Rosaline's POV:

My name is Rosaline Sinclair. I'm a 20-year-old werewolf and the Alpha of the Shadow Pack. Yes, you read that correctly—I'm an Alpha, one of the rare female Alphas on the Werewolf Continent.

Not long ago, the Shadow Pack was one of the most influential packs on the continent. But after I was born, my grandfather led us into seclusion in Frostmoore, the northernmost part of the continent. He claimed that our ancestors' first werewolf king came from here and that Frostmoore was our homeland.

Frostmoore was far from the bustling centers of the continent, and over the years, the outside world has learned less and less about our pack. Apart from us, no other pack knows that I've inherited the Alpha position from Hubert Sinclair, my grandfather.

My parents died when I was young. They were victims of the territorial wars between the larger packs. From an early age, I knew that protecting the Shadow Pack would be my lifelong duty.

Fortunately, the Moon Goddess blessed me with a strong and agile body. I began my werewolf training by the time I was six, and my skills surpassed those of my peers.

Once I was able to control my wolf, my grandfather was quick to pass the Alpha title to me. He said he was tired and ready to retire, to enjoy a peaceful life.

Normally, I would handle the pack's matters in Shadow Pack, but here I am, standing at the Rivemon train station.

It's almost laughable. It wasn't until I became an Alpha that my grandfather told me about an arranged marriage I couldn't refuse. The groom-to-be was none other than Caden Holbrook, the first heir to the Eclipse Pack.

"Just three months," my grandfather pleaded.

"Please, just three months. Can you do that for me? You have to understand. If something happens to me and your destined mate isn't strong enough, those elders will make your life miserable. That's why I arranged this marriage with Eclipse Pack 18 years ago."

I protested. "Grandpa, everyone in the pack respects me. Who would dare challenge me as I'm the first female Alpha of the Shadow Pack?"

My grandfather knew how strong I was. He'd said my power exceeded that of my father's.

But clearly, my parents' death had shaken my grandfather's belief in the continuation of the family legacy.

Rather than letting the Moon Goddess decide my fated mate, my grandfather preferred to find a strong Alpha from a powerful pack to rely on. That way, he believed I would be better equipped to handle internal conflicts within the pack and protect our people, rather than facing it alone.

"You can come back if you don't have any feelings for that boy from the Holbrooks after three months. We'll break off the engagement then," my grandfather said.

I agreed, not just out of duty but also out of concern for my grandfather's health. After he passed the mantle to me, his powers had diminished, and his body had begun to fail him. I didn't want him to continue worrying about me. Three months was nothing; I could endure it.

As soon as I stepped off the platform with my suitcase, I noticed several people glancing my way.

I had dressed as simply as I could—wearing a white T-shirt and jeans with my slightly curly hair tied back with a band. I had purposely suppressed the powerful Alpha aura of my wolf, Freya, trying to pass as an Omega.

Still, my beauty couldn't be hidden.

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Sinclair from the Shadow Pack? Welcome to Rivemon. I'm your driver, sent by the Eclipse Pack."

I nodded. It seemed Eclipse Pack didn't place much importance on their "future Luna," sending only a driver to pick me up. Fine by me—I wanted to keep a low profile and hide my strength.

I only wanted to get out of this arranged marriage as soon as possible.

I followed the driver to the car, and as we left the train station, I could feel his eyes glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I closed my eyes, knowing it was natural for him to be curious. Though I appeared to be a low-ranking Omega, I was here to be Eclipse Pack's Luna.

The Shadow Pack was powerful, but the surrounding packs always watched us closely.

While my time here might be short, no one needed to learn the Alpha was absent from our pack. That's why my grandfather had urged me to hide my identity. Aside from Richard Holbrook, the current Alpha of the Eclipse Pack, no one in the Eclipse Pack knew the truth.

Caden, the first heir of Eclipse Pack, was a 20-year-old prodigy who managed the pack's business affairs with impressive skill, turning everything he touched into success within a year.

However, just like me, he probably never imagined that his Alpha father had arranged a marriage for him with a rural girl from the far-off Frostmoore.

The driver must have noticed my simple clothes because I saw him shake his head in disapproval.

