Chapter 1

At my bonding ceremony with Liam Jones, the pack witch appeared and dropped a bombshell—my long-lost sister, Victoria, was still alive.

She could bring Victoria back, but there was a catch.

She turned to my parents and asked:

“Are you willing to trade Margret Davis for Victoria Davis? The two will swap bodies.”

My parents' faces lit up with excitement. They didn't hesitate for a second. Yes.

They said the only reason they had me was because Victoria had vanished, and their mind-link with her had gone silent.

I'd spent twenty years living a life that was never mine, while my sister suffered for over a decade. This was what I owed her.

Then the witch turned to Liam.

Victoria had gone missing because she saved him—I knew that. But if he could just say no, even if it was a lie, even if he was just pretending…

Then at least there'd be one person in this world who wanted me to stay. One last reason for me to hold on.

A long silence stretched between us.

Finally, he spoke. "She went missing because she saved me. I have to bring her back."

He gave a firm nod. "Yes."

Then the witch sprinkled a vial of purple liquid over me. She looked at everyone with a cold smile. "The potion takes time to work. In one month, Victoria and Margret will swap."

Chapter 1

The moment my parents heard Liam's answer, their faces lit up with smiles.

"Oh, darling, thank you so much. Victoria didn't save you for nothing."

Then my mother—Alice Taylor, Luna of Silvermoon Pack—pressed her hands to her face and sobbed with joy. "Our Victoria, the one we've been waiting for all these years—she's coming back!"

My father—Jack Davis, Alpha of Silvermoon Pack—pulled her into his arms, his own eyes reddening.

"We finally made it to this day."

"Jack, we never have to look at that fake and pretend she's her again!" My mother kissed him, trembling with excitement.

In their eyes, I had always been nothing but a stand-in for Victoria.

Ever since I could remember, they'd forced me to become her.

I never had my own birthday—I always celebrated hers.

Victoria loved mango cake, so every year on my birthday, that's what I got.

They'd look at me, call me by her name, and wish her a happy birthday.

Then they'd watch me eat it—knowing full well I was allergic to mangoes.

I nearly choked to death from the reaction.

And they just said Victoria would never have been that dramatic.

Victoria loved dresses, so even when it was ten below freezing and my skin was turning purple, they made me wear them.

Victoria was the strongest alpha of our generation, so they had me training every single day.

I pushed myself until I was on the verge of collapse, but I didn't dare stop—terrified they'd get angry if I didn't measure up to her.

Every single day of my life, I was learning to be Victoria.

Her hobbies, her tone, the way she walked… I had every detail memorized.

I tried so hard to become her, just to make my parents happy, just to make them love me.

But no matter how much I gave, all I ever saw in their eyes was disappointment.

"She's still not like her!"

"She'll never be Victoria!"

Every year on the anniversary of Victoria's disappearance, my mother would break down. She'd hit me, screaming through her tears:

"Why wasn't it you who disappeared?! You counterfeit—give me back my Victoria!"

I thought I just wasn't copying Victoria well enough, so I tried even harder.

I abandoned every piece of myself and became her.

The only person who ever made me stop was Liam.

At the wolf training camp, I was running drills against Victoria's combat footage, gasping for air, when Liam walked up and stopped me—his face dead serious.

"Margaret, stop mimicking someone else. You are your own person," he told me.

He gave me the courage to be myself.

And now—he was the one who just said yes to trading me away.

To bring Victoria back.

Even if it meant I might die.

The one person who actually gave a damn about me—he chose her too.

So in that moment, when he chose her, my heart clenched so tight it hurt.

"So you want her too? Not me?" My voice cracked, tears streaming as I screamed at him.

He turned his head away, guilt flickering across his face. His voice came out rough. "Victoria's been missing for so long—we've searched everywhere. This is just… a way to give the Alpha and Luna some comfort."

My whole body was shaking.

"So I'm just… the one who's supposed to be thrown away? Sacrificed?"

His brow furrowed.

"Margaret, stop making a scene. Your parents have been suffering all these years missing your sister. Can't you cut them some slack?"

I didn't say anything. I just clenched my fists and held his gaze, stubborn.

His frown deepened.

"Calm down first. We'll talk about the bonding ceremony later."

He turned to leave. I reached for him—and he shoved me off.

I stumbled and fell backward into the mud. My parents didn't even move to help me.

They were too busy happily discussing what to prepare for Victoria's return.

