Chapter 1: Reject Him Or Else…

Sadie’s POV

“The Lycan Prince will be coming to our pack soon to choose his Luna,” my Alpha father said sternly at the breakfast table. “Reject Karter and focus on getting ready for the Luna selection.”

Karter was my mate and I love him. 

“A liar like that is unworthy of my daughter,” My father added with disapproval. He was an intimidating Alpha, tall and muscular, with piercing, stern eyes. Most importantly, he despised Karter.

“He’s not deceitful, Daddy,” I said, averting my eyes from his powerful gaze. My voice was small and quiet. “I don’t understand why you hate him so much.”

“You have an obligation to bring glory to our family!” my father snapped. “Don't be obstinate, Sadie. I won’t stand for it!” 

I glanced up at him. He glared at me. My heart hammered in my chest. 

I didn’t want to enter the Luna Selection. I didn’t want to become the Lycan Prince’s Luna. I tried to reason with my father but he wouldn’t listen. I crossed my arms over my chest.   

“No,” I said firmly, glaring  back at him. 

“No?” he repeated, narrowing his eyes. “You will deliberately disobey me?” 

I knew what my father wanted but I couldn’t do it. “Yes,” I replied in a measured tone. “Karter and I are getting engaged. I can’t do what you’re asking me to do. I won’t betray Karter.” 

“You will.” Alpha Abram slammed his hand on the table. The sound made us all jump. “And that’s final, Sadie.”

“And if I don’t?” I asked, my cheeks flushed red with anger. He couldn’t force me. He couldn’t make me enter the Luna selection against my will. 

His eyes were wild and dangerous. “Do as I say, Sadie.” His voice was low now, barely above a growl. “ Or I will kill Karter.”

My heart stopped. My blood froze.

Kill him? 

Kill my mate?

I recoiled in fear. It was a horrible threat. But the look on his face told me he meant it. I stared at him in disbelief.  The room was silent, the tension thick in the air. 

I broke eye contact and looked away. Tears welled in my eyes. I felt a weight on my chest, suffocating me as I tried to blink back the tears. 

“Come now, Abram,” Luna Emma said. She sprang up from her seat at the table and  rushed to my side. “Can’t you see you’re scaring her?” My step-mom wrapped a protective arm around my shoulder.

“Don’t coddle her,” my father snapped in a derisive tone. “I know what’s best for her. Go back to your seat, Emma.”

“Delphine is also preparing for the Lycan Prince’s arrival. Her chances of being selected are just as good as Sadie’s. Delphine can bring honor and glory to our family, too.” Luna Emma gently wiped away my tears, her voice soft and soothing. “This isn’t what Sadie wants. She wants to marry her mate. We should respect her wishes.” I turned my head into her shoulder and she hugged me tightly.

Luna Emma is only my stepmother, and Delphine is my half-sister. They’re both really kind to me, and Delphine is especially close to me. Whenever my father is too hard on me, Luna always stands up for me.

“She should respect her father,” he replied sternly.

“I’m going to enter the Luna Selection. Don’t you care about me, Daddy?” Delphine cut in. She asked coquettishly, grabbing our father’s arm, batted her beautiful eyes at him. “I’ll bring honor to our family.”

Alpha Abram sighed deeply. His face softened as he looked at Delphine.

“I’m glad one of you has some sense,” he snorted. “If only Sadie were only half as sensible as you,” he shot me a disapproving look, “ we wouldn’t have to worry about her so much.”

I lowered my head. It hurt my heart, knowing that my father disapproved of me and that he was threatening to kill my mate.

Luna Emma gently wiped the tears from my eyes. “There, there,” she cooed. “Come sit next to me and let’s finish our breakfast. Yes?”

I sniffled and sat down beside her. Delphine smiled sympathetically at me. I offered her a half-smile as I bit into my eggs.

“I heard that Prince Griffin has visited most of the packs already,” Luna said while pouring herself some coffee. My father had cooled off and he sat back down at the table.

“Yes, I heard that also. Our pack is one of the strongest around. He has saved the best for last on his Luna Selection tour,” my father said, bristling with pride.

It was true. Our pack, Night Shadow Pack, had a reputation far and wide. We were strong with well-trained warriors. We were wealthy with lots of natural resources. And we were powerful, thanks to my father.  The Lycan Prince was traveling from pack to pack and choosing she-wolves with the potential to become his Luna.

“Well,” Luna Emma continued, “I heard that the Prince hasn’t selected a single she-wolf yet.” Luna Emma looked perplexed.

“It has to do with an ancient ritual,” my father explained. “Apparently, Prince Griffin has a special stone slab. Every she-wolf participating in the Luna Selection must undergo some sort of ritual that involves the stone slab. So far, none have passed.” 

“I will, Daddy,” Delphine said confidently. “I’ll pass the ritual. Just you wait and see. I’ll pass and I’ll become Prince Griffin’s Luna,” she said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

“Such confidence!” Luna Emma said.

“Brash confidence,” my father agreed.

“What? You don’t think I can do it?” Delphine asked, cocking her head to the side. This made us all burst out laughing. She was so sure of herself; it was endearing. Perhaps a little naïve, but endearing all the same.

“And what about you, Sadie?” Alpha Abram asked, turning his gaze on me again. I averted my eyes. “I expect you’ve come to your senses now.” His voice turned serious.

“Please, Daddy,” I begged. “Don’t make me do this.” I knew I shouldn’t argue anymore but I couldn’t just give in! What about Karter? How could I betray him like this? I loved him!

“Enough!” my father snapped. His face contorted in anger. 

“This is an honor many packs dream of, Sadie, and it’s also your family duty,” his voice echoed through the room, carrying an undeniable firmness. “You will reject Karter today. If you don’t participate in the Luna selection, I’ll personally bring you Karter’s body. This is not up for discussion!” Then he stood up and stormed out of the room.

No one could defy my father’s orders, not even me.

My bottom lip trembled as tears brimmed in my eyes. Why couldn’t he understand that I loved Karter? Let Delphine enter the selection. Let her bring glory to our family.

I didn’t want any part of it.

Again, Luna Emma soothed me. She brushed the hair from my forehead and dabbed at my tear-stained cheeks with a napkin.

“Oh Sadie,” she sighed. “I know this is hard.”         

“I don’t know what to do,” I confessed. “He means it, Father. He’ll kill Karter. I can’t even bear the thought of that.”

“Go and talk to Karter. Explain that you can’t marry him. If he loves you, he’ll understand.”

I took my step-mother’s advice and went to Karter.

I sat with my head resting on his chest while I poured my heart out to him.

“My father will kill you,” I sobbed. “I have to do as he says, even though I don’t want to. I have to reject you and participate in the Luna Selection.”

Karter gently removed my head from his chest. He held my shoulders and looked my square in the eyes.

“No,” he said. “I don’t care about your father’s threats. I love you, Sadie. And I will protect you until my last dying breath. Do you hear me?”

My heart fluttered in my chest. I nodded.

But just then, I received a mindlink from Delphine.

‘Sadie? Come quick!’ Delphine said. Her voice was frantic.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘It’s…it’s father… He is dead.’