Betrayed by Blood, Crowned by Shadows

Everyone in the pack knew that a simple treat could get me, the simple-minded princess, to do anything.

The graceful and refined Lycan Prince Tomas Young once handed me a pastry, and I clung to him for years after. Though he never showed it, in private, he despised me, calling me shameless, accusing me of throwing myself at him. I didn’t understand what shamelessness or throwing oneself at someone meant. All I knew was that Tomas gave me good food, so he was a good person, and I liked him. I wanted to repay his kindness.

Then came the news of the pack’s defeat in the borderlands. My father’s most beloved daughter, my third sister, was to be sent off for a political alliance through a mate bond.

Her mother, the Lycan Queen, came to me personally, bringing a box of pastries, begging me to take my sister’s place.

I wiped the crumbs from my mouth and waved my hand casually. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. It’s just a mate bond. If my sister doesn’t want to go, I’ll do it for her.”

---

When I was stopped at the entrance of the Lycan King’s chambers, I realized I’d agreed too easily.

My father, the Lycan King, seemed to have completely forgotten he even had a daughter like me. The guards at his chambers naturally refused to let me through.

But the Queen had given me an entire box of pastries! If I couldn’t get this done, wouldn’t that mean I’d eaten her food for nothing?

I scratched my head, then had a sudden idea. I turned and shouted toward the chambers:

“Father! Father! It’s Rosa! Please open the door!”

The guards growled, “How dare you! This is the Lycan King’s chambers! How can a little girl like you be so insolent!”

They raised their claws and came at me.

I bolted, running circles around the chambers, shouting as I went:

“Father! Father! It’s Rosa! Rosa needs to talk to you!”

“Who’s making all this noise!?”

The door to the chambers suddenly swung open, and a group of people stepped out.

The Queen had told me earlier that the Lycan King wore a leather jacket with a silver wolf emblem.

I spotted him immediately, waving and panting:

“Father, please tell them to stop chasing me. Rosa’s going to collapse!”

The Lycan King waved his hand, and the guards backed off. He frowned at me.

“You’re Rosa? Which Rosa?”

I dropped to my knees, bowing my head, and answered brightly:

“Rosa lives in the east wing of the pack house. My mother is Luna Lana.”

“Which Luna Lana?”

An old Beta nearby whispered hurriedly, “She was the maid who served the former Lycan Queen. She displeased you on her first night and was never summoned again. Later, she gave birth to Princess Rosa, but you forgot to name her.”