Ruel
I stood motionless on the dressing platform, blocking out Harl's incessant complaints about the hospitality of Black Seed Pack.
I hated the Moss twins with every bone in my body—both of them, but especially Harl. The only reason I'd tolerated them until now was the fact that we'd all been nominated and had practically lived in each other's lives for three years.
Three years of intense training. Three years of passing elimination after elimination until three hundred candidates had been whittled down to just four, all competing for the position of Lycan King and Alliance Leader—the peak of power in our world.
Three years of lectures on governance, combat drills, diplomatic negotiations, pack law, resource management, and crisis response. Three years of being tested, ranked, evaluated and compared.
The Moss twins were skilful in every aspect. They were excellent leaders. Masters of combat efficiency, strategic thinking, charisma and economic acumen. They checked every box the Council required.
But they were insufferably proud, arrogant men who expected the whole world to bow at their feet.
They were also the most exhausting people I have ever met.
I'd been patient with them for three years. I could be patient for thirty more days.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Hakan's scream jolted me back to the present. I turned to see his hand wrapped around the throat of the servant who'd been helping him dress. The guard's face was turning red, his eyes bulging slightly.
"This is the wrong colour combination, you imbecile!" Hakan snarled, shaking the man like a rag doll. "I specifically said I don't wear bronze with navy. Are you blind?"
I sighed and turned back to the window, tuning out Hakan's tantrum. My mind drifted back to Asena.
From the moment I'd seen her standing at the back of the servant line with her chin down and her uniform slightly damp at the collar, I'd known it was her.
And after I saw the mark behind her left ear—faint but unmistakable—I was certain. She was the one I'd been searching for nearly a year.
She was one of the reasons I'd cajoled my father, who was a member of the Council, to ensure that Black Seed Pack hosted the Festival of the Seven Moons this year.
I'd come here because of Asena Riven.
If I was going to harvest the energy of the Fae's curse, I needed to move quickly.
The festival lasted for thirty days, but the Council would make their final selection right after the peak, which would be on the night of the fifteenth day, when the seven moons aligned perfectly in the sky.
After that, they'd wait until the thirtieth day to make the public announcement, ushering in the new leadership.
That gave me two weeks or maybe less.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts again.
I glanced up and nodded to the guard stationed near the entrance. The man opened the door, and Asena stepped inside.
My heart skipped as she walked in, looking slightly different from this morning.
Her dark hair was pulled into a neat bun at the top of her head, and the simple pale blue dress she wore brought out the striking colour of her hazel eyes.
She was beautiful.
"Alphas," she bowed low. "Alpha Riven has instructed me to escort you down for the welcome ceremony. The guests are seated and waiting."
She hesitated, then added with obvious reluctance. "And I apologise for what happened earlier this morning. It won't happen again."
Harl, who'd dropped into one of the chairs in the room, rose to his feet and sauntered toward her with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
"That apology wasn't sincere," he challenged, stepping far too close into her personal space. "It was me you offended. Why are you apologising to everyone?"
Anger flashed in her eyes, but she managed to control it. She drew a deep breath and turned to face Harl fully, a stiff, forced smile on her lips.
"I'm truly sorry, Alpha Harl. I hope we can start afresh."
Hakan came to stand beside his twin, crossing his arms over his chest. He scoffed loudly. "Start fresh," he repeated. "Who exactly do you think you are? How dare a common maid—"
I crossed the room immediately, inserting myself between the twins and Asena.
"That's enough," I said firmly, pushing Hakan back.
The twins shot me murderous glares but backed away. I turned back to Asena.
"What time did you say the ceremony was?"
"Right now," she replied. "Everyone is seated and waiting for your arrival."
"Then we shouldn't keep them waiting." I held her gaze for a moment, feeling my wolf pacing inside me. It liked her too. "Give us a few minutes, and we'll be ready."
She nodded, satisfied by my answer and turned toward the door.
But instead of leaving, she paused. Then turned back and stepped further into the room.
She reached into the small pocket of her dress and pulled out three identical bracelets—narrow cords of dark brown hand-knotted leather with a single bead at the centre of each one.
They were Ward Knots.
Ward Knots were traditional gifts worn during the festival, meant to offer protection and good fortune.
She stepped forward and offered one to each of us.
Harl snatched his from her palm without a word. He looked down at it with obvious disgust, then tossed it carelessly to the floor. The small bead hit the polished wood and shattered.
"What is this garbage?" he sneered, lifting his boot and grinding it into the floorboards. The leather crushed beneath his heel, and the herbs in the bead scattered across the floor.
Hakan took his own from her palm, an amused smile on his face. "Did you make this yourself?" he asked with false interest.
"Yes, Alpha," Asena said stiffly, as though she could see straight through his pretence.
"How… quaint," Hakan said. Then dropped it deliberately and stepped on it just as his brother had.
Asena's face remained carefully blank, but I saw the faint tremor in her fingers as she turned to me last. She extended the final bracelet, her eyes meeting mine for just a moment.
I crossed to her and took it from her hand gently, my fingers brushing against hers. I examined the craftsmanship—the tight, even braiding, the placement of the bead, the faint scent of sage and lavender woven into the leather.
All scents I was allergic to.
Still, I nodded and found her eyes again.
"Thank you. This is beautifully made."
She blinked, clearly surprised. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"You're welcome, Alpha Ruel," she murmured.
I slipped the bracelet carefully into my pocket, then gave her a small, reassuring smile. "We'll join the ceremony soon. Thank you for coming to fetch us.
She bowed once more, then turned and left the room without another word. The door clicked shut behind her.
The moment she was gone, Harl kicked at the crushed remains of his ward knot, sending the scraps skittering across the floor.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Ruel, but who made you the boss of us?" he said coldly. "This is the second time since we arrived that you're acting like you're in charge."
I ignored him, already moving back toward the mirror to adjust my collar.
"Listen, Ruel," Hakan added, moving closer. "We like you well enough, but don't stretch it. We don't answer to you, and we absolutely don't appreciate you acting like our father."
I met the twins' gaze in the mirror. They were clearly looking for a fight.
It was a Moss way of showing dominance—oppress your opponent with violence, either verbally or physically, until they submit to you. Break them down piece by piece until there's nothing left but compliance. But I had zero intentions of letting them affect me that way.
My sights were set on something far more important than the tantrums and petty cruelties of the Moss twins. They could posture all they wanted. They could stomp and snarl and throw their weight around like children denied a toy.
It didn't matter. When I become Alliance Leader, we will revisit this conversation. And they would learn what real power looked like.
I smiled broadly and turned to face them.
"I'm sorry if that's how it came across. I was only trying to make sure you don't make any mistakes that could cost us later. I'll remember that next time."
The fight left their eyes instantly, and Harl sighed, walking back to his dressing platform and murmuring about how he was so done with this backwater pack and their ridiculous traditions.
I took the bracelet out of my pocket, examining the tight braiding again, the careful placement of the bead and that familiar scent that I couldn't quite name.
It reminded me of someone I used to know, from long ago.
"Let's hurry up, gentlemen," I said, turning away from the mirror. "We don't want to keep everyone waiting."