Breaking the Promise

Breaking the Promise
Nicole kept her chin high as whispers spread through the courtyard.
“Did she really just ask Prince Zandro to reject her?”
“Y-yes. She did. But wasn’t she always obsessed with the prince? Why would she suddenly want to reject him?”
Everyone stared at Nicole in disbelief, but she remained calm.
She had been waiting for this chance since the moment she returned to this world.
Rejecting a prince was never simple. Alpha Rhydian would never allow it without a good reason, and Zandro’s pride would never let him accept being rejected by a woman. Nicole also knew she was not powerful enough to openly defy either of them.
That was why she had waited until she got her wolf.
The contest with Alicia had finally given her the opportunity she needed. Alpha Rhydian had promised to grant her wish, and he was known as a man who kept his word. More importantly, Nicole had asked for her wish in front of everyone. It would be much harder for him to simply take back his promise now.
Nicole met Zandro’s gaze across the courtyard.
His face had darkened, and his jaw was clenched tightly as he stared at her. He looked ready to lose control.
Alpha Rhydian was clearly shocked by her request, while Nicole’s brothers seemed unable to believe what they had heard. Her father remained silent, but her stepmother looked pleased.
Alicia looked the happiest of them all.
She tried to hide her smile, but the excitement in her eyes gave her away. She had always been obsessed with Adiran, so Nicole’s decision clearly pleased her.
“Child, what did you just say?” Alpha Rhydian finally asked. “You want to reject Zandro?”
“Yes, Alpha.” Nicole met his gaze without hesitation. “I want to reject Prince Zandro.”
Alpha Rhydian raised an eyebrow, but before he could answer, Zandro spoke.
“You’re really bold, Nicole.”
His quiet voice carried a clear warning.
Zandro stepped toward her, his boots striking the marble ground, but Nicole refused to move back. She stared directly at him until Alpha Rhydian’s powerful voice stopped his son.
“Wait, Zandro.”
Zandro immediately stopped.
His entire body was tense, and the fury in his eyes never left Nicole, but he obeyed his father.
Alpha Rhydian looked between them before letting out a slow sigh.
“I know I promised to give you anything you wanted, Nicole. But this is not a simple request.” His gaze briefly moved toward his son before returning to her. “I need time to think about it. Once I make my decision, I will call you to the palace.”
Whispers immediately filled the courtyard again.
Nicole understood what his answer meant.
The Alpha had no intention of letting her walk away from Zandro easily.
Still, she did not argue or beg. She simply lowered her head respectfully.
“Understood, Alpha.”
Her decision had already been made. Whatever happened next, she would not take it back.
Alpha Rhydian seemed eager to end the uncomfortable subject. He turned his attention back to the reason everyone had gathered in the first place.
“This is supposed to be a celebration for the White Wolf,” he said, looking at Nicole and Alicia. “I believe both of you completed the wolf trial. You both got your wolves, correct?”
Alicia flinched beside Nicole.
Then her usual sweet smile returned.
“Y-yes, Alpha. I got my wolf.” Alicia hesitated before looking at Nicole with fake concern. “But Nicole didn’t. She wasn’t able to pass the trial.”
The courtyard immediately erupted with whispers.
“She failed?”
“The Moonborn is wolfless?”
“How embarrassing.”
Nicole’s father glared at her.
“You’re completely useless,” he spat. “No one expected much from you, but you could have at least gotten a wolf.”
Alpha Rhydian looked at Nicole with clear disappointment. Now that she had been revealed as his son’s mate, her supposedly being wolfless only made the situation worse.
Zandro looked furious, although Nicole could not tell whether his anger was directed at her or at what was happening.
Before anyone else could speak, Alicia stepped forward.
“My sister doesn’t have a wolf,” she said softly. “Even though I may have been blessed by the Moon Goddess, I don’t want to transform in front of her tonight. Can we postpone the ceremony until tomorrow? I don’t want to hurt my sister’s feelings.”
The crowd immediately began praising her.
“How kind.”
“She really cares about her sister.”
“She truly deserves the Moon Goddess’s blessing.”
A small smile appeared on Nicole’s lips.
Alicia was good at pretending to be kind. She had humiliated Nicole in front of everyone, then made herself look generous for trying to protect her.
And everyone had fallen for it.
Alpha Rhydian nodded. “Fine. I suppose we can postpone the ceremony until tomorrow.”
“Who said I don’t have a wolf?”
Nicole’s voice cut through the courtyard.
The whispers stopped.
Alicia froze, and for the first time, her sweet expression cracked.
Nicole stepped forward and looked directly at her.
“Did you hear me say that, Alicia?”
Alicia stared at her. “W-what are you saying, Nicole?”
“I’m asking why you told everyone I don’t have a wolf.” Nicole’s smile slowly widened. “How would you know whether I passed the trial or not? I never told you anything.”
Panic flashed across Alicia’s face.
She quickly moved closer to Nicole and lowered her voice so no one else could hear.
“What are you doing?” Alicia hissed. “You promised, Nicole.”
“Promised?”
Nicole looked at her as if she had just heard something ridiculous.
“Did you really think I would keep a promise that stupid?”
Alicia’s face turned pale.
Nicole leaned closer, keeping her voice low.
“Just so you could spread rumors tomorrow that I used witchcraft to steal your white wolf?”