Chapter 1After the Alpha of the Lancaster Pack finally acknowledged me, he tossed me a black treasury card - with one claw-sharp rule.
I could drain it dry, but only the false she-wolf could call him Dad.
I said nothing. Just bought myself a two-fifty ice cream cone with it.
I was licking it, content, when that pretender dropped to her knees at my feet.
"Sister, are you mocking me? Saying I won't even afford a two-buck treat one day?"
My brother Marcelo saw it. Two slaps cracked across my face before I could blink.
"You got the coin, but love's not for sale - Belle is my only real sister."
Then my father splashed boiling coffee over my head.
"Such a disgrace doesn't deserve the Lancaster name!"
Their punishment? They shipped me to the Rogue mines - a pup to dig until I broke.
Ten years later, I was holding another ice cream when I crashed into a glittering pack banquet hall. And there he was - Marcelo.
"Still no dignity after all this time."
I couldn't be bothered. "Let go. My dad's waiting - if I'm late, this'll melt."
He sneered down at me. "Dad? Who gave you permission to use that word!"
I rolled my eyes. Did he think I meant that deadbeat?
I meant my adoptive father - the most greatest Alpha with a sweet tooth the size of a moon. I was racing to bring him his frozen treat.
...
I craned my neck, scanning the crowd.
Tonight was my brother's bonding ceremony. The pack steward had given me this address - it had to be right.
Marcelo grabbed my arm. "Everyone here is high-ranked. Looking like that, you'll shame the Lancasters."
I smirked. "I'm no Lancaster. So how could I shame them?"
His wolf flickered behind his eyes, but he held his calm. "Typical rogue trash - all growl, no bite."
I shook him off and strode inside.
The guards blocked me. "This is no place for strays."
One looked me up and down, disgust plain. Then he muttered to his partner, "Some omega begging for scraps. Doesn't know her place."
I glanced down - my custom pink dress was dirty from running.
Marcelo sighed, irritated. "Just because the pack won't claim you doesn't mean you have to sink to beggar. Have some shame."
"Move."
I frowned. "I'm here for a packmate's bonding ceremony."
My brother - my real brother, the oil Alpha King's son - had come to the States for a strategic alliance. He'd found his perfect match. So my dad and I rushed from our desert estate to celebrate.
Marcelo's mouth twisted. "Packmate? Still pretending you're not after our fortune? Who gave you the Lancaster name?"
I blinked. Wait - was there another Lancaster bonding tonight?
"Ten years away, and you've learned nothing. I almost considered letting you back - but clearly, you haven't changed."
I laughed coldly. So he did know I'd been gone a decade.
When I first landed in the Middle East at twelve, I was a lost pup. I cried until my throat burned.
That land was torn by pack wars - fighter jets and artillery fire. I feared death every single day.
Until I saved a wounded elder from an ambush.
I fought for food scraps in the rogue camp, sharing half with him. When he healed, he took me home - to an eighty-story palace that scraped the clouds.
I nearly shifted in shock.
Turns out, the war was just a power grab between oil Alphas. My adoptive father had been targeted. I saved his life - and he crushed every rival, absorbing their territories.
After that, the entire mining region fell silent. Peace.
They called me their lucky charm. I became the Oil Princess - every wolf in the region knew my name.
If the Lancasters had cared even once in ten years, they'd have known I was adopted by an Alpha who owned half the desert.
Just as I opened my mouth, a voice cut through.
"Marcelo, it's my big night - no fighting, please!"
A girl in a pink gown stepped out of the hall, all sunshine and smiles.
But when I saw her face, my wolf shuddered inside me.
Because that face - it was a mirror of the she-wolf who'd trapped me in that junkyard as a child.
Chapter 2
Eight years in that junkyard.
I ate sour, rotting scraps when hunger gnawed. Slept on trash piles when exhaustion won. Every dawn, the same stench, the same filth.
Until social workers found me. Brought me back to the Lancaster Pack.
That's when I learned I was born their true heiress - silver spoon, high-rank blood.
But that she-wolf Holly had swapped me at birth.
The first time I saw Belle in her pink frills, I broke down sobbing. Begged my Alpha father not to send her away.
Because I knew the junkyard hell. I couldn't wish that on anyone.
But Belle?
Not a drop of gratitude. She treated me like a rival omega from day one.
That day I walked home with my first ice cream - she barreled into me, sent it splattering to the ground.
"Oops, sorry Lyra, I lost my balance."
I stared at the melting puddle.
You could find anything in that junkyard. Broken toys, spoiled food, rusted metal. But never ice cream.
I'd dreamed of that taste my whole childhood.
So when that black card landed in my palm, I bought myself a two-fifty cone. My first luxury.
Never thought it'd end in the dirt.
Ten years later, she was still the same - that smug tilt to her chin, that condescending curl of her lip.
Seeing me gape at the fallen treat like the pitiful pup I once was, Belle's smile stretched wider.
"I was so excited to see you! I just told Dad last week we should bring you back for my bonding ceremony."
She flashed the ring on her finger. Pigeon-egg diamond. Dazzling.
My wolf lurched. That ring - I'd picked it myself for my future sister-in-law.
Was my brother's alliance with her?
Marcelo patted Belle's head like she was precious. "So that's why this beggar dared slink back. Our Belle's too kind-hearted!"
