I knew something was wrong the moment my parents dressed me in their finest silk gown.
My father adjusted his formal jacket for the third time as our car pulled through the iron gates of the Blackwood estate. The massive royal family's manor stretched across the hillside like a beast ready to pounce. My younger sister Vera gripped my hand so tightly I thought my bones might crack.
"Remember what I told you," my father said without turning around. "The Alpha King is unmarried. This is an opportunity for our family."
My mother touched her pearl necklace. "Aurora graduated top of her class. The Queen will be impressed."
I said nothing. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, sensing the trap closing around us.
The Blackwood butler led us through long marble hallways that smelled of pine and old power. When we entered the grand drawing room, I felt the air change. Two men stood by the fireplace. The younger one had kind eyes and a easy smile. The older one looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.
Alpha King Damon Blackwood turned his head slightly as we entered. His eyes were the color of winter storms, cold and distant and calculating. He was tall with broad shoulders and dark hair that fell just above his collar. Everything about him screamed dominance. My wolf cowered.
"Welcome," Queen Helena said warmly, rushing forward to embrace my mother like they were old friends instead of strangers playing pretend. "You must be exhausted from the journey."
King Richard shook my father's hand. "Festus, it has been too long. Come, sit. My sons just arrived."
"Father," Damon said. His voice was deep and controlled. He nodded once in our direction before his gaze slid away like we were wallpaper.
The younger brother, Kai, offered a genuine smile. "Nice to meet you all."
Vera whispered something to my mother. I stood frozen as Queen Helena pulled me forward.
"This is Aurora," she announced brightly. "And her sister Vera."
"Pleasure," I forced out. Damon's eyes met mine for half a second. I saw nothing there. No curiosity, no interest, just empty courtesy. Something cold settled in my chest.
The Queen guided us to the garden where a long table waited under string lights. Someone had gone through considerable trouble arranging the elaborate flowers and the elegant place settings. My mother pushed me toward the seat beside Damon. I sat down feeling like a prize cow at auction.
The first course arrived. Some fancy appetizer I could not name. Everyone made polite conversation about the weather and pack business. Damon ate mechanically, answering questions with short sentences when addressed directly.
"Your sons are the strongest alphas in the Northern Territories," my father said to King Richard. "Their reputation precedes them."
"Thank you, Festus," the King replied, looking pleased.
Queen Helena touched my arm. "Aurora must tell us about her studies. I hear you excelled in diplomatic relations."
"I did well enough," I said quietly. Damon did not look up from his plate.
The main course came next. European cuisine with rich sauces and tender meat. I barely tasted it. Across the table, Kai suddenly coughed hard and reached for his water. Queen Helena shot him a look I could not decipher.
"Are you alright, dear?" she asked.
"Fine," Kai said, clearing his throat. His eyes darted between his brother and me. He coughed again.
My father launched into long stories about my accomplishments. My mother added unnecessary details about every award I had ever received. I wanted to sink through my chair into the earth below. Damon's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. An assistant appeared at his side, whispering something urgent. He excused himself without a word.
"Damon controls the largest territory in the kingdom," King Richard said once his son left. "He will expand our influence across the continent within a decade."
"No doubt," my father agreed eagerly. "A strong leader for strong times."
My mother smiled at me encouragingly. I looked down at my untouched food.
When Damon returned, he sat down with the same distant expression. The conversation turned to pack politics and trade agreements. I felt like a decoration, something pretty to look at but not worth engaging.
"Aurora graduated first in her class," my mother said suddenly. "She received the Queen's Medal for academic excellence."
Queen Helena and King Richard murmured their congratulations. Damon cut his meat with precise movements. Kai coughed again, nearly choking on his wine. This time I saw him glance at his brother with something like sympathy in his eyes.
"Wonderful," Queen Helena said warmly. "Beauty and intelligence."
My wolf whimpered. I felt Damon's disinterest like a physical weight. This was not a dinner. This was a transaction. My parents were selling me to secure our family's position. The royal family was evaluating whether I was worthy of their precious Alpha King.
The worst part was knowing Damon had already decided I was not.
Dessert arrived. Some elaborate creation with spun sugar and berries. I pushed it around my plate. My father and King Richard discussed potential alliances. My mother and the Queen talked about upcoming pack events. Vera stared at her hands.
When Queen Helena mentioned the annual mating ceremony happening next month, my stomach dropped. I met Damon's eyes accidentally. He looked back at me with something I could not name. Then he looked away again.
Kai coughed one more time, so obviously fake that even the servants noticed. Queen Helena pressed her lips together. King Richard frowned.
"Perhaps we should move to the sitting room," the Queen suggested.
Everyone stood. As I rose from my chair, I caught my reflection in the window glass. I looked exactly like what I was. A desperate girl from a desperate family hoping to catch an Alpha King who had already decided she was not worth his time.
The evening was far from over, but I already knew how this story would end.