As an Alpha with heightened senses, I could easily tell what the driver was thinking. He probably saw me as just another nobody from the Shadow Pack's Sinclair family. He likely thought of me as a Cinderella trying to marry into a rich family, unsure of the hardships I'd face once I entered the Holbrooks' world.

I shrugged off his judgment and sent a message to my grandfather. His reply came almost immediately, "Ok."

The car soon pulled up to the Holbrook Manor. The driver helped me with my luggage, and we made our way to the front door, only to be stopped by a woman standing at the entrance.

She sized me up disdainfully.

The driver immediately lowered his head. "Mrs. Holbrook, she's... "

"Laura," the woman interrupted, her voice dripping with distaste.

"Yes, Mrs. Holbrook."

Laura, the housekeeper, holding a bottle of disinfectant, started spraying me from head to toe.

Eleanor Holbrook, standing by her side, added coldly, "Don't forget the shoes and the hair—everything must be sanitized."

It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Eleanor was definitely Caden's mother, and she seemed to be trying to intimidate me, her future daughter-in-law.

A sharp, chemical scent filled the air, and I instinctively blocked my face with my hand. I glared at Eleanor and said, "You guys are sick."

Eleanor's expression immediately soured. "As expected of a bumpkin from the Frostmoore. You're rude. We're concerned that you might carry wolfsbane. What if you harm someone in the Holbrook family?"

I knew hiding my Alpha aura and pretending to be an Omega was the right move. Eleanor's reaction proved it—she was just a shallow, status-obsessed woman.

She didn't like my attitude? Fine, I didn't like hers either.

"Maybe you should also spray some disinfectant on your mouth. It stinks... " I said, brushing past her to step inside.

Behind me, I heard Eleanor sputter, "You!"

"Mrs. Holbrook, please don't get upset over a bumpkin like her," I heard Laura say, quickly trying to placate her.

I walked further into the house and almost immediately bumped into a girl standing in my way. She was about my age, dressed head-to-toe in expensive designer clothes, and her eyes gleamed with cold disapproval.

"So, you're Rosaline from the Shadow Pack? The one who's supposed to be Caden's Luna?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "How could you be an Omega?"

She sniffed the air, then glanced over my clothes with even more scorn. "Tsk tsk, Grandpa really has poor taste. I heard you took a train here. If we'd known, we could've bought you a plane ticket. But I guess Frostmoore doesn't have an airport, huh?"

She giggled, basking in her superiority.

I stared at her, unimpressed. She must be Queenie Holbrook, Caden's cousin. Only someone as socially inept as she was would dare criticize Alpha Richard's judgment.

Is everyone from the Eclipse Pack this arrogant?

On the way here, I had already researched everything about Rivemon and the Eclipse Pack. However, from Eleanor and Queenie's attitudes, it was clear that this newly risen pack knew nothing about the Shadow Pack.

Buy me a plane ticket? Please. Do they have any idea who I am?

I own three private jets.

I only took the train to keep a low profile, though my grandfather had rented an entire train for me to travel in comfort.

I doubt anyone could imagine the pleasure of having an entire train to myself. During the trip, I even shifted into wolf form and let Freya run freely through the empty carriages.

I couldn't be bothered to waste time talking to Queenie. Grabbing my suitcase, I headed upstairs without another word.

Behind me, I heard footsteps. Freya told me it was Queenie, and she was glaring at me angrily as her pride was hurt by being ignored.

"Where's my room?" I asked one of the servants.

Before the servant could answer, Queenie stepped forward and spoke up.

"Right here," she said, opening the door. "You must've never stayed in such a big, luxurious room before. You'd better cherish your time at Eclipse Pack. I'm Caden's cousin, Queenie. You'd better be nice to me. Who knows, maybe—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I simply walked into the room and slammed the door shut behind me. The loud bang made her jump and she almost shifted her form.

"Ah! How dare a bumpkin like her be so arrogant? I just want to rip her apart. What kind of taste does Grandpa have anyway?"

I leaned against the door, trying to stifle my laughter as I listened to Queenie's complaints outside.

Do you think you can hurt me?

You're a Beta, a lowly Beta. Freya could tear you apart with one swipe of her claws.