Rhys stood at the sides, his knuckles white with tension as he watched Lyra ’s audacious behavior unfolds before him.

He was itching to leap forward and yank her out of the hall, but risking the Alpha King’s fury was a whole other story.

“What was going through her mind?” he muttered as he desperately tried to figure out how to put an end to her impulsive antics and make her see reason about becoming the Luna of the Alpha King.

“Dad,” Rhys reached out through their mind link, looking at Alpha Aiden who stood alongside Luna Viola by one of the hall’s pillars.

“Do something–”

But before he could finish his plea, the Alpha King’s voice cut through the heavy silence that hung in the air after Lyra ’s bold declaration.

“Very well,” Kian’s voice boomed, causing a collective gasp to echo through the room.

Lyra stood there, frozen in disbelief.

Had he really agreed so readily?

She had always prided herself on being bold and daring, especially when she volunteered to be his Luna, but she never imagined it would be this simple.

It was as if the universe had decided to cut her some slack for once.

“Are you really going to do this?” David, his loyal beta, questioned with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

He pushed his glasses up with a finger, his eyes moving from Lyra to Kian.

They had been inseparable since childhood, practically growing up as brothers due to their fathers’ close friendship.

David knew Kian like the back of his hand, so this decision to accept a she-wolf with an unknown background was definitely a curveball.

“What’s the harm? She’s got the right spirit, and let’s face it, nobody else in here is bold enough to step up to be my mate and Luna,”

Kian replied with a smirk that sent shivers down the spines of the unmated she-wolves.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” Alpha Aiden interjected, breaking the tension in the room.

He stepped forward, standing beside Lyra.

“I apologize for my pack member’s impulsive decision. While my mate and I raised her after taking her in, Lyra ’s background remains a mystery. Her bloodline is unknown, and she lacks experience in this role. It may not be wise to crown her as Queen Luna without considering these important factors.”

The guests nodded in agreement with AlphaA Aiden’s words.

Despite the King’s eagerness to choose a mate and Luna, they understood the importance of bloodline and experience in such a significant role.

After all, the Queen would not only lead the royal pack alongside the King but also the entire land of Verdentia.

“Did I ask for your opinion? Did I permit you to speak?” Kian’s tone turned icier than it already was, his Alpha aura was intense, filling the air with tension. Lyra swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his authority.

Even the proud leader of Incarnadine couldn’t help but bow in submission to the undeniable power of the Alpha of Alphas.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty,” Alpha Aiden murmured, bowing his head with utmost respect.

On the sidelines, Luna Viola’s fist clenched tightly, her gaze shooting daggers at Lyra for the embarrassment she was causing their pack leader.

Ignoring the tension brewing around her, Lyra focused on trying to calm her jittery nerves as the atmosphere inside the palace grew increasingly stifling.

“Was she not recently deemed the future Luna of your esteemed pack? Surely, you and your mate didn’t neglect your duty in teaching her the weighty responsibilities that come with such important position within one of the most formidable packs in the nation.” Kian’s question lingered in the air, causing Alpha Aiden and Luna Viola to flinch.

Even Rhys, whose fists were already clenched so tightly they were turning white, felt himself trembling under the King’s imposing presence.

It came as no surprise that Kian was aware of what was happening within their pack, after all, Incarnadine was part of the prestigious ten high-ranking packs of Verdentia.

“Well, I do understand your concerns, so I will test her before entrusting her with the role,” Kian added, prompting Lyra to glance at him, their eyes meeting briefly.

She saw him quickly look away, as though trying to hide the emotions that his gaze held.

“In one week’s time, I will take her to Ardan Woods.” Gasps filled the room at the mere mention of Ardan Woods, the notorious forest teeming with rogues.

It was a place no one dared to enter except for the bravest members of strong packs or particularly powerful warriors.

A treacherous area where the most ferocious, untamed wolves roamed freely.

Lyra felt her heart quicken its pace, her palms becoming clammy, and her face draining of color.

Ardan Woods was where Alpha Aiden had saved her twelve years ago, a place that haunted her past and present, a memory she could never forget.

She swallowed hard as she locked eyes with the Alpha King again, his presence growing more overwhelming with each passing moment.

Her eyes then widened as she noticed his calm demeanor, his face betraying no emotion as he continued to speak.

