My heart clenched, not with jealousy but with disgust. I knew the scene all too well—it was a pivotal moment in the story.

That was the moment where Branden’s betrayal became undeniable, the moment that set Eleonor on the tragic path to her own death.

But there I was, witnessing it firsthand. And seeing it with my own eyes was far more infuriating than reading it in the novel.

What made it worse was the conversation that unfolded between their stolen kisses.

“You really want to marry me, right?” Quincy asked, her tone saccharine and spoiled, dripping with false innocence.

“Of course,” Branden replied without hesitation, his voice laced with a sickening sincerity. “There’s no one I love except you, Quincy. You know I’ve loved you since you came here.”

Then, their tongue linked again exchanging saliva.

My stomach churned as I saw that. But then I realized if that conversation was not in the novel.

It seemed the book had not told the whole story.

Apparently, Quincy and Branden had only known each other as a friend all the time. But in the book, they were in affair about two to three years ago.

However, if Branden said it was since Quincy came to the Pack, it meant he had set eyes on her since she was five.

Eleonor was also five that time when her father brought another woman with a daughter to our house.

Her mother cried and they argued for an hour, which only ended by rejection and divorced between them.

That was the one of the scene that I did not like, but well, sometimes it needed to be heated.

However, as if to twist the knife deeper, I overheard Quincy laugh mockingly and call me, or rather Eleonor, “a placeholder Luna,” at that moment.

“Sstt, don’t say it too loud,” Branden also chuckled after hearing that.

As a result, rage bubbled up inside me. I could not help but reflect on Eleonor’s sacrifices.

From the time she was a child, Eleonor had dreamed of becoming an independent warrior, a proud protector of her pack.

But when the mate bond formed between her and Branden at sixteen, her aspirations were pushed aside. She devoted herself entirely to supporting his leadership, learning diplomacy, and strategy to stand by his side as Luna.

Meanwhile, Quincy, who had always dreamed of mating with an Alpha, had never given up her pursuit of Branden.

She bragged constantly, flaunting every new gift Branden gave her during their so-called friendship.

But the Moon Goddess had another plan, instead of mating with Quincy, Branden was mating with Eleonor. His attention that was originally for Quincy changed to her.

At first Eleonor did not have the heart to hurt Quincy, but she could not reject Branden's affection and attention, so as time went by, she believed that everything was arranged by the Moon Goddess herself.

While I was still recalling the scene from the novel, Selena’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Eleonor, our bond with Branden is weakening,” she said, her tone tinged with worry. “He’s emotionally tied to another wolf. That connection is breaking what we share.”

I froze. There was one again that was not in the story.

“Why didn’t you say this in the novel?” I scolded her, frustration creeping into my voice.

Selena sounded confused. “What are you talking about, Eleonor? What novel?”

Ah, of course, she would not know. She was part of this world, oblivious to the fact that her reality had once been a work of fiction.

Maybe that was happening because I had already begun changing the storyline.

In the book, Eleonor never found out about Branden and Quincy’s affair—at least, not until it was too late. This must have been what allowed Selena to sense the weakening of their mate bond.

“Forget it,” I muttered, shaking off the thought. “I should give that cursed lovebird a lesson.”

Anger surged within me, and my fists clenched involuntarily. The urge to barge into the office and confront them was nearly overwhelming.

But no. That would only derail my plan.

I needed to stay calm, keep my head down, and play my part until I was free of the Nightwalker Pack and its deceitful Alpha.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped back and stationed myself in the hallway, pretending to shuffle through the files in my hands. My heart pounded as I waited for them to finish their little rendezvous.

When the door finally opened, Quincy emerged, her face glowing with smug satisfaction.

“Oh, Eleonor,” she said sweetly, her saccharine tone making my skin crawl. “What brought you here?”

I forced my expression to remain neutral, holding up the stack of papers. “Just some academy documents that need the Alpha’s approval.”

“Of course,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Branden’s inside. Go ahead.”

