Chapter 1

As the daughter of a Beta, I was raised from childhood to be the mate of Michael Thompson, the Alpha heir of our pack.

Michael loved giving me numbered mystery boxes as gifts.

But for the past three years, the boxes I opened were always disappointing—just repetitive designer bags and shoes that didn’t even fit me.

Meanwhile, my adoptive sister, Nina Vance, always got exactly what she wanted.

Limited-edition jewelry, round-trip first-class tickets, and luxury hotel reservations for trips with Michael.

I used to think I just had bad luck.

Until yesterday, when I accidentally saw a pinned Snapchat notification on Nina's phone. It was a message from Michael.

"For this batch of gifts, pick 1, 4, 5, 9, and 11."

"I put your surprises in those."

0

Michael sent over another batch of mystery gift boxes today.

As soon as Nina got the package, she immediately started a FaceTime call with Michael.

When he picked up, Michael smiled. "Got the package?"

"The usual rules, then. Nina gets to pick first."

Nina sat down next to me, holding the boxes, and casually tossed out a few numbers.

"I’ll take 1, 4, 5, 9, and 11."

They were the exact same numbers I had seen in Michael's Snapchat message to her yesterday.

I bit my lip, my throat tightening with a sharp ache.

So that was it.

Every time we opened gifts, Michael insisted that Nina choose her numbers first.

He wasn't being polite. He was terrified I would accidentally pick the surprises he had meticulously prepared for her.

With her numbers chosen, Nina eagerly tore open her boxes.

Box 1 was a luxury couple’s vacation package to Paris.

Box 4 was a limited-edition Hermès silk scarf.

Box 5 was a custom pearl necklace.

Box 9 was a VIP pass to a Swiss ski resort.

And Box 11 contained an elegant, sealed envelope.

I stared at it, confused. "What's in that one?"

Nina opened the envelope, glanced at the letter inside, and a smug, unstoppable smile spread across her face.

I didn't press further. I just reached for the remaining boxes left for me.

One by one, I opened them.

With every box I opened, my heart grew colder.

By the time I finished, a pile of identical designer handbags and wrong-sized heels sat in front of me. I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What was I even expecting?

Did I really think Michael would actually surprise me?

Seeing my pile of repetitive, thoughtless junk, Nina let out a soft giggle.

"Oh, Emily, why is your luck always so terrible?"

"It’s been three years. You always get the same boring stuff."

I didn't answer her.

Instead, I looked directly at Michael on the screen.

"Michael, what’s in that letter?"

Before Michael could speak, Nina waved the paper in front of the camera.

"Oh, nothing. Just a thank-you note from Michael."

"After all, I helped him plan the upcoming Mate Lottery."

I frowned. "What Mate Lottery?"

Michael smiled, taking over the conversation.

"I was actually just about to tell you, Emily."

"At tomorrow’s Pack Gathering, I’m going to let fate decide my Luna."

"You and Nina will each draw a slip from a box. Whoever draws the one marked 'Mate' will be my official mate."

"It’s completely fair. It all comes down to destiny."

As he said this, his eyes drifted toward Nina with a tenderness he hadn't shown me in years.

My chest tightened. "Why are you suddenly doing this?"

"Doesn't it sound romantic?" Michael laughed. "And this way, no one can accuse me of being biased, right?"

I remained silent.

The next day, at the Pack Gathering.

The entire pack had gathered in the grand hall.

Michael stood on the stage. In front of him was a wooden box containing two folded slips of paper.

"Today, I will let fate choose my mate," Michael announced into the microphone.

"Emily, Nina, who wants to draw first?"

Nina stepped forward eagerly.

She slid her hand into the box, pulled out a slip, and unfolded it.

Written in bold letters was the word—"Mate."

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Nina gasped, covering her mouth as her eyes welled with tears.

"Oh my god... I actually got it?"

Michael smiled warmly, stepping up to take her hand.

"It seems destiny has made its choice."

Then, he turned his gaze to me.

"I'm sorry, Emily. Bad luck."

"But hey, you can't argue with fate, right?"

I stood frozen in the crowd, watching the spectacle.

I watched Michael gently fasten the custom pearl necklace around Nina's neck—the very necklace that was supposed to be my birthday present.

I watched Nina lean into his chest, smiling like a triumphant queen.

Suddenly, another message I had seen on Nina's Snapchat yesterday flashed in my mind.

"For tomorrow's drawing, both slips in the box have your name on them."

So that was the truth.

It had nothing to do with luck or destiny.

From the very beginning, it was just a rigged show.

I turned around and quietly walked out of the hall.

As I walked into the cold wind, memories of my father rushed back.

Back when my father was alive, even though Michael was already the Alpha heir, he had spent an entire month hand-carving a wooden comb for me. He used to remember every single book I casually mentioned and surprise me with them the next time we met.

But during the first year after my father died, his gifts became lazy. By the second year, he started spending all his free time with Nina. And by the third year—now—he didn't even bother to hide his indifference anymore.

My father’s death didn't just strip away my protection. It took away the last bit of Michael's patience with me.

0