Alpha Asher waved away my concerns, assuring me that no secrets were lurking in the shadows. He had laid bare everything, from the past to the present, leaving me with no reason to ask further.

As Beatrice was already six, she was set to begin her first training session.

Alpha Asher and I had carefully arranged everything, entrusting the elders with this important task.

Before she stepped into this new chapter, the healer needed to assess her health to ensure she was ready and free from any complications.

Alpha Asher was buried in his responsibilities this week, so I took Beatrice to the infirmary by myself.

As we walked, Beatrice suddenly blurted out, “Dad won’t let me cut my hair. I think short hair is cool, but long hair feels uncomfortable.”

Since last week, Beatrice had been under Alpha Asher’s care, freeing me to fully attend to my responsibilities as Luna of Moon Valley.

Even though I desperately wanted to cater to my daughter’s wishes, I knew Alpha Asher would be livid.

Since I didn’t want to upset her, I offered a soft reassurance, “As your mother, it truly doesn’t bother me. While we’re here in the infirmary, I need you to play along, okay? We just want to ensure you’re prepared for your training.”

Beatrice didn’t hesitate to agree. I guided her to the infirmary, where the healer, thorough in his examination, stressed the need for precision. He informed us that the results would take three days to a week to be finalized.

Afterward, I took Beatrice to a nearby salon, where she eagerly transformed her hair into the chic short style she had always wanted.

When we returned to the pack mansion, I anticipated Alpha Asher would be thrilled by Beatrice’s new look. However, that hope instantly shattered as soon as he looked at her. His face darkened, and a storm of fury ignited in his gaze.

In a voice that echoed like thunder, he roared, “Vienna, who gave you the authority to cut Beatrice's hair?!”

Beatrice, frightened by his wrath, instinctively hid behind me, peering out nervously at Alpha Asher’s furious glare.

It left me speechless. I knew how heavy Alpha Asher's responsibilities weighed on him. Yet, this reaction felt like a storm brewing out of nowhere.

I took a deep breath and explained, “Beatrice mentioned that long hair was uncomfortable, so I allowed her to cut it. She prefers it short. It’s not your hair, so why are you so upset?”

Still just a child, Beatrice had never experienced her father's fury before. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears, reaching out for me.

My heart ached for her as I pulled her into my embrace, cradling her gently against me while I whispered soft words of comfort.

As I held her tight, I turned to Alpha Asher, my eyes filled with concern, ready to inquire about the reason behind his unexpected outburst.

Yet, instead of explaining, he shot me a piercing look and demanded, “Now you remember you’re her mother? Have you ever truly cared for her all these years?”

My eyes narrowed at him, a storm of emotions brewing inside. During my pregnancy, we had made an agreement that I would continue fulfilling my duties as Luna. Now, he accused me of negligence, casting doubt on my role as Beatrice’s mother.

It felt like he was throwing my past commitment back in my face, which stung more than I cared to admit.

Alpha Asher quickly recognized his overreaction and softened his tone, regret washing over him. “That’s not what I meant. I’ve been swamped with my Alpha duties and I took it out on both of you. I’m truly sorry.”

“Come here, Beatrice. Daddy’s sorry. Let me hug my little princess.”

Still trembling and with tears glistening in her eyes, Beatrice clung tightly to me. Ignoring Alpha Asher’s outstretched arms, I led Beatrice to her room, where she wrapped herself around me, her small voice shaky as she pleaded for me to stay with her for the night.

Assuming she needed reassurance, I grabbed a soft pillow and nestled beside her in her cozy little sanctuary.

After spinning two enchanting bedtime tales, I noticed she still lay wide awake, her big eyes shimmering in the dim light.

“Mom,” Beatrice said, her voice barely a whisper, “Dad said I have another mommy apart from you.”

That left me bewildered, prompting a flurry of questions in my mind. I needed clarification, but before I could respond, Beatrice continued, “One night, when Dad visited me in my room, I pretended to be asleep and heard him whisper that I looked exactly like his mate, my other mommy. So does it mean Dad has a new mate?”

I slowly shook my head, forcing a reassuring smile even as a storm of emotions raged within me.

“Sweetheart, I am your father's only mate. I am your one and only mommy, so it’s simply impossible for you to have another mother. You might have just misunderstood,” I explained gently, my voice soft but firm, trying to ease the confusion in her eyes.

