I was the lost daughter of the Lycan Queen Magdalena Ward, destined to reveal my true identity at the marking ceremony with Danny Jones.

But my younger brother, Hayes, warned me that assassins were targeting me, urging me to hide my status. Danny took advantage of the situation, stripping me of my ceremonial gown and dressing a maid in it instead. My guard, Kolton, seized the opportunity to steal my royal token.

I believed their lies, but as the ceremony began, I watched in shock as the maid, Valeria, paraded in my gown, flirting shamelessly with Hayes and Kolton before walking down the aisle to mark with Danny.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I rushed forward, only for Valeria to claim my identity and have me thrown into the pack dungeons.

After marking with Danny, she took Kolton as her chosen mate, flaunting their intimacy in front of me daily. Eventually, she had me mutilated and thrown into a rogue den, where I was tortured and violated until I died.

Reborn, I slapped Valeria so hard her face turned purple.

“You can have those worthless men, but my mother—you’re not worthy to take her place!”

---

Valeria clutched her bruised face, screaming in pain. Her carefully crafted beauty twisted into something grotesque.

“How… how dare you…” she stammered, her voice trembling.

I leaned in close, whispering so only she could hear.

“Does that hurt? Compared to what I endured, this is just the beginning.”

The hall erupted in gasps and shrieks.

I stepped back, watching as Valeria’s tiara tumbled to the ground, pearls scattering everywhere.

Danny was the first to react, his hand lashing out to slap me.

“You madwoman! How dare you lay a hand on Valeria!”

My so-called brother, Hayes, jumped from his seat, rushing to Valeria’s side with a look of utter concern.

He pointed at me, snarling, “How dare this rogue attack the Lycan Princess! Seize her and cut off her head!”

Kolton, who had once sworn to protect me with his life, unsheathed his claws without hesitation, charging at me.

I sidestepped his attack, my voice cold as ice.

“Kolton, after all these years by my side, you should know better than anyone who the real impostor is.”

His face paled, his claws faltering mid-swing.

Danny and Hayes exchanged uneasy glances.

I scoffed, turning to address the stunned crowd, straightening my collar with calm precision.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the pack, I am the true daughter of Lycan Queen Magdalena Ward, the rightful mate for this ceremony.”

The room exploded into chaos.

“What? How is this possible? If she’s the real Lycan Princess, then who is that woman?”

The guests turned their shocked and suspicious gazes toward Valeria.

I sat gracefully in the ceremonial chair, my eyes cold as I watched the three men hover around her.

In my past life, I had pitied Valeria, taking her in as a maid at Hayes’s suggestion.

But she had used some mysterious seduction system to ensnare Hayes, Danny, and Kolton, bending them to her will.

This time, I was supposed to reclaim my identity at the marking ceremony, returning to my rightful place as Lycan Princess.

But they had convinced me that my life was in danger, urging me to stay hidden. They dressed Valeria in my gown, letting her take my place.

But they didn’t stop there. They let her mark with Danny, and the three of them indulged in their debauchery on what should have been my marking night.

When I tried to expose them, they knocked me out and threw me into the dungeons, mutilating me until I was barely human.

Even then, they didn’t stop. They tortured me daily, and when I was on the brink of death, they threw me to the rogues to be violated until I died.

The memory of it all burned in my chest. I hurled the ceremonial chalice at Valeria, my voice laced with fury.

“Admit you’ve stolen my identity, or I’ll break every bone in your body!”

Valeria cowered, coughing up blood, her eyes pleading with Danny for help.

Danny took a step forward but froze under my sharp glare.

“Think carefully, Danny,” I said, tilting Valeria’s chin with mock gentleness. “Defending an impostor is treason against the Lycan Queen.”

His handsome face darkened, and he kicked over the ceremonial table, shattering glass and silencing the room.

“You’re insane,” he hissed, his eyes gleaming like a predator’s.

“Guards! Take this rogue away… cut out her tongue first!”

I smirked, pulling a set of silver needles from my sleeve.

“Such boldness, Danny. Let’s see if your guards are faster than my claws.”

Valeria trembled, reaching out to Hayes.

“Hayes, save me!”

Hayes’s face turned grim as he unsheathed his claws, barking at the guards.

“What are you waiting for? Arrest this madwoman!”

Kolton didn’t hesitate, his claws slicing toward my throat.

“You’ll die for this!”

Three claws pointed at me, but I stood unfazed.

I dodged their strikes, flicking my needles with precision. Their claws retracted as they clutched their wounded arms.

I laughed, turning to the stunned crowd.

“My apologies for the spectacle.”

“This marking ceremony is canceled. Let the celebration of my return as Lycan Princess begin!”

Danny clutched his wrist, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter. Hayes’s eyes darkened, and then he let out a low, mocking laugh.

“Your crude and violent behavior only proves you’re not the Lycan Princess!” he spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

Kolton, emboldened by Hayes’s words, stepped forward. “Valeria is graceful and refined—she’s the true noblewoman of the Lycan Kingdom. You’re nothing but a delusional lunatic, Elodie. Stop dreaming of rising above your station!”

“I’m Valeria’s mate,” Danny declared, his tone cold and authoritative. “I can confirm that she’s the one I’m marking today. She’s the true Lycan Princess!”

“I’m her brother,” Hayes added, his voice sharp. “We grew up together. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own sister?”

The three of them formed a protective barrier around Valeria, their eyes filled with suspicion and hostility as they glared at me. Valeria, draped in her ceremonial veil, sobbed softly, her cries eerily reminiscent of the way she had wept while torturing me in my past life—her tears a mask for her cruelty.

The crowd, initially tense, began to relax, their murmurs turning into mocking laughter.

