Ten Million Dollars and a Lycan’s Child

The Luna was dead, and the position of queen stood empty.

I, Elsie Berry, had no desire to rise early, but I found myself drawn into the race for the throne.

The Lycan King, Christian Berry, with whom I had been in a cold war for two years, sent a message through the pack's mind link:

"Ten million dollars."

I gritted my teeth and reluctantly transferred my life savings into the pack's account.

But then, after taking the money, he raised the stakes:

"Give me a child as well."

I stood up, brushing the dust off my jeans.

Early mornings it was, then.

---

I was sixteen when I was forced to participate in the mate selection.

It was the first mate selection since the Lycan King’s ascension, and no one could escape it.

Especially since I was the only daughter in my family.

My father, a respected businessman in the city, patted his chest and assured me:

"Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything. Just go through the motions. Your mother and I will be waiting for you outside."

When it came to money, I trusted my father implicitly.

After all, my family was wealthy, one of the richest in the region.

When I entered the selection, I brought nothing but a small backpack.

I walked through the hall, waiting for the results, and was about to leave when a Delta stopped me:

"Miss, where are you going?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I bolted for the door, shouting back at him:

"What did you call me?"

The Delta, startled, ran after me, calling for the guards to close the gates, and replied:

"Miss, you’ve been chosen as a Delta!"

I turned back in horror, and as the gates closed, I heard the sound of my favorite coffee cup shattering on the ground and my parents’ heartbroken cries.

Just like that, I was dragged back, dazed, and officially became Elsie Berry, the Delta.

Before officially joining the pack, I was given two days to say goodbye to my parents.

My mother cried and hit my father:

"You said everything was taken care of! Our daughter has been pampered since birth—how can she survive in a pack like that?"

My father remained silent, sighing deeply as he endured my mother’s blows.

I sighed too and tried to console my mother:

"Mom, what’s done is done. We can’t change it now. It’s not like we can rebel, is it?"

My mother’s crying stopped abruptly, and both of us stared at my father in shock.

He calmly said:

"Rebellion… I’ve considered it."

"?"

"!"

"Not enough money. It wouldn’t work."

My mother started hitting him again, and then, still crying, she took me to see the city one last time.

When I returned to the pack, I brought thirty suitcases with me.

My mother, her eyes red from crying, said:

"Your dowry has already been sent to the pack’s treasury. If you ever face any hardships in the pack, send word to me. I’ll find a way to help you."

My father didn’t speak, but the corners of his mouth twitched, forming a smile uglier than a frown.

Over those two days, my father’s back seemed to bend more than usual.

I knew he had nearly exhausted our family’s wealth, begging every influential figure in the city, but it hadn’t saved me from joining the pack.

"Dad, stop begging. Keep the money and have another child with Mom."

My father turned away, his shoulders trembling.

I knelt down and performed the traditional farewell ritual to my parents.

The Delta cried out in alarm:

"Miss, you can’t do that! You’re a Delta now—you can only kneel to the Lycan King!"

I ignored him, completing the ritual:

"Once I join the pack, I can no longer serve my parents. I hope you both take care of yourselves. This is goodbye."

When I stood up, my parents were on their knees, their faces wet with tears.

The gates closed, and from that day on, I never stepped out of them again.

---

Since I was young, I had aspired to be a wise and just ruler.

I strived to be the best in everything.

In all aspects—etiquette, music, combat training, riding, literature, and mathematics—I practiced relentlessly after lessons.

All to surpass everyone and make a name for myself.

I never allowed myself a moment’s rest.

At sixteen, my father arranged for me to meet two she-wolves.

One became my Luna, the other my mate.

The Luna was kind and virtuous, the mate lively and cheerful.

Both were good she-wolves.

My mother taught me to be gentle and considerate to women.

And I was.

After ascending as the Lycan King, I made the Luna my queen and the mate my Gamma.

The others were given ranks based on their merits and contributions.

I knew life in the pack was hard, so I treated every she-wolf with equal care.

But I was too caring, and they always ended up falling for me.

They wanted to possess me entirely.

It became a burden.

I was the Lycan King of the entire pack, not just one she-wolf’s mate.

But I didn’t want to hurt their feelings, so I distanced myself for a while.

Then I’d ask the Luna to comfort them.

But the Luna wasn’t much of a talker.

She took them to meditate.

I didn’t believe in meditation, and I was worried.

Surprisingly, it worked wonders.

But these she-wolves… they started looking like they’d renounced the world.

My pack seemed full of life, but in reality, it was lifeless.

Few were left who could serve as my mate.

So the Luna suggested a mate selection.

It was the first selection since my ascension.

It had been delayed for years.

Not because I didn’t want to hold it.

But because we were broke.

The pack’s treasury was empty.

My ancestors had burned through three mansions in their revelry.

The repairs dragged on from my grandfather’s time to mine, and they still weren’t finished.

Add to that the constant battles.

The pack had endured years of hardship.

Only recently had things started to improve.

And only then did we think of holding a mate selection.

This time, I decided to choose only three.

I couldn’t afford more.

At first, I didn’t take notice of Elsie Berry.

I was ready to dismiss her.

After all, she came right after Zayla Stewart.

Zayla was stunning.

Elsie paled in comparison.

But then my Beta reminded me:

"Elsie Berry’s family is wealthy."

I was desperate for money.

I thought I could squeeze some out of her.

Her father had already poured money into my hands.

Rich—she was indeed rich.

I almost wanted to name her the "Rich Delta."

Though I was after her money, I still planned to treat her well.

But who could have guessed she’d cause trouble on her very first day?

How could she not know the basic protocols?

As a Delta, she could only kneel to me—how could she kneel to others?

But I let it slide, understanding she was saying goodbye to her parents.

But then she had the audacity to ask me for a house.

Vulgar!

Absolutely vulgar!

But undeniably rich.