Chapter 3
Nora rushed to call Mary into the bedroom, anxiety sharp in her voice. “Mary. Can you smell perfume on me?”
Mary leaned in and sniffed Nora’s arm and neck. A werewolf’s nose is far sharper than a human’s. She shook her head quickly. “No. I don’t smell anything. Your hair just has a bit of that herbal shampoo scent.”
Nora frowned and paced, then asked, “When you used to serve that dead girl… what did she smell like?”
Mary thought for a moment. “Nothing special. Forest herbs and the soil of the territory. She never used artificial fragrances. She said it dulled a wolf’s ability to sense danger. She only smelled like the Pack, pure and natural.”
Mary had been sent to Black Moon manor by my mother half a year ago. Mom claimed it was because I still hadn’t conceived after two years as a mate, so she brought in Mary, someone skilled at blending fertility herbs to “improve my health.”
That sudden ‘kindness’ from Ember Hide made me happy for a while. Even though Mary never actually brewed a single conditioning potion for me after she arrived, I still let myself hope my parents finally cared.
Later I learned the truth.
From the moment Mary appeared in front of me, Ember Hide had already started preparing for Nora to replace me.
Mary was there to study my habits, my Pack behaviors. She recorded everything with an image stone so Nora could imitate it and also watched for my weaknesses.
Hearing Mary mock me like that, Nora’s mouth curled. “So she’s poor and ignorant, and she’s short-lived too. Not a hint of womanly charm.”
Mary looked confused. “Short-lived? Lady Aurora’s bloodline is weak, sure, but her healing isn’t terrible. She shouldn’t die that fast.”
Nora’s smile froze. Then she delivered the lines she’d clearly rehearsed. “She’s always been sickly. That old widow who raised her cries all day, talking about taking her to some hidden Pack for treatment, always begging my parents for herbs and resources.”
“Just sucking our Pack dry. A beggar raising a beggar. And look at her, so uncultured she does everything herself. It makes it hard for me to order the servants around.”
I flew at her, furious, wanting to punch and claw only for my spirit to pass straight through her body. No harm. No impact. Nothing.
Ember Hide only gave Mable a little herb supply in the very first years. After that, not a single leaf. Everything I ever ate, every herb I used, Mable earned by gathering plants in the woods and trading for small prey she hunted herself.
When they needed someone to take the fall for a marriage alliance, to appease Liam, only then did they remember their abandoned daughter.
Mary started offering Nora suggestions. “Maybe wash with the herbal shampoo in the bathroom a few more times? Maybe your old artificial fragrance hasn’t fully washed out. The Alpha’s sense of smell is too sharp. He’ll notice even the smallest difference.”
“Aurora never cared about these things. Whatever herbal products the manor purchased, she used. She never cares about the life quality like you do.”
Nora pressed her lips tight and snapped, “I use it every day. Why isn’t it gone? Fine. I’ll wash again.”
She sent Mary out, then pulled out her communication stone and called the shadow wizard.
“Shadow Wizard. You’ve got Aurora’s wandering ghost locked down, right?”
I drifted closer, pressing in to listen.
From the stone came a groveling voice. “Don’t worry. I used a soul-sealing array to bind her spirit tightly to you. She can’t even get close to moonlight, let alone reincarnate!”
A soul-sealing array…
I rolled my eyes and drifted lazily around the room.
I didn’t know why I was trapped beside her, but a truly powerful wizard wouldn’t talk like that so desperate to please. He sounded like a fraud living off cheap tricks.