As she walked past me, her aura of satisfaction felt almost tangible, like a sickeningly sweet perfume that lingered in the air.

I squared my shoulders, straightened my back, and stepped into the office, meeting Branden’s gaze head-on.

For a split second, he looked startled. But then he quickly composed himself, masking his surprise with the authoritative demeanor of an Alpha.

“Eleonor, what do you need?” he asked, his tone cool and detached.

I held up the transfer letter, hidden among the academy documents, and kept my voice steady. “I need your stamp of approval for some files.”

His eyes scanned the papers, his expression unreadable. For a moment, my stomach twisted with worry. Would he notice the transfer request tucked into the stack?

But then, with a swift flick of his wrist, he stamped all the documents and handed them back to me.

“Anything else?” he asked indifferently, as though he hadn’t just been caught kissing my stepsister minutes ago.

“No, Alpha,” I replied curtly, turning to leave before my composure could crack.

But as I reached the door, his voice stopped me.

“Eleonor,” he said, almost casually, “I’ve told you before, I’m not officially Alpha yet. I’m just replacing my father for now. It’s still a week away. Call me by my name, okay?”

I nodded stiffly. “Right. Thank you for everything, Branden.”

I forced a polite smile and began gathering the files.

As I did, his hand brushed against my wrist.

“Wait,” he said sharply.

Panic flooded my chest. Did he notice the transfer letter?

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my mind raced.

If he had seen the transfer letter, everything would fall apart. My plan would be over before it even began.

But, to my surprise, Branden’s next words had nothing to do with the letter.

“Did you see Quincy leave my room?” he asked, his tone unusually casual but with an undercurrent of tension.

Ah, so that was it. He wanted to know if I had caught them in the act.

I smiled innocently, feigning ignorance. “Oh, I just met her in the hallway. So, she was in your room just now?”

His shoulders stiffened, and his voice took on a defensive edge. “Yeah, there was something she needed to discuss.”

“Ah, I see,” I replied, my tone light and uninterested, though the fire of anger burned beneath my calm exterior.

Branden hesitated, his eyes searching mine. “You’re not jealous, right?” he asked, the question betraying his need for reassurance.

I smirked, letting a hint of bitterness seep into my voice. “If I were jealous, I would have broken our ties long ago, Branden. I’ve always known your friendship with Quincy was closer than most.”

His reaction was immediate. He shot up from his chair, his aura crackling with anger as his hand still gripped my wrist, preventing me from stepping back. “What did you say?”

His tone was sharp, his frustration palpable.

I could feel the air grow heavy, his presence imposing as he moved closer. His eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I felt a pang of déjà vu.

That was too similar to the scene from the book—the one that was supposed to happen on his 20th birthday.

Had I accidentally sped up the story's timeline?

Branden’s voice was low, dangerous. “What makes you think you can talk like that?”

Before he could press me further, I pushed against his chest, forcing some distance between us. “I have to deliver these files soon, Branden,” I said, trying to sound indifferent.

He did not let me go so easily. “Then say sorry,” he demanded, his grip tightening slightly.

I paused, glaring at him. “For what?”

“For saying you would break our bond,” he snapped. “Never say that again. Do you understand?”

I stared back at him coldly, letting the tension hang in the air before responding flatly, “It depends.”

Then, without waiting for his reply, I yanked my hand free, took the file with me, and walked out of his office.

**

After returning to the academy teacher dormitory, I pulled out a blank journal. I needed to document everything I remembered about the original story, just in case my memories of the real world started to fade.

I scribbled furiously, listing every event, relationship, and detail I could recall. But as I wrote, one glaring issue became obvious, the maps.

The story never revealed any specifics about the geography or routes between packs.

I paused, frustration building as I muttered to myself, “Ugh, that makes me hate the story even more.”

Despite this setback, I did have one critical piece of information. It was the full name of Eleonor’s mother, Michelle Walsh, and her new husband, Arnold Orlando.

