The throne room of Moonblood Palace was vast enough to swallow sound, yet today, the air seemed to hum with unease. Tall windows poured in silver light, casting long shadows over the polished marble floor. Every noble in attendance kept their voices low, the kind of murmurs that told of fear disguised as curiosity.
Natalie stood slightly behind her mother's throne, as tradition dictated for the "lesser" princess. Her sister, Selene, occupied the seat beside the Queen, posture perfect, expression smug.
The great doors creaked open. A tall, broad-shouldered man strode in, flanked by two guards wearing the black-and-gold insignia of the Northern Court. He wasn't the Alpha , Natalie had expected that much ; but his presence alone commanded the room.
He bowed low before the Queen. "I am Lord Maelor, envoy of His Majesty, Alpha Damien of the Northern Court." His voice carried easily through the hall, steady and deep. "I come bearing the will of my King."
There was a pause. Even the torches seemed to hold their breath.
Maelor reached into his cloak and withdrew a scroll sealed with dark red wax. He broke it, unrolling the parchment.
"By decree of the Northern Court," he read, "Alpha Damien offers his hand in marriage to the Princess of Moonblood, as an unbreakable bond between our kingdoms. This union shall bring peace, security, and the promise of shared strength in the coming wars."
The words hung heavy in the air.
"And if the offer is refused?" the Queen asked, her voice perfectly calm.
Maelor's gaze flickered briefly toward her, then toward the gathered nobles. "Then my Alpha will consider the Moonblood Pack… uncooperative. And in need of correction."
The silence that followed was a suffocating thing.
Natalie's heartbeat quickened. The threat was clear. A refusal would mean war,and the Alpha was not known for leaving survivors.
Selene leaned forward, her tone smooth but laced with mockery. "A dying man seeks a bride from our court? How touching."
A ripple of unease passed through the nobles. Maelor's jaw tightened, but his voice stayed even. "My Alpha's health is no concern of yours, Princess. His strength in battle is unmatched, and his enemies lie in graves, not in courts."
"Still," Selene said, examining her nails as if bored, "I see no reason to chain myself to a wolf whose life is measured in months."
Natalie's eyes darted to her mother. Queen Elara's expression remained impassive, but her fingers tapped once against the armrest of her throne , the only sign of irritation.
"Your Majesty," Maelor continued, ignoring Selene's barb, "the Alpha expects your reply within seven nights. Refusal will be taken as open defiance. Acceptance will bind our two courts in strength and loyalty."
He stepped back and bowed once more. "I leave with the moonrise tomorrow."
The Queen inclined her head. "You shall have our answer before you depart."
When Maelor was escorted from the hall, the murmurs broke loose like a sudden wind. Nobles whispered about the Alpha's ruthlessness, the curse that plagued him, and the wisdom, or folly , of accepting his proposal.
Selene rose from her seat with a careless flick of her gown. "Mother, surely you won't agree to this madness."
Queen Elara's gaze was cool. "The Northern Court commands the largest army in the eastern lands. They could crush us in weeks."
"And yet you'd send me to their King?" Selene asked sharply. "An Alpha feared even by his allies? No, Mother. I will not do it."
Her mother's voice lowered, cold as winter. "You mistake this for a request."
Selene stiffened, but there was no fear in her eyes ,only defiance. "Then find another way. My life is not yours to bargain away."
She turned and swept from the hall, her footsteps echoing against the marble.
Natalie remained silent, though her stomach churned. The Queen's gaze shifted toward her, lingering just long enough to make her skin prickle. It was not a look of affection, it was the look of someone assessing a piece on a chessboard.
In that moment, Natalie understood something with bone-deep certainty.
Selene's refusal would not stop the marriage.
It would simply… redirect it.