Chapter 1 The Alpha in Disguise

Selene’s POV

My name is Selene Nightshade. I’m twenty years old, and I am the Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack. Yes, you heard right—an Alpha. One of the rare female Alphas on the entire continent.

Once, the Bloodfang Pack was among the most influential of all. But after my birth, my grandfather chose seclusion, withdrawing us into Firstband, the icy northern lands that most wolves whispered about but never visited. He said Firstband was sacred, the birthplace of our first werewolf king. To him, it was our true homeland.

Life in Firstband was quiet. Isolated. The outside world soon forgot the power of the Bloodfang Pack, and no one beyond our borders knew that Alaric Nightshade had passed the Alpha title to me.

My parents were long gone—slain in the territorial wars between greedy packs. Their deaths carved a vow into my soul: I would protect the Bloodfang Pack, even if it cost me everything. The Moon Goddess gifted me a strong, agile body. By six years old, I was training. By sixteen, I had mastered my wolf, Frieda, a fierce creature of silver fur and burning eyes. My grandfather finally stepped aside, placing the mantle of Alpha on my shoulders.

It should have been simple. My duty was to lead my pack from Firstband. Instead, I now stood at Epicmon train station with a suitcase in hand, on my way to meet the Frostbanes.

It still felt surreal. Me, Selene Nightshade, Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack… forced into an arranged marriage.

Grandfather had pleaded with me. “Three months, Sel. Just three months. Endure it, and then we can cancel the marriage.”

I’d argued, “Grandpa, I’m the first female Alpha. The pack respects me. Who would dare challenge me?”

He only sighed. His once-iron body was weakening after relinquishing his Alpha powers. My parents’ deaths haunted him still. He feared for my future. “I won’t live forever, child. The elders will look for any excuse to tear you down. I arranged this alliance with the Moonveil Pack long ago, to keep you safe.”

I had finally agreed, not for myself, but for him. If three months of marriage eased his heart, I could endure it.

As the train hissed to a halt, I stepped onto the platform, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, my curly hair tied back with a plain band. My Alpha aura was buried deep; I masked myself as an Omega. To strangers, I was nothing special.

But no disguise could hide beauty forever. I caught people staring as I crossed the platform.

“Ms. Nightshade?” A man in a driver’s uniform stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Welcome to Epicmon. I’ve been sent by the Moonveil Pack.”

Only a driver. No Alpha. No Beta. Not even a warrior. I gave a curt nod. Clearly, they didn’t value their so-called “future Luna.” Perfect. The less attention I drew, the better.

Inside the car, I closed my eyes, ignoring the driver’s curious glances in the mirror. He probably saw me as some country bumpkin, desperate to marry into wealth. He had no idea the Bloodfang Pack still commanded respect, or that I—his passenger—was an Alpha.

As Firstband’s forests faded, my phone buzzed. A message from Grandfather. Just one word: Okay.

Soon, the car slowed before an imposing black-stone manor—the Frostbane estate. Its size was impressive, but its aura was cold, the kind built on wealth and arrogance rather than honor.

The driver hurried to carry my bag. I barely stepped onto the front steps before a sharp voice stopped me.

“Hold it right there.”

A woman stood in the doorway, elegant but severe, with calculating eyes. At her side, a housekeeper clutched a spray bottle.

The driver bowed. “Mrs. Frostbane, this is—”

“Aubree,” the woman snapped.

“Yes, Mrs. Frostbane.” The housekeeper stepped forward and began spraying me with disinfectant—my arms, my clothes, even my hair.

The chemical sting filled my nose. I shielded my face, glaring.

“Don’t forget her shoes,” Mrs. Frostbane ordered coldly. “Everything must be sanitized. We can’t risk her carrying wolfsbane.”

So this was Elena Frostbane, Lucian’s mother. My supposed future mother-in-law.

I clenched my jaw, biting back Frieda’s growl. If I revealed my Alpha aura now, she’d faint on the spot. Instead, I let my lips curl into a cold smile. “Maybe you should spray your mouth too,” I said, brushing past her. “It stinks.”

Gasps erupted behind me. Elena sputtered, “You—”

“Mrs. Frostbane, please, don’t let her upset you,” Aubree whispered frantically, trying to soothe her.

I didn’t stop. The manor’s marble floor echoed under my steps.

But before I could climb the staircase, someone blocked my way.

A girl about my age stood there, draped in designer silk, every inch of her polished to perfection. Her lips curved into a cruel smirk.

“So, you’re Selene from Firstband,” she said. “The country girl Grandpa picked as Lucian’s Luna.” Her eyes raked over my jeans and T-shirt with disdain. “How could someone like you be an Omega? Tsk. Grandpa really has poor taste. I heard you came here on a train. If I’d known, I would have bought you a plane ticket. Oh wait—Firstband doesn’t even have an airport, does it?”

Her laugh was like nails on glass.

I recognized her instantly—Quin Frostbane, Lucian’s cousin. Spoiled, shallow, and arrogant.

I stared at her flatly. Do they really think I’m some helpless farm girl?

What they didn’t know: I owned three private jets. The only reason I boarded a train was because Grandfather rented the entire thing for me. I’d even let Frieda run wild through the empty carriages. But to Quin, I was a joke.

Not worth my time.

I strode past her without a word, suitcase in hand.

“Wait!” she snapped, rushing after me. “Where’s your room?”

Before a servant could answer, she flung open a door. “Here. You’ve never stayed in such luxury, have you? You’d better cherish it. And remember—I’m Lucian’s cousin. You’d better be nice to me. Who knows, maybe—”

I stepped inside and slammed the door shut, hard. The bang rattled the walls.

Silence. Then muffled outrage: “Ah! How dare that Firstband bumpkin slam a door on me! I’ll make sure Lucian rejects her the moment he sees her. Just wait—she won’t last three months in this house!”

I leaned against the door, suppressing a laugh.

Do you think you can break me?

Frieda stirred inside me, her voice a whisper of steel. She’s a Beta, a lowly Beta. One swipe, and she’d never stand again.

I smiled to myself in the darkened room. Let them look down on me. Let them

laugh.

The more they underestimated me, the sweeter it would be when the masks came off.