Chapter 3

“No no no.”

I was literally staring at a stranger who was me, and I just couldn’t stop touching my face and touching my hair, hoping that what was in front of me would change and I would look like myself again but I was hurting myself and it wasn’t changing the girl in the mirror is not me.

It was making me hyperventilate and l fell on my knees as I felt a panic attack coming my way and I couldn’t breathe or think until I felt nurses trying to stop me from pulling at my hair and pulling me towards the bed to try and calm me.

"Miss Charlotte, please breathe. You’re having a panic attack" they said, trying to calm me, but I just couldn’t stop.

"It’s okay, you’re safe" they said, hooking me up to the heart rate monitor and to the IV machines.

They were beeping very loudly because my heart was going at 118.

"No, no, no, no" I said, shaking my head.

The medicine was kicking in, but the reality of what I saw caught my voice in my throat. I couldn’t say more, but I wanted to ask them what was going on because I thought I was losing it.

That’s how I passed out, only to wake up again probably a couple of hours later. When I opened my eyes, the nurse gave me a sympathetic smile.

"I hope you’re okay now, sweetie. Your uncle and aunt are waiting for you outside. We didn’t want to let them in in case it overwhelms you" she said.

Everything came crashing down yet again because I definitely don’t have an aunt and an uncle. Which means that Charlotte... that means that I’m currently in Charlotte‘s body. But how is that possible? I couldn’t even say it out loud because it felt crazy, and what was the use of telling this nurse? She would have me in a psych ward, thinking I was definitely losing it.

If I’m in Charlotte’s body where is the real Charlotte is she dead is her soul trapped somewhere and where is my body?

I forced myself to close my eyes, and I took a deep breath until the monitor slowed down, as it was going up yet again.

"I couldn’t imagine waking up three years later as well, so it makes sense that you’re overwhelmed" she said.

If she thought that was overwhelming, she had no idea what I was going through right now.

"Do you want to see your family?" she asked.

I shook my head no because I don’t even know them, and I first needed to figure out what was going on with me.

Who is my family? Who am l? What am I going to do?

I have so many questions but I have no one to give me those answers and I’m losing my mind.

"Let’s see if we can find something for you to watch and relax" she said, turning on the TV and tuning into the pack's main broadcast channel.

The bold banner at the bottom read: 3-Year Memorial and Coronation Gala.

On the screen was my house's front lawn. Microphones were set up, and there was a crowd of pack members and journalists around the stage.

Samuel stood at the podium, dressed in a black suit. He looked older, but far more powerful than he was three years ago.

Right beside him was Ivy. She was wearing a tailored to perfection black dress, holding onto Samuel's arm with a sorrowful, sad expression in her eyes.

It made my stomach turn because I knew that was just her being manipulative.

"I feel sorry for them" the nurse sighed from beside my bed. "Alpha Samuel has been through so much. To lose his Luna three years ago on their anniversary to a rogue attack, it broke everyone’s heart. But nothing compares to him because he became a shell of the alpha that we knew.”

I clenched my fists. A rogue attack. So they continued with their lie.

On the TV, Samuel leaned into the microphone, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his eyes. "Three years ago, I lost my mate and your beloved Luna" he said. "I thought I would never be the same again. But thanks to the support of her sister, who stood by my side through the dark times, our pack has remained strong.

Today, as we end our mourning period, I’m proud to announce that tonight, Ivy will officially take her place as your new Luna at the coronation gala."

The crowd cheered, and everybody was clapping as Ivy turned to Samuel with a big smile on her face before leaning up to kiss his cheek. On the side of the screen, I saw the date. It was the exact same day that they murdered me, and they were using it to start their new lives together.

"He’s really lucky to have her, and we’re also very lucky to have them as our Alpha and Luna" the nurse said.

“ they stood by each other when they both lost the most important person in their lives and most importantly they stood by the pack and they supported us through everything.”

My heart monitor spiked up again as realization crashed in. So they really replaced me. Not just in their lives, but in the lives of everybody in the pack as well. They really did win.

I turned to look away and caught my reflection in the mirror beside the bed. The drop-dead gorgeous face of Charlotte Chadwick stared back at me. Samuel killed plain, ugly Isla because he thought she was useless, but he wouldn’t be able to resist this face.

A slow, dangerous smile spread on my face as a plan formed in my head.

Happy anniversary, Samuel because it’s the last one you’ll ever celebrate.