"Liam's right. Go cool off. Your sister coming back is a good thing—what's wrong with you, picking a fight with him?" My father shot me a look of pure disapproval.

"Just ignore her. She's always been like that—petty and mean. Nothing like Victoria." My mother didn't even bother hiding the disgust on her face.

Then they walked away together, arms linked.

The pack members who'd come to witness the ceremony saw which way the wind was blowing—no one wanted to offend the Alpha. They all got up and left.

In an instant, the once-crowded bonding ground was empty. Just me.

I could hear them whispering as they walked off.

In their mouths, I was nothing but "Victoria's vessel."

Chapter 2

The witch's potion worked fast.

By the time everyone cleared out from the bonding ceremony, it felt like something inside me was being ripped apart by two hands grabbing at my wolf from the inside.

"Ah—!"

I screamed, pain searing through me. A flash of white light blinded my vision, and I felt my wolf weaken by a third—like something was pulling it out of me.

But I couldn't hold on to it.

I could feel my life slipping away, slowly, second by second.

When I finally made it back to my room, drenched in sweat, I found everything I owned had been thrown out.

The room was completely empty.

My eyes went wide. I tore through the space like a madwoman, searching for the one thing I treasured more than anything—a grass ring.

Liam had given it to me.

Before we came of age, he'd woven it with his own hands and made me a vow:

"Whether the Moon Goddess blesses us or not, you'll always be the one I choose."

And now he'd chosen Victoria over me.

Liam was the only son of my father's most trusted beta. The rogues had taken him as a baby to threaten my father—and my sister had fought like hell to save him. She never came back.

The pack all said she'd been killed. Only my parents refused to believe it.

Ever since, the beta had drilled into Liam: be grateful to her, be loyal to her, serve her and her family for life.

So when he found out my wolf could be traded for Victoria's, he said yes without a second thought.

The debt he owed meant more to him than I ever did.

But that ring wasn't just about me and Liam. It was the first thing that made me feel like I could be myself.

I couldn't lose it.

I ran to my mother like a madwoman, panic flooding my face.

"Mom—where are my things?"

She just pushed me aside, completely unbothered. "Victoria's a clean freak. I'm buying her all new stuff. Your dirty, broken junk? I already tossed it in the dump—"

I didn't even let her finish. I took off toward the garbage dump.

The pile had grown into a small mountain by then, sitting in a puddle of black, filthy water. The stench was thick enough to choke on—heavy rot that made you want to vomit.

But I didn't care. I dove in, digging like my life depended on it.

A rusty blade gashed my calf. My fingers got torn raw, bleeding everywhere.

With my wolf damaged, the wounds wouldn't heal. Blood just kept pouring out.

And then the rain started.

My blood mixed with the murky water, streaming down as my breathing grew ragged.

Then—there. My eyes caught it. The grass ring, washed out by the rain.

It was coated in filth, reeking of garbage, but I cradled it against my chest like it was made of gold.

That's when a hand grabbed my arm.

Liam. He was staring at me, furious.

"What the hell are you doing out here in this rain?! What if you get sick?!"

I thought he was worried. Thought he cared. My frozen heart thawed just a little.

I carefully held out the ring, pressing it to my chest like I once pressed my whole heart into his hands.

He knocked it right out of my grip. The ring I'd fought through hell to find.

"Victoria's coming back soon! You can't afford to get hurt!"

My heart plummeted into ice.

He said it was just a test. But the truth was—he wanted her back too.

I lifted my pale face to look at him. After a long moment, my voice came out raw, pleading.

"Liam… do you remember? You said once we were bonded, you'd take me to the Bluemoon Pack."

"You said no one there would force me to be Victoria. I could do whatever I wanted, and you'd always have my back."

He froze.

I clung to that pause like it was the last rope keeping me from drowning.

"Just one last time—take me there. Please. After we come back, I'll cooperate. I'll let Victoria take over."

I thought he'd say yes.

"No."

Flat. No hesitation. His brow pinched tight.

"Before Victoria comes back, you're not going anywhere. If something happens to your body, Victoria—"

I let out a bitter laugh and cut him off.

"You're that worried she won't be able to take over my body?"

His expression went dark. His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't want to argue anymore—just grabbed me and started pulling me back.

I wrenched my arm free and screamed at him.

"Liam—what if I die?! Do you even care?!"

His body went rigid for a second. Then his voice came low.

"Don't talk nonsense. The witch said this would just weaken you a little. You'll be fine."

He dragged me to the pack healer and made them check me over from head to toe.

