Chapter 1

• NYRA
• "Why are you still here? Your dear mate went to the obstetrics and gynecology department with that bitch! ”
• As soon as I stepped into the banquet hall, I was pulled into a corner by my only friend, Liora.
• Today was The Moon Festival.
• I am the daughter of the Beta of the Greyfang pack, and even though many people in the pack were reluctant to admit my identity, I still had to dress up for this dinner.
• "Here! Someone sent this to me. I thought it might be fabricated, but this photo sure looks real—" she scoffed, jaw clenching. "It must be true.. She must be back and now clinging to your mate," she handed me her phone, anger blaring in her eyes.
• I raised my eyebrows and looked down at the screen.
• There, in the picture—Rivena walked arm-in-arm with Luca in a healer's clinic—by the OB-GYN department.
• Rivera was back? And got entangled with Luca again?
• Luca was Greyfang Pack’s Alpha, my to-be-mate and betrothed, the man chosen by the goddess himself—according to a prophecy. And Rivena was a shadow that I had always been unable to get rid of.
• She was an impostor, the fake heiress of the greyfang pack, but she had been a princess for 18 years. And I, the true heiress of the GreyfangPack, could only wander as an orphan until the man who changed my life took me in…
• I was barely a day old— when I was switched—swapped with a rogue's daughter.
• Her mother—a pardoned rogue who worked in the hospital at that time, had just delivered her baby.
• She, however, wanted her daughter to live a good life.
• So, I had to pay for it.
• She switched me with her daughter, Rivena—and she lived eighteen years of my life for me.
• It wasn't until two years ago that my biological parents finally found me. Words of promises were sung to my ears. How much I was wanted. How much they needed me—for what I thought would be a blessing, but ended up a curse.
• After returning to the Greyfang Pack, I finally learned that they longed for my return just because a prophecy claimed I was a Moon-Marked wolf with extraordinary gifts. Their claims of love were false; in reality, they loved Rivena more.
• But my misfortune didn't end there. I had no gift at all. On the contrary, I didn't even have a wolf.I thought that prophecy of Moon-Marked wolf was just a damn misunderstanding!
• Therefore, it was only natural that they favored Rivera and ignored me.
• My mother said she was innocent, so they would let her stay at home and be my sister. But they didn’t know how hypocritical and vicious my so-called sister is. Or they just chose not to.
• She always acted so pitiful that everyone thought I was always bullying her. Sadly, my family also always believed in her and thought I was a bad girl.
• She left two years ago, on her own accord—claiming since I was back—a rogue like her didn't have a place in the Pack.
• But I knew it all. It was to gain sympathy from the Pack members.
• Now, she is back. Not only to steal my life, but my mate and title as well.
• I snorted coldly, although I still maintained the elegant posture of the daughter of a Beta, but my heart was already burning with anger.
• Although my union with Luca was not entirely my intention, since I was about to conclude a mate bond, isn't it the most basic thing to remain loyal?
• Since he and Rivena dared to betray me, they should be prepared to pay the price.
• Just as I was about to say something to Liora, Luca and his father arrived.
• Everyone in the hall rose to welcome them.
• Soon, they took their seats. Dad gestured to me to go sit beside Luca.
• As I stood, every eye followed, and murmurs rippled through the hall.
• "There she is, the new girl."
• "The one who stole Luna Rivena's title?"
• "Yes, her."
• I had heard this a lot since returning to the Pack.
• From the sadness and anger at the beginning to the numbness now, I gradually learned to ignore those words.
• I reached where Alpha Luca sat.
• "Hey." He barely glanced at me.
• I sat next to him, my gaze sharp and icy; they looked like they could kill.
• I wasn't here to be intimidated by mere words, I was the intimidator.
• I tried to hide my disgust for him. This vile traitor, I would make him pay for his shamelessness in a heartbeat. But not now, not in such a solemn ceremony of the pack.
• "May we all have our seats, please," the ex-Alpha, Luca's father, said, and soon everyone else in the hall sat.
• He began, "As we are gathered here today, for another joyous night—the Moon festival,"
• "Luca, hi." A voice came in a hushed tone behind me.
• I turned to see Rivena, the girl who lived my life for eighteen years, was truly back—dressed in a long black, sleeveless gown with a slit to the sides, baring her long tiny legs into view.
• After seeing the photos Liora showed me, I was already mentally prepared for her back. But her shamelessness still exceeded my imagination. How dare she show up here?
• She barely gave me a glance, and instead moved her seat, sitting beside Luca where he sat opposite me.
• "You didn’t wait for me." She glanced wearily at me. “Let’s sit together.”
• "Sure," Luca said in a clipped tone, then took a quick glance at me before returning to focus on his dad's drowned out words.
• My insides boiled, and I found my hands clenching into a fist.
• The audacity to be here. The audacity for both of them to act like nothing hadn’t happened.
• Like they hadn’t been seeing each other behind my back.
• Our wedding was in two weeks, yet he roamed about publicly with her.
• Soon, the festival went on. A live band played, performers displayed dance arts, pups practiced choreography and joy and laughter filled the halls.
• It was indeed a joyous day—for them at least.
• Because for me, all I could think of was the seemingly carefree woman who sat opposite me.
• I could see the way she tried getting Luca's attention, starting little convos that ended with awkward laughs.
• The way her hand 'mistakenly' met with his when she grabbed a glass.
• I scoffed dryly.
• She wanted everything, didn't she?
• I could see right through her, but it just seemed everyone else turned a blind eye.
• She could never do anything wrong in my so-called family’s eyes, moreover she was the one they had known for 18 years.
• Not me, who suddenly came from nowhere to steal her title.
• They would never accept me.
• I turned, and saw it.
• Looks of disdain, hatred—the way they glanced at me wearily—casting hateful looks.
• Instead, they looked at her with warmth in their eyes.
• They looked at the one who had stolen my identity—my life— with eyes full of love.
• While, I, the true daughter was given nothing other than looks filled with contempt.
• They had known Rivina was back for a long time. But no one had asked for my opinion on it, nor had anyone informed me of the news.
• The sound of glass shattering pierced through the music.
• My head snapped up—liquid splashed across the table, spilling over the edge of my gown.
• A server stood frozen, eyes wide, a tray of wine bottles tumbling from her trembling hands. The red wine splattered like blood across the white tablecloth—and all over Rivena's dress.
• Gasps echoed. "Luna Rivena!" someone screamed.
• Dozens rushed to her side. Warriors. Servers. Even Elders.
• "Are you alright?"
• "She's hurt!"
• "Get towels!"
• In the chaos, I sat still—wine dripping from my hands, the sting of embarrassment sharper than claws.
• No one looked at me. Not one.
• Not even him.
• Luca pulled Rivena to her feet, his hands hovering over her like she was made of glass.
• A faint smile tugged at her lips when her eyes met mine—mocking, victorious.
• I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay composed. But the burn in my chest was louder than the music, louder than the laughter that resumed once everyone was sure she was fine.
• When I rose from my seat, the hall quieted briefly, every eye following me—not with concern, but contempt.
• So this was how it was going to be.
• The imposter gets pity.
• The real one gets forgotten.