The book mentioned that Michelle had remarried Arnold, who was the uncle of the Alpha of the Whiteclaw Pack.

That connection gave me a glimmer of hope. If I could just reach the border gate and find someone who recognized those names, I might be able to get directions.

As I mulled over my plan, I did not realize how exhausted I was. At some point, I dozed off, my pen slipping from my hand.

When I woke up, sunlight was already streaming through the window. Panic set in as I realized I had overslept.

“Why do we have the same nature, Eleonor? We can’t wake up early,” I grumbled in annoyance as I rushed to pack my belongings.

It was the weekend, which gave me a perfect window to escape. I had originally planned to leave at dawn, but since I had woken up late, I decided it might be better to sneak out in the evening instead.

Once my bag was packed, I decided to jog to prepare for my upcoming escape. Running would likely be my only option once I crossed the pack’s borders, and I needed to ensure I was in good shape.

Luckily, in my real life, I had a habit of joining marathons, so I was no stranger to long-distance running.

“I hope your body can keep up with me, Eleonor,” I muttered, lacing up my shoes.

But as soon as I started running, I was stunned by how effortless it felt. My legs moved with precision, my breathing stayed steady, and I did not feel even the slightest bit tired.

“Uh? So, this is what it’s like to be a werewolf? It’s amazing to have a strong body and stamina.”

Selena chuckled in my mind. “Finally, you’re noticing the perks. But seriously, since yesterday, you’ve been talking to yourself a lot. It’s weird, Eleonor.”

I smirked, “Get used to it. I’ve got a lot to figure out.”

Then Selena’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “But... I noticed something. You didn’t react much when I told you that our bond with Branden is weakening. Aren’t you upset? Or sad?”

I froze mid-stride, her words sinking in. She was right. Shouldn’t I be devastated by that?

“Are you sad?” I asked cautiously, curious about her feelings.

Selena seemed to pout in my mind. “Of course, I am. It’s not just Branden who’s attracted to Quincy—his wolf is too. And that hurts.”

“Oh.” I did not know what else to say. Her pain was clear, and it tugged at me.

But then an idea came to mind. Maybe I could offer her the same encouragement I was trying to give myself.

“You know, Selena,” I said gently, “if my mother could find a new mate after leaving my father, then I think we can too. Don’t you think? Let’s focus on the future instead of Branden. He doesn’t deserve us.”

Selena was silent for a moment, clearly surprised by my response. Then, her voice softened. “You’re right. If the Moon Goddess has another mate waiting for us, I’ll let you know the moment I sense him.”

“Deal,” I replied with a laugh, picking up my pace.

The rest of my jog was peaceful, my mind feeling clearer as I pushed aside thoughts of Branden and focused on my escape.

But that peace was short-lived.

As I reached the city hall, a large announcement board came into view. A group of pack members had gathered around it, murmuring to one another.

Curious, I approached to see what the commotion was about.

My heart sank as I read the notice, [To all Nightwalker Pack residents, movement outside pack borders is strictly prohibited during the Alpha’s banquet preparations. This restriction will remain in place until further notice.]

“What?” I whispered, disbelief washing over me.

Selena sighed in my mind, her tone grim. “Looks like the universe doesn’t want you to escape just yet.”

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling over. “Am I really not allowed to change the storyline anymore?”

The announcement felt like a roadblock, but I was not about to give up. If the story wanted to keep me trapped, I would just have to find another way to rewrite it.

In the end, I followed the storyline and attended the banquet. The difference was that I was far from invested in the event, unlike how Eleonor was portrayed in the final chapter of the book.

Instead, I lingered by the wine table, sipping occasionally as the event began to unfold. My plan was simple, to go completely off-script once Branden announced his marriage to Quincy.

But then, something unexpected happened.

“So, you really weren’t lying when you said you had a twin, Mark. She really does look like you,” someone said nearby.

I turned, startled, to find two men standing close to me. One had a face strikingly similar to mine, and the other exuded a dominant Alpha aura.

The man who had Alpha aura spoke first. “So, you are really Eleonor, Beta Mark’s twin?”

“I... I am,” I replied, stumbling over my words.

It felt surreal. Although the book mentioned Eleonor having a twin brother who was taken by their mother fifteen years ago, their paths never crossed in the original story.

That moment was not supposed to happen also, so it could be said, I had changed the story again.

Despite my confusion, I forced a smile to mask it. “Could I ask who this gentleman is, Mark?”

Mark looked a bit awkward, as if he too was not sure how to bridge the gap between us after so many years apart. “Ah, sorry, Eleonor. You must be surprised. This is Alpha Christopher Orlando. I’ve told him not to bother you, but he insisted on meeting you.”

Alpha Christopher Orlando.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized who he was—the Alpha of the Whiteclaw Pack, the one who took over after his father’s death. He could be a shortcut for me because I decided to move to his pack.

“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Alpha Christopher,” I said, giving him a polite nod.

He said excitedly, “Nice to meet you too, Eleonor. I have always wanted to meet you since Mark mentioned he has a twin in the Nightwalker Pack, that’s why I have been trying to find you since I attended this banquet.”

I just nodded, and did not know how to respond.

For a moment, the awkwardness lingered. But as the three of us talked, the barriers between us began to dissolve.

Besides the fact that Christopher was a talkative Alpha, I also found comfort in being with Mark.

Despite the years of separation, we often said the same things at the same time, laughing at our unintentional synchronization.

It felt almost natural, as though the bond of being twins had not faded despite the time and distance.

But our lighthearted conversation was abruptly interrupted.

“Eleonor.”

Branden’s voice was cold and dark as he called my name. He was already approaching us, his expression thunderous.

Before I could react, Branden pulled me into a tight embrace. “Who are you talking to?” he asked, his voice laced with tension.

I could sense his grip on my waist hardened every second, as if he wanted to say that I was his. No one should talk friendly to me or take me from him.

So, I could not help think, ‘Don’t tell me he’s jealous.’

But then I strengthened my mind, why should he be jealous when he planned to marry Quincy?

That did not make any sense at all.

In the end, I decided to introduce them. “Oh, it’s….”

Before I could explain, Branden’s father called out to him, urging him to take his place at the podium.

Branden gave me a long look before gripping my hand tightly. “You have to listen to my speech, Eleonor. Come to the center.”

He led me away, separating me from Mark and Christopher.

I did not even have time to reject and ended up watching him climb the podium.

I found myself standing amidst the crowd, listening to his speech—or rather, pretending to listen.

My mind wandered until Christopher managed to slip through the gathering and stand beside me.

“Sorry for not introducing you to Alpha Branden earlier,” I said softly, glad to have a familiar face near me.

Christopher shook his head, his expression cold but composed. “It’s fine. He seemed in a hurry. Besides, we’re not exactly close.”

His tone was frigid, as though the very mention of Branden irritated him. Despite the chill, I saw an opportunity to steer the conversation in a new direction.

“Does Whiteclaw need an extra Beta teacher?” I asked, keeping my voice casual but hopeful.

Christopher’s lips curved into a small smile. “It does.”

Then, after a pause, he added, “I think it’d be good for you to help your brother.”

Before I could respond, Branden’s gaze locked onto us from the podium. His expression darkened as he noticed me talking to Christopher.

However, I did not care and continued to talk friendly to Christopher.

Even if the point in the story where he was supposed to announce his marriage to Quincy was about to happen, it could be said, I no longer care since it was not my love story at all.

I did not have any love for him, just hate. We never had any romantic situations either, so it did not disturb me with whom he ended up with.

I just wanted to escape the tragic ending that the heroine had, which was me at that moment.

That was why, I should try everything including persuading Christopher to let me come to his Pack.

But instead of hearing Branden announce it, he faltered. His speech trailed off, and after a tense silence, he abruptly ended it without making any announcement.

My heart raced. Had my presence with Christopher disrupted the storyline?