“If she managed to make it out alive after staying there for three hours, I will make her my Luna, and if not, then at least she’d die an honorable death. After all, she was bold enough to volunteer for this year’s Luna selection.”

As the words echoed in the room, Lyra couldn’t help but shudder.

It was a memory etched in her mind, like a painting she couldn’t erase.

She recalled the day vividly, the day she had sprinted through the dangers of Ardan’s wilderness to escape the clutches of ruthless warriors.

She was so focused on running that she didn’t notice the death coming her way; the rogues had lunged at her with their sharp fangs and claws, threatening to tear her apart.

Not only that but she also witnessed how warrior’s was killed in front of her very eyes.

She was just a ten-year-old with a small body back then, fighting for her life.

If not for the timely arrival of Alpha Aiden, she might not have lived to tell the tale.

The chilling memory haunted her, lurking in the depths of her subconscious.

And now, as Kian rose to his feet, his presence sending ripples of fear through the banquet hall, Lyra felt her heart race.

His every movement seemed to strike fear into the hearts of those around him, a silent threat lingering in the air.

“Well then… Enjoy the rest of the banquet.” Kian announced nonchalantly, his eyes locked onto Lyra .

She swallowed hard, meeting his intense stare once again. “And you, come with me.”

With a forceful declaration that made Lyra ’s heart race, she found herself following the

Alpha King up the stairs without hesitation. Each step felt heavier than the last as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her legs.

Glancing back, she saw Rhys and Anya watching her with expressions of disbelief as though she had suddenly sprouted an extra head.

Yet, they remained silent, knowing that there was nothing they could do to stop her.

Anya clenched her fist, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Her plan to frame Lyra for Alpha Aldous’ death was now a lost cause.

“What’s wrong? Keep moving,” David’s commanding voice snapped Lyra out of her thoughts, urging her to continue her steps up the grand staircase.

As they reached the door from which the Alpha King had emerged earlier, Lyra was met with a breathtaking sight.

The hallway was lined with paintings of Verdentia’s ancient heroes and beautiful flower decorations, the sight somehow soothing her turbulent emotions. Just as she began to relax in the beauty of the hall, Kian’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“You,” he commanded, halting in his tracks along with the royal guards behind her and the beta standing beside him.

“Remind me, what was your name again?”

“M-my name is Lyra , Your Majesty,” she stuttered, feeling the suffocating intensity of his red eyes now that they were standing face to face. The way Kian looked at her sent shivers down her spine, an unsettling sensation that she couldn’t shake.

“That’s right, Lyra ,” he stated, taking a step closer and looming over her.

“I will give you one final opportunity: do you still wish to volunteer to become my mate and Luna, despite the challenging trial I am about to set for you?” Lyra couldn’t help but flinch, her grip on her cloak tightening as she struggled to keep her balance.

Three hours in Ardan Woods? It was practically a suicide, something only a truly brave–or maybe a crazy wolf would attempt.

But Lyra had made up her mind to become the Luna of the Cursed Alpha King, and she wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

Besides, she was just ten when she faced the danger of Ardan Woods, she was now different, especially with her wolf Stella by her side.

For the past twelve years, Lyra had been honing her skills in secret, training to fight and defend herself.

And so with a determined look and a deep breath, Lyra faced Kian and answered confidently,

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kian studied her for a moment before reaching for the mask that concealed his features.

With a swift motion, he removed the mask, revealing a surprisingly handsome face.

There was a youthful allure mixed with a hint of intimidation that made it hard to believe he was called the tyrant Alpha King of Verdentia.

As Lyra laid eyes on his face, her breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment, she found herself forgetting he was the cursed Alpha King, unable to resist blurting out,

“So handsome.”

Lyra felt her cheeks flush as she hastily clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing the unintended bluntness of her words. But to her surprise, he didn’t seem the least bit put off by her slip-up.

Without a hint of mockery, Kian turned to his beta, who looked as shocked as Lyra felt by her own audacity.

“Take her to the west wing where she would be assigned a temporary residence,” he commanded with a regal air.

Beta David nodded obediently, his eyes following the Alpha King as he strode ahead, flanked by his royal guards.

As the silence settled, Lyra found herself standing alone with the beta.

