Chapter 1

My fiancé and best friend drugged me with banned hallucinogens, planning to send me to Alpha Alaric of the Sunridge Pack in exchange for development rights to the entire Red Pine Forest.

They stood outside the door, laughing arrogantly:

"An orphan with no parents—she should be grateful Alpha Alaric even looked at her!"

"Once we get the development rights, we'll get married and let her spend her life as Alpha Alaric's plaything!"

What they didn't know: the Alpha Alaric they were desperately trying to please is my father.

I'm the precious daughter he's been searching for these past three years.

Tonight, they personally delivered their prey into the wolf king's den.

Tomorrow, every werewolf in North America will know the price of crossing me, Lyra Voss.

0The drug spread through my bloodstream to every limb, making my bones ache. Even my ability to shift was completely suppressed.

I forced my eyes open, my vision landing on the silver moon and white wolf emblem carved into the headboard.

Outside the door, my fiancé Caleb's voice dripped with greed:

"Lila, is the information reliable? Will Alpha Alaric really come to this suite tonight?"

My omega best friend Lila's voice was syrupy sweet with excitement:

"I paid five thousand dollars for insider information—he'll be here at eleven sharp. Think about it: his mate died years ago, and he's remained faithful to her memory ever since. If he opens the door to find a woman who resembles his late wife..."

She laughed coldly. "Why would he refuse meat delivered to his mouth? Once he's pleased, those development rights for the northern Red Pine Forest will be ours!"

Listening to their scheming whispers outside, I bit down hard on my tongue, barely suppressing the waves of dizziness.

I'd spent three months developing proposals for Caleb's failing pack project.

I'd treated Lila as my only friend, even lending her the silver jewelry my mother left me.

In return, they had sex in my rented apartment.

And now they were using me as a bargaining chip, pricing me out to another Alpha's bed.

My stomach cramped. My nails dug deep into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ice spreading through my heart.

But they didn't know—Alaric Voss is my father.

His dead "white moonlight" was my mother.

Three years ago, I mistakenly believed my mother's death was connected to his affairs. In rage, I ran away from home and cut all contact.

He never forced me to come back these three years, but someone kept secretly depositing money into my account.

Even the apartment I rented belonged to Sunridge Pack.

Caleb and Lila thought I was just an ordinary werewolf orphan living off a meager inheritance. That's why they dared to be so reckless.

But they forgot—Alaric Voss is famously protective.

Years ago, when some noble family's son publicly mocked me for having impure bloodlines, he was expelled from his pack the next day. His entire family ended up at the border.

If Alaric sees his precious daughter drugged, stripped naked, and delivered to his bed as a gift by these scumbags...

I could already envision their fate—unable to live, unable to die.

"Oh!" Lila deliberately raised her voice. "Once we secure the forest project, we should finally have our wedding. Let's get those silver wolf rings Lyra wanted but couldn't afford as our wedding bands."

Caleb laughed indulgently. "Sure, we'll use the money from selling her to buy you the best."

I stared at the silver moon carving on the headboard, my eyes cold as ice.

The information was correct—my father would come tonight.

Because today was his wedding anniversary with my mother.

My mother died in this very hotel suite. Every year on this day, he spent the entire night here alone.

Every year, ambitious packs sent women to his room. But this year's "gift" was especially absurd.

The next second, the door burst open.

Caleb strode over, grabbed my hair, and yanked me up from the couch.

My scalp screamed with tearing pain.

"Lyra, don't blame me. Blame yourself for having no background, no pack. You deserve to be a stepping stone. Even if you're tortured to death tonight, you'd better keep Alpha Alaric happy!"

No background? No pack?

I looked at his smug face and smiled faintly.

"Caleb, you'd better pray that after tonight, you can die with some dignity."

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