Chapter 3

Nathaniel waved his hands quickly. "It's not a matter of luna or mistress. Lily said herself — even if she enters the household first as my mate, she will defer to you in all things once you arrive. She won't compete with you."

He stepped toward me, urgent. "Evelyn, you are the lycan council elder's alpha daughter, and the granddaughter of a great general. Your standing in the pack is unquestionable. No one would dare look down on you, no matter what."

"But Lily is different. She was born omega-blooded. Every step of her life has been a struggle. I only want to make things a little easier for her."

"You'll only be two months behind, and Lily has already said — when you arrive, she won't ask you to take suppressants. She'll allow you to conceive and bear your own children. They can even be registered under her name and raised as alpha-born."

He spoke with such feeling, seeming genuinely moved by Lily's so-called generosity.

The expressions on the guests' faces said everything: "Has the Voss pack lost their minds?"

"What is Elder Harmon thinking — sending his alpha daughter in as a second wife?"

"If the General hears about this, he'll ride back from the Northern Garrison and tear this place apart."

Nathaniel's face cycled between pale and red.

Lily drifted over in her celestial gown, voice soft as silk. "Sister, please say yes."

"Nate has such a kind heart. He pities my circumstances — that's why he thought of this."

I let out a cold laugh. "You call your circumstances pitiful? Your mother moved into my mother's quarters three days after her death. My mother's jewelry was claimed by her. And you took over my rooms — the most comfortable in the house — claiming you preferred them."

"Your food, your clothing, your jewels — you always had the first pick of everything, and better than what I had as the alpha's daughter. Tell me, sister — where exactly is the hardship you speak of?"

The guests looked her over. The celestial gown she wore was the very prize Nathaniel had won for her at the tournament. Its value needed no explanation.

On her head sat a jeweled crown from Silver Moon Jewelers — their signature piece, worth a hundred moonstones. Her embroidered slippers were adorned with Eastern pearls, impossibly opulent.

By contrast, I stood in clean, simple attire — and somehow appeared more plainly dressed than she did.

"That outfit costs a fortune. Even the most celebrated alpha daughters in the pack don't dress like that. She has the nerve to call herself an unloved, omega-blooded girl?"

"Just that crown alone is worth a hundred moonstones."

"Even her mother's cloud-silk robe is worth thousands. Those two dress grander than most lunas."

"The actual alpha's daughter here looks positively understated by comparison."

Lily retreated a step, tears clinging to her lashes, looking at Nathaniel. "That's not true, Nate. Father only asked me to dress this way today, for the ceremony, so as not to lose face in front of guests. These clothes aren't really mine."

"This crown and the jewelry — Father said they were meant for my sister."

I smiled softly. "Father said they were meant for me? Pearl — make a note. After the ceremony, please go to the second young miss's room and collect all the crown jewels and accessories for return to my quarters."

My maid Pearl pressed her lips into a smile. "Yes, Miss Evelyn."

Nathaniel snapped, "Enough, Evelyn — it's just a crown. Why must you back your own sister into a corner? All this petty bickering — it's completely beneath an alpha's daughter."

"I had my doubts about whether you were treating Lily poorly. Now I'm starting to wonder just how much you've been bullying her when I wasn't around."

He stepped in front of Lily, clasping her hand tightly. "She will be the future luna of this house. She doesn't stoop to counting jewelry."

"Besides, when Lily is formally wed, your father has agreed to send her off with a hundred-box dowry. She couldn't care less about a few pieces of jewelry."