IN THE SHADOW OF MY TWIN

ISABELLA

My biggest mistake was being born a few seconds after my sister and “killing” my mother in childbirth.

So yeah, it goes without saying I wasn’t my father’s favorite, the Alpha of the Silver Mountain Pack.

I was born into a family where twin girls were the worst kind of taboo.

The Olivans had bred, for generations, a bloodline of she-wolves with the incredible gift of controlling the violence of the lycans, the ones who ruled our realm, Vargheim.

They called us Seraphina she-wolves, or at least, that was the title given to my sister, Savannah Olivan.

Me… I was just Isabella. A shadow in this pack.

Hidden in plain sight. Just another warrior.

Trained to protect the acknowledged heiress; I only took off the face mask to act as her double whenever there was danger.

If Savannah gained weight, I had to gain weight.

If she dyed her blond hair red, I had to follow.

I studied her walk, her voice, every gesture and preference… I even sometimes changed my scent with a magic spray.

My life was nothing but a copy of my older sister’s existence.

Today was the first time in twenty years that I slipped up on the job my father gave me… and Savannah ended up in an accident.

“He’s coming, Isa.” My wolf Thera’s voice trembled a little, but stayed firm, trying to give me strength.

The shackles on my wrists rattled with the growing spasms of my body as I heard those steady footsteps coming closer.

The chill of the brick walls in the cell seeped into my bones, and the darkness swallowed whatever courage I had left.

The door flew open with a shrill squeal, and the massive shadow of the Alpha stepped into my prison.

“Father, I swear I didn’t mean to…”

“Shut up!” His sudden slap cut off my pleas.

My head rang, and a sharp pain stabbed through my skull.

“You only had one mission in your miserable life, just one, Isabella, and you managed to screw it up again!”

I pressed my lips together hard, staring into those hard gray eyes that were always judging me.

He still hadn’t forgiven me for my mother’s death, like I’d done it on purpose.

“Father, it was an accident. I didn’t know Savannah had left the pack without telling me…”

“It was your job to follow her, she didn’t owe you any explanation! Tell me, where the hell were you while she was being attacked?!”

He took a step closer, canines out.

His sharp Alpha aura crushed me without mercy.

“I…” I swallowed hard.

Lying to my father was not easy.

My eyes fought not to flick toward the entrance of the cell, where his Beta was standing.

“I went out for a walk…”

“With who? What exactly were you doing, Isabella?!”

Sweat was pouring under my clothes as I dodged his relentless questions.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” He yanked my hair hard.

“You conspired with those assassins to get rid of your sister!”

“No! No, Father! How can you think I’d do that to Savannah?” My eyes filled with helpless tears.

No matter how much he pushed, I refused to reveal that I had a secret romance with his Beta.

Elliot watched from the doorway, but there wasn’t much he could do against the Alpha’s abuse.

“Savannah is in a coma and for your own good, she’d better wake up… or I’ll peel your skin off myself.”

“Dad, please…” The tears finally spilled from my eyes. “I’m your daughter too. How can you be this cruel to me?”

“You were nothing but an unplanned mistake. Be grateful you’re still breathing.” His words sank into my heart like a poisoned dagger.

I knew exactly how much he despised me for surviving.

My twin was supposed to consume me in our mother’s womb… but I refused to give in and took part of the power that was meant only for Savannah.

He hated me for ruining his perfect bloodline of pure Seraphinas.

He walked out of the cell where they’d kept me after the surprise attack that had almost gotten Savannah killed at the borders.

“Elliot, come wait with me for the doctor’s report. If I decide Isabella had anything to do with this, you’ll come back and interrogate her.”

I heard his order as they left.

The door slammed shut and, through the little barred window, Elliot’s green eyes pinned me with a look full of pity before he walked away.

Pity was the last thing I needed from him. What I needed was for him to finally grow a spine.

We’d been secretly seeing each other for almost six months, and because of my situation, I kept putting off the idea of making it official in front of my father.

He always had some excuse, but today I finally understood he’d never had any intention of acknowledging me as his partner.

The minutes crawled by so slowly they felt endless.

With my arms raised, numb, and my body limp, I waited for my sentence.

“Bella… Elliot’s coming. I’m sure he’s bringing good news. The older sister must’ve woken up and named the real culprits.” I tensed at my wolf’s warm words.

I could feel her unease; not even she believed what she was saying.

When the door opened again and I saw the whip in Elliot’s hands, a shiver ran through me from head to toe.

“You know damn well I didn’t do it… I was with you, for the Goddess’s sake. You have to tell my father, Elliot, you can’t do this to me!” I shouted, a knot cutting off my breath.

I’d neglected my duty as Savannah’s guardian because I’d been with him.

“I’m sorry, Isabella… those are the Alpha’s orders. Your sister’s in critical condition and you’re the main suspect.”

He answered with such cold cynicism I couldn’t believe this was the same passionate man who’d been making love to me hours ago.

“You know that’s not true. You’re my alibi!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” he dodged my gaze.

“Don’t lie or you could incriminate me in front of the Alpha, and I’m not losing my Beta position for you or for anyone… I’ll deny whatever you say.”

I was left speechless, drowning in disbelief.

“Tell me who you conspired with. Who were those assassins that attacked Miss Savannah?” he even had the nerve to ask.