Then his glare hit me. "Aren't you going to thank her? No manners at all."
I laughed, bitter. "What manners could I have? Parents who birthed me, never raised me. A father and brother who sent me to the mines for a fake heiress - what exactly did you expect?"
The arriving guests gathered at the entrance, whispers crawling through the crowd.
"I heard the Lancasters had a lost true heir. Is that her?"
"Such a pity. The imposter stole her life - she'd be the one mated to the oil prince today."
"You - !"
Marcelo's hand flew up, claws half-extending -
Then he met my eyes. Hesitated. Lowered his arm.
"Fine. One ice cream? I'll pay you back tenfold."
"No need. I'm not broke." Flat. Cold.
His jaw tightened. "If you didn't have Mom's face, you think I'd even listen?"
"Even if you begged on your knees, I'd never call you sister."
He yanked out his phone to transfer funds - then froze.
"The card's frozen? You haven't touched Lancaster money all these years?"
His brow lifted. Surprise flickered. Almost sympathy.
Truth was, the card stopped working my first day in the Middle East. Did he honestly think I'd survived on their scraps?
Belle saw her opening. Eyes glistened on cue.
"Lyra, ten years ago, you let that rogue into my room on purpose - just to get me exiled..."
"Now I've finally healed and found my mate, but you still want to ruin me? I never meant to steal your life!"
I smiled, sweet as poison. "Thanks for stealing it. Otherwise, I'd be suffocating in that cramped mansion every day."
Laughter erupted around me.
"This real heiress is insane. The Lancaster estate is unattainable for most, and she says she can't breathe?"
"Right not to claim her. Such arrogance would shame any pack."
"She's only crawling back because she heard about the alliance with the oil Alpha King."
"Can't blame her - that's real royalty. Ten Lancaster packs couldn't match his pinky."
Marcelo wrapped an arm around Belle, disgust twisting his face. "How long will you keep this act! Blood or not, I won't let you bully her!"
"Belle's special day. Get lost."
Special day?
My brother only picked this date because I had time off. And he didn't even want this bonding at first.
"It's just a strategic union - mutual gain, nothing more."
I was the one who pushed for a public ceremony. To honor my future sister-in-law properly.
Now, watching this drama queen and her deluded defender, I almost pitied them.
"You sure you want me gone? Because if I walk out, this bonding ceremony's over."
Chapter 3
Belle's face twisted, her wolf flashing in her pupils. "Who the hell do you think you are!"
She caught herself, smoothed her expression into silk. "Lyra, after all those years in the mines, you must've heard of my fiancé's reputation. He's the famous oil Alpha King prince."
I said flat, "Of course I have."
Her chin lifted, pride oozing.
"More than heard of him - we've been together day and night. Grew up side by side."
The room erupted. Growls, gasps, whispers.
That's when Belle's eyes locked on my necklace. Her pupils blew wide.
"Where did you get that!"
She lunged - claws half-out - ripped the chain from my throat.
The metal bit deep. I cried out. "Give it back!"
She held it against her diamond ring. They matched - a set. My adoptive mother's favorite.
Fire blazed in Belle's gaze. "You shameless whore! You seduced my fiancé!"
"Give it back - it's mine!"
I reached, but she yanked it away.
"You bought this with my money!" she snarled.
Marcelo squinted, confused. "It's just cheap plastic, isn't it?"
Belle spun to him, eyes wet. "Marcelo, I've seen Leon wear this before. Now it's on her - she's trying to steal my mate!"
Marcelo's disappointment carved his face. He slapped me. Hard.
"I was going to ask Dad to let you scrub floors for the pack. But this? Sneaking around? Just because Belle took your place, you want to destroy her future?"
My cheek burned. My wolf snarled inside.
"You know how I survived eight years in that junkyard? That was supposed to be her life!"
My eyes reddened. I yanked out my phone to call my brother - cancel this whole farce.
Belle snatched it before I could dial.
"Marcelo, look - her wallpaper is a photo with Leon! Still say she's not a homewrecker?"
"No wonder this beggar's so cocky."
I laughed, cold. "Classy move, Lancaster heiress. Accusing strangers of sleeping around?"
I grabbed my phone back. Speed-dialed.
"Hey Lyra, where are you - "
"Brother, I'm at - "
Belle yanked my hair. I screamed. The phone hit marble - shattered.
Her hand clamped my throat. "You slept with him too, didn't you!"
"Pretty slutty, calling him 'brother' like that."
I choked, face purpling. My claws scraped uselessly at her wrist.
"I'm not - ! Leon is my brother - I'm the oil Alpha King's daughter!"
Laughter exploded around me.
"oil Alpha King's daughter buying cheap ice cream?"
"Best joke all year. Claim you're the Luna Queen next!"
Belle stomped. "Marcelo, look - she's made us pack laughingstocks!"
Marcelo's face burned with embarrassment. He drew his leg back - kicked me square in the gut.
"Shameless trash."
I flew six feet, hit the floor, coughed blood across the marble.
No one moved to help.
Security closed in around me.
My heart hammered. I curled my fingers into the cold floor, praying - Dad, brother, please -
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
A Rolls-Royce pulled up behind me, engine rumbling like a growl.
