The car ride to the gathering was silent. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring out at the darkened landscape, hands clasped tightly in my lap. With each mile, my heart grew heavier. I was heading into a room full of people who barely saw me anymore—who wished I’d never existed in the first place.
By the time we arrived, the grand hall was already alive with laughter and excitement. Conversations hummed, glasses clinked, and admiration rippled through the crowd—all for her.
Maureen.
She stood at the center of it all, dressed in a shimmering diamond-studded gown that caught every light. Her long, perfect waves cascaded down her back, her radiant smile lighting up the room. A swan among sparrows.
I glanced down at myself again. My jeans suddenly felt too tight, my shirt too plain. I was an intruder here. A misplaced puzzle piece.
Then, Alpha Garry—her father—stepped onto the dais.
“Tonight, we celebrate the return of my daughter, Maureen,” he announced, his voice brimming with pride. “She has suffered greatly, but now she’s home—where she belongs. From this moment on, she will be cherished as she deserves.”
Thunderous applause filled the hall. I stood at the edge of the crowd, feeling like a ghost.
“She’s gorgeous,” someone whispered behind me.
“Poor Maureen,” another murmured. “Imagine everything she went through... while that girl took her place.”
Heat crept up my cheeks.
“She’s a fraud.”
“What a joke.”
The words dug into me like thorns. I swallowed hard, willing myself not to react.
Then, a voice—calm, sweet, yet laced with something sharper—cut through the air.
“Avery.”
I turned. Maureen stood before me, a glass of red wine in her delicate hand. Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes gleamed with something darker.
“Enjoying the party?” she asked lightly.
I hesitated. “I—”
Her expression didn’t waver. “You must be thrilled to see everything back where it should be.”
I stiffened. “Maureen, I—”
“You stole my life,” she said softly, stepping closer. “You took my family. My home.”
“It wasn’t my choice,” I whispered.
She tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Wasn’t it?” Her gaze flicked past me, landing on Harland Her lips curled. “Even my mate?”
“I never—”
“You did,” she murmured, her voice smooth as silk. “But don’t worry. I have everything back now.” She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “How does it feel to lose everything, Avery?”