I kept shaking my head like an idiot, going through so many emotions it felt like a damn carnival inside my skull.

“For the last time… tell me the names of your accomplices!”

“You hypocritical pig!” I spat right in his face, a thick glob landing between his wide, shocked eyes.

“Go to hell, you fucking coward!” I snarled, bile burning in my stomach.

“This is going to cost you, Isabella…” His tone promised exactly what was coming next.

He wiped his face with disgust and circled me, stopping behind my back.

Those rough hands that had caressed me just hours ago ripped the fabric of my blouse, exposing the old scars on my back.

This wasn’t the first beating I’d taken, but it was one of the most painful, because I was getting another taste of betrayal along with it.

I’d been so naive. A stupid girl starving for any scrap of affection.

The crack of the whip soon echoed off the four walls.

My wolf was giving me strength.

Even though she was a small Omega, she was roaring at Elliot’s wolf, furious and disappointed…

The smell of blood filled the air and harsh breaths tore out between my lips.

After five brutal lashes, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and I screamed.

Tears streamed down my cheeks out of control, my throat raw, my legs shaking.

He showed me no mercy. He wanted to prove to the Alpha he had nothing to do with me.

On the fifteenth blow, I blacked out.

The world went dark… though for me, it had always been black.

*****

I woke up at night, lying in my little bed, in the gloomiest corner of the Alpha’s mansion, where he kept the “unplanned error” hidden.

Very few people knew who I really was.

I knew something was wrong the second I opened my eyes.

My torso was bandaged, and there was some kind of ointment on my wounds… that was the first thing that set off alarms.

They never treated me after a “lesson”.

The other thing that made me shoot upright like a spring, despite the pain and dizziness, was the presence lurking in the corner.

“Da…d…” My voice came out hoarse and low.

My throat felt like it had been scraped with sandpaper.

“The pack doctor said Savannah suffered a severe concussion and there’s no way to know when she’ll wake up,” he started, way too calmly.

He was sitting half in shadow, half in the light.

His cold eyes, the same shade of gray as mine, stared straight through me.

“And the sorceress?” I asked, thinking of the powers of that dark witch who worked for him.

“Her magic isn’t healing,” he said flatly.

I clenched the blanket over my lap and lowered my gaze.

He’d never cared about the wounds he himself gave me.

“Despite what you think, I would never hurt Savannah. I’ve risked my life more than once to protect her.”

It was the plain truth, and Savannah had never thanked me for it.

My sister was a bitch to me, a harpy, and after my father, the person who humiliated me the most.

“Let’s say I believe you,” he said suddenly, and I lifted my head, hopeful like an idiot.

“Now we have a serious problem that could sink our pack, and you’re the only one who can help me.”

“A problem?” What could possibly be serious enough to bring the whole pack down?

“Here, see for yourself.” He tossed something onto the bed.

A heavy envelope, fancy and official-looking.

I grabbed it on top of the blanket and pulled the document out, reading.

The more I read, the faster my heart raced, cold sweat trickling down my spine.

“They’re requesting Savannah’s admission to HighMoon Academy?”

“Prince Aurelius just turned twenty. It’s the most unstable age to control his lycan. He needs the support of a Seraphina she-wolf, so the Lycan King ordered that Savannah enroll with him at the Academy.”

I needed a few seconds to process that bomb.

Then it clicked… if Savannah wasn’t available, then…

“Father, you can’t seriously be thinking that I…”

“Exactly what you’re thinking. I can’t disobey the King’s order, and I sure as hell can’t tell him we lost our blessing.” He stood suddenly, his Alpha command slamming into me.

“You’ll leave for the Academy in a few days and you’ll pretend to be your sister. You have to buy us time until she recovers.”

“Father, I’m not Savannah!” I yelled, rage boiling over.

“I don’t have her ability, I’m not prepared! You suppressed my power to strengthen hers!”

I threw his cruelty in his face.

That was the whole point of the twin Serafina taboo.

It wasn’t the same having all that power focused in a single she-wolf as it was having it split between two.

“The sorceress will take part of the restraint seal off you. All you have to do is pretend, like you’ve always done, and calm the lycan prince down however you can,” he told me firmly.

That “however you can” made my stomach churn.

Everyone knew sexual favors were included in that kind of “therapy”.

“And if I refuse?” I met his gaze, my voice shaking.

“You know I can force you with the spell. I can even… kill you. So don’t get clever, Isabella,” he warned, like he was talking to an enemy.

I swallowed back a sad, bitter laugh.

If he hadn’t finished me off yet, it was only because he was afraid of damaging his precious daughter’s power.

“You’ll go to HighMoon Academy, you’ll pretend to be Savannah Olivan… and that’s my final word.”

THE LYCAN PRINCE

ISABELLA

Light and darkness.

Lycans were the superior force, the peak of evolution.

But they were going through a shift, a dangerous stage where the violence of their animal side became unstable and brutal.

In our werewolf realm, there were only five noble Lycan families and, of course, the ones at the top of the food chain: the royal family.

They were the darkness that needed the light of the Seraphinas.

We weren’t the only pack blessed by the Goddess.

There were other Seraphinas, but my father made sure to claw his way to the very top: the royal family.

He’d groomed Savannah her entire life for that.

Seraphinas soothed those beasts with their scent, the touch of their bodies, and the calming aura that wrapped around Lycans like a drug.

