Chapter 1: Imposter

Nina

The mirror didn’t lie. It never did.

I stood there, staring at the woman I was supposed to be. The ceremonial dress clung to my frame like a second skin, soft fabric brushing against scars I tried too hard to forget. The silver stitching of moonflowers was meant to symbolize grace and strength, two things I wished I had. Yet, as my fingers traced the fabric’s delicate lines, I felt none of it.

"If only I could give him an heir," I whispered to no one, my words dissipating into the night.

Then came the scoff, sharp and bitter, a voice curling through my mind like smoke. "If only you could grow a pair."

I stiffened, fists clenching the edge of the dresser. The voice wasn’t new. It had been with me for years, a companion I never wanted. Its remarks came uninvited, cutting through my thoughts like the edge of a rusted blade.

Before it could say more, a knock on the door broke the silence.

"Yes?" My voice wavered. I opened the door to find Luna Lisa standing there, flanked by two guards. Her presence filled the space like the scent of lilies—sweet, pervasive, almost suffocating.

"Looking pretty on your big day," Lisa said with a small smile, her sharp eyes raking over me. The way she carried herself, so composed, always made me feel like a child playing dress-up.

"Luna," I greeted, dipping into a curtsey. But before I could lower myself fully, she reached out and caught my arm.

"Goodness, Nina, stop with the formalities." She laughed lightly, but there was sadness in her tone. "I know it’s too much to ask you to call me 'mother,' but surely 'Lisa' will do?"

Her words hung between us, a challenge wrapped in warmth. I opened my mouth, then closed it again like a fish pulled from water. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to call her 'Lisa.' It felt...wrong. Disrespectful, somehow. This woman, with her immaculate grace and sharp intuition, had been more of a mother than anyone I'd ever had. But calling her 'mother'—no, that was too intimate, too vulnerable.

"Lisa," I finally said, the name tasting foreign on my tongue. She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Ready for the crown?" she teased, looking into theroomovermyshoulder. "Liam will be pleased."

Heat crept up my neck at the mention of my mate. Liam. The Alpha. A man as untouchable as the stars. I fumbled with the hem of my sleeve, trying not to picture his storm-gray eyes or the way he held me like I was something precious, even when I felt anything but.

Lisa raised an eyebrow at my silence. "I bet he can’t wait to get you in bed," she said, her voice laced with mischief. She wiggled her perfectly arched brows, and I flushed a deep crimson.

"Luna—Lisa," I corrected myself quickly. "I—"

"Speaking of beds," she interrupted with a smirk, "may I come in?"

I stepped aside, stammering an apology. Lisa moved gracefully, her presence dominating the small space.

As Lisa eased herself down on the bed, my inner voice piped up again.

“Watch her. The helpful ones are always the most dangerous.”

"Stop it," I hissed under my breath, pressing my fingers to my temple.

Lisa tilted her head, concern flickering across her features. “It’s the voice again, isn’t it?”

Caught off guard, I could only nod. I hated talking about it, hated admitting how much control it had over me, but there was no denying it now.

Lisa leaned forward, her face softening into something almost maternal. “You know I’ve told you before—this isn’t your inner wolf. Your wolf would’ve appeared by now if you’d silenced that voice.” Her gaze drifted to the vanity, and I knew what Lisa was looking at before she spoke again. “The vial’s still in that drawer, isn’t it?”

I stiffened. Of course, Lisa was right. The doctor had prescribed it months ago. Just one small vial to silence the voice. To pave the way for my wolf to emerge, to let me shift like a true werewolf. But I'd been too afraid. Silencing the voice felt like silencing the last piece of myself that wasn’t broken.

“It’s not that simple,” I whispered. “It makes me feel… normal.”

Lisa’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded, not pushing further. Instead, she reached out and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Just think about it,” Lisa said softly. Then, with a wink, she placed a small red bottle in my hand. “Here. A little something to make the night more memorable.”

I gazed at the bottle, my face flushing more as I understood what it was. An aphrodisiac. Lisa had always been generous with potions and advice, especially when it came to helping me conceive. The potions hadn’t worked, but I was grateful for the effort.

Lisa stood, smoothing down the hem of her sleek dress. “The Alpha is back,” she said, her voice lifting as howls echoed faintly from outside. “Let’s not keep him waiting.”

With one last pat on my shoulder, she swept from the room, leaving the scent of lavender and authority in her wake. Alone again, I stared at my reflection. The scar on my collarbone, pale and raised, caught my eye. I traced it absently, my mind drifting back to the dark nights I'd spent hidden in shadows, long before Liam had found me.

I wasn’t perfect. Not as a mate, not as a woman, and certainly not as a Luna. Yet here I am, about to step into the role officially. Liam had accepted me, flaws and all.

“If only I could—”

“Oh, shut it already,” the voice snapped. “If you’re so obsessed with perfection, start by growing a spine. Or better yet, ditch that pathetic facade and embrace who you are. ”

I shook my head sharply, , reaching into the drawer before I could second-guess myself. My fingers closed around the purple vial. Enough was enough. If silencing the voice meant finding my wolf, finding myself, then so be it.

I tilted the vial back, swallowing the bitter liquid in one quick gulp. The effect was immediate. The voice sputtered, its usual sharpness dulled to a low murmur before fading entirely. I exhaled, my shoulders sagging under the weight of the quiet.

With a final glance at the mirror, I adjusted my dress, smoothing the silk over my hips. Tonight, I would become Luna. I would stand beside Liam and show the pack that I was more than the timid girl they all dismissed.

The grand hall was already buzzing with life when I stepped through the heavy doors. The air thick with expensive cologne and simmering pheromones. Moonlight streamed through tall windows, casting everything in a silvery glow. The crowd shifted, murmurs rippling through the space as I stepped inside.

But no one turned to me. No one congratulated me or offered a kind word. I was invisible.

I was used to being treated like dirt. However, that did not prevent it from causing pain.

I navigated through the crowd, my gaze locked on the elevated stage at the opposite end of the space.

My steps faltered as she neared the platform, my eyes locking onto Liam. Tall and broad-shouldered, he stood with an air of command that made the room feel smaller. His dark hair was tied back, his jaw set, the scar on his lip adding an edge to his already rugged features. Her stomach flipped, a mixture of nerves and awe.

He was flanked by his Beta, Cesar, and Gamma, Blake. My heart fluttered, then sank.

But then I saw her.

A girl.

She knelt down, her garments worn and soiled with grime and blood. Her hair was knotted in messy clumps, hiding her face. She held her side, where new blood oozed through her ripped dress.

She appeared as if she had been pulled through hell. My heart ached at the sight.

Without thinking, I moved toward her. “Are you alright?”

Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine with a fiery intensity. Green eyes. Eyes that were startlingly familiar.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed, her voice trembling but defiant.

I froze, my hand halfway extended. At that moment, the similarity struck me like a punch to the heart. Her features—her nose, her jawline, and even the subtle scar on her neck—it felt as if I was gazing into a reflection.

“How…” My voice faltered as I turned to Liam, seeking answers.

His expression was unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Seize her,” he said, his tone calm and cold.

For a moment, I thought he meant the girl. But then the guards closed in around me.

“What's going__” I began, but the words were snatched from me as rough hands gripped my arms.

I caught the girl’s faint smirk as she whispered, " You'll find out soon."