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"You're mine!" he roared, possessive fury darkening his eyes. "If I have to brand you with my mark to keep every other wolf at bay, so be it!"

Tears welled in Annie's eyes. "This marriage isn't love, it's a lie!" she screamed back. The room fell silent.

"Maybe once," he conceded, a dangerous edge to his voice. "But things have changed. Now, you belong to me. You're mine, forever."

Annie, the adopted daughter of a powerful pack, craves acceptance. Unlike other wolves, she lacks the full shift, a constant reminder of her difference. Then, a fated mate arrives, but instead of love's embrace, he brings a web of royal deceit that threatens to tear everything apart.

Annie harbors a hidden secret, a burden that complicates everything. Can love blossom amidst manipulation and lies? Will she succumb to the alpha's possessive claim, or will she fight for a love built on truth and acceptance? In a world where loyalty is tested and alliances crumble, can Annie carve her path?

Setting: it's a modern fantasy world with a focus on werewolf society and the political intrigue within it.

Unveiling the moonlit mate

The following days were a whirlwind of activity - preparations for the wedding were in full swing. Dress fittings, guest lists, and endless meetings with caterers and decorators filled my days. Damian and I endured these events with practiced civility, our interactions limited to clipped exchanges and thinly veiled barbs.

One particularly trying afternoon found us in the royal dressmaker's studio. Yards of glittering fabric adorned mannequins, and a gaggle of seamstresses hovered around me, pinning and adjusting the ivory gown I was forced to wear.

"A little tighter around the bodice, wouldn't you say?" Damian chimed in, his voice dripping with a feigned concern that grated on my nerves. "We wouldn't want any wardrobe malfunctions on our big day, would we, Annie?"

"My comfort isn't exactly a priority here, is it, Your Majesty?" I retorted, shooting him a withering look. "It's all about appearances, isn't it?"

Chapter Twenty Four