But if light couldn’t overpower darkness… she died.

And the Lycans of the royal family were the most bloodthirsty and feral of them all, easily the hardest to tame.

For the first time, I wasn’t going to follow orders.

I had my own goals.

Break the damn restriction he’d slapped on me, get stronger at the Academy… and escape.

And I’d do whatever it took to make it happen.

Even fake my way through and put up with that insufferable prince.

*****

Sitting in the car, I watched the landscape blur past the window.

Today was the day I left, and my dear father didn’t even spare me a second glance before sending me off as cannon fodder.

Elliot had the nerve to watch me from between the trees as the car pulled away.

Coward.

“You know what? Stop wasting your tears on that idiot,” my wolf scoffed. “His dick wasn’t even that big. When it got cold, it shrank down to a peanut… and those hip movements…”

Thera clicked her tongue.

“More bland than plain water,” she added, rolling her eyes with full dramatic flair. “You should’ve reported him to the Alpha.”

I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips.

Thera was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

I knew she was just covering our disappointment with sarcasm.

“You really think my father would sacrifice his precious Beta for me?” I sighed bitterly. “He’d probably call me a whore and say I seduced him. Forget the pack and behave at the Academy. We need to stay under the radar,”

I warned her, staring at my reflection in the glass.

I was in casual clothes: Comfortable sneakers, jeans, a white T-shirt, and a denim jacket.

My blonde hair was pulled up into a high braid, and I’d only bothered with the tiniest touch of makeup so I wouldn’t look so ghostly.

My gray eyes, though, were full of plans and quiet calculations.

“That Lycan prince better not turn out to be a cocky asshole,” Thera huffed, restless.

We were both on edge about all the unknowns waiting ahead.

I didn’t answer. My gaze drifted back to the scenery outside.

My father’s driver took the highways that skirted pack territories.

Silver Mountain Pack was tucked away in a remote, rugged region, which gave us an air of mystery and made it even easier to keep up my fake identity.

We drove for hours without stopping, until we finally entered a forest choked with fog and shadows.

The sunlight struggled to pierce the heavy atmosphere.

My heart thudded harder when the huge iron gates rose into view at the end of the road like a set of imperial jaws.

The car rolled to a stop.

“Miss Savannah, this is as far as I’m allowed to go,” the driver said respectfully.

“Fine,” I answered curtly, just like my sister would have.

I got out, and he rushed to grab my suitcase.

I wrapped my fingers tightly around the handle and walked forward without looking back, straight into my new ordeal.

The headlights faded, the engine noise was swallowed by the fog, and suddenly there was only silence, thick and eerie.

“For an elite Academy full of rich people, you’d think they could afford a few extra lights,” Thera muttered. “This looks like the entrance to the underworld.”

“Thera, stop rambling and scan the area,” I told her, while my eyes swept between the dark trunks.

The wheels of my suitcase rattled nonstop over the stone path.

As I got closer to the towering gate, a sound snapped Thera to attention.

“I hear someone calling for help. I swear I heard a scream!” she said, instantly alert.

“Where?” I asked without even thinking.

“Over there!”

I hurried in that direction, venturing deeper into unfamiliar territory.

I really needed to quit this habit of sticking my nose where it didn’t belong…

And yet, there I was, watching a girl dangling from a tree in the distance.

“Help! Help!” she kicked wildly, moments away from falling.

The hood of her sweatshirt was barely hooked onto one of the branches, the only thing keeping her up.

“Hold on, that’s not going to last!” I shouted, running just as I heard the crack.

I dropped the suitcase and threw myself forward, tackling her so we landed together on the grass.

She’d been about to drop straight onto a cluster of jagged rocks.

“Ouch!” she groaned as we hit the ground. Honestly, I took the brunt of it.

She was small, with dark hair and striking green eyes.

I pushed myself up as she rolled off me.

Pain pulsed through my right ankle, making me hiss.

“Are you okay?” I asked, glancing over at her.

“Y-yeah…” she stuttered, cheeks burning a vivid red, gaze glued to the ground in embarrassment.

“Good…” I tried to stand, but the moment I put weight on my foot, the air rushed out of my lungs.

“Are you hurt? Oh Goddess, this is all my fault! Let’s go to the infirmary...”

“It’s fine, it’s just a sprain,” I reassured her, because she was about to spiral into a full panic and I was the one in pain here.

I finally convinced her I didn’t need the infirmary, limped back to my abandoned suitcase, and was about to leave.

“Wait, I haven’t even thanked you!” she called, hurrying after me.

“I’m Kiara, an Omega from Blue Tulip Pack,” she said, stretching out a small hand.

“Savannah Olivan,” I replied, shaking it. I didn’t add anything else. The last thing I wanted was extra attention.

We started walking toward the entrance again.

“Thank you so much for helping me… I, uh, had a little first-day accident. You know, the ‘welcome’ treatment for newbies,” she mumbled, ducking her head, her ears practically glowing red.

I just prayed no one was planning that kind of “initiation” for me.

Before I could say anything, bells rang out in the distance, their chimes vibrating through the whole forest.

“No way, they’re already calling us. Come on, come on!”

She began shoving me forward anxiously, and we finally passed through the towering iron gates, which swung open as if by magic.

Through the fog, the distant towers and solid, intimidating buildings started to take shape.

