Chapter 2

The next day was my twentieth birthday banquet.

According to Northern tradition, young wolves received the Moon Goddess's blessing on their first significant full moon after coming of age. My banquet was exceptionally grand, attended by almost every prominent family in the Silver Moon Pack.

Adrian and Chloe arrived fashionably late in the evening.

Chloe's cheeks were flushed, and Adrian's shirt collar was slightly undone, revealing obvious scratch marks on his neck.

Several wolves with sharp senses immediately picked up on the heavy, intimate scent clinging to them. A few exchanged knowing, suggestive smirks.

If this were my past life, I would have stormed over and demanded an explanation.

Now, I simply took a sip from my glass and looked away.

Adrian clearly noticed. At first, he protectively shielded Chloe behind him, bracing for my usual outburst. When I completely ignored them, a flicker of displeasure crossed his face.

"You're acting a bit more sensible today, Selena," he said, walking up to me.

When I didn't reply, he kept talking. "It seems you finally understand. A future Alpha can't possibly devote all his time and energy to just one woman."

He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket. "Happy birthday."

The moment he snapped it open, Chloe gasped. "Oh, it's gorgeous!"

Inside rested a stunning moonstone bracelet. She reached out, her fingers lingering on the gems. "Is this the limited edition from that werewolf designer in LA? I heard only twelve were ever made."

Adrian looked down at her. "You like it?"

Chloe quickly shook her head, her eyes wide and innocent. "It's a gift for my sister. How could I possibly take it?"

She said the words, but her fingers didn't move away from the bracelet.

Adrian simply took it out of the box and clasped it around her wrist. "Then it's yours."

Chloe looked at me, biting her lip. "Sister won't be mad, will she?"

"Of course not," I said flatly. "Keep it. I don't do hand-me-downs."

Adrian's face darkened. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

The chatter around us suddenly died down.

He stared at me as if seeing me for the first time, then sneered. "Drop the act. You used to be desperate for anything that belonged to me."

His words dragged up a memory from when I was fifteen. I had lost control and shifted for the first time during a torrential downpour. When I shifted back to human form, I was completely drenched. Adrian had casually tossed me his jacket, and I had treasured it like a sacred relic for years.

Later, when he caught me burying my face in it to breathe in his scent, he humiliated me in front of everyone. Have you no shame?

I turned to walk away, but Adrian suddenly snatched my wrist.

Werewolves possessed terrifying natural strength. A sharp pain shot through my bones.

"What, dropping the 'hard to get' act already?" he hissed, lowering his voice. "I knew you weren't actually that generous."

I yanked my arm out of his grip. "Adrian, watch yourself."

He looked at me like I'd just told a joke. "Watch myself? Aren't we about to form a mating bond? You're going to have to accept my mating mark soon, and you're telling me to watch myself?"

I met his gaze dead-on. "I'm not mating with you, Adrian."

The entire hall fell dead silent.

A second later, a few people snickered.

Adrian laughed, too. "You're not choosing me? Then who?"

He swept his gaze over his brothers. "The eldest already has a mate. The second has his own territory. You've never even looked twice at the fourth or fifth."

He paused deliberately, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Or what, are you going to choose the sixth?"

Low chuckles rippled through the crowd.

"Lucian? The cripple?"

"I heard his wolf spirit is practically dead."

Three years ago, Lucian was ambushed by Rogue wolves at the Northern border. In that battle, he took a silver blade to the abdomen to protect a dozen pups, and was poisoned with a massive dose of wolfsbane. He survived, but the severe lingering effects meant he spent most of his time in a wheelchair.

For a werewolf, being unable to shift was tantamount to being crippled. Competing for the Alpha position was out of the question.

Adrian leaned in, mocking me. "Selena, what, you're gonna spend your life pushing a useless runt around in a wheelchair?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the laughter behind him abruptly ceased.

I turned around. Lucian was sitting in his wheelchair.

The Beta, Marcus, had pushed him to the entrance of the hall.

I opened my mouth, almost blurting out right then and there: Yes, he's exactly who I'm choosing.

But I remembered Edmund's strict instructions from the night before.

"Selena, if you choose Lucian, I will respect your decision. But keep it quiet for now. My successor concerns the entire Silver Moon Pack. I need to handle the Council of Elders first."

So I bit my tongue. Lucian looked at me quietly.

I didn't know if it was my imagination, but his eyes seemed a shade darker than usual.

On the car ride home, Chloe kept flashing the moonstone bracelet on her wrist.

"Sister, even if you really choose Adrian tomorrow, a political bond won't make him yours."

In my past life, I had walked in on her lying in Adrian's arms. He had shielded her fiercely, looking at me like I was the villain intruding on their epic love story.

This time, I was going to let them have each other.

I smiled. "You're absolutely right. Have fun with him."

She stared at me for a long time before letting out a cold scoff. "You don't have to pretend, Sister. The one Adrian truly loves has always been me."

I nodded. "I certainly hope so."