The Alpha's grand ball hall shimmered under a thousand golden chandeliers, the air thick with perfume and anticipation. Noble wolves stood in rows dressed in velvets, silks, and expensive fur jackets, whispering among themselves as the elder stood tall at the podium, his staff glowing faintly with ancient runes.
Then came the loud echo of the herald's voice:
"Presenting Lady Sheryl of the Beta's Bloodline!"
Heads turned and all eyes landed on the wide stairway. Each anticipating the entrance of the lady chosen by the moon goddess to become future Luna. It was know, Lunas came from beta bloodlines.
Sheryl stepped into the hall like she owned it. Trust her to, she was used to being the center of attention and attraction wherever she went, she expected nothing less than that this time around.
Her red satin dress clung to her like molten fire, trailing behind her like a queen's cloak. Every step she took made her diamond-studded shoes sparkle and the emerald jade pendant around her collarbone caught the light casting green glimmers on her creamy skin. They were the expensive gifts the triplets had gotten for her as a present.
She lifted her chin high, smiling as if she'd already won the crown. She already did, she just had to wait for fate to choose one for her. If she were concerned, she would choose all. After all, there was no limit to crowns one can wear.
"Of course, I look perfect tonight" she thought proudly, letting her fingers brush over the fabric of her expensive gown. "No she-wolf here could ever compare. Let's see which of the triplets Fate chooses for me."
With a sway of her hips, she made her way down the aisle and toward the glowing podium where the elder waited. Whispers followed her like perfume smoke, and she didn't bother hiding the smug grin on her face.
She was certain and absolutely certain that she would be bound to one of the triplet princes. They were strong, royal, powerful… and she was beautiful, graceful, and of noble blood. It was only right. It was tradition.
The elder raised his hands and began chanting in the Old Tongue. The room grew quiet as he did and even the wolves holding goblets of wine paused to watch. A soft golden glow began to rise from the elder's staff, wrapping around Sheryl's wrist.
Everyone held their breath. It was time. Time for fate and the moon goddess to make their choices.
Suddenly, a golden thread appeared from her wrist, thin and glowing with power.
It shot forward.
Sheryl blinked, confused.
The thread weaved past the triplets—Past Prince Kade, Past Prince Zenon Past Prince Knox—and continued across the hall…
Straight to the back.
Straight to.....
"…Connor?" she whispered in shock under her breath as she saw the thread binding her to him whom she had added to her list of body conquests few days ago.
Gasps echoed across the hall.
There, standing in his soldier's uniform, dusty boots and all, was Connor, a lowly-ranked palace guard. His eyes widened as the thread touched his wrist and sealed itself there, glowing faintly.
Sheryl froze.
Her mouth fell open. "What?!" she shrieked. "This has to be a joke!"
She stared at the golden thread in disbelief. Then at Connor and then back at the thread.
"No. No, no, no, no, this is a mistake! It has to be a mistake!" she hissed, backing away from the thread like it was poison.
Connor looked down at the glowing line and then up at her. His face was pale and unreadable.
"You?" she shrieked. "You're supposed to be my mate?! A palace guard? A nobody?"
Connor's jaw tightened as he saw he standing before him but he said nothing.
Sheryl's voice rang across the silent room. "I reject you!" she spat, yanking her wrist back as if she could tear the thread off with her rage alone. "I, Lady Sheryl of the Beta's bloodline, reject you and this mating bond!" she didn't care that she was in the presence of all the people, didn't care that she was before the King.
Connor nodded stiffly. "As you wish last Sheryl," he said quietly without arguing. "I accept your rejection." he muttered slowly, feeling ashamed.
He had just found his mate but for rejected in less than a few minutes after he'd done so. Worse was that it were the betas daughter. Who was he to not accept her rejection? Her father would have him killed before he would think of becoming her mate.
The golden thread sparked and then snapped in half with a flash.
The audience was stunned.
Some people gasped. Others looked away. The triplets sat frozen on their thrones. No one had anything to say as the shock and surprise was still etched on their faces. Never has it been heard before that a beta's daughter didn't become the fated mate of an Alpha heir. Never.
But then… A soft hum filled the hall again.
Everyone turned their eyes back to the podium.
New golden threads began to shimmer into existence, there were three of them.
One thread appeared on each of the triplets' wrists—Prince Kade, Prince Knox, and Prince Zenon. But the threads didn't lead to Sheryl… or to anyone else in the hall. And the threads bind them together as if they were tethered to one person.
Instead, they moved slowly, snaking in the same direction and together, as if being pulled by a force they couldn't explain it's origin.
The three golden lines kept pulling them toward the entrance of the hall, glowing brighter by the second as tbh covered distance.
"What's going on?" murmured someone in the hall.
"Are they....…" another started, but trailed off.
"…Bound to the same mate?" someone else in the hall whispered.
The tension grew thick.
The threads tugged again, stronger this time, pulling the princes gently toward the exit of the Alpha's mansion.
The entire crowd parted like waves behind them, confused and speechless, as the three royal brothers followed the glowing lines to wherever Fate was calling them.
Sheryl stood on the stage alone—her face pale with horror and her proud smile gone. The rejection of the mate bond was already taking its toll on her as she felt weak and hollow all of a sudden.
Her beautiful red dress suddenly felt heavy, and the diamonds on her shoes no longer sparkled like victory.
She had dressed for glory.
But Fate had dressed her for shame.