This Academy drew in the boldest of the bold, the ones who wanted to push their limits, gain power, and increase their pack’s status.

You could die here… and no one would even question it.

So I couldn’t help but wonder what a fragile girl like Kiara was doing in a place like this.

She seemed to know an awful lot about how the Academy worked. Was this really her first time here?

A million questions buzzed through my head, but when I saw the crowd gathered in an impressive plaza up ahead, anxiety drowned out my curiosity.

My hand tightened around the suitcase handle.

Out of nowhere, the sound of a car engine roared behind us.

It was coming so fast that we barely had time to throw ourselves headfirst into the bushes at the side of the road.

“What the hell is wrong with that idiot?!” I growled, my ankle throbbing even worse.

“Shh… don’t talk like that about a Lycan,” Kiara whispered, grabbing my hand and helping me up before guiding me to a more discreet spot among the newcomers.

“Stay away from them. They’re dangerous and way too powerful.”

Her squirrel-like eyes darted toward the far side of the massive plaza.

I followed her gaze past the fountain that rose in the center.

A tall man stepped out of the luxury car, all black hair and piercing gray eyes.

Tailored clothes, expensive shoes, arrogant posture.

He walked over to a smaller group that still somehow stood out from everyone else.

Two women, one blonde and one redhead, both voluptuous, composed, and oozing confidence.

Five guys circled them, all tall and muscular. A few smoked lazily like they owned the place.

One blond guy laughed loudly, clearly the most relaxed of the bunch.

The air shifted, thickening as dominant, dangerous pheromones rolled across the plaza.

Lycans and Alpha females.

The elites of our realm. The best genes our species had to offer.

Which one of them was Prince Aurelius?

My chest tightened at the thought of being that man’s pet.

His personal stress ball to squeeze between his claws whenever he felt like killing something.

My breathing sped up, and a cold sweat trickled down my spine.

“Calm down, Isa. Easy. We’ve got this. All we have to do is what we’re best at…”

“Fake it,” I finished for my wolf.

That was what I hated most. My only real talent in life was pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd, dragging me out of my near panic attack.

The dark stone building on one side of the plaza swung its massive wooden doors open with a grating sound.

A tiny woman with glasses and graying hair marched out in heels, a folder in her hands.

She stopped at the top of the staircase.

“Welcome, all new student candidates to HighMoon Academy!” she began.

“As you should already know, there is an initial selection process, and whoever fails…” She let the sentence trail off, her eyes soft with fake sympathy.

“There’s a test? What is this, a dance competition?” Thera chimed in, taking the chance to wind my nerves even tighter.

My father had conveniently “forgotten” to mention that part.

And the worst part came right after.

“The Seraphinas will undergo a special examination in front of the Lycans. Please gather here beside me as I call your names.”

She started reading from the list in her hands.

To my complete shock, I realized I wasn’t the only candidate to become Prince Aurelius’s Seraphina.

There was an actual lineup. A whole selection.

Those two proud Alpha females were linked to him as well.

“Savannah Olivan, Seraphina assigned to Prince Aurelius…”

Did my father know Savannah wasn’t the only option the Lycan King had?

“Savannah Olivan!”

So… is there a chance I won’t be chosen?

Will they throw me out or pass me off to another Lycan?

“Savannah.” Kiara’s elbow jabbed me, dragging me out of my mental spiral. “They’re calling you…”

Her whisper flipped a switch inside me.

“I’M HERE!” I shouted way too loudly, even raising my hand like some overeager student.

Every head snapped in my direction.

So much for flying under the radar.

Hauling my little suitcase with me, I climbed the stairs awkwardly, feeling the snickers and mocking smiles from below.

It was mortifying, and it was only the beginning.

“You’ll need to wake up a bit, Miss Olivan,” the woman scolded under her breath, then gestured for me to join the other girls, thankfully only a small group.

I didn’t have to see their faces to feel their contempt rolling off them.

“Move to the side. Don’t you dare block me,” came a low command from behind me.

The blonde Alpha with huge boobs didn’t bother lowering her voice much.

She was another candidate for Prince Aurelius.

I stepped aside with as much dignity as I could muster, but it didn’t matter where I stood, I didn’t seem to belong anywhere.

Thankfully, the welcome speech went on, and soon no one was paying attention to me anymore.

At least not until the woman asked us to wait a moment and disappeared back inside.

Not even five minutes later, the powerful roar of a motorcycle echoed up the entry road.

The bright headlight cut through the fog, and sure enough, it was an impressive black bike with an aggressive, gorgeous growl.

But the real problem was the rider.

People parted across the plaza to clear the way, because he didn’t look like he planned on slowing down.

He was a solid wall of male, wearing black combat pants, military boots, a dark sleeveless shirt, and a black helmet hiding his face.

His muscular, tattooed arms, sun-bronzed and powerful, flexed as he gripped the handlebars.

Power hit us all like a slap.

My heart started pounding wildly, and the sheer weight of his rank crushed down on me without mercy… a Lycan of the royal family.

He stopped at the base of the stairs and pulled off his helmet.

Every movement was sharp, cold, dominant.

The entire plaza went silent, except for the voice in my head.

“Oh, damn… who is that walking orgasm?”

Thera scented the air excitedly, focusing on our next tormentor.

I had no doubt about it… That was the Lycan prince, Aurelius Blackridge.

THE SELECTION

ISABELLA

He left the helmet hanging and casually pushed back the platinum hair falling at the nape of his neck.

I have to admit it, that exotic hair has always been my weakness on a guy.

He swung off the bike and, Goddess, he was easily six and a half feet tall.

I felt like an ant next to him.

He started up the stairs and, for a second, that chiseled, brutally handsome face turned our way.

Blue eyes, cold as ice. Ferocious, razor sharp.

We lowered our heads in perfect sync. Very few people could hold the gaze of a Lycan from the royal line.

I felt my whole body start to shake.

The more I fought not to show fear, the more I shook.

His boot steps drew closer, his aura keeping us obedient and still.

“Hang in there, he’s just passing by, it’s just a second,” I told myself, holding my breath.

But when the prince’s shadow stretched over the top of the stairs, someone shoved me from behind.

It happened so fast I couldn’t do a damn thing.

With a squeak, I found myself tumbling forward, hitting the floor in the worst way possible and blocking the royal prince’s path.

I ended up like a freaking pancake, sprawled right across the landing.

The collective gasp around me branded me a total abomination for daring to get in His Majesty’s way.

Would it help if I just stayed there and played dead?

“I… I’m sorry, Your High...” I snapped my mouth shut the second I felt his presence right over my body.

Maybe the prince will help me up. Maybe he’s not as much of a jerk as he looks.

“Than…”

My hand stayed stuck up, my chin tilted, just in time to see his whole package passing right over my face.

Yeah... nop. The Lycan prince didn’t spare me a second glance and stepped over me like I was a stinking smear of crap on the floor.

Lucky me he didn’t actually stomp on me.

He walked through the doors without a single hesitation.

Fucking bastard!

Laughter exploded around me.

“She really thought that was the way to get Prince Aurelius to notice her…”

“What an idiot. Miska’s going to destroy her in the selection…”

Whispers rose from every direction.

Now I was the Seraphina who’d tried to get Aurelius’s attention like some desperate clown.

The humiliation was so intense I honestly wanted to melt into the floor and stay there forever, right at the entrance.

The sudden click of heels rang in my ears.

“Miss Olivan, what on earth are you doing napping on the landing?!”

The shrill voice of the woman who’d welcomed us only made the mockery worse.

I got to my feet with my head down, brushing off my jeans, apologizing a thousand times and wishing I could vanish.

My eyes landed on my poor suitcase, kicked off to the side, and then on the girl who’d been behind me.

The smug look in her eyes made it obvious she was the one who’d shoved me.

A brown-haired bootlicker with a fake innocent face.

I grabbed my suitcase, anger burning hot in my chest.

This… was war.

I understood right then that if I tried to play sweet, the monsters in this Academy would eat me alive.

Thank the Goddess we finally got to go inside after my little show.

But another decisive moment was coming.

The selection to become the Lycan prince’s Seraphina.

I picked up more information just by eavesdropping around the massive entrance hall.

The whole Academy had an old, classic vibe. Dark wood everywhere, huge tapestries, stained-glass windows casting colored light. It was a lot to take in.

My new friend Kiara turned out to be a huge help too.

Her mom worked here at the Academy, which is why she knew so many details.

That’s how I found out that if I failed as Aurelius’s Seraphina, I could still compete and be chosen by another Lycan.

“Oh nooo, what a tragedy, I really wanted that wolf to feel us up a little. He smells like pure heaven.”

“Thera, he’s an asshole. Are you a masochist or what?” I muttered under my breath, and she huffed in annoyance.

“It’s not like I want him as our mate, okay?… I just want to check if it’s true Lycans have a cock like an anaconda.”

“Oh my God, shut up already.” I decided to tune out her crap, even though I knew she was just trying to calm me down.

But it was impossible to think about anything other than the fight heading my way.

“Seraphinas, this way please!” another secretary called, appearing out of nowhere and motioning for us to line up off to the side.

“Good luck, you’ve got this. If I’m done early, I’ll come watch from the stands,” Kiara encouraged me, pumping her fist in the air.

“Good luck on your entrance exam,” I shot back with a grateful smile, still thankful I’d saved her.

At least I’d met one decent person inside these oppressive, intimidating walls.

As the line moved down a gloomy hallway, I made a decision:

I was not going to win that damn selection.

I was not going to be Prince Aurelius Blackridge’s Seraphina.

I’d set my sights on some other Lycan.

In the end, the goal was to stay here, break the spell tying me down, and get stronger before the real Savannah woke up.

The fight to become the next royal pet… I couldn’t care less.

*****

PRINCE AURELIUS KADEN BLACKRIDGE

“Why does Kaden always get to choose first?”

William’s childish whining fills my ears.

He’s sprawled on a couch, one step below the chair in my private box.

Six Lycans are scattered at my feet.

Some of them share blood ties with the royal family.

William, that lazy, carefree blond, is my cousin.

“That’s kind of the whole point of being the prince. And stop calling him by his first name, we’re at the Academy. Grow up.”

“Ow, asshole!” he yelps when Darius smacks him on the back of the head.

Darius is the muscular redhead with the bad temper.

But he’s a skilled, loyal warrior. My best friend and my right-hand man.

