Chapter 2

“No!” 

My body jerked against the binds again, coughing and choking as the collar tightened around my neck, cutting off my air. 

The pain doubled as something sharp pierced through the flesh beneath my ribs. 

I felt it clearly, the cold bite of silver slicing into me as if it were meant to destroy something that was never there. 

Another blow struck my head, and tiny black dots clouded my vision. 

The last thing I saw through the haze and all the ringing in my ears was Lucas and Vanessa kissing passionately. 

Their scents mingled in the air, strong, alive, and bonded. 

Everything I would never have. 

My heart finally stopped, and everything went black. 

It was over.

At least I don't have to prove myself as a worthy daughter of the Alpha anymore. 

Vanessa would finally be rid of me. 

Mom can finally love her biological daughter freely without feeling guilty about me. 

And Nathan. 

Oh Nathan, my beloved big brother. 

The only one who never cared that I didn’t have a wolf. 

If destiny were to offer me a second chance, I'd make them all pay. 

I'll make them regret touching my brother. 

My only real family. 

~~~♧♧♧~~~

Wait… 

What is that sound? 

Is that beeping? 

Voices echoed around me. 

Strangers. 

“My dear wife, I know it's hard to believe, but she doesn't have the scar. She's not our Isabelle,” a man's voice said. 

“I know,” a woman's voice replied, trembling. It sounded like she had been crying. 

“But look at her. She's the spitting image of our Isabelle. They even have the same scent. It's been two weeks since she disappeared, and all efforts to locate her have proved futile. If she is not my Isa, tell me, why did the Moon Goddess let our men find her? Does this mean something happened to our Isa? Why can't we find her?” 

“I also don't know why she came to us, but haven't you wondered who did this to her? It's a miracle she's still alive. Poor girl, she must have suffered,” the man said. 

“That's what scares me. What if Isa is also suffering like this somewhere?” the woman whispered hoarsely. 

“Do you think she blames us? If we hadn't asked her to accept the marriage alliance with the Lycan King, she would still be here with us.” 

“Please, Estelle, it's not good for your health to keep worrying and overthinking. The warriors are still searching for her. I promise, I'll return Isabelle to you soon. Just stop blaming yourself." 

Who are these people? 

I tried to open my eyes, but a sharp pain tore through my body, forcing a weak wince out of me. 

Everything hurt, and this definitely didn’t feel like death. 

I forced my eyes open, and a white ceiling came into view. 

The rhythmic beeping came from machines connected to me. 

I was in a hospital ward. 

An elegant woman who looked not more than 30 years old stood near the window, her posture graceful yet tense. 

Beside her stood a regal-looking man who gave off an oppressive aura. 

They must be the ones speaking. 

“You're awake?” 

My gaze shifted toward the voice and found a woman in a doctor's coat standing beside me, watching me carefully. 

I didn’t recognise any of them. 

“Where am I?” I tried to ask, but no sound came out. 

“Don't be scared. You're in safe hands. I don't think you can speak right now. It seems you were choked very badly,” she said gently, her eyes filled with pity. 

Her hand moved to touch my neck, and I stiffened. 

The memories crashed into me all at once: the collar tightening, the suffocation… The pain. 

My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I began thrashing wildly as everything replayed in brutal flashes. 

The electric shocks. 

The yanking of my nails. 

The suffocating weight of Father's Alpha authority crushing me. 

“Calm down.” 

“No one is going to hurt you.” 

“You're safe.” 

“Alpha Joel, please help me hold her down. Rita, get the sedatives. Hurry!" 

Their voices blurred together. 

Through the haze, I saw the man approaching and holding me down with ease. 

His strength was undeniable. Keeping me in place. 

The woman's face hovered above me, filled with concern, but I couldn’t stop. 

"Aaahhhh… Noooo… Please…" 

The screams filled the room. High-pitched. Broken. Desperate. 

A needle pierced my arm… And only then did I realise that the screams… Were mine. 

Everything turned dark.

~~~♧♧♧~~~

Today, I woke up to an empty room… alone. 

That was new. 

I didn’t know how long it had been, but I had been drifting in and out of consciousness.

The pain had dulled slightly, but it was still there, lingering like a reminder. 

Many times, I felt someone tending to me, cleaning my wounds, checking on me. 

Each time I opened my eyes, I found myself staring into the gentle eyes of the woman from before. 

Luna Estelle. 

“I-Isa, you're awake. My little princess, can you hear me? No… sorry about that. Did I frighten you?” she had said once, her voice trembling with emotion. 

“You look so much alike.” 

I hadn’t known what to say; I had just stared at her as the darkness took me again. 

Then I heard them talking again.

“You can forget about sending her away. She stays. Dr. Noelle says she keeps getting better,” Luna Estelle said firmly. 

“I didn't say I'm sending her away, but she has her own family. What if they're searching for her just like we are for Isabelle? We should report this to the other packs,” the Alpha replied. 

“No. Let her wake fully first. Something is not right,” Estelle insisted. 

Not wanting them to argue because of me, I forced out a weak sound. 

“Umm… Hello… Can I get some water?” My voice was hoarse and barely audible. 

Luna Estelle rushed to me immediately. 

“Oh child, you're finally awake? You're safe. Mummy will protect you, ok?” 

‘Mummy.’ 

The word felt foreign.

She helped me drink water, soothing my throat instantly. 

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Should I call the doctor?” 

I just stared at her… Confused. 

Why would a stranger look at me like that? 

She looked at me with warmth and care. Something I had never truly received. 

My thoughts blurred again, and as if on cue, the darkness followed. 

This is my fourth time waking up, and from the whispers of the servants and Luna Estelle, I learned where I was. 

I was in Alpha Joel, the Alpha of Crimson Moon's mansion. 

His men had found me at the bottom of a cliff near their vacation estate in the forest. 

A forest. 

Of course. My family didn't even bury me; they just discarded my body. 

Apparently, their missing daughter looked exactly like me. 

And she had run away from home because of an arranged marriage alliance. 

Since I woke up alone this time, this was my chance.

After struggling to get out of bed, I walked toward the window. 

I had barely stood there for a few seconds before I quickly stepped back behind the curtains.

One of the guards outside turned his head sharply in my direction, an indication that he felt my gaze. 

I had heard of things like that… It only meant one thing: these guards were not ordinary. 

They were highly trained warriors. 

The number of them surrounding the mansion was overwhelming. 

Their movements were precise and controlled. Nothing like the reckless enforcers in the Swanlake pack. 

I watched from the gap in the swaying curtain. 

The vast land, the fountains glimmering under the setting sun, the luxurious interior. 

This was not just wealth… This was legacy. 

The Crimson Moon pack was an ancient pack. 

Even the omegas carried themselves with discipline. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t know much about powerful wolf packs. 

I had never been interested. 

So far, the Alpha and his Luna had shown me nothing but care, but I knew better. 

Once they found out who I was… 

What I was… 

A wolfless outcast accused of killing an alpha heir…

They would throw me out. 

Or worse. 

Hand me back to the Swans. 

My chest tightened at the thought. 

No, I wouldn’t let that happen. No matter what. 

I will escape tonight. I won't wait for them to cast me out or drag me back to that hell.