I walked into the Robinson mansion dressed in a striking red gown.

Coincidentally, it was the seventh day since Nina Black’s death.

The mansion was alive with music and chatter, but it didn’t feel like a funeral.

Instead, the atmosphere was festive, with red ribbons adorning the trees.

The Robinsons were hosting a mark ceremony.

But Jasper Robinson, the only son of the pack, had already been marked to Nina three years ago.

Was he taking a new mate?

I cleared my throat, my crimson sleeves billowing as I strode into the grand hall.

The chatter died down as the crowd turned to stare at me.

When Jasper’s eyes landed on me, they widened with surprise and a flicker of admiration.

He was the mate Nina had once loved so deeply.

For three years, he had been cold and distant toward her.

Then, he had betrayed her with her half-sister, Wren Hill, treating Nina as if she were nothing.

The reason? He found Nina dull compared to Wren’s allure.

But Nina’s love and care for him, her devotion to his mother, Frances Ramos—he had ignored it all.

A few days ago, Nina had been accused of infidelity, caught in a trap set by Wren and Frances.

Though Jasper had his doubts, he had still cast her out of the pack.

Now, as he looked at the radiant version of Nina standing before him, he felt a pang of regret.

Someone who loved him so fiercely couldn’t possibly have betrayed him.

Besides…

He had always known Nina was framed.

His mother had never liked Nina, and Wren had wanted to be his mate.

It had to be their doing.

As Jasper’s gaze lingered on Nina’s mesmerizing eyes, a heat stirred within him.

For three years, Nina had dressed modestly, rarely wearing anything bold.

But now, in that red gown, her cold, alluring eyes glinted with a dangerous beauty.

While he stared at me, I stared back.

Perfect. A dark cloud hovered above his head.

When I had taken on Nina’s form, I had heard her anguished cries.

Her resentment was overwhelming.

Before her death, it had manifested as five dark clouds.

Each one represented a murderer.

That meant five people had a hand in her death.

Jasper was so entranced that he didn’t notice the bride lifting her veil.

It was Wren Hill, Nina’s half-sister and the mate he was about to mark today.

I turned to face her.

A dark cloud hovered above her head too.

Nina’s memories flooded my mind.

Since childhood, Wren had always taken what belonged to Nina.

First, it was jewelry and clothes; later, it was status and a mate.

When Nina had marked into the Robinson Pack, Wren had schemed her way into Jasper’s bed.

After becoming pregnant, she had flaunted it in front of Nina:

“Mother says you’re barren, and it seems she’s right.”

“I have some good news for you—I’m carrying your mate’s child.”

“If you know what’s good for you, leave the pack quietly.”

To ensure Nina could never rise again, Wren and Frances had framed her for infidelity.

That was how Nina had been cast out.

But Wren hadn’t stopped there.

When Nina, heartbroken, had decided to leave the pack and seek refuge with her grandfather, Wren had hired rogues to ambush her on the road.

She knew what a group of ruthless men would do to a defenseless woman.

But she wanted Nina dead.

When Wren saw me, she froze.

Her veil slipped from her hands, and fear flickered in her eyes.

“You… you’re supposed to be…”

I stepped closer, my red lips curling into a smirk as she stumbled back.

“Go on. What was I supposed to be?”

Wren retreated until she had nowhere left to go, tugging at Jasper’s arm in desperation.

Jasper snapped out of his trance.

Right. She was supposed to be dead.

Wren had told him so herself.

She had claimed Nina had been killed by rogues.

Had Wren been mistaken?

Yes, that had to be it.

Ever the quick thinker, Jasper spun a lie on the spot:

“Nina, a few days ago, you said you couldn’t bear children and left a rejection letter.”

“I searched for you everywhere, only to learn you went to your grandfather’s pack. I didn’t care about heirs, but my parents wanted a grandchild, so I…”

I let out a cold laugh.

“So you marked my half-sister?”

The crowd gasped.

Everyone knew Nina as gentle and unassuming, someone who avoided conflict.

Yet here she was, speaking with such sharpness.

She must have endured something terrible in the Robinson Pack.

The pack members glanced between Jasper and Wren, their faces alight with curiosity.

Wren’s face flushed as her hands instinctively cradled her stomach.

I covered my mouth with a handkerchief, feigning shock.

“It’s only been seven days since I rejected the bond. How is my half-sister already two months pregnant?”

The banquet ended amidst sobs, curses, and murmurs of disdain. The Robinson Pack had lost face in front of their allies and kin. Taking a new mate was one thing, but the revelation of an affair—and a child born from it—was a scandal that tarnished their reputation. The Robinsons, who prided themselves on their noble lineage and integrity, now found themselves the subject of whispered ridicule.

Wren Hill stood behind Jasper Robinson, her eyes burning with venomous hatred. She had never imagined that Nina Black, her half-sister who was supposed to be long dead, would return to ruin her mark ceremony and expose her affair with Jasper. She had dreamed of rising through the ranks by mating into the Robinson Pack, but now, her honor was shattered, and her reputation in tatters.

