Chapter 1

I died.

I was bled out by my own clone werewolf. Blood was flowing all over the ground and I became a dry corpse.

That day, I was on my way to find my Alpha husband, Carter, when a werewolf with my exact face appeared out of nowhere.

She sprayed something right in front of my eyes. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

In a haze, she hoisted me onto her shoulder and carried me into the woods behind the yard. Her strength was terrifying.

I watched the face that looked just like mine twist into something ugly.

Nora raised a silver-plated knife and slashed toward my throat.

I squeezed my eyes shut. It hurt so badly I burst into tears. I didn’t even get the chance to scream for help before I died.

Now I was floating in midair, watching her kick my body like it was trash.

With disgust, she said to the maid beside her, "Ann, take her body and go turn it in."

Turn it in... to whom? I couldn’t make sense of what they were talking about.

Nora bent down and picked up the lunchbox I’d dropped. The joy in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"Rory, you really never listen to advice. You deserved this. I’m the same kind of existence as you. So why shouldn’t I be Carter’s Luna?"

I never imagined she could even sound exactly like me.

Carter was my fated mate... and also the coldest man I’d ever known.

Nora clenched the lunchbox handle and stood at the door. She took a deep breath, a shy blush blooming on her cheeks.

Carter was sitting at his desk, going through pack documents. The glass of water beside him was the one I’d poured before I left.

Whenever he worked, he got so absorbed he forgot to drink, forgot to eat.

I always tried to find gaps in his schedule to remind him... but I wasn’t smart enough. I always managed to turn good intentions into trouble.

Nora walked into the room and said softly, "Carter."

Carter didn’t even look up. "Sit."

Nora set the lunchbox in front of him.

Carter lifted his gaze, glanced at it, and said coldly, "I don’t eat in the study. You forgot?"

Nora looked painfully awkward. She snatched her hand back and apologized, "I’m so stupid. I can never remember."

That was my pet phrase. The thing I’d said for years. I never thought Nora would know it and let alone copy it.

Carter frowned and cleared his throat. "It’s fine. That necklace you wanted a while back. I had Jack buy it for you. It’ll be delivered to your room tonight."

Nora smiled like she’d just won the world. "Thank you, honey."

"Go have fun. I need to finish some work first."

As Nora left, my soul drifted to Carter’s side, staring at his focused profile.

I whispered, Carter... I’m dead.

How could you not notice she isn’t me? Not even a little?

Or did you originally want this smart werewolf to replace me? Is it because of my stupidity?

I was the youngest daughter of an Omega couple.

When I was little, I got sick and my family couldn’t afford treatment. The fever burned my brain and left me... slow. Stupid. A fool.

I had a younger sister, Mia. After my dad died, my mom could only scrape by with odd jobs to feed us.

We were always broke until Carter suddenly showed up at our door.

He told me I was his fated mate. I could feel the mate bond between us, even though I didn’t really understand what liking someone meant.

I was thirteen that year.

Carter gave my family a huge amount of money and took me back to the main hall.

Looking at the respectful expressions of the other werewolves towards him, that was when I learned Carter was the pack’s Alpha.

He kept me by his side and also hired a painting teacher for me.

But he didn't expect me to earn money for him; he was just afraid that I'll get bored. I was like a little dog. When I wagged my tail, he gave me food and clothing, but was stingy in giving me love.

When I turned eighteen, Carter and I held our mate ceremony. As Carter's fangs just touched the back of my neck, Nora appeared.

Honestly, the first time I saw a face identical to mine, I was so scared I hid behind Carter.

She shot me a disdainful look, and I waved my fist, pretending to be powerful.

But she was reluctant to look at me and turned to Carter with a gaze full of devotion.

"I’m your real fated mate. You should make me your Luna."

Carter didn’t hesitate for even a second. "No. Rory is my one and only Luna."

When the Wolf in my chest heard this sentence, it could hardly control its sobs and cheers. This was a vow from a fated mate.