ELIANA
The guards approached me.
"Look,” someone raised their voice. "She tried to trick an Alpha family and got caught. The Lycan King must know what she did. He sent his royal guards to protect our pack's name and get rid of the imposter!"
A woman agreed, glaring at me. "She kept the truth hidden. Let Chloe suffer. The Lycan King definitely will punish her for being greedy."
Rodrick stepped forward, hitting his cane on the floor. "There's no doubt about it. You must have tried to hurt Chloe. Why else would the Lycan King send his guards here?"
The lead guard stepped forward, intending to defend me, yet I caught his gaze, commanding him in silence to stay back.
I needed to handle this on my own. I held back… Until I officially remove my name from the RedFang Pack’s register. They wouldn't cut ties with me if they found out my true identity.
My sharp gaze shifted to Rodrick. "Whether I tried to hurt Chloe is not for you to decide. You're no longer an Alpha. And as per pack rules, every crime should be discussed in the Wolves' court. So… Let the Head Elder decide."
The crowd started whispering.
“She wasn't like this. What happened to her?
“Did Alpha Jaxon's rejection get into her head? She's acting insane.”
“I never expected her to shut up Rodrick Aylestone.”
Jaxon barged into my personal space and grabbed my wrist. "You're going to the dungeon and you'll never get out."
He should consider himself lucky that I ordered the guards to hold back. One order from me, and they rip him off into pieces.
"We'll see about that." An unbothered smile glinted on my lips as I shoved him back, pulling my wrist from his tight grip.
“Have you gone insane!? The royal guards don't know any mercy, Eliana. They won't give you the princess treatment.”
He sighed. “Let's do one thing. If you apologize to Chloe for hurting her, I'll forget everything and take you as my personal maid. Our family will also convince the Lycan King to forgive your crimes.”
I laughed at his face. “What? A maid?”
Jaxon widened his eyes.
"Where did you get the confidence? You're not even an Alpha yet.” An exhausting breath slipped free of my lips. “I just rejected you as my mate in front of the whole pack, Jaxon King. I would rather die than serve you.”
Suddenly, Jaxon pushed out his claws, digging them into the skin of his palm. “Don't make this difficult for us! Just apologize to Chloe and save your neck. I'm asking you one last time.”
He just met his true mate and was already taking her side. Pathetic!
My wolf growled inside me in defence. “I'm not apologizing, Jaxon King. You're not even an Alpha yet… How dare you order me?”
Jaxon’s amber eyes burned red as he raised his hand. But the lead guard stepped in front of me, taking the slap across his broad back.
The crowd froze.
A flicker of fear replaced the glow in Jaxon's eyes. Slapping a royal guard? He knew what that meant. Death.
"Thank you. Please step aside," I whispered to the guard. He slowly blinked with respect and cleared the way to Jaxon's face.
“Next time you try to raise your hand at me, I'll make sure it reaches back at you.”
“Eliana…” He clenched his jaws tightly, charging a step towards me but the lead guard blocked him, stretching his masculine arm across me. His giant wolf towered upon him, sending a wave of shock to the crowd. “Jaxon King, do not cross the line when we're here.”
He swallowed his rage.
“Take her away.” Marcus straightened his shoulders. “Please bring her back to the Wolves' council in two days. We'll officially remove her from the RedFang Pack's register. She's a stain to our family name.”
“I'll be waiting.” My lips curled into a smirk, snatching off the calm from Marcus's face.
I turned my back on them and walked out with the guards. I vowed to myself that I would make them pay for what they did to me.
***
When we reached the Royal Pack, I witnessed the grand packhouse that every pack claimed to be a giant castle. It was indeed like a fortress, powerful, and surrounded by trees.
The grand gates opened as I walked in.
Benjamin Caster, my father and the Alpha King, stood waiting for me. Clad in a tailored black suit, he exuded an intimidating aura of power and authority. Yet the moment his eyes met mine, the sternness in his expression faltered, giving way to a sorrow so profound it seemed to weigh heavily upon him.
"Eliana you are back.” He came closer.
I felt smaller in front of his aura. His green eyes were a mirror image of my own. I lowered my head for a bow, yet he pulled me into his arms, soft and gentle.
Then a woman’s voice broke through the silence. “My girl,” she cried.
It was my mother, Ivy Caster, the Lycan Queen, rushing down the grand staircase. The moment she reached me, tears rolled down her eyes. “We thought we lost you forever.” She placed a soft kiss against my forehead.
My uncle and aunt stood nearby, smiling warmly at me. My little cousin rushed forward and wrapped me in a tight hug. They welcomed me with open arms, and for the first time in forever, I felt truly wanted.
Mother held my hand, "Let's get you to your room, you must be tired."
I quietly followed her upstairs.
The room was twice the size of the bedroom I had in the RedFang Pack.
“Do you like the room?”
“Yes, it's beautiful.”
She made me sit on the bed. “The pack has been waiting for a long time. Now that you're back, you'll soon inherit the throne. Your father has already made the arrangements.”
“Throne? Me?”
“Of course, you're his only daughter. If not you, who will rule the Royal Pack?”
“I-I don't know. I'll be the first female Alpha. Will our pack accept me?”
She gently rubbed my upper back. “That's why your father has decided to send you to the prestigious Claws Academy.”
“What?” I was taken aback.
The Claws Academy stood deep within a forest of towering pine trees, far away from every pack. Wolves entered the academy after turning eighteen to earn their stars, marks of strength, skill, and leadership. Only those who earned the Golden Star were considered worthy of the throne, and their authority could never be questioned.
Girls attended the academy to gain high status within their packs and secure an Alpha mate. But I was going to become the first female Alpha myself.
“Your grandpa earned the golden star. Your father earned the golden star. I'm sure you'll walk in their footsteps.”
“I won't disappoint you, Mother.”
We talked for hours until I fell asleep.
The next morning, I went downstairs, wearing the same dress as last night, only to find Mother waiting for me. "Eliana, you didn't bring any clothes. And you're so thin…” A dangerous, golden glow perked up her eyes. “Did the Aylestone family not treat you well?”
For a second, I was speechless. The aura she had was more powerful than any other Luna.
“Mother. We'll talk about them later. Calm down, okay?”
She exhaled a breath. “That's fine. But your wolf shouldn't be affected. A white wolf is the legacy of our family, Eliana.”
My stomach twisted.
Everyone mocked me for having a brown mutt. My wolf wasn't fully awakened yet. What if they kick me out?
Mother gently placed her hand on my shoulder. “Tell me… You have your white wolf, right?”