As Lyra strolled alongside the beta, a heavy silence hung in the air, making her wonder if he harbored any dislike towards her.

Reflecting on her earlier behavior, she couldn’t help but acknowledge that she might have come off as rude or uncivilized. She had hoped for a friendly introduction, some guidance on palace rules, or at least a casual chat.

Compared to the imposing Alpha King, the beta seemed more approachable. With his gentle features, gray eyes, and brown hair, he exuded a sense of familiarity that put Lyra at ease.

He was one of those people who just exuded support and kindness, she had assumed he would be friendly, but maybe she was wrong.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by his voice, snapping her out of her reverie.

“I’m impressed,” he said, catching her off guard. “You’re quite straightforward and brave. I can’t decide if that’s because you don’t value your life or simply naive.”

Turning to look at her with his gray eyes, he seemed genuinely curious about her. He halted their walk, facing her directly, causing Lyra to blink in surprise.

“Apologies for the late introduction,” he said, adjusting his glasses with his index finger which has a cross tattoo before extending his hand,

“I’m David, Beta of the Royal pack.”

“Pleased to meet you, Beta, my name is Lyra,” she replied, shaking his hand, feeling slightly surprised as he was actually introducing himself properly despite her status as an orphan.

He was respectful and welcoming, and that alone was enough for Lyra to sigh a breath of relief.

She assumed she would be mistreated otherwise, after all, the members of the royal pack are way more superior than Incarnadine.

“But may I ask, what’s the real reason behind your volunteering?” David inquired, his steps echoing through the hall as they walked. Each servant they passed bowed their heads in respect at the sight of the beta and glanced at Lyra with curiosity, whispering among themselves.

She wasn’t surprised by the attention though; she knew her unique features and presence must have stirred up some intrigue, especially since tonight was the Luna selection.

“My life is at risk,” Lyra admitted without hesitation.

She believed honesty was the best policy in this situation.

“Anya, Rhys’s mate, was planning to frame me tonight by poisoning Alpha Aiden.”

David stopped in his tracks; disbelief written all over his face as he stared at Lyra.

He met her gaze with unwavering intensity, her green eyes piercing through him. At the moment, he felt a sense of unease wash over him, sensing there was something undeniably special about her that he couldn’t quite grasp.

“How did you come to discover that?” he finally managed to ask, resuming their walk.

“I overheard her talking to her father, the beta of Silver Pack on the balcony,” Lyra replied, just the thought of it made shivers run down her spine.

She had a chance to expose Anya during her conversation with the Alpha King earlier, but she chose not to.

Survival was her main goal, and she knew speaking up would only make things worse for her.

Besides, she had other plans.

“Why didn’t you tell that to the Alpha King when he asked why you volunteered? You could have exposed Anya for the crime she was about to commit and be punished accordingly.” David questioned, his curiosity about this mysterious woman growing with each conversation they had.

“Because I want Anya to stay at Incarnadine and take over as the Luna,” her answer caused him to halt in his tracks again, looking at her in surprise, but his confusion quickly vanished the moment he saw the smile on her face, “Anya would surely bring ruins to the Incarnadine Pack, a fitting karma for them for abandoning and mistreating me.”

David was at a loss for words after hearing her statement.

The confidence in her tone and the unwavering gaze in her eyes suggested that she truly believed what she was saying, almost as if she had foreseen how events would unfold.

“Who are you, really?” he asked, his voice dripped with curiosity.

Her enigmatic personality both intrigued and unsettled him.

There was something about her that made him feel like he shouldn’t let his guard down around her.

He might be reading too much into things, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that she held a hidden power or danger.

His mind raced with endless possibilities as he waited for her answer, unsure of what he might uncover about this mysterious woman before him.

“I know my entire existence is suspicious, and I’m just an orphan but... I’m not a bad person. All I want is to survive and be treated with kindness. The constant ridicule and torment, both physically and emotionally from the packs who abandoned me is wearing me down. I want to be someone that others can look up to, who cannot be mistreated or disrespected any longer. Someone who is deserving of genuine love and compassion.”

Lyra’s lips formed a bitter smile as she held onto this bittersweet dream.

She then turned to David, whose expression shifted from curiosity to pity.

With a chuckle, she continued speaking, “I will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal; I will work tirelessly to gain the trust of the Royal pack and become the Luna of the Alpha King. I want to show what an orphan like me is capable of.”

