Never Worthy of Her Shadow.

In my past life, on the day of our bonding ceremony, Alpha Declan revealed his mate's mark to the world.

But it was not my name etched onto his skin—it was my sister Dahlia's, corrupted by a dark ritual.

When I stepped forward to confront him, our pack was attacked. Enemies armed with moon-forged silver weapons tore through our defenses.

The three of us died in the massacre.

When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the day of the bonding ceremony.

This time, I chose to let them be.

After helping the pack repel the foretold attack, I left, starting a new life in the human world.

I thought I would never have anything to do with them again.

But three years later, at an exclusive gala for the werewolf elite, I saw Declan and Dahlia again.

Dahlia looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise. "Aveline! What are you doing here?"

"I thought you were living in the human world."

Seeing my silence, Dahlia sneered.

"Don't tell me you couldn't survive out there and now you want to come back?"

Declan stood aside, disgust plain on his face.

"Even if you got on your knees and begged, I'd never let you back in the pack."

"Though, you might make a decent pack Omega. At best."

"You should leave. A gala of this caliber is no place for you."

A small, knowing smile touched my lips.

The reason I was here was simple: my mate is the new Ultima of the Werewolf Alliance.

And he had thrown this lavish gala just for me.

If I said the word, they would be the ones thrown out.

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1

Three days ago, I learned a secret.

My mate, Corbin, whom I had met in the human world, was the enigmatic wolf who had become the Alliance's Ultima in a single month.

At tonight's welcome gala, he would announce my identity.

He called it a gift to welcome me into his world.

Right now, he was backstage reviewing his speech. I leaned against his chest, content, feeling the deep rumble of his voice as he spoke.

He sensed my boredom and let out a low chuckle.

"Darling, why don't you go enjoy the party for a bit?"

"We still have some time before our entrance."

I nodded lightly.

I pushed open the doors to the banquet hall and stepped into a scene of breathtaking luxury.

I was about to mind-link Corbin to scold him for his extravagance when a commotion caught my attention.

It was Declan and Dahlia.

As a prominent Alpha and Luna within the Alliance, their arrival drew a crowd of admirers.

"It's Alpha Declan and Luna Dahlia!"

"We're so grateful for the defensive runes your pack shared! We don't know what we would have done without you!"

Faced with the praise, Dahlia said shyly,

"It was the least we could do. Packs should always help one another."

Declan stood beside her, politely greeting the Alphas of other packs.

When he saw me, Declan froze for a moment, then a cold sneer curled his lip.

"Aveline. You're actually here? You haven't changed a bit. Always wanting the best of everything."

"But you have no place at an exclusive Alliance gathering like this."

I nodded slightly, acknowledging the first half of his sentence.

I had always been the most outstanding she-wolf in the pack.

I deserved the best in the world, which meant my mate had to be the most powerful wolf of our generation.

In my past life, Declan's superb leadership and immense power had drawn me in, and I quickly chose him as my mate.

But when I arrived at our bonding ceremony, my heart soaring, I saw it: a mate's mark on his bare chest, twisted and corrupted by a dark ritual.

That mark was branded with Dahlia's name.

My world shattered. I lost control, my finger shaking as I pointed at Declan.

I even used my status as a mystic architect to threaten him.

"My talents and the defense secrets I hold are far superior to hers! You had better think this through!"

Yet, not only did he not back down, he held Dahlia even tighter.

He said that before Dahlia, he thought power and status were everything, but after meeting her, nothing else mattered.

That day, I became the pack's biggest joke.

A she-wolf rejected by her mate, a woman who only knew how to threaten others with her status and power.

I would never forget the triumphant, smug look on Dahlia's face as she nestled in Declan's arms.

She said, "So what if your talent is stronger than mine? I just have to lift a finger, and everything you have becomes mine."

Declan's voice pulled me back from my memories.

"Aveline, today is an important day for Ultima Corbin to celebrate his mate. Someone of your status is not fit to be here."

I tilted my head, looking at him.

"And what status is that?"

Before I could finish, a burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Aveline, the rejected mate."

"You were exiled to the human world. What are you doing back here?"

"Do you really think you're still the high and mighty Alpha's daughter?"

I glanced at the werewolf who was mocking me.

I had once designed the defensive runes that saved his pack from annihilation.

Hearing the ridicule, Dahlia was clearly pleased.

She sauntered over to block my path. "Alright, everyone," she whispered, her voice oozing false sympathy.

"Aveline must have suffered out there to want to come back."

"Please, don't speak to her like that."

"We should all welcome Aveline's return!"

After her little speech, she took my hand, her tone cloyingly sincere.

"Aveline, come back. You don't have to feel embarrassed."

"This will always be your home."

Seeing the hypocrisy in her eyes, I pulled my hand back coldly.

"I'm not coming back."

My refusal made her face crumple, and her eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Aveline, are you still blaming me?"

"But you can't force love..."

Dahlia lowered her head, her tear-filled eyes and pitiful act making Declan's heart ache.

He quickly pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly.

"You're just too kind. That's why Aveline always bullies you."

Then Declan glared at me.

"The human world won't have you, and our pack won't take you back!"

Dahlia placed a hand on her chest, looking heartbroken.

"Aveline, back then you tried to threaten me and Declan by leaving, hoping to force him to accept you."

"But you know he only loves me. Your threats were useless."

"But, Aveline, no matter what, you'll always be my sister."

"Your appearance here proves you're not doing well out there. If you want to return to the pack, I can let bygones be bygones."

Listening to Dahlia's aggrieved voice, Declan roared.

"If you had any backbone, you wouldn't have come back!"

"Now that you can't survive out there, you want to crawl back to the pack and steal Dahlia's mate? Have you no shame?!"

At Declan's words, a murmur went through the crowd, and suddenly every eye was on me, filled with judgment.

"I thought she came back for a reunion. Can't believe she's here to steal her own sister's mate."

"It's a good thing Alpha Declan loves Dahlia."

The surrounding chatter made Dahlia's eyes grow even redder, and she once again stood before me.

"Please don't say that about Aveline. After all, she is my sister."

She looked at Declan with pleading eyes.

"Declan, it's alright. As long as you love me, Aveline's return won't really change anything..."

Declan caressed Dahlia's hair dotingly, then turned to me with a fierce gaze.

"For Dahlia's sake, you can return to the pack."

"But you will return as the lowest of Omegas."