stand my ground, clenching my fists. Fine. I want to see exactly what a lowly local Alpha thinks he can do.

Bang!

The shop door is kicked open. A towering man in a tailored suit strides in. His face is twisted with aggression, his eyes full of pure arrogance.

He scans the room and locks his gaze on me. "Are you the stray mutt causing trouble?"

The moment the words leave his mouth, a terrifying wave of Alpha Command slams into me.

It is the absolute suppression of bloodline. Under this kind of power, a low-ranking werewolf's bones would instantly turn to jelly, their instincts forcing them onto their knees in submission. My knees buckle slightly, my joints popping under the immense pressure.

But I bite down hard on my jaw and force myself to stay standing.

I am Lycan royalty. The Command of a low-level Alpha could never make me yield. Still, my sealed body screams in tearing agony.

Derrick frowns, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. He clearly didn't expect a rogue to withstand his pressure.

He marches right up to me. "Did you put your hands on my woman?"

Selene immediately throws herself into Derrick's arms, crying fake tears. "Derrick, she hit me! Look at my face, she ruined it! And she tried to steal my moonstone dress!"

Derrick looks at her swollen cheek, and his eyes darken into something deadly. He turns back to me, his voice dripping with a lethal threat. "Do you have any idea what happens to people who touch what's mine in my territory?"

I stand up perfectly straight. "She started it."

Smack!

Derrick doesn't even listen. He raises his hand and delivers a brutally vicious slap across my face.

The force throws my entire body through the air, and I crash heavily onto the floor.

"I hit you because I wanted to. Do I need a reason?" Derrick sneers.

Selene peeks out from his embrace. Seeing me bruised on the floor, her eyes gleam with sick excitement. "Look at her, Derrick! She's still glaring at you! She hasn't learned her lesson at all!"

Derrick's gaze hardens. He cranks his Alpha Command up to its absolute max.

Thud. My sealed body finally gives out under the crushing weight. My knees slam violently against the hard floor.

Selene walks over and crouches in front of me. She digs her sharp nails directly into the open scratches on my cheek and twists.

I hiss, sucking in a sharp breath from the pain.

"How does it feel down there on your knees? Huh? Weren't you acting all tough a minute ago?" Selene's face twists with an ugly grin. "A broke loser like you actually thought you could fight me for a dress?"

She stands up abruptly. Without mercy, she stomps her sharp stiletto heel right onto the back of my hand and grinds it in.

"Ah!" The agonizing pain of my finger bones nearly snapping forces a scream out of my throat.

Selene bursts into laughter. "Scream! Scream louder! Let everyone see what happens to a stray dog!"

She turns and pouts at Derrick. "Babe, this bitch has thick skin. Use your silver whip on her, please?"

Derrick gives her an indulgent smirk. He pulls a silver whip from his waist. The metal gleams with a cold, deadly light.

Silver. The ultimate, lethal weakness of any ordinary werewolf.

I lift my bloodstained face and lock eyes with him. "You are going to pay a thousand times over for what you're doing today."

"Pay? To a packless stray like you?" Derrick laughs maniacally. His eyes turn ruthless as he raises the silver whip high and brings it lashing down onto my back.

Fabric tears. The silver whip bites deep into my flesh.

"Ahhh!" I collapse onto the ground, letting out a soul-tearing scream.

Blood instantly soaks through the back of my shirt, dripping down to form a dark puddle on the floor.

Crack! A second strike hits my shoulder, slicing my skin wide open.

Crack! The third strike lands. The pain is so blinding I can't even make a sound. I just lay there, convulsing helplessly on the floor.

"Boring. She can't even take a hit." Derrick hands the whip to Selene. "Wanna let out some frustration?"

Selene takes the silver whip. She walks over and grabs me by the hair.

"I've been wanting to ruin this pretty little face of yours for a while!"

Before I can even react, she raises the whip and brings it slashing down right at my face.

"No!"

Crack!

The silver whip lashes diagonally from the corner of my left eye, cutting across my nose and right cheek. My skin splits open instantly.

"My face!" I cry out in pure agony, my entire body shaking like a leaf.

Selene looks at my ruined, bloody face and laughs in absolute satisfaction. "Let's see you try to seduce men with that! But you know what? That's still not enough."

She stomps her foot heavily onto the bone-deep wound on my back, grinding her heel into the raw flesh.

"Bark like a dog. Three times."

"Make it sound good, and I'll let you go. If you don't, I'll whip the other side of your face off too!"

Her heel twists violently inside my wound. My pain receptors completely shatter.

I lie there in a pool of my own blood, gasping for air.

Blood drips onto the floor.

I slowly open my mouth. My voice is weak, but entirely clear. "Woof... woof... woof..."

Fine. I'll bark.

I will trade these three barks for the lives of your entire pack. I will trade them for your agonizing screams.

The crowd erupts into roaring laughter. Selene laughs so hard she actually wipes away a tear. "Good girl! Look, Derrick, she really sounds like a purebred bitch!"

Right at that moment, my phone starts to ring.

Selene snatches my bag and pulls out the phone. The word "Mother" flashes on the screen.

"Oh, the stray's mommy is calling?" She smugly taps the speaker button. "Perfect. Let's let her hear her daughter barking like a dog!"

The call connects. My mother's gentle, elegant voice fills the sudden silence of the boutique. "Sweetheart, did you get your dress for the Mating Ball? You can't be late for the royal banquet tonight."

I summon every last ounce of strength I have left and scream desperately at the phone. "Mom! Help me!"

Selene kicks me square in the mouth. My teeth instantly cut through my lip.

"Shut up!" Selene yells aggressively into the phone. "Listen here, old lady! Your daughter pissed me off. I whipped her face to a pulp and made her bark like a dog! Why don't you come over here and bow down to me too?"

Dead silence falls over the other end of the line.

Three full seconds pass. When my mother speaks again, her voice has completely changed.

"Who are you? What did you do to my daughter?"

Selene bursts out laughing. "I'm your worst nightmare! Your daughter is on the floor wagging her tail at my feet. Are you happy now?"

The voice on the phone becomes chillingly calm. "Stay exactly where you are. When I get there, I will show you what crossing the wrong person actually means."

The call drops.

Selene scoffs and throws the phone hard against my head. "Acting all tough! When your broke mommy gets here, I'll whip her too!"

I lie in the pool of blood, my ruined cheek pressed against the freezing ground. Slowly, inch by inch, a psychotic smile creeps onto my lips.

Mother is coming.

And that means my fiercely overprotective father—the Lycan King who holds absolute power over the life and death of the entire werewolf world—is coming too.

Get ready to kneel, you pieces of trash.

Your execution day is here.