Ever since the Moon Goddess stopped assigning destined mates, wolves had been free to choose their own partners.
But no one ever imagined that the Alpha King's most treasured daughter would end up having to marry two men- men who, by all accounts, were sworn enemies.
But what could be done? Alpha Li himself had announced a week ago that whoever found his daughter and brought her back alive and unharmed would earn the honor of marrying her, because it would prove he could protect her.
Those words spread quickly throughout every pack in the entire Ming Empire, stirring determination in every man who heard them... Alphas, betas, and even a few omegas who believed in themselves.
Each one was eager to win the reward, because that was the kind of honor every man in the Ming Empire dreamed of.
Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan.
The two Alpha-blooded, sworn enemies who were honored tonight as the ones lucky enough to win the hand of Princess Li Yue.
They had found and saved her together, and neither of them was willing to let the other claim her alone. Somehow, against all odds, they ended up sharing her.
No one truly knew why Xiao Feng of the BlueMoon Pack.. the empire's most powerful pack, and Wang Yuan of the BlackFang Pack,.. the second most powerful- hated each other so deeply.
All anyone knew was that their packs worked closely together. Their fathers worked closely together. And because their fathers served together in the government, the boys also grew up close.
Close as brothers.
They trained together, learned together, and attended every imperial lecture side by side. They were inseparable, until around the age of eighteen, when suddenly, they couldn't even stand the sight of each other.
They began avoiding one another. They competed instead of cooperating. They even refused tasks that required them to work together. Three full years passed like that.
No one knew what caused that sudden hatred.
However, the truth was almost laughable.
But as laughable as it was, it carried a danger so serious that if revealed, Alpha Li would order both of them executed on the spot.
Alpha Li tolerated no wrongdoing, not even the smallest. In his empire, everyone stood straight; even the slightest bend in conduct was crushed along with the one who committed it.
All the other Alphas served under him, for he was the most powerful and most dominant. He ruled the entire empire, while the other Alphas ruled only the packs within it.
His name alone made most people shiver.
And yet, here were two men today, carrying a dangerous secret, sitting cross-legged in expensive red wedding robes on either side of Princess Yue as they went through the wedding rituals.
Candles flickered all around them. The place was beautifully decorated, and the scent of jasmine floated softly in the air, mixing with the aroma of roasted meats and delicate pastries arranged on the banquet tables.
Alphas and noble betas in their finest silks murmured among themselves beneath the rising swell of music.
"Yī èr sān!"
The master of ceremonies counted to three, and Xiao Feng, Wang Yuan, and Li Yue released their sky lanterns.
They rose slowly, glowing against the dark sky, drifting toward the stars with the wishes and prayers of everyone below.
The lanterns were believed to send prayers to the Moon Goddess, bring good fortune, and mark new beginnings. They also signaled the end of the ceremony and sealed the bond of the newlyweds.
With a shy smile, Princess Li Yue turned to Xiao Feng on her right and lightly pecked his lips. Then she turned to Wang Yuan and did the same.
The crowd erupted in cheers, swept up in the moment.
But Xiao Feng's fingers tightened before he could stop himself. His eyes lingered on Wang Yuan's lips after Yue's kiss, and his chest rose and fell a little too sharply.
The noise around him faded.
It almost looked like he might step forward and kiss Wang Yuan, erase Li Yue's kiss and replace it with his own. But he didn't move a muscle.
Omega girls in elegant dresses danced gracefully, their nets twirling with the melody of strings and flutes.
After a short interaction, the three newlyweds were guided toward what appeared to be Alpha Li's office, where he wished to speak with them.
They walked along the polished path lit with lamps on both sides, the music still loud behind them. Li Yue walked ahead with her maid, while Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan followed side by side, their guards trailing behind them.
Neither looked at the other, but even while staring straight ahead, both were painfully aware of the tension simmering between them.
When they finally reached the room, even though Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan came from wealthy families, they couldn't help noticing how much finer everything here was.
They lowered themselves onto the low cushions arranged before them, with Li Yue seated between them. Alpha Li sat across from them with a low table dividing the space.
"First," Alpha Li began, his voice deep, "I would like to congratulate both of you on your union." His tone softened. "I'm glad you were the ones who found my daughter, because you are exactly the kind of men I've always hoped she would have. And it is a relief that Yue Yue is happy as well."
His tone hardened a little. "But I have some conditions. You are two men, and she is one woman. For that reason, there is one rule that must always be followed. She will always be the one to decide when she wants something and when she doesn't. You..."
Before he could continue, Li Yue cut him off, her face bright red.
"Father," she whispered, mortified, "are you really doing this? You can't tell us how to live. That is our decision. I'm not a child anymore."
"Fine, fine. But the rule still stands," Alpha Li said, his face softening as he raised his hands. Then his expression sharpened again as he looked at Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan. "Let me never regret handing my daughter to you.
There are rumors that the Alpha princes of the BlueMoon and BlackFang Packs do not get along. From this moment on, put your differences aside and take care of my daughter properly." His tone carried a clear warning.
After a moment of silence, he leaned forward slightly. "On second thought, I'm your father now as well. I can help you solve whatever issue between the two of y..."
"No." Wang Yuan and Xiao Feng spoke at the same time, their voices tense.
Alpha Li's brows drew together, confusion sharpening his gaze.
Wang Yuan let out a shaky but controlled chuckle. "What we mean is… it's nothing worth troubling you with. We just haven't sat down to talk about it yet, but we will. Everything will be fine. You have our word." He bowed slightly.
Alpha Li nodded with satisfaction and rose to his feet. "Very well. I have prepared a section within the palace for the three of you. You will live together as one household, but do not worry, your privacy will be respected throughout the palace."
"We're living in the palace? The three of us together?!" Wang Yuan blurted out. The words slipped out, filled with mild shock… and something else closer to fear.
And maybe it wasn't fear of the palace.
Maybe it was fear of the two of them under one roof.