Chapter 1

On the day my father took the throne as the Alpha King, he threw my mother―the woman who had bled for him on the battlefield―into the silver cells.

Instead of honoring her, he made the daughter of the High Chancellor his Queen.

Even my husband, the Pack's Lead Enforcer, became engaged to a noblewoman.

I asked him why my father broke his sacred vow to my mother.

Alaric told me, "Zala, the King has just ascended. Your mother is the daughter of a rival pack. Him sparing her life is already an act of supreme mercy."

"Stay inside and be quiet. Do not let anyone see those cursed eyes of yours."

Yet, the night before we arrived at the capital, he had held me tight. He whispered that my eyes were the stars he steered his soul by.

My father had once sworn that my mother was the only woman he ever loved.

On the day of the Royal Wedding, the silver cells were consumed by a roaring fire.

The new King and the Lead Enforcer charged into the inferno, losing their sanity over two charred corpses.

1.

When the Royal Guards came to take my mother away, I stood in front of her, ready to die.

The captain of the guard looked at me with pure annoyance.

"Lady Zala, taking Lyra is the King's direct command. Do you plan to commit treason?"

"The King has already been generous by letting you walk free!"

I bit my lip, refusing to move an inch.

My mother, however, looked as calm as a still lake. She set down the wedding cloak she hadn't finished embroidering and stood up with grace.

"I will go with you," she said.

"Mom!"

I couldn't let her go. I gripped her sleeve, my knuckles white.

She reached out with her scarred hand and gently stroked my face. Then, she placed my hand into the grip of my husband, Alaric.

"Alaric, I won't be here to see Zala's children grow up."

"Since you took her as your wife, never forget the oath you made under the moons of the Great Plains."

Alaric held my hand and swore a blood oath to her. Only then did she leave, a look of grim satisfaction on her face.

"Mom!"

I watched her back disappear into the shadows and cried until the world went black.

For the next few days, I didn't eat or drink. I moved through the manor like a ghost.

Alaric eventually found time to see me.

He saw the cold, untouched food on the table and sighed deeply.

"What is the point of this? The King's word is law. Even if you starve yourself to death, his mind won't change."

"Behave. Eat something. Your body can't take much more of this."

Alaric looked at me with pity. I slammed the bowl out of his hand, my voice trembling with rage.

"He is my father! She is his mate! How could he―"

"Zala! Watch your mouth!" Alaric's face darkened. It was the first time he had ever truly snapped at me.

"He is the King of the North. Your mother was a common dancer from a rogue territory. How could he face his people if she sat on the throne?"

"She is only in the dungeon. He hasn't taken her life. Stop this childish tantrum."

Childish?

When my father was sent to the rival pack as a powerless hostage, it was my mother who saved him.

He had sworn a thousand times that she was the only woman he would ever love.

Now, he had traded her for a crown and a new Queen.

My chest ached. I looked down and noticed a new silk pouch hanging from Alaric's belt.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, nothing like the clumsy things I used to sew for him.

I remembered the rumors. The Lead Enforcer was set to marry a high-born lady.

"Is that what you think too?" I asked quietly.

Alaric didn't answer. He just stared into my eyes and spoke coldly.

"Stay inside the manor. Do not wander out."

"If people see those eyes of yours, even I won't be able to protect you."