I watched her fuming expression with satisfaction, perched on a chair, my sharp claws flexing subtly. Wren thought she had hidden her secrets well, but I could tell at a glance that she was two months pregnant—and with a male heir, no less. What was meant to be a joyous celebration had turned into a spectacle of shame. But that was none of my concern.

My attention was drawn to the plate of roasted venison on the table. The aroma was irresistible, and I was plotting how to sneak a bite when the room suddenly fell silent. A regal woman dressed in formal attire stepped forward, her fingers idly toying with a silver pendant engraved with the Robinson Pack crest. She murmured a soft blessing, her face serene and benevolent, yet I felt an undercurrent of coldness radiating from her.

I narrowed my eyes. The dark aura surrounding her was even thicker than that of Jasper and Wren. She was another one of Nina’s tormentors.

Frances Ramos, Jasper’s mother and the former Luna of the Robinson Pack, had made Nina’s life a living hell for three years. She enforced endless rules, subjected Nina to constant scrutiny, and forced her to drink so-called “tonics” that were meant to ensure a pregnancy. But those tonics were nothing but poison, draining Nina’s vitality until she could barely function. Frances despised Nina and had no intention of letting her bear an heir.

I clenched my claws tightly, resisting the urge to lash out. Henrik had warned me—using my power to harm others would condemn me to a beastly existence forever. I had to find another way to exact revenge.

Frances adjusted her posture, her fingers brushing against the silver pendant as she spoke with a sharp edge to her voice. “Nina Black, you left the Robinson Pack without a word, disgracing us all. How dare you show your face here today? Guards, remove her at once!”

I slammed the wine glass onto the ground, shattering it into pieces. The crimson silk of my dress fluttered in the wind, and my voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.

“Who dares!” I growled, the Alpha tone in my voice sending a ripple of unease through the gathered werewolves. Even Frances, the former Luna of the Robinson Pack, finally looked up to meet my gaze.

Good. You should look at me, you venomous old crone.

I kept my claws hidden within my sleeve, circling the room with deliberate steps. My voice was calm but laced with authority. “That rejection letter was nothing more than a moment of anger. And without the official seal of the pack, it holds no weight.”

The Robinson Pack members froze. The so-called rejection letter was nothing more than a lie Jasper had fabricated to deceive me. They thought I was dead—why would they bother with official pack seals? But here I was, alive and well, exposing their scheme.

The look of panic on their faces was almost satisfying. I softened my expression, giving them an out. The Robinsons cared about their reputation, and I needed to play along—for now. After all, to destroy them, I had to first get back into their pack.

I turned to Jasper, my mate and the Alpha of the Robinson Pack, and took his hand with a gentle smile. “Jasper, I was foolish to let my emotions get the better of me. I’ve been to see Henrik, the healer, and he says my health is improving. He believes I’ll be able to give you strong pups in the future.”

I glanced at Wren, my half-sister and a Delta in the pack, who stood nearby, her hand resting on her stomach. “As for Wren… I know she’s always admired you. Since the mark ceremony is already underway, let’s make her your chosen mate.”

Jasper’s tense expression softened, relief flooding his features. He had been worried about how to handle this mess, but now I was giving him an easy way out—and even offering to legitimize Wren’s place in the pack.

But Wren wasn’t having it. She stepped forward, her face pale, her hand clutching her stomach. “I won’t be a chosen mate!” she spat, her voice trembling. “What are you? Some kind of ghost? Why are you ruining this for me?”

I smiled, my fangs glinting as I picked up a piece of roasted meat from the table and took a bite. “Of course, I’m alive. If I were a ghost, you’d already be dead, wouldn’t you? And why would you think I’m a ghost? Unless… you had something to do with my supposed death?”

Wren’s face went white, and she stammered, “You’re lying! Jasper, my stomach—it hurts.”

She clung to Jasper’s arm, her eyes pleading. But Jasper, ever the opportunist, gently pried her hand away and turned to me, his voice smooth. “Welcome back, Nina. The pack has been in chaos without you. I only agreed to take Wren as my chosen mate because I thought you were gone, and I wanted to care for her in your absence. But now that you’re here, everything is as it should be.”

I pretended to blush, leaning into his embrace. Frances, the former Luna, watched with cold eyes. She couldn’t argue—the rejection was fake, and with the pack gathered here, she couldn’t cast me out without tarnishing her reputation.

She raised her glass, her voice dripping with false humility. “Welcome back, Nina. Let’s put this misunderstanding behind us. As your mother-in-law, I’ve failed you, and I’ll make it up to you.”

I raised my glass in return, my smile bright and mocking. The anger in her eyes was almost palpable, but she had no choice but to play along.

As I sipped my drink, I felt Nina’s wolf, Luna, stirring within me, a quiet but fierce presence. She was angry, hurt, and full of rage toward this pack that had betrayed her. I reached out with my aura, calming her. Don’t worry, Nina. I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done to you.

The game had just begun, and I was ready to play.