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.