1. A Sacrifice for the Pack

Beatrice's eyes looked shyly at the figure that had just entered the room. It was Jason, the alpha she respected and loved. And now her dream had come true - that night, Jason had chosen her as his mate and crowned her the Luna of the pack.

Beatrice was an Omega raised by Jason's family, and their love had blossomed since their teenage years. After Jason chose her, Beatrice vowed to be faithful and love him for the rest of her life.

Jason approached and sat beside Beatrice, who was waiting at the edge of the bed.

"Hey, beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

"You're making my heart race, Alpha." Beatrice lowered her eyes.

"Why do you call me Alpha?" Jason ran his fingers through Beatrice's shiny dark brown waves. "Haven't I always just been your Jason?"

A warmth spread through Beatrice as Jason wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder. The wolf inside her stirred, longing to unite with her alpha for the night.

They shared a kiss that deepened, hands exploring. Beatrice's breathing grew ragged as Jason began to remove her clothes piece by piece, leaving soft bites and kisses along the way.

"Alpha..." Beatrice gasped.

"Jason!"

A voice outside and a knock on the door startled them both. Jason quickly pulled on his shirt and moved from the bed to the door.

"What is it, Mom?" Jason asked.

"I need to talk to you. It's important."

Then Jason closed the door behind him, leaving Beatrice alone in disbelief. She sat still until her wolf came out with an upset grumble.

"Okay, I know Sheila doesn't like you. But she should have some sense—this is your first night with Jason! Your future mother-in-law is a red flag," muttered Tris, Beatrice's wolf.

"Should I go out there?"

"Try to hear what they're talking about."

Beatrice quickly slipped back into her wedding dress and followed Jason and Sheila. Quietly, she went downstairs to Jason's office, where she heard voices.

"I don't know what else to do, Jason. Only you can help me," Sheila said desperately.

"Mom, stop being so unclear. You keep saying you need my help, but help with what exactly?"

"I..." Sheila hesitated. "I have a large debt that needs to be paid."

"Debt? What kind of debt?"

"You don't need to know, but it's an old debt from right after your father died. And now it has to be paid," Sheila said, her voice breaking.

"How much, Mom? And to whom do I owe this debt?"

Beatrice strained to listen, pressing her ear to the door. She'd never imagined that Sheila would keep such a secret or that a debt would go on for years.

Three years, to be exact, since Jason's father had died.

"It's not a debt that can be paid with money. The price is a female member of the pack," Sheila explained. "And it requires Jess, your sister. You must find a way so Jess doesn't have to be given to Gabriel."

"What? Why did you turn to him at all? Especially the Lycan King?" Jason's voice rose in anger.

"Who else could I ask at that time but him?" Sheila replied. "Now he wants Jess as payment for the debt!"

Beatrice's blood ran cold. Jess, Jason's sister, was to be sacrificed to the Lycan King as payment for the debt? Poor Jess!

"Find a replacement for Jess." Sheila looked desperately at her son. "Any she-wolf in our pack."

"Mom, if I give up one of our females like this, everyone will turn against me because of your reckless actions! I can't do that!" Jason protested.

"And you're okay with letting your sister become Gabriel's slave? You know what the Lycan King's reputation is."

Jason fell silent, his face flushed with barely controlled anger.

"If I break my promise, what will happen to our pack?" Sheila went on. "We will..."

"Be destroyed by him!" Jason interrupted angrily. "I know! That's why I avoid crossing Gabriel!"

Jason had only recently become alpha and knew better than to stir up trouble with the Lycan King. Still, the thought of sacrificing his sister tore at his heart.

How could he let Jess suffer for Sheila's mistake?

"I'll talk to Gabriel and ask for leniency," Jason decided.

"You can't. His command is absolute."

"Then what? What else can I do?"

Sheila swallowed hard before speaking quietly. "Your Luna. Offer Beatrice to Gabriel."

Jason's eyes widened in disbelief, his face drained of color.

"She's my wife! She's my Luna and my fated mate! Have you gone mad, Mom?" he shouted.

"You can find another Luna in your life, but your sister, the one bound by blood, is irreplaceable! Your bond with Jess is stronger than with Bea!" Sheila argued.

Listening to this, Beatrice felt her knees weaken. How could Sheila be so heartless?

"Reject Bea and give her to Gabriel. It's the only way to save Jess. Please, Jason. For your sister's sake," Sheila begged.

"I... I can't," Jason's voice choked.

"You must! Reject her now! Gabriel's messengers will be here any moment!"

Beatrice tried to walk back into the room, but her legs were too shaky, so she stumbled and fell. The office door opened, and Jason looked shocked to see Beatrice there.

"Bea!" Jason called.

"Don't come any closer!" Beatrice warned as she quickly stood up and backed away.

Behind Jason, Sheila watched coldly, seemingly waiting for her son to have the final word.

"Bea, we need to talk," Jason said, clearly troubled.

"About what? About making me Jess's replacement? Is that what you mean?" Beatrice whispered angrily.

Sheila harshly said, "Yes, that's exactly what my son will do! You should be grateful that you can contribute something to this pack! Instead of just being an omega and freeloading off of us!"

Sheila's words cut deeply as if Beatrice was nothing but a burden.

Beatrice did not want to face such a miserable fate. But she couldn't avoid it.

When she was ten, her parents died in an accident, and Jason's father took her in and made her a member of the pack. Since then, Beatrice has studied hard and worked tirelessly within the pack.

She knew her place as an adopted wolf!

"Jason, think about our pack's future! Don't let love blind you! It's just a passing feeling!" Sheila urged.

Just then, a few other wolves entered, their faces tense. Beatrice suspected that the Lycan King's emissaries had arrived to collect payment.

"Are you going to give me up, Jason?" Beatrice asked, her voice weak.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked straight into Jason's eyes, which he didn't look away from.

"We love each other. Didn't that mean anything to you?" Beatrice added.

"Beatrice..." Jason's voice broke.

One of the wolves cleared his throat, clearly wanting to say something. "Alpha, outside..."

"Tell them to wait!" Jason snapped, cutting him off.

Sheila grabbed Jason's arm and looked at him expectantly. Meanwhile, Beatrice's face showed the same emotion.

Jason took a deep breath and looked intensely at Beatrice.

"I, Alpha Jason Hudson, reject you, Beatrice Reese, as my mate. And I send you to King Lycan Gabriel and command you to serve him with loyalty."