You Stole My Crown, I Took Your Pack

The year after graduation, I spent my days in the Nevada Desert, interning under my mentor, a skilled healer.

The neutral lands were a lawless place.

No packs. No rules. No protection.

You only had yourself to rely on. That reality was a constant weight on my shoulders.

My brother, Liam Johnson, the Lycan Chairman of all werewolves, was frantic with worry.

The idea of me wandering those unregulated territories drove him insane.

He was terrified I’d run into a Rogue. Someone unpredictable. Dangerous.

He feared in a moment of reckless impulse, I’d form a mate bond that would upend everything.

In a desperate move to shield me from that chaos, he took control.

He arranged for me to meet Noah Williams. Alpha of the strongest pack in Seattle. A name spoken with reverence. A figure of striking danger and allure.

With a firm command, my brother ordered me home for the mating ceremony.

A mix of resignation and duty settled in my gut as I prepared to choose a Luna crown. The symbol of my impending bond with Noah.

Inside the jewelry shop, my eyes locked onto a stunning piece. Pure silver. Adorned with diamonds that glittered like captured starlight.

My fingers just brushed the cool metal when a sharp voice sliced through the air.

"I like the one she’s holding. I’ll take it. Hand it over."

Before I could react, the clerk snatched the crown from my hand, the metal nearly grazing my skin.

I straightened my spine, forcing calm into my voice. "Ever heard of ‘first come, first served?’ I saw it first. Is this how you operate?"

The she-wolf turned. A slow, mocking smile spread across her face.

"This crown costs three hundred thousand dollars. Can you even afford it, peasant?" Her gaze was dismissive. "I grew up with Alpha Noah Williams of the Shadowmoon pack. Here, I make the rules."

I stared at her. A laugh threatened to escape. How perfectly ironic. Noah was my arranged mate.

I pulled out my phone. My heart hammered against my ribs as I pressed call.

"Hey, Noah. Your childhood sweetheart just stole the Luna crown meant for our mating ceremony. What do you suggest I do about that?"

…

Calling someone a childhood sweetheart might seem trivial. But it carried weight. Implications.

If Noah didn’t handle this, I might as well call off the whole ceremony.

To my shock, his voice came through the line. Cold. Distant. Laced with confusion.

"Who is this? And who are you to speak about Olivia?"

Before I could remind him—I was Ava Thompson, his intended mate, chosen to unite our lineages—the call went dead.

Anger ignited in my chest. A fierce, hot flame.

Perfect. My supposed mate hadn’t even bothered to save my number.

Olivia Brown burst into laughter. Smug. Triumphant.

"Oh, how pathetic. I don’t know how you got Alpha Noah’s number, but did you really think he’d help you?"

Her laughter was pure derision. Her eyes swept over me, lingering on my clothes with disdain.

"Honestly, even the servants at his estate dress better. What gave you the audacity to challenge me?"

I never cared about price tags. Comfort was my priority.

I never expected my choices would be used as weapons.

"I’m not interested in proving my worth with labels. That’s a tactic for the insecure," I shot back, my voice icy. "Considering Noah spent his formative years with you, I guess he’s no better."

Her drama had killed my enthusiasm. I grabbed a different crown from the display. Silver-white. Simple.

"Wrap it up. I’m buying this one," I told the clerk.

The clerk froze. Unease radiated from him.

"I’m sorry, ma’am. We prioritize sales to high-ranking pack members…"

Olivia chuckled. She tapped the shiny badge on her chest—the mark of a high-ranking Shadowmoon member.

"See this? It means I’m under Alpha Noah’s protection," she hissed, contempt dripping from every word. "What do you have? Nothing. So stop pretending you’re above me."

I usually avoided fights. But her taunts lit a fire inside me.

I crossed my arms. Drew on my lineage. Let the power surge.

My Alpha bloodline aura erupted.

The jewelry shop filled with palpable tension. The air thickened. The temperature dropped. Lights flickered.