It was hard to fathom that Alpha Asher could betray me, but what Beatrice said pushed a relentless pursuit within me to unveil the truth behind my mate’s concealed secrets.

Even my inner wolf simmered with fury, and I allowed the days to drift by as usual.

One night, I jolted awake from a nightmare, a haunting vision of the Moon Goddess revealing that Alpha Asher was using me. I shook off the unsettling thoughts, reminding myself that it was just a dream.

Glancing around the room, I realized Alpha Asher was missing.

Compelled by an unshakeable instinct, I made my way to the study, where I found him lost in thought, gazing intently at a picture.

Though it was dimly lit and difficult to see from my angle, I instinctively knew it was the late Luna Amara who held his attention.

I edged closer and snatched the picture from his hands, my heart sinking as I confirmed it was Amara. “Alpha, can’t you let the late Luna rest in peace? For Pete's sake, she’s been gone for eight long years!”

In that instant, everything fell into place. It dawned on me that Alpha Asher was still caught in his enduring love for Amara, viewing Beatrice as if she were their child. But she wasn’t. I was the one who had given her life. I had to remind him that Beatrice was my daughter, not Amara's.

With anger bubbling inside me, I flung the photo at him, snatched my pillow, and stormed off to our daughter’s room.

As the days passed, I kept my distance from Alpha Asher, staying close to my daughter's room. Yet, it was a struggle to concentrate on my duties as Luna.

During my free time, I returned to the infirmary to speak with the healer about my daughter's health, something I hadn’t managed to do earlier. To my relief, Beatrice was in perfect health and eager to begin her training.

As I scanned the report laid out before me, an unsettling feeling crept in, suggesting something was amiss. My heart raced as I examined the details. With a gasp, I realized that Beatrice possessed Lunar blood, a rare trait that could not have originated from either Alpha Asher or me.

Back then, I was a pitiful commoner but only embraced my role as Luna when Alpha Asher chose me as his mate. There was nothing extraordinary about my blood besides the curse that had already been lifted years ago.

When the healer caught sight of my bewilderment, he stepped forward and said, “That’s what puzzles me as well. There’s something peculiar that the Alpha has done, unbeknownst to you, Luna Vienna.”

His words lingered like a gentle whisper of a concealed truth. No matter how hard I tried to regain my composure, I became puzzled.

Beatrice’s words about having two mommies, along with the pack’s whispers about her resemblance to Amara, weighed heavily on my mind.

I could attest that the healer had seen my struggle as I carried Beatrice for nine long months, each day proving my strength and making me set aside my duties just to give birth to her.

Yet, despite my instincts, I couldn’t shake the possibility of hidden truths. Raising a daughter who might not be truly mine felt absurd. I vehemently refused to accept it.

In my frustration, I confronted the healer, blaming him for what I perceived as an error. But he stood firm, insisting the results were genuine. He dared not falsify the report, knowing that Alpha Asher’s wrath could be deadly.

“Luna Vienna,” he said gently, “instead of placing blame, perhaps you should take a moment to investigate this for yourself. Look into the shadows of your past and see if there’s something Alpha Asher has concealed from you all these years.”

Another hint, wrapped in mystery, slipped from his lips. I couldn't shake the feeling that Alpha Asher was somehow involved in this mystery, yet the details eluded me.

Driven by curiosity, I sought out several of Alpha Asher’s trusted confidants, including the Beta and a few respected elders.

Each of them firmly asserted that neither Alpha Asher nor Amara had ever had a child, declaring it impossible for any child to have been switched.

Just as I was about to lose hope, one elder approached me quietly, lowering his voice as if to shield his words from prying ears. “I’ve noticed that your daughter seems different. But there are many possibilities. This pack has its share of half-blood witches. You might want to investigate further. All I can say is that she may not be your daughter, but I hope I’m mistaken.”

With a fierce blend of desperation and determination, I meticulously gathered strands of Beatrice’s hair and a few cherished keepsakes, ready to bring to light the truth.

With a heavy heart, I approached the healer.

“You’re the only one I can trust in this matter,” I urged, locking eyes with him. “Help me discover if Beatrice is truly my daughter.”