Celeste's POV

Gasps filled the room as wolves hurriedly shielded their pups' eyes from the shocking display on the screen. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind struggling to process the scene before me. There, in full view of everyone, was Cassidy—completely exposed and entangled with another wolf. But the wolf wasn’t Memphis.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Cassidy, my own twin, had betrayed her mate in the worst way possible. It was unthinkable. We hadn’t seen each other in years, yet I never imagined she would sink to such depths.

As the video played, the crowd's murmurs turned into venomous curses.

"Disgusting! On the day of her ceremony, no less!"

"He should reject her right now! She’s a disgrace to the pack!"

"How dare she spit in the face of the Moon Goddess like this? Her mate is lucky to have found out before she ruined his life."

"She doesn’t deserve mercy. A she-wolf like that should be punished severely!"

The voices around me grew louder, each word a blade slicing through my composure. My scalp prickled with fear as I realized that every angry gaze, every scornful word, was directed at me. They thought I was Cassidy. And the scent of another wolf they accused her of carrying—it was Damien’s scent they mistook for someone else’s!

Desperation clawed at me. "You've got it wrong! I'm not Cassidy! I'm her twin sister, Celeste Finley, the Luna of Deadbite Growlers!" I shouted, my voice trembling but firm.

I hoped—prayed—that my words would break through the haze of rage. But instead of recognition, I was met with more fury. Memphis’s eyes blazed with unrelenting anger as he slashed my cheek again, the sting of his claws igniting a burning pain across my face.

"You lying bitch! Do you really think I don’t know who you are? I know every inch of your body! I’ve shown you the proof, and yet you still dare to deny it? You even have the audacity to claim you’re a Luna? Who do you think you’re fooling?" Memphis snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

He dragged me toward the giant screen, forcing my face mere inches from the image of Cassidy in the video. "Look at her! Look at this whore! Do you still dare to deny it?!" he roared, his voice booming over the stunned crowd.

The room fell into an eerie silence as the wolves compared the face on the screen with mine. They were identical, down to the last detail. Growing up, Cassidy and I were inseparable, often mistaken for one another. Even our wolves were indistinguishable. The only thing that set us apart was a butterfly-shaped birthmark on my back, something no one could see now.

The video continued to play, showing the man in the recording carelessly tossing an expensive bag onto Cassidy after their encounter. "Didn’t you want this bag? I got it for you," he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

My eyes widened in horror. That bag—it was the same one I was carrying today. The very sight of it sent a chill down my spine. My mind raced, trying to piece together the twisted reality of the situation.

Why was this happening? Why did it have to be me?

As my heart pounded in my chest, a dark suspicion began to take root. Was this all a setup? Had Cassidy planned this, knowing full well that our identical appearance would lead to this very moment? Had she invited me here to take the fall for her sins?

My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, and all I could do was hope—hope that Damien would arrive soon and save me from this nightmare. But deep down, my wolf and I both knew the truth. Cassidy had betrayed me in more ways than one.

Celeste's POV

Memphis seized my bag with a vicious grin, holding it high for everyone to see. His eyes blazed with unbridled fury, and veins pulsed angrily along his neck.

"Look at this, everyone!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the ornate walls. "This is the same bag that mongrel gifted you yesterday, isn't it? And you had the audacity to flaunt it here today, on our ceremony! How shameless can you be?"

With a swift, vicious motion, Memphis's sharp claws tore through the expensive leather, shredding the bag into worthless scraps that fluttered to the ground like fallen leaves. The sight made my heart clench—not because of the bag's value, but because of the sheer injustice and misunderstanding unfolding before me.

With my fangs elongating instinctively as anger and frustration surged through me, I snapped back, "What the hell are you doing? That was mine! You had no right—!"

But he cut me off with a sneer, his lips curling back to reveal his own sharp canines. "Finally showing your true colors, are you? Well, let’s see how long you can keep up this pathetic act of yours."

The heat of my anger evaporated in an instant, replaced by a cold, creeping fear. His gaze had shifted from wild fury to something far more dangerous—murderous intent. I scrambled backward, instinctively wrapping my arms around my belly to protect the small life growing inside me.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice trembling as fear tightened its grip on me. My wolf screamed at me to fight back, but I couldn’t risk it. Not with my pup.

"I’m not Cassidy!" I cried out desperately, my voice rising in panic. "I have a birthmark on my back! Check if you want, I’m telling the truth!"

But my words fell on deaf ears. Memphis’s gaze had locked onto the diamond necklace that had tumbled out of my bag during the scuffle. His expression twisted into one of pure rage. His eyes narrowed, and a new wave of rage overtook him.

"Where did you get this, huh? Did you spread your legs for another wolf because I couldn't afford your lavish tastes?" he growled, snatching the necklace and crushing it in his fist. The precious gems scattered across the floor, catching the light as they rolled away—symbols of my love and goodwill now reduced to meaningless shards.

"This? This costs a hundred thousand. You think I’m too poor to afford this, so you had another wolf buy it for you? You’re an infuriating piece of work," he snarled, his fangs glistening under the lights.

Then, in a blur of movement, Memphis shifted into his wolf. His massive form lunged at me, claws extended, fangs bared. I barely had time to react, curling up in a desperate attempt to shield my unborn pup. But his claws raked across my back, the searing pain tearing through me.

I screamed, the pain ripping through me, but it didn’t stop there. As I crumpled to the ground, two more wolves—large and imposing—emerged from the crowd, their eyes mirroring Memphis's wrath. His parents. Without hesitation, they joined the fray, clawing at me with a ferocity that spoke of wounded pride and blind vengeance.

"You don't deserve our son, you filthy whore!" his mother’s voice echoed in my ears before her claws slashed across my back, deepening the wounds.

I lay there, crouched in agony, my dress in tatters, my body exposed and covered in blood. Around me, the wolves of the pack watched in cruel silence, some even muttering their disgust.

"She brought this on herself."

"Serves her right. She’s nothing but a greedy bitch."

"She deserves to die for what she’s done."

The hatred in their words stung as deeply as the wounds on my back. My body ached, not only from the attack but from the overwhelming realization that no one cared—no one would help me. I was utterly alone in this moment of hell.

At last, the brutal assault ended. Memphis and his parents stepped away, leaving me barely conscious, my skin raw and bleeding, the floor around me soaked in my own blood. The once-elegant dress I wore hung in rags, my body trembling not from shame but from the unbearable pain.

The pack healer’s words echoed in my mind as I struggled to breathe. 'Luna, your body is more fragile now that you’re pregnant. Your healing will be slower, and your strength will diminish. This may be your only chance to carry a pup.'

The truth of her warning was now painfully clear. My wounds barely healed, blood continued to ooze from the gashes on my back, and I could feel the life inside me weakening. I was losing strength—fast.

But through the haze of pain and rage, I found my voice. Weak but defiant, I forced out the words. "You’d better pray my mate doesn’t arrive in time. Because when he does..." I paused, my breath shaky. "He will make sure every last one of you pays."

I lifted my head, meeting their hateful gazes with all the strength I could muster, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I could only hope Damien would come soon, before it was too late for both me and our pup.