I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I locked eyes with Miguel. Without hesitation, I grabbed his hand, pulling him into a tight embrace. My heart swelled with joy, even though a small part of me remained uncertain whether the message had truly come from my twin sister, Carry.

"Babe, I can’t believe this is happening! Carry’s getting married, and she invited me! After all these years, I’m finally going to see my twin sister again. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long!"

Miguel’s expression mirrored my excitement, but I could also sense the flicker of doubt and worry in his eyes. Maybe it was because the message was just a simple text—no real proof, no guarantees.

“I don’t want you to get your hopes up, only for them to be crushed,” He said gently. “And I don’t want you walking into something dangerous. Are there any other ways to confirm it’s really Carry? Can you try mind-linking her?”

I nodded, my heart still racing. I had been trying to reach her through mind-link for the past twenty years without success. But maybe, just maybe, this time would be different. This time, she would answer back.

"I just received your invitation, Carry. Congratulations on your wedding," I sent her through the mind-link, my heart racing with anticipation.

For a few minutes, there was only silence. Then, unexpectedly, I got a response. "Thank you, dearest sister. See you there."

Just like that, I had the confirmation I needed—it really was Carry, and she wanted me at her wedding. Despite this, Miguel still didn’t seem entirely convinced.

"Is something still bothering you?" I asked gently, noticing the tension in his eyes.

He shook his head. "No, just a little worried, babe. Do you want me to come with you? You know, for your safety—and our unborn pup's."

I smiled warmly at him. "I’ll ask Carry if you can come with me, okay? Besides, I want you two to meet. You’re going to be blown away—Carry and I look ninety-nine percent identical!"

He chuckled at that, and the tension between us eased as we spent the rest of the evening chatting. Eventually, we both drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Miguel left early for work, while I planned my day. I decided to stop by a jewelry boutique to find the perfect gift for Carry.

As soon as I stepped inside, an emerald necklace immediately caught my eye. It was stunning, and I knew it would suit Carry perfectly. I smiled, feeling certain she'd love it.

The necklace was incredibly expensive—one of the most rare and exclusive pieces in the boutique. But that didn’t matter. After twenty years apart, it felt worth every penny to give Carry something special.

The night fell again. Miguel and I went through our usual evening routine. Everything seemed normal, until I woke up gasping and screaming in the middle of the night, my heart pounding in my chest. My panic was so intense that it startled Miguel awake.

He quickly turned on the bedside lamp and rubbed my back, his voice full of concern. "What happened, babe?"

Tears welled in my eyes as my hands trembled. "I had a nightmare… It was awful. I'm so scared…"

Miguel held me close, doing his best to comfort me. "It was just a dream," He murmured. "I'm here with you. Everything’s okay."

But I couldn’t shake the terror. The dream felt so real. In it, we lost our unborn pup during a vicious rogue attack. It was brutal, like I was living through it, and I forced myself to wake up before it got worse.

I didn’t tell Miguel those details. I didn’t want to believe it was more than just a nightmare, didn’t want to think it might be a premonition. Instead, I prayed to the Moon Goddess, hoping with all my heart that the dream meant nothing.

Days passed, and thankfully, the nightmares didn’t return. Then, finally, the day of Carry’s wedding arrived. I was excited, but a little disappointed—Carry had requested that I come alone, citing an exact guest count as the reason why I couldn’t bring Miguel.

I slipped into the gown she sent me. Oddly, it was white, almost like a bride’s dress. Carry assured me though that everyone else would be wearing the same style, so I tried not to overthink it. After doing some light makeup and curling my hair, I was ready.

Miguel drove me to the venue and kissed me goodbye, making sure I was safe before heading off. Clutching the box with Carry’s gift, I took a deep breath and stepped inside the Moonlit Grove, eager to finally reconcile with my twin after all these years.

But as soon as I entered, I was met with cold, hostile stares. Every guest in the room looked at me with disbelief, some with outright hatred.

Then, out of nowhere, Carry’s groom and future mate stormed toward me, his face twisted in fury, his intentions clear.

I froze.

What’s going on?

I stood there, completely confused by the events rapidly unfolding around me. I had no idea what was happening, but as my gaze swept across the Moonlit Grove, one thing became clear—Carry was nowhere in sight.

Where is she?

Trying to push away the sinking feeling that something was wrong, I told myself they were just startled by the sight of Carry’s twin. I forced a bright smile and cautiously stepped into the venue. The last thing I wanted was to disrupt the ceremony by causing a scene or running away.

But as I moved closer, Carry’s mate stormed towards me with a fierceness that made me stumble. Before I could react, he grabbed my arm with a punishing grip. Shock rooted me to the spot, and when he dragged me toward the altar, I could do nothing but follow.

Up close, I finally recognized his face. Shawn Andez. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was the youngest brother of our pack’s Alpha—a wolf infamous for his bad reputation. He’d been jailed several times, yet always seemed to slip free, thanks to his family connections and the messed up laws of our pack. I never imagined he could be Carry’s fated mate, much less that she would accept the bond.