I ignore the flirting those two pretend-hate idiots always fall into and narrow my eyes at the women being called into the huge combat arena.

The stands curve around us in an oppressive semicircle, mostly filled with professors and upper-year students.

I know damn well that from this moment on, every professor is already scouting the candidates, deciding which ones they want to snatch up for their guilds.

For this Selection, the Academy put together a pretty brutal obstacle course, and I have a solid idea of who’s going to win.

It’ll probably be Miska, and sure enough, the starting whistle blows and she’s the first one to sprint out, launching herself at the climbing net.

I’m comfortable with her. I’ve tested her skills as a Seraphina more than once and… not bad.

The sex isn’t exactly mind-blowing, but she’s a fiery, eager Alpha who knows how to please.

If I have to complain about something… it’s that her endless submission bores me to death.

Kind of like I am right now.

I drum my fingers on the black leather armrest, half listening to the Lycans’ chatter and the hungry stares from the she-wolves draped over them.

Just when I’m about to leave, something catches my attention.

My wolf, Ash, lifts his head too, locking his gaze on the blonde who came out of nowhere and is now running right behind Miska.

She’s smaller, but quick, like an overcaffeinated squirrel.

I watch the explosive strength in her muscles under the blue tracksuit.

The white T-shirt clings like a second skin, and those small breasts bounce with every movement.

Nothing like the voluptuous Alpha she-wolves I usually go for.

“Hey, Kaden, isn’t that your little fan from the entrance?” William is a clown, as always.

Was that the girl from the stairs?

I remember her little scene on the landing.

Lying there like some damsel in distress.

I hate women who pull stupid stunts just to get a second of my attention.

But I have to admit, her guts out there in the arena are… actually entertaining me.

“Watch out!”

William yells at her, and I tense up when I see her step into a kill zone.

I’LL SHOW YOU WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE

KADEN

The little blonde has stepped into a field of scorching gas explosions.

The craters in the ground are hidden and can trigger with the slightest pressure.

I wonder when she’ll realize the gas is also a poison that scrambles your senses.

I tense up when I see her dive into a cloud of toxic gas.

Miska disappears into the haze too.

This field was built with help from the Magic Academy, no doubt about it.

Werewolves aren’t the only supernatural creatures living on this continent, and things get tense sometimes.

Allies can turn into enemies over the smallest thing.

That’s why it’s so important to build our strength. That’s why I need to choose a strong Seraphina to stand beside me.

Miska shoots off toward the second-to-last trial.

William huffs, and I hear the murmurs and the bets starting.

“Bet on the tiny blonde,” my wolf’s rough voice rumbles, and it actually throws me for a beat.

“What’s with your sudden interest in her? She probably passed out in the gas…”

I have to swallow my words when the fog suddenly churns, and I expect one of the other competitors to come out.

Instead I catch a flash of blonde hair and my fingers tighten on the armrest… I realize I’m actually waiting for it to be that female.

“She made it out without fainting. Run, baby, run!”

“William, shut the fuck up already,” I snap.

“Man, you’re such a grouch…”

“William, come sit down. What’s with all the yelling?” Darius grabs him by the arm and practically plants him on his lap to keep him still.

“William, you want her for yourself?” The stiff voice of Merl makes me frown.

He’s slicking his black hair back again, all stiff posture and that permanent stick up his ass.

“Not a bad idea. Look how smart she is, covering her face with her hoodie. I love that blonde. Run, baby, run!”

William’s roaring has fired up the stands too, and people start cheering for her.

She really was smart about it, and now she’s following Miska across the shaky bridge hanging over a mess of traps.

She’s almost at the end, and those boards don’t look stable at all.

A fall from that height could rattle your brain, maybe even kill you if you’re unlucky.

Seraphinas are valuable assets. The point is not to lose any of them.

My jaw tightens when I see Miska moving more than she should.

They balance with their arms stretched out. There’s nothing to grab onto.

Behind them, other girls step onto that death trap of a bridge too.

A redhead’s scream rips out as the whole bridge shakes from all the movement.

The blonde female sways dangerously.

William’s not cheering anymore, and the tension in the air is obvious.

Then Miska does something pretty reckless that takes out most of the competition in one move.

She starts running over the unstable boards.

One wrong step and she’s done, but of course she’s a trained Alpha.

Several wooden supports snap and crash into the void, and I figure that’s it for the little wolf’s big moment.

“I don’t think she’s actually going to do what I think she’s going to do!” William shoots to his feet and shouts.

I feel the adrenaline rip through my veins, same as she must be feeling it.

Speed has always been her best weapon, and she uses it damn well.

She runs just as suicidally, almost on her tiptoes, and when Miska leans forward to jump down to solid ground, the blonde plants a hand on her back and vaults off her like a gymnastics horse.

I don’t think anyone expected that kind of insanity.

Miska’s roar echoes as she pitches into the drop, and the little wolf uses the momentum to tumble onto the edge.

I can see sweat beading on her forehead and her chest rising and falling fast.

She lifts her dust-covered face toward our box, and those bright gray eyes suddenly lock with mine, hitting me with a jolt of electricity.

It’s barely a second, but I’ll admit it, she has my full attention now.

My wolf stretches his senses out, trying to get a better read on our little wolf, but she’s too wound up, too frantic.

Another shout from William steals her gaze.

She looks at him, and I swear I see hesitation flicker across her face.

