Selene Nyxbourne was the oldest daughter of the Nyxbourne pack, and by far the fairest. Unfortunately, she was also the most hotheaded.

  “You’re selling me off like a pig to slaughter,” she screamed from the window as her father slowly strode away. “I've never even met him!”

  He gave a dismissive wave as he walked towards the large stable attached to the left-hand side of the large mansion. She knew he was getting ready to personally lead a small delegation to meet another pack. To accept the offer of Claim on her.

  “Selene, calm down,” said a voice from the room behind her. Selene whirled around indignantly to face her mother, Matriarch Estrella, who was calmly, yet meticulously, going through the gowns in her closet, placing a few on the bed for consideration.

  Selene screamed inwardly.

  She had only attended a handful of this year’s Mate’s Moon Masquerades. It wasn’t her fault none of those had produced the spark needed to know if someone was her True Mate. She just needed more time. She did not want, nay, refused to be one of those who settled for something less.

  “You’re going to be twenty this year,” Estrella continued, tossing a light blue gown covered in crystals onto the bed. “You need to be thinking of your future—of our future. Think of your sisters. Think of your brother.”

  Selene deflated a little, all the hot air of her anger and indignation dissipating and making her feel slightly empty. A knot of anxiety churned and ached within her. She doted on her siblings. She wanted the absolute best for them. But sacrificing her freedom for that, even if she understood the weight of her duties, seemed unbearable.

  The Nyxbourne clan was one of the Great Four, each touched by the divine and given the First Blessing that brought power, prosperity, and peace. But over the centuries, what had once been a golden age of abundance, harmony, and unity, had slowly devolved into animosity and darkness. The Solmere clan had mysteriously disappeared. The Dawncaller Clan had been completely wiped out. Only the Duskveil and Nyxbourne clans remained, and Selene knew it was only a matter of time before they too were targeted for elimination. Centuries of waning power now made them a vulnerable target for easy dispatching.

  That is, unless she accepted the claim of the man who had set his sights on her.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Lucien Duskveil.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  Selene stiffened and the world came sharply into focus. Estrella had been speaking to her. She glanced at the dress in her mothers hand, a long, asymmetrical dark blue gown with silver accents. The strappy kind that hugged her body in uncomfortable ways and revealed more than she was willing to give.

  “I said you can wear this dress with the moonstone earrings and necklace your grandmother gave you for your birthday last year. We’ll do your hair up with silver ribbons; they’ll contrast each other nicely.”

  Selene touched a lock of her midnight hair, the very same shade as her mothers, minus the shock of white that cascaded from the older woman’s temples. She gazed at Estrella, noticing the fine lines that had started to crease her eyes and mouth. Her mother loved to laugh, and her daughters had inherited her dry and sometimes dark humor. Would she remember her if they never saw each other again? What if she was never allowed to visit? What if her siblings couldn’t come see her either? A lump rose in her throat and her stomach clenched, the knot of anxiety winding itself more tightly. What if she never saw any of them ever again?

  She wasn’t ready. She didn’t want to let go of the life she led now. It was comfortable. Familiar.

  Estrella set the dress gently on the bed and walked over to stand in front of her. She put her hands on both Selene’s cheeks and smiled down at her daughter.

  “You’ll always be my little girl, Selene, no matter where this life takes you,” she said.

  Selene moved in and hugged her mother tightly, who held her firmly in return. Burying her face into the soft fabric of her dress she smelled jasmine and sandalwood—warm and grounding. Somehow her mother always had a sixth sense of how she was feeling, how any of them were feeling, and was as quick to give comfort as her children were to seek it.

  Selene loosened her arms and backed away from the warmth, sniffling slightly.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll always be here for you,” her mother reassured.

  Selene nodded, pulling herself up to her full height, which was still several several inches shorter than her towering mother.

  “Now lets get your outfit picked out before he gets here tonight.”

  Selene gulped. “Tonight?” she said, managing not to shriek the words in panic.

  Selene knew her family would be bringing Lucien here for the initial bonding ceremony, but she had no idea it would be so soon. That it would be tonight.

  With a deep breath and a sigh, she grabbed the dress from the bed and began her preparations.