The sting on my cheek felt like a burn, and my inner wolf seethed with anger.

I wanted to lash out, but a quick glance at the onlookers held me back. I had to get out of there.

Ruby smirked, clearly pleased with herself.

Iris, realizing he had lost his cool, reached out to help me up, but Ruby clung to him.

"Honey, my legs are hurting. Can you check on them for me?" she cooed, her voice feigning frailty.

The crowd watched, murmuring to each other.

"Sophie must be so desperate for a guy that she'd even take down her sister. That's low."

Iris's gaze was full of loathing.

"Sophie, what have you done? Getting your attention is the worst luck."

His wolf pack buddies snickered behind him, enjoying the drama.

"Sophie, you'd even go after your sister. If Alpha Iris had a circle of female friends, would you lose it?"

"Ha! Maybe Sophie could take on the whole pack. She might shred every girl that would dare hang around Alpha Iris."

Back then, I trained in combat just for Iris, vowing that if anyone tried to take him from me, they would regret it.

However, looking back, I was way out of my league.

While they laughed, Iris came up to me, an icy smirk playing on his lips. "Today, the High King will make our marriage official. Remember what I told you before."

His voice was like ice. "After we're married, we'll live separate lives. Play nice, and maybe I'll let you save some dignity in this marriage."

I was floored. How could the heir to our kind say something so outrageous?

He took my silence for consent, his grin growing wider.

"Just keep in line, and I won't let you embarrass yourself in public." He was sure I would fall in line.

Then came the sound of footsteps. The High King's right-hand man, his second-in-command, stepped out—with Damon, the werewolf, in tow.

He was not the sickly figure I remembered but was decked out in a deep purple suit with delicate gold embroidery that showed off his strong build.

He noticed the dried blood on my face, made his way through the crowd, and stopped in front of me. "You okay?"

My heart skipped a beat. It took me back to my previous life when I was helpless, and he was there.

"Sophie, what are you doing here?" He never used to call me Luna. I thought he had something against me, only to find out when it was too late that was not true at all.

"Does it hurt?" Damon's voice was soft and full of concern.

I looked up, and our eyes locked as a pang of bitterness hit me.

"I'm fine," I managed to say with a weak smile.

Then, Iris scoffed and said, "Why do you care if that hurts? Damon, she's going to be my wife!"

The second-in-command seemed slightly startled by Iris's words. However, he shrugged it off and said, "Let's head in. The High King's waiting for us."

As Iris strutted by me, he muttered a warning under his breath. "Don't forget what I told you."

He strutted away, looking smug as if he had the whole world in his pocket.

The guests had all filed into the great hall, where the High King sat in the place of honor. With a warm smile, he stood, took my hand, and led me to the platform.

"Today, I have a big announcement," he said, pausing to look around at everyone gathered.

"Sophie's 18 now, and as promised to her granddad, we will choose a suitable husband from the heirs of the four great clans. Whoever she marries will be next in line for my throne."

The High King's wealth was legendary, and his throne was the ultimate prize.

Desire was written all over the faces of the guests.

"Let's bring up the couple, and I'll vouch for them myself."

All puffed up and proud, Iris was already stepping forward, ready to climb onto the stage.

However, the High King stopped him with a smile and turned to Damon, who was standing off to the side.

Dressed to the nines, Damon was far from the weakling everyone remembered. He stood tall, his gaze steady, capturing everyone's attention.

He walked up with a crystal crown in hand.

"Sophie, my future Luna, come and join me," he said.