My parents rushed in after us, grabbing at me with worried looks—but what came out of their mouths was:

"Is Victoria's body okay?"

The healer knew what had happened at the ceremony. He hesitated. "Alpha, Luna… Margaret's body doesn't seem suited for a wolf-swap…"

"It'll work! It has to! Victoria's still suffering out there—we have to save her! It's just a swap—Margaret can handle it—"

My mother cut him off, voice rising.

Nobody wanted to believe the healer. Not when Victoria was almost home.

And me? I was just the vessel.

They were counting down the days. One month. Then she'd be back—even if it cost me everything.

Chapter 3

"From today on, you're not leaving this room until Victoria comes back."

After the healer's, they locked me up.

They were terrified that something might happen to their precious vessel—that their prized daughter might never make it home.

At mealtimes, they'd bring me plates full of Victoria's favorite foods.

The smell made me gag. I refused to eat.

My father pinned me down. Liam pried my mouth open and shoved it all in.

My stomach churned. I threw up even as they kept stuffing me full.

And they just stood there, smiling, saying:

"You have to take good care of this body for Victoria. So she can come back safe."

I forced the words out, barely.

"I'm... Margaret. This is... my own body..."

My mother's face twisted with anger. "Victoria's still out there suffering, and all you think about is yourself?! How did I raise such a selfish daughter?"

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I stopped fighting.

Day after day in that room, I just sat there, numb, feeling my wolf fade piece by piece.

Then one afternoon, I heard barking.

I shot up from the bed and ran to the window.

Down in the yard stood a few stray dogs—dirty, scruffy, bones sticking out. They saw me and wagged their tails, happy.

They were the strays I'd been secretly feeding.

I knew my parents wanted me to be strong, like Victoria. An alpha.

But what I really loved was healing.

Every time I caught myself studying healing arts, I'd snap back to reality and feel guilty—like I'd failed them.

I'd slap myself for getting lost in the witch's lessons. Stop it. You can't want this.

Then I found them.

These strays got kicked around by the pack all the time. The first time I saw them, they were covered in wounds.

That was the first time I used healing magic. Watching them slowly get better under my hands—it filled me with a peace I'd never known.

Liam was there. He said, "Congrats. You finally found yourself."

After that, I went every day. Fed them. Healed them.

I never had the guts to tell my parents I wanted to be a Healer. So they became my only outlet. My only reason.

They were proof that I existed.

When they locked me up and I stopped showing up, those little guys must've gotten worried. They tracked me down all the way here.

For a moment, my frozen heart started to thaw.

Then the door downstairs swung open.

Liam strode out. My father followed.

My stomach dropped.

My father glanced up at me, eyes cold. "Those mutts are making too much noise. It'll disturb Victoria's wolf during the return." He jerked his chin at Liam. "Get rid of them."

"Dad—no!" I slammed my fists against the locked window, screaming.

"They just came to check on me! Just chase them off, please, I'm begging you—"

It didn't matter.

They closed in on the dogs.

"Run! Are you stupid?! Go!" I pounded the glass, trying to scare them off.

But they could see I was trapped. They started scratching at the wall, trying to get up to me. They wouldn't leave on their own.

Then I saw Liam grab one by the neck and squeeze.

"Liam—we fed that one together!" I screamed, desperate.

When he didn't let go, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him through the window. Then I shrieked at the dogs at the top of my lungs:

"Go! Get out of here!"

They seemed to understand. They looked back at me, hesitated, then finally turned and ran.

I collapsed in front of the window, forehead against the cold glass, shaking all over.

The tears came without sound.

I almost got them hurt because of me.

That was the moment I finally understood—this house was never meant for Margaret.

Outside, the sky went pitch black.

I don't know how long I'd been curled up on the floor when I heard my parents' voices in the hallway.

"Call the witch. Have her do the swap tonight. Margaret keeps messing with her body and I'm scared—what if Victoria doesn't make it back?!" My mother was beating her fists against my father's chest, frantic.

"But Margaret's condition..." My father hesitated.

"She'll be fine. She's always been... used to it... right?"

My mother's voice wavered. For a second, guilt flickered across her face—all the things she'd done to me over the years crashing back.

But Victoria was still out there.

She shook her head, steeling herself. "Those rogues are keeping Victoria alive—they must be torturing her. To get back at us!"

"Our daughter is still suffering! Jack, what are you waiting for?! Every second you hesitate, that's another wound on Victoria!"