What are you plotting, little wolf? Are you hesitating?

“I’m coming for you, baby!”

I’m one second away from kicking William’s ass if he keeps screaming like that.

I signal to the Academy secretary waiting off to the side while she runs toward the last obstacle maze.

“Give me the details on the winning candidate,” I ordered, “and put a hundred gold coins on her.”

I already have her down as the winner, and even though I have the final say when it comes to choosing my Seraphina… it only seems fair that it’s her.

I take the file and skim it.

Savannah Olivan, from the far-off Silver Mountain Pack. A first-rank Seraphina… with an Omega wolf.

It feels like ice water gets poured over my head.

I was at least expecting a Beta.

“Mmnn… but she doesn’t feel like a weak Omega,” Ash snorts.

“You really think if you lose control she’ll be able to rein you in?” I shut that down in an instant. "You know very well what I think of Omegas..."

“Then you’re going to have to choose, because Miska’s already scaling the ravine wall.”

I frown at his words and set the folder aside.

And sure enough, a pissed-off, battered Miska hauls herself up with claws and sheer effort.

Doesn’t surprise me.

She charges toward the hedge maze with a roar and disappears inside along with the Omega.

A few other girls are climbing the wall too, but they’re way behind.

It’s down to those two, and I think, like everyone else, that there’s no way the little Omega’s going to pull ahead of Miska.

Still... the impossible happens.

“Right, go right! Where the hell is your sense of direction?!” William is roaring at that Savannah now, frustrated.

She looks completely lost in the maze of towering hedges.

No… it feels like she’s doing it on purpose.

“She doesn’t want to win…” My wolf wrinkles his muzzle, ready to send an order to the Omega to come closer.

“Don’t push her. Looks like she doesn’t want to be our Seraphina.” The thought slips through my mind.

“Is she scared of us? Maybe she heard the rumors…” Ash’s voice fades, but the anger in my chest doesn’t.

A cold smile curls at the corner of my mouth as I stand.

She really thinks she can play games with me like this?

The decision isn’t in her hands anymore.

I head down the steps and walk up to the stone railing.

“Kaden, I’m calling that Seraphina for myself. You keep Miska. Look, she’s going to cross the finish line first…”

“Don’t make decisions for me.” I pin William with a sharp look. “I still haven’t decided who’s going to serve me…”

I jump into the pit without waiting for his answer and land in the sand, landing solidly on my feet.

Dust billows up around me like smoke.

I stride straight toward the spot where I know she’s hiding.

I think it’s time to show that rebellious Omega who’s in charge here.

THE SERAPHINA TRIAL

ISABELLA

“Holy crap, that ravine scared the shit out of me!” Thera panted, all worked up, tongue hanging out.

I was slumped in a corner of the maze, exhausted beyond belief, my ankle swollen like a damn ham.

The cold fog hid me a little from all the watchful eyes up in the stands.

“Shh… fuck, that hurts,” I muttered, wondering how I was supposed to get up now that all the adrenaline was fading.

“That bitch almost left us locked in the bathroom!” Thera kept ranting, and us being pissed was exactly why we’d ended up in this situation.

The goal was to finish near the top, not drag all the attention right onto us.

But back in the locker room, where we’d left our stuff and they handed us our workout clothes, I got another little welcome gift.

When I went into a stall to change, someone blocked my door from the outside.

I knew damn well it was Miska.

Her intense, suffocating Alpha scent clung to every inch of the bathroom.

She didn’t even bother to hide it.

I got tired of yelling for help and no one ever came.

I couldn’t squeeze out under the door, and if it weren’t for this tiny high window, I’d still be stuck in there.

I climbed out with way too much effort, ran to the course, and decided to teach that idiot a lesson.

I’d already had enough crap in my life.

I wasn’t about to let some stranger humiliate me too.

“Too bad we can’t beat her, but shoving her toward that drop almost gave me an orgasm,” Thera kept chattering while I struggled to push myself up.

I heard a few gasps.

That Alpha had probably reached the finish line, but before I could stand, the hedge wall beside me started shaking violently.

Thera went rigid, sniffing in that direction, every instinct screaming danger and submission.

Rough hands tipped with claws tore a hole through branches and roots, and the hard, cold face of the Lycan prince appeared in the opening.

“You planning on hiding in this corner forever?” his voice was harsh and sharp.

My whole body shook from head to toe.

“N-no, sir, I was just…” My brain was spinning as I forced myself to stand.

A hiss of pain slipped out when I put weight on my foot, and the grimace on my face probably said the rest.

“You’re hurt,” he said, eyes dropping to my leg.

“Yeah… I had to stop and rest. I wasn’t hiding. I’m sorry,” I muttered, staring at the grass, cold sweat breaking out across my skin.

I could feel him looking me over. I had no idea if he believed me.

What the hell was he even doing here? Was he looking for me?

“Go right and you’ll get out of the maze. Can you walk, or do you need help?”

“I can walk. Thank you.” My voice sounded barely there.

Without daring to meet his eyes, I took the path that curved to the right.

In my mind, I could feel my wolf’s curiosity, and the outline of a huge gray wolf took shape in my thoughts.

Was that the prince’s wolf?

“Mmnn, looks like it. And he’s huge. Mysterious and kind of hot,” Thera answered thoughtfully and, of course, the world could be ending and she’d still be calculating how many centimeters she could handle.

