Selena POV

The feigned charm vanished from his face, replaced by a contortion of sudden anger.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, dark velvet pouch. From it, he tipped a silver amulet onto his gloved palm.

It was the wolf charm Arthur had given me before he left for the war.

He threw it onto the stone floor and crushed it beneath his heavy boot.

"You have three days to accept my offer," he snarled.

He tried to use the Alpha's Command on me.

It was supposed to be an invisible weight that forced lower wolves to their knees.

But the pressure he projected was weak.

It felt like a gentle breeze against my hidden White Wolf blood.

"Or I will strip you of your rank and throw you to the Omegas," he finished.

I looked at the broken silver on the floor.

I felt absolutely nothing for this man.

The soul connection was completely dead.

"Do whatever you want," I said, walking past him. "I will ask my father to find me a real mate."

I left the castle and took my carriage to the edge of the territory.

The Moon Goddess Market was full of life.

I wanted to buy a paper moon lantern.

Arthur had promised to light one with me when he returned.

As I walked through the crowded stalls, I heard shouting.

Three castle guards were kicking a man in the dirt.

The man was a beggar, dressed in dirty rags.

His legs were bent at unnatural angles, and he was using his bleeding hands to shield a crushed paper moon lantern.

"Diana wants all the lanterns in the market!" a guard yelled. "Give it up, cripple!"

"Stop!" I commanded.

The guards froze, recognizing the Gamma's daughter.

They quickly bowed and ran away.

I knelt down in the dirt next to the beggar.

He slowly lifted his head and offered the crushed lantern to me.

Then, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted into my arms.