Ten Million Dollars and a Lycan’s Child

I knew life in the pack would be tough, but I didn’t expect it to be this tough.

As a Delta, I had to share a den with others?

The Beta who accompanied me knelt down, apologizing:

"Your den in the main packhouse is still under renovation."

When I asked how long it would take, he hesitated before finally admitting:

"Eleven years..."

As we walked, I watched the packhouse transition from grand to dilapidated.

A sense of unease settled in my chest.

Before joining the pack, I was prepared to endure the hardships of love.

But I never expected to face the hardships of poverty.

This rundown den, three rooms shared by twelve Deltas, was worse than the quarters of my family’s lowest-ranking Omegas.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and said to the only Beta standing:

"I want to see the Lycan King."

The Beta smiled politely and replied:

"Delta Elsie, that’s not the proper protocol."

I opened a trunk, its contents gleaming with gold, catching his eye.

"I’ll request an audience with the King immediately. Please wait here, Delta."

Then he barked orders:

"Prepare a seat for Delta Elsie! Bring her tea!"

This Beta was dressed more lavishly than the others.

Along the way, many wolves bowed to him.

He didn’t kneel before me, and from his age and demeanor, I guessed he was the King’s right-hand Beta, Chloe Holmes.

At first, I thought he was here to punish me for breaking protocol by greeting my parents in public.

Otherwise, why would a mere Delta’s arrival warrant the presence of such a high-ranking Beta?

But when I saw the state of the den, I realized he was here for the thirty trunks of wealth I brought.

It finally dawned on me why my father’s efforts to keep me out of the pack had failed.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried hard enough—he’d tried too hard.

I was summoned to the King’s private study. He was younger than I expected, but his presence was commanding.

His sharp eyes glanced at me as he sipped his tea:

"What is it?"

I’d never been one to conform to the demure expectations of she-wolves, so I decided to be blunt:

"Does the pack need funds?"

"Cough…"

The King choked on his tea, and Chloe immediately called for the pack’s Healer.

"I’m fine," he said, glaring at me. After a long pause, he reluctantly admitted: "Yes."

"I’m willing to help."

"How?"

"I’ll contribute three hundred thousand."

He scoffed:

"A drop in the ocean."

I looked up:

"Gold."

His expression shifted, and a hint of interest flickered in his eyes.

I continued:

"My father deals in timber. We can supply the materials for the renovations at a low cost."

A smile spread across his face, and his tone softened:

"Delta Elsie, please rise."

I watched as his demeanor changed, his eyes now filled with warmth:

"Your generosity is commendable. I’m not sure how to reward you."

Praise my generosity?

What generosity?

Selflessness is generosity.

But I wasn’t about to let him take advantage of me.

"I don’t seek rewards. I just want a private den."

His smile faltered, and his gaze turned sharp. He hesitated:

"You’ve just joined the pack, and being promoted to Delta is already an exception. According to tradition, ranks are reviewed every three years. To become a Gamma, you’d have to wait six years. Tradition cannot be ignored."

Three dens had been destroyed during the previous King’s reign and had remained unrepaired since.

As a result, the Gammas had dens, the Betas had rooms, and the rest of us slept in shared spaces.

The King was right. If I wanted a private den, I’d need to be promoted to Gamma.

There was no precedent for a new member to be immediately promoted to Gamma.

But what did that have to do with me?

That was their problem to solve.

I scratched my head, feigning confusion:

"I joined the pack in such a hurry, I can’t remember if I brought gold or silver..."

The room fell silent.

After a long pause, Chloe exclaimed:

"Oh, my memory! A side den in the main packhouse has just been renovated. It was already assigned to Delta Elsie. I completely forgot. I deserve punishment."

Chloe Holmes, always quick on her feet.

A side den was acceptable for a Delta.

Now I had my den, and the King had his funds.

Everyone was happy.

The King praised me a few more times before dismissing me.

Chloe escorted me to the main packhouse and said softly:

"Delta Elsie, the King is a wise leader, but he is still the King. In the pack, the King is your Alpha."

I knew the King was a rare and wise leader. It was precisely because of this that I dared to make such a bold move today.

But I didn’t plan to vie for his attention. This den would likely be my home for the rest of my life.

The thought of such a drastic change was hard to accept, so I took a risk.

I lowered my head and thanked her:

"Thank you for the advice."

She continued:

"And about the incident at the pack gate, I took the liberty of keeping it quiet. But Delta Elsie, you mustn’t act so recklessly in the future."

I immediately handed her a pouch of coins, but she smiled and declined:

"This is my duty. If you have the chance, please give my regards to your father."

She bowed and left, and I caught a glimpse of the emerald ring on her finger.

A family heirloom my father rarely let me touch.

My eyes stung, and I let out a bitter laugh before stepping into the den that would be my cage for the rest of my life.

---

Chloe had smoothed things over.

But I never expected that Delta Elsie would team up with Delta Violet to avoid the King’s attention.

What kind of Alpha was I?

Every she-wolf in the pack vied for my favor.

Why would I care about her?

In the end, it was the Luna who sorted it out.

I turned my attention to Delta Violet first.

Her gold-embroidered cloak caught my eye.

When she left, I couldn’t resist keeping it for myself.

When it was Delta Elsie’s turn, I followed the usual protocol, giving her the experience of a mark ceremony.

It was a courtesy, a way to ease the transition.

I saw her again.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the ceremony, but she seemed more appealing than before.

I treated her gently, as I always did.

A night of tenderness.

But what was that look on her face?

Was I not good enough?

I’m the Lycan King, beloved by every she-wolf in the pack!

I told her to leave!

I didn’t want to see her again!

Furious, I removed her from the list of potential mates.

Let her rot in the outcast den!

Only later did I realize that the gold cloak was hers.

I had the gold threads and embellishments removed.

Hmph!

I made a point of favoring Delta Violet repeatedly.

I wanted Delta Elsie to see what true favor looked like.

Delta Violet was beautiful.

But she made a mistake.

She fell in love with me.

The possessive kind.

My fault, I suppose.

As usual, I started to distance myself.

I asked the Luna to comfort her.

Then I turned my attention to pack affairs.

We needed funds.

I had to figure out how to get more.

I saw Delta Violet again in the winter.

Almost a year had passed. I’d nearly forgotten her name.

She loved me, loved me to death.

It was both a regret and a guilt I carried.

I didn’t deserve that kind of love.

And the pack couldn’t afford it.

Delta Elsie’s gaze pierced me.

I transferred my guilt over Delta Violet’s death to her.

I was afraid she’d meet the same fate.

I called her to my study to assist me.

Happy?

This was an honor no she-wolf in the pack could hope for.

So why did she look so indifferent?

Almost annoyed?