The words she had just spoken caused a shiver to run down David’s spine, but he couldn’t help the smile that formed on his face.

He had been skeptical of her intentions, but after hearing her explanation, he found it rather amusing.

In an instant, his perception of her changed and he couldn’t shake the feeling that she would be a valuable addition to their pack and would easily withstand the challenges of being the Luna candidate.

“Well, I’m looking forward to that,” he said as he stopped in front of the double door. He opened it and stepped aside, letting Lyra enter first.

“This will be your temporary bed chamber, this is just a guest room but once you pass the test next week, you’ll be given a room in the main palace.”

“Thank you, this room is a drastic improvement from the attic I’ve been staying in for the past three months.” Her eyes wandered around the luxurious room, taking in every lavish detail: the deep red curtains, the grand canopy bed with its soft white pillows, the plush fur carpeting on the floor, and the intricately carved wood sofa with a center table.

It was clear that this room exuded wealth and royalty in every aspect.

“You stayed in the attic?” David frowned slightly, causing Lyra to look at him.

“You’re familiar with Incarnadine’s prophecy, right?” she asked with a smile on her face. He simply nodded, adjusting his glasses.

“When Anya appeared, I was accused of being a fake so from being the future Luna of the pack, I was relegated to the role of a servant living in the attic.”

She awkwardly shrugged, hesitant to divulge too much about her past.

But she knew they needed to understand the reality of her life before arriving at the Alpha King’s palace.

She was sure he would conduct a thorough background check on her, so it was best to be upfront and honest about everything.

“As the sole candidate for this year’s Luna Selection, you will be treated with utmost care and respect while living in the palace, regardless of your background,” he reassured her, causing a warm smile to grow on her face.

“Thank you, Beta David.”

“Don’t mention it. You can have a good night’s rest here. I’ll call for the servants to bring you food and new clothes.” David informed her and

Lyra thanked him again before he left the room.

As soon as she was alone, her legs gave out on her, and she stumbled onto the sofa.

With a deep sigh and closing her eyes, all the tension that had plagued her earlier melted away, leaving behind the usual exhaustion that overtook her.

In her state of weakness, she drifted into slumber on the comfortable sofa.

“HOW IS SHE?” Kian asked as David stepped into his study.

He took a sip of his wine and casually leaned against his chair, observing as the beta made his way toward the sofa.

“She was quite interesting,” David answered, sitting on the sofa and loosening his tie.

Kian raised a brow, surprised as he looked at the beta.

David rarely found anyone to be interesting, but he had to agree that Lyra was definitely intriguing.

Not only did she have the courage to volunteer as his Luna despite the rumors surrounding him and the past candidates who had met unfortunate fates, but she also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

Her determination was commendable, and it was refreshing for Kian to finally be entertained by someone.

He couldn’t wait to see how this year’s Luna Selection would unfold with Lyra in the running.

“What makes you think so?” he inquired.

“She was not one to hold back or be shy; she spoke her mind and was direct. When I asked her why she had really volunteered, she gave me a surprising answer. She told me her life was in danger. She then went on to explain that Anya, the new key to the prophecy and future Luna of Incarnadine, was planning to poison Alpha Aiden and frame her for it.”

David explained, watching how Kian tapped the table with his index finger while listening to him.

“When I asked why she didn’t simply tell the truth and expose Anya, she replied that she wanted Anya to stay at Incarnadine’s and become the Luna... Can you guess why?”

Kian hummed, twirling the deep crimson liquid in his glass before taking a small sip.

“No idea, why don’t you enlighten me then?”

“Lyra believes that Anya will bring destruction upon the pack, a befitting karma they would soon face for abandoning and mistreating her...” David answered with a smirk on his lips.

“Interesting, wouldn’t you say, Your Majesty?”

“Indeed,” Kian nodded in agreement, surprised by her bold statement.

As an orphan,she had no reason to be so confident, and this only added to his curiosity about her.

As he sipped on his wine, Beta David shared more details about his interactions with Lyra while escorting her to her chambers. Kian listened attentively and nodded along until he gave an order.

“Do a thorough background check on her, dig into her past including childhood and true origins. Her identity has sparked my intense curiosity. I need to know more about her.”