Now, I stood at the altar, facing everyone with Shawn's harsh grip still on my arm. But Carry was still nowhere to be found.

“What’s going on?” I whispered under my breath.

Shawn’s eyes locked onto mine with a cold, furious intensity. His grip tightened painfully. “You dare ask what’s going on?” His voice was laced with hatred, the kind of anger that made my skin crawl—the kind that could easily lead to violence.

At this point, a wave of nervousness washed over me. I had no idea what was going to happen next or why any of this was happening in the first place.

“You’re such a whore!”

“You don’t deserve to be loved, Carry!”

“Is one mate not enough for you?!”

“You deserve to die, Carry!”

The guests hurled insults, their words blending into a cruel chorus. But one thing kept echoing in my mind; they were calling me Carry. They thought I was her.

Oh no. This is going to be bad.

“Wait a second! I’m not Carry, okay? Please, everyone, listen to me! I’m not Carry—I’m her twin sister, Floryn Winston!” I shouted, desperately trying to make them see the truth. But their faces remained twisted with disbelief and fury. Of course, they didn’t believe me.

“What the hell are you talking about, Carry? Running out of lies now, huh? You expect us to believe you suddenly have a twin sister?” Shawn spat, and before I could even respond, his hand cracked across my face.

The shock of the slap left me reeling. My skin stung, and my mind scrambled to process what had just happened. Before I could react, Shawn shoved me, and I stumbled to the ground.

“Please, stop! Believe me! Carry invited me here—I’m not her, I swear!” My voice broke as I pleaded with them, but my words only seemed to fuel their rage.

Then, without warning, Shawn summoned a Flashback Crystal—a rare, snow globe-like object infused with magic that could reveal past events. Its use was typically reserved for court trials, and acquiring one was nearly impossible. Yet, somehow, Shawn had one.

The sight of the crystal sent a wave of dread through me. This was worse than I could have imagined.

“Everyone, focus on this Flashback Crystal and witness the vile actions my mate, Carry, has committed!” Shawn’s voice boomed with fury, his eyes ablaze with rage.

He activated the Flashback Crystal, and an image materialized within it. It was Carry, draped in a revealing red nightwear, standing in what appeared to be a motel room. But what sent a chill through me was the sight of someone else there with her.

The scene unfolded, and Carry began kissing the man, their actions fueled by raw desire. They moved with an urgency, as if starving for each other’s touch.

Gasps erupted from the guests, mine included, as they started undressing each other. There was no denying what came next—they didn’t hold back. The display of infidelity was revolting, and I could hardly believe what I was witnessing. My own sister, betraying her mate like this? I struggled to remember the Carry I knew with the woman in the Flashback Crystal.

Then, the image turned black, and with a snarl of disgust, Shawn smashed the crystal against the ground, shards scattering.

“And now, instead of apologizing or owning up to her betrayal, this whore dares to spin another lie—that she has a twin sister!” His teeth clenched as he glared down at me.

“But it’s the truth! I’m not Carry, I swear!” I pleaded, trying to get the words out before he cut me off.

In one swift motion, Shawn grabbed me by the neck and hauled me to my feet, his grip crushing. “You think you can fool anyone here, Carry?”

His hand cracked across my face again, sending a shock of pain through me. I tasted blood where my lip had split. My vision blurred, but I could still hear the murmurs from the crowd.

Then, Shawn turned to the guests. “Does she deserve more of this? Or should I give her a chance to explain and prove herself?”

The crowd’s response was immediate, vicious, and unanimous.

“Beat her to death! She deserves it!”

Terror gripped me.

Carry, why did you have to put me in this situation?

The guests’ chants only grew louder, their bloodlust feeding Shawn’s rage. He didn’t hesitate. His hand met my face again and again, each slap more brutal than the last. He yanked at my hair, throwing me to the ground like I was nothing, his hands tightening around my throat as he screamed into my face, his spit hitting my skin. I could barely breathe, let alone get out the truth.

In the midst of the agony, I desperately reached out through the mind-link. Miguel. He was the first person that came to mind—the only one I knew could help. But every time I tried to connect with him, it failed. The bond remained cold and dead. Panic surged, and I tried to reach someone else—anyone. But every attempt was met with the same eerie silence.

Suddenly, Shawn let out a dark, mocking laugh. “What? Trying to mind-link for help, Carry?” He sneered, his grip tightening painfully. “Too bad. My Alpha brother gave me the power to block anyone’s mind-link and I’ve already blocked yours.”

The truth of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. Tears welled in my eyes, terror settling deep inside me. Without the mind-link, there was no way to call for help. No one here would believe me, let alone lift a finger to save me.

Miguel… I wish you were here…

Reality yanked me back as Shawn’s fists collided with my body again. The pