"Oh? They're here."
Virgo slowed his steps, coming to a stop in the open corridor that connected the main residence to the smaller guest house. He turned with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the few cars that were entering the driveway of the mansion.
Just by the vehicles they arrived in, one could already tell the personalities of the candidates.
The selection process had been a tedious journey, filtering out candidates through physical appearance, strength tests, and analytical ability. The trials had stripped over fifty men down to a handful.
Now, these men only needed to pass the final test.
To be chosen by Lynsandra.
Whether through charm, seduction, or other means—so long as they did not cross the line, they were free to try however they pleased.
"Beta Virgo," the young wolf standing behind Virgo called, nodding toward someone arriving on a large motorbike. "That is—"
Virgo smirked. "Elias Hale."
Elias Hale—the second in line to become Alpha of Northern Lunareth. Compared to the Royal Pack, the Red Moon Pack held a shorter reach across the continent, but the North was firmly theirs. Even the Royal Pack would not tread into northern territory without first contacting the one who ruled it.
Their influence ran so deep that even the Royal Pack could not sway it easily.
"Had it not been for this selection, he would have been a strong candidate as Alpha Consort to our Luna," Virgo murmured, recalling how effortlessly Elias had passed the strength test. Every opponent who faced him during that trial had been sent home.
Elias dismounted his bike and straightened, his height reaching just over six and a half feet. He shrugged off his leather jacket, revealing broad, sculpted shoulders beneath a simple tee. Despite his imposing presence, his aura was relaxed. He had arrived with nothing more than a backpack slung over his shoulder.
Virgo and the other young wolves shifted their attention to another figure stepping out of a black Bentley that had arrived earlier but remained unopened until now.
A man in a formal suit emerged, his hair neatly brushed back, not a single crease visible on his attire. Compared to Elias, he was a stark contrast—immaculate from head to toe.
"August Benedict," Virgo whispered.
The unmated Alpha of the West's Silver Claw Pack.
Before the Royal Selection was announced, Silver Claw had been preparing to host a selection of their own. Their Alpha remained unmated after his fated partner had perished before they could ever find each other.
However, when news of the Royal Pack's intentions spread months later, Silver Claw postponed their plans. They turned their attention instead toward the Royal Pack's unprecedented decision—to choose an Alpha who would stand beside their Luna.
Like Elias, August had aced the strength test. He had also passed every other trial with unsettling ease. The only difference between the two was that Elias had savagely injured his opponents to ensure they could not proceed further.
"He's ambitious, too," Virgo added quietly, watching as August paused and met Elias's gaze head-on.
Virgo's attention shifted once more as another car pulled up. The door opened, and a man stepped out from the backseat.
"Gary Stone."
Gary Stone—the golden heir of the small Valecross Pack.
Once a noble house, Valecross had fallen from grace decades ago. They were the closest pack to the Royal Pack geographically, yet they remained without royal protection or allegiance. It was no secret that the Royal Pack's ideology stood in direct contradiction to Valecross's own.
Their territory amounted to little more than a small town, with most of their members living deep within the forest.
"Unlike the others who made it this far, Gary Stone barely passed every category," Virgo muttered. He had overseen the selection personally, as Lynsandra had little interest in sitting through it. "In the end… he somehow made it. I wonder why he was even considered the golden wolf of Valecross."
Luck or fate—compared to the others, "Gary" did not stand out at all.
As Gareth stepped out of the vehicle, he froze when he felt Elias's and August's gazes land on him. He swallowed, darting his eyes between the dominant alphas of their respective packs.
The tension broke when another vehicle pulled up behind him. This time, it was a flashy neon orange sports car.
Moments later, a man stepped out of the driver's seat, draped in glittering chains, oversized sunglasses, and a fluffy fur stole tossed casually over his shoulders.
"Oh, hello there, my fellow harem members~!" he beamed, dyed green hair fluttering in the breeze. "So, you're all going to be my rivals? Hah! Don't worry! The Luna and I are already in a special relationship, so don't try too hard."
Cassian Clark—a half-werewolf, half-human.
Among wolves, his lineage was frowned upon. Among humans, however, he was a global superstar. Though he lagged behind in the intelligence tests, he had still managed to charm his way into the final round—or so many believed.
"Heh." Virgo chuckled softly. Cassian's exuberance stood in stark contrast to the restrained tension among the others.
Virgo snapped his gaze toward the final arrival—a white SUV rolling slowly into view. The men in the driveway turned as well, anticipation thick in the air. When the vehicle stopped, a priest stepped out.
His white long hair was tied neatly in a low bun. He smiled serenely, head tilted slightly, as if greeting old friends.
The wolves frowned instinctively.
"Evander Merewyn," Virgo murmured. "A devout traditionalist."
Amusement curled at Virgo's lips. The church had long condemned the Royal Selection as blasphemous—a defiance of the Lunar Goddess's design.
Yet they dared not challenge the Royal Pack.
Or rather… Lynsandra.
So they had chosen the most unthinkable solution: to infiltrate the selection itself. From within, they would attempt to sway—or even convert—the Luna.
Virgo shook his head with a soft chuckle.
*
*
*
"It's quite the sight," Virgo remarked after reporting what he had observed upon the harem members' arrival. "I wonder if they'll ever get along."
Seated behind her wide desk, Lynsandra lifted her gaze over the rim of her reading glasses. Virgo had been talking nonstop since arriving—listing names, recounting impressions, making comparisons of her harem members.
"And the other two?" she said coolly. "The ones that didn't have to go through the selection process?"
"Oh!" Virgo perked up. "About that…" He grinned until his eyes narrowed into crescents. "Those two arrived days earlier. I'm sure they've already… acquainted themselves."
And he was right.
At that very moment, tension thickened the mansion as the new arrivals finally encountered the two who had come before them. People they didn't see in the selection process: a vampire and a pure human.
Lynsandra nodded once. "I see."
"By the way, Luna," Virgo added, lifting a finger, clearly amused, "since today marks their official first day in your harem, tradition dictates you can't skip a thing. You'll need to meet them all tonight… and perhaps choose who you'll spend your first night with."
"…"
Lynsandra propped her cheek against her hand, staring at him coldly.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you, Virgo?"
"Watching men from across Lunareth scramble to impress someone like you is fascinating," he replied honestly. "But what I find even more fascinating is whether any of them could soften your heart."
"Haha." She chuckled softly, shaking her head.
With one hand still cupping her cheek and the other tapping lightly against the desk, her gaze drifted to the document beneath her finger.
"Choosing who I spend the night with, huh?" she hummed, scoffing as she pushed herself to her feet. As she walked toward the coat stand, she spoke again.
"Virgo, I've already decided who I'd like to spend the night with."
Virgo's brows knit together. "So fast?"
A sharp smirk curved her lips as she glanced back at him.
"Tell him I chose him ahead of time."