Liam chimed in, "She's right, Alpha. Once Victoria's back, we'll know where Margaret is. We can rescue her in time. Victoria's survived all these years—Margaret can handle a little while too."

Their words cut through me like blades.

I laughed bitterly. They were terrified Victoria might get hurt. What about me?

Even if I somehow survived, dumped out beyond the border with rogues everywhere—how was I supposed to fight them off?

But my father heard Victoria might be in pain, and that was it. No hesitation. He sent word to the witch. Do the swap. Now.

They strapped me to the bed. The witch stood over me, her expression troubled.

"The potion hasn't fully taken effect yet. If we do this now, Margaret could be in real danger..."

My father frowned. Then, final:

"As long as Victoria comes back, everything else can be fixed. Margaret can take it. Do it."

"Margaret—don't fight it."

The witch didn't dare defy the Alpha. She raised her wand slowly.

Their faces were alight with hope. Their voices thick with joy.

"Finally—Victoria's coming home!"

I closed my eyes.

Tears slipped down my cheeks.

Soon—I would vanish from this family for good.

Chapter 4

The witch's ritual lasted nearly an hour.

My screams echoed through the entire pack.

The restraints bit deep into the flesh of my wrists, blood dripping down my fingers and splattering onto the floor in steady drops.

Jack turned his face away. Alice covered her ears and curled up in the corner. Liam held Margaret's body down with both hands, his grip so tight his knuckles went white. Over and over, the only words out of his mouth were: "Margaret, hold on. It'll be over soon."

Suddenly, I jerked upright, eyes flying wide open—then collapsed back onto the bed, limp.

The witch stumbled backward, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her voice came out hoarse.

"It's... done. Victoria... is back."

My parents rushed to the bedside, their eyes fixed on the pale face beneath them—with a tenderness they'd never once shown me.

My body's eyelids fluttered, then slowly lifted.

The moment Alice saw those eyes, she couldn't hide her joy.

They were calm. Sharp. Nothing like my cowering, timid stare.

She knew—Victoria was really here.

"Victoria!" Alice shrieked and threw herself forward, crushing the body on the bed into her arms.

She sobbed into Victoria's chest, voice breaking: "You're back! My Victoria! You're finally back!"

Jack's eyes reddened too.

He raised a trembling hand and brushed it gently over Victoria's face, like she was the most precious thing in the world. His voice shook.

"Back... my baby girl... finally back..."

Liam stood behind them and let out a long, heavy breath.

Then—Victoria yanked back and shoved Alice off with so much force she slammed into the corner of the bed.

Jack caught Alice just in time. When he looked up, the person on the bed had scrambled into the corner, curled up, her face twisted in terror.

"Why am I back here?!" Her voice came out shrill, cracking. "No—I'm not supposed to be here! I left! I already escaped!"

Alice clutched her bruised waist, staring at her daughter in shock.

"Victoria? What are you talking about? We're your parents! We fought so hard to bring you back—"

"Bring me back?!" Victoria's head snapped up, eyes bloodshot, voice spiking.

"Who asked you to?! I finally got out! I finally escaped all of this—escaped you! I actually had a happy life—why would you drag me back here?! Why?!"

Alice's mouth opened. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

The smile had vanished from her face. She looked helplessly at Jack, searching for an answer.

But Jack's expression was even worse.

"Victoria," his voice dropped low, "you're saying you didn't want to come back? You don't want to see us? You don't want your parents anymore?"

"Yes!"

Victoria almost roared it. Her teeth ground together, fists clenched so tight her whole body shook.

"I hate you! I hate you so much!"

Slap.

Jack's hand connected with Victoria's face.

Her head snapped to the side. Her pale cheek swelled instantly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Alice screamed: "Jack! What are you doing?!"

Jack looked down at his own hand, then back at his daughter. His whole body started trembling.

Victoria slowly turned her face back.

She wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand. A cold laugh escaped her, pure fury blazing in her eyes.

"This is exactly who you are." Her voice was ice. "We have to obey. One hint of defiance and you lose it. I couldn't even breathe without hiding it from you!"

Alice stared at Victoria, tears streaming silently down her face.

"All those years, I lived the way you wanted. Just to make you happy. Just to be the perfect alpha. And I was—I was losing my mind!"

"The day Liam got taken by the rogues—after I saved him, I ran to the border on purpose." Victoria's lips curled into something almost manic. "Because—"

"I'd rather die out there than come back and be your so-called perfect daughter!"