“What a lunatic,” someone sneered. “Crashing the Lycan Princess’s mark ceremony and attacking the mate? She’ll be lucky if she’s not executed for this.”

“Executed? She’ll wish for death after what’s coming to her,” another chimed in, their voices laced with venom.

Valeria turned her tearful gaze toward me, her voice trembling with false sympathy. “I won’t call for her execution… but she must face the consequences for her actions.” Her words were sweet, but her eyes burned with malice.

I scoffed and strode toward Palmer Hawkins, who had just entered the hall. His presence was commanding, his loyalty to my mother, the Lycan Queen, unquestionable—or so I had thought.

“Palmer,” I called out, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “You’ve served my mother for decades. Surely, you can recognize her true daughter?”

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Palmer. His steps were heavy, his expression unreadable. When his gaze met mine, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He walked past me without a word and knelt before Valeria, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Your Highness,” he said, his head bowed. “It’s been ten years… and you’ve grown into such a remarkable woman.”

My blood ran cold.

“Palmer!” I snapped, my voice sharp and commanding. “Look at me! I am the Lycan Queen’s daughter!”

He turned slowly, his eyes cold and distant. “Miss, impersonating a Lycan royal is a punishable offense. I’ve served the Lycan Queen for over thirty years. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own mistress?”

The room erupted into chaos. Hayes stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “Guards! Take this madwoman away!”

The pack warriors surged toward me, but I was ready. I shifted my claws, their sharp edges glinting in the light. With a swift motion, I struck down the first two who approached me, their hands clutching their throats as they fell.

“Who dares touch me!” I roared, my voice echoing through the hall. I pointed my claws at Palmer, my eyes blazing. “Tell me! What did they offer you?”

Palmer’s face remained impassive. “You’re delusional. I’ve always been loyal to the Lycan Queen.”

Valeria leaned weakly against Danny, her tears flowing freely. “This poor woman must be suffering… perhaps she needs a healer?” Her voice was soft, but her eyes gleamed with triumph.

Her act made my stomach churn. In my past life, she had feigned kindness while ordering the most heinous tortures—her compassion as false as her identity.

I straightened, my voice ringing with authority. “My father was the Northern Pack’s Gamma, who fell in battle. I grew up training with him, learning his combat techniques. How could he have a daughter as weak and untrained as Valeria?”

With that, I shifted into my wolf form, my powerful frame commanding attention. I moved through a series of intricate maneuvers, the Northern Pack’s combat techniques flowing seamlessly from my claws.

A gasp rippled through the crowd as one of the guests, a high-ranking Beta, exclaimed, “That’s the Northern Pack’s signature combat style! It’s only passed down to family members. Could she really be the Lycan Queen’s daughter?”

Another voice chimed in, “If she’s just a lunatic, how could she possibly know such advanced techniques?”

I sheathed my claws, glaring down at the men before me.

But then, Valeria spoke, her voice soft and trembling. “She stole the techniques while Hayes and I were training!” she declared. “This is the true Northern Pack combat style!”

With Hayes supporting her, she weakly swung her claws a few times, her movements deliberately frail. My eyes darkened as I watched her, until I was practically glaring at her with a predator’s intensity.

She was mimicking my father’s techniques—techniques he had guarded fiercely, never allowing outsiders to learn them. How had she managed to steal them? Unless… there was a traitor among us.

My gaze snapped to Hayes, disbelief flooding me. Had he really betrayed our father for this woman?

I shoved Valeria mid-performance, sending her tumbling to the ground, and turned to Hayes, my voice cold and accusing. “You dared to betray our father?”

For a moment, panic flickered in Hayes’ eyes, but he quickly composed himself, turning to Valeria. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he snapped.

“Valeria,” he urged, “if she won’t believe it, show her the royal pendant!”

Valeria stood, her expression spiteful, and pulled a pendant from her robe. “This was given to my mother by the Lycan King himself,” she sneered. “It’s one of a kind. What do you have to say now?”

My eyes widened as I stared at the pendant in her hand. “How did you get that?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Valeria smirked. “My mother was ill, so she entrusted it to me.”

“Ill? She was fine just days ago!” I shot back, my mind racing. A terrifying thought struck me. Had they infiltrated my mother’s inner circle? Had they harmed her too?

Panic surged through me, and before I could react, Kolton lunged at me, pinning me to the ground. More hands joined in, and despite my struggles, I was quickly restrained.

Valeria strode over, her smile cruel as she kicked me. “That’s for hitting me earlier,” she spat. “Let’s see what tricks you have left now!”

I let out a bitter laugh, spitting a mouthful of blood at her face.

Palmer’s expression darkened instantly. “Someone, pierce her shoulder blades and strip her of her aura,” he ordered coldly. “Let’s see how defiant she can be without it.”

The pain exploded in my shoulders as the hooks tore through my flesh, the metallic scent of blood filling the air. I bit down hard, stifling a scream, but a strangled cry still escaped me.

“Can’t handle it?” Valeria taunted, crouching beside me. Her sharp nails dug into my chin as she leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. “Just wait until we turn you into a broken shell. Then you’ll know what real pain feels like.”

Her words unlocked the darkest corners of my memories—the agony of losing my limbs in my past life, the searing stench of burning flesh, the grimy hands of those who tormented me.

I shuddered but then laughed, the sound bitter and hollow.

“What’s so funny?” Valeria snapped, her hand raised to strike me.

“I’m laughing at how stupid you all are,” I spat, blood staining my teeth. “Do you really think no one in this world knows who the true Lycan Princess is?”

Their faces paled, their confidence wavering.

At that moment, a commanding voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the tension like a blade.

“Isn’t this supposed to be a marking ceremony? Why does it smell like blood? What’s going on here?”

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the figure at the entrance.