My mouth twisted and I limped toward the exit in wobbly steps.

Where the hell had the Goddess found a wolf as perverted as mine?

I squinted when the outside light hit my eyes, making me blink.

This was the end of the obstacle course.

Suddenly, applause and whistles broke out.

I jumped a little, realizing they were for me, coming from the stands.

I looked up.

It was true, they’d been cheering for me the whole time, especially that blond Lycan who was now whistling from the royal box.

He was my target. I’d ask to be his Seraphina.

He looked like the most approachable, friendly one.

A smile tried to creep onto my lips at his shamelessness, but it froze in my chest.

“You planning to make me wait all day?”

I stiffly lowered my head and found myself staring straight into the blue eyes of that arrogant jerk.

He was standing a few meters away, right at the finish line, and off to the side, that Alpha was shooting me a death glare.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled again, tense, forcing myself to walk toward them even though I didn’t want to.

More footsteps sounded off to the side and two men came down from their boxes.

Their dark, formal outfits made them look like Academy professors.

I figured there’d be some kind of welcome ceremony later, and they’d introduce themselves.

“Your Majesty, what did you think of the Selection?” I heard one of them ask respectfully.

He was a tall wolf with reddish hair threaded with gray and gold-rimmed glasses.

He looked seasoned and kind, but not like a kiss-ass.

“I thought it was well put together, Vice Principal Mortimer. I’m satisfied,” the prince answered in a rough voice, and the atmosphere immediately tightened.

His gaze returned to us.

My attention stayed fixed on how nice the grass looked and how hard it was getting to stay upright with my throbbing ankle.

Pain shot up my leg in sharp stabs that made sweat trickle down my back.

Beside me, I heard someone step forward.

“Thank you for choosing me, Your Majesty. I promise I’ll do my best to serve you…”

“Took that slut long enough,” Thera snorted, pissed, but it was honestly for the best.

“Miss Miska is one of the finest Seraphinas in the realm…”

“And who said I chose her?”

The prince’s cutting voice instantly killed all the praise aimed at Miska.

“Your Majesty… I was the winner. You said you’d already chosen…”

“I said I was satisfied with the competition, not that I was sure who my Seraphina would be,” he cut her off again, and none of this was making any sense to me.

Suddenly his shadow fell over mine and I shivered all over.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he ordered, merciless, and how was I supposed to disobey that?

My neck creaked as I lifted my head, and my erratic gaze crashed into his fierce eyes.

“I’m putting both of you on a one-month trial. At the end, I’ll decide which of you I’m keeping,” he declared, blowing all my plans to pieces.

“But, Your Majesty…” I tried to protest, but one raised eyebrow shut me right up.

I bit my lower lip, swallowing my complaints.

Why the hell did I have to stay tied to him and keep going up against that dangerous Alpha?

“Did I do something to upset you?” Miska dared to ask in a shaky voice.

She looked about to cry, and the professors watched her with awkward expressions.

He kept drilling his gaze into my face, and I was this close to screaming at him to stop staring at me like that.

In the end, he turned to Miska.

“You only won because she got hurt. Letting an Omega jump over you is… honestly disappointing.”

I could almost hear the Alpha’s heart crack in two.

The way he said “Omega” also stung a bit, but my wolf couldn’t care less and was dying of laughter, mocking her.

I didn’t find any of this funny.

“I’ll meet with both of you later and lay down the rules. For now, go rest…”

“Sir,” I dared to stop him before he walked away, “what happens to the loser? Will she be passed to another Lycan?”

I needed to know. I couldn’t risk getting sent back home.

“Are you that desperate to go ‘comfort’ someone else?” his blunt question caught me completely off guard.

“N-no… no, I just… I like the Academy. I don’t want to leave…” I started to babble, upper lip damp with nervous sweat.

“Miss Olivan, you’ll be allowed to stay even if no Lycan chooses you. Your performance was very good.”

It was like the heavens just opened up when the Vice Principal answered.

“Thank you, sir,” I breathed out, relieved, just starting to relax when a low growl pinned me in place again.

“Don’t count yourself out so fast, Miss Olivan.”

The Lycan prince’s aura was like a hand closing around my throat.

“You sound awfully desperate not to be my Seraphina.”

“No, no, Your Highness, of course not, it’d be an hon…or…” he turned his back on me and walked away, leaving me with the word stuck on my tongue.

With an angry huff, he strode off, ending the conversation the second he felt like it.

Rude bastard.

At least we could all finally breathe without his suffocating presence.

I’m pretty sure the sigh of relief was collective.

“Go rest. We’ll take care of the other candidates.”

The redheaded man, the one identified as the Academy’s Vice Principal, dismissed us.

I was beyond grateful and only thinking about collapsing in the first corner I saw.

Limping, I headed toward what looked like one of the exits from the arena.

I’d barely set one foot into the hallway when claws wrapped around my shoulder and yanked me back.

Pain shot through my shoulder and ankle so hard I almost screamed, but I clenched my teeth and shook off her grip.

I knew exactly who it was, and this rivalry between us was only going to bring me trouble.

“What do you want from me?” I faced her without backing down.

“What you did today… you’re going to pay for it with your life.”

Miska’s threat was direct, her claws stretching out, ready to shred my face.