Hazel couldn’t believe she was being dragged through the hallway like a chicken.
Where had all the respect for an Alpha King’s daughter gone?
She struggled against the guards’ hands.
“Hey! I can walk by myself!”
They didn’t even listen.
Hazel turned her head and glared at Scarlett.
Since when did everyone start listening to her?
Scarlett had been one of the girls who envied Hazel when they were in school.
She had always been annoyed by the fact that she couldn’t bully Hazel as much as she wanted.
Not because Hazel was stronger.
But because Hazel was the daughter of an Alpha King.
Scarlett had always wanted to be the school belle at Ichor Academy.
Ichor Academy was the biggest academy in the entire Immortal Realm.
It was where the children of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, and other powerful werewolf families were sent to study.
The academy was located in Basileia, the most powerful city in the werewolf world.
The school was so huge that it almost felt like a city on its own.
There were different hostels, cafeterias, training grounds, hospitals, libraries, sports fields, and even shopping areas inside the academy.
Scarlett had always wanted to be the most beautiful and most feared girl there.
Over the years, she managed to get several Alpha daughters on her side.
Hazel never understood how she gained their trust.
Alpha daughters had more pride than Alpha sons.
Most of them believed they were special.
They acted like they were princesses of the entire werewolf race.
And Scarlett knew exactly how to use that pride.
She bullied anyone she wanted.
But she could never lay her hands on Hazel.
Hazel was the daughter of Blackwood Pack, one of the strongest packs after Basileia.
Her father, Alpha Gebrel, was not an Alpha who would simply sit back and watch his daughter fight her own battles.
He was extremely protective of his daughters.
Scarlett had always been afraid that one day Hazel would awaken her wolf and come looking for revenge.
Even worse, she was afraid Alpha Gebrel would take it personally.
Everyone knew the man wasn’t someone they wanted to anger.
After graduation, Hazel thought she had left Scarlett behind.
Seeing her now inside the Blackwood pack house felt more than strange.
It felt wrong.
Hazel knew Scarlett loved Ryan and had always bothered him.
But what did that have to do with her?
Scarlett still blamed Hazel for everything.
The guards pushed Hazel into the main hall.
She scoffed under her breath.
Her father, Alpha Gabriel, sat at the front with the Beta, the Gamma, and other powerful people of the pack.
What surprised her most was the woman seated near them—Lady Mira, the High Priest of the werewolves.
What was she doing here?
Everything about this night already felt off.
The strange eyes in the room made it worse.
Everyone was looking at Hazel.
Some with pity.
Some with curiosity.
Some with something colder.
“What now?” she muttered and rolled her eyes.
Maybe they already believed her wolf would never come; she reached for the silver moon necklace around her neck.
Her eyes searched the hall for Ryan.
She found him.
He was sitting beside his father, Beta Raphael.
Ryan did not look at her.
He kept his eyes turned away, as if he did not want to see her at all.
Hazel’s heart sank.
“Wow,” she whispered to herself.
She could not believe what she was seeing.
She was about to take a seat when her gaze landed on another person.
Sarah—the former maid who used to serve her father—stood right beside Scarlett.
This was very suspicious.
Hazel had never liked that woman when she still worked in the pack house.
One day Sarah had simply vanished without a word.
Now she was back, standing next to Scarlett as if they belonged together.
Hazel’s frown deepened.
A moment later, Lady Mira stood up.
The hall grew quiet.
“The Awakening Ceremony will now begin,” the High Priest said in a clear, calm voice.
The lights inside the hall were dimmed.
Outside, the full moon had finally risen.
Its silver light passed through the enormous glass windows and fell across the floor.
The Awakening Ceremony was beginning!
Hazel swallowed.
Her hands became cold.
This was it!
Her third Awakening Night.
The same night she had been waiting for all these years.
Lady Mira stood from her seat.
She wore a long white robe decorated with silver moon symbols.
She walked to the centre of the hall and raised both hands.
“Tonight, under the light of the Full Moon, we call upon the Moon Goddess.”
Everyone slowly stood.
Hazel followed them.
The young wolves preparing for the ceremony stepped forward one after another.
They stood inside a large silver circle drawn across the floor.
Hazel watched as the first young werewolf entered.
The moonlight touched his body.
His eyes suddenly flashed gold.
A powerful growl escaped his throat.
His body shook, and his bones cracked.
A few seconds later, a large brown wolf stood where the boy had been.
Cheers filled the hall.
His family rushed forward happily.
“Congratulations! What a beautiful she-wolf!”
Hazel’s heart tightened when another person stepped forward.
Smooth transformation!
Then another.
One by one, the young werewolves awakened their wolves.
Although not all shifted easily, some struggled through the pain.
But they all succeeded.
Hazel’s fingers tightened around her necklace.
Soon, only she remained.
Lady Mira looked at her.
“Hazel, the Alpha’s first daughter ”
The entire hall became silent as Hazel slowly stepped forward.
Her legs felt heavy.
She entered the silver circle.
The moment she stood beneath the moonlight, she closed her eyes.
‘ Please…’
Her heart pounded.
‘ Please, Moon Goddess.’ She pleaded and waited…
It’s rare to see Lady Mira; she doesn’t want to disappoint the fourth commander for the entire werewolf generation.
But nothing happened…
Hazel gritted her teeth.
She tried again, same result!
Nothing!
The moonlight continued shining over her, and she was still in her human form!!
The silence in the hall became painful.
Hazel opened her eyes helplessly.
She already knew.
She had failed again.
Her lips trembled, and she looked down in shame.
The silver moon pendant around her neck suddenly felt warm…she could feel her wolf…but why ???
Alpha Gabriel looked at his daughter for a long moment.
Then he let out a heavy sigh.
“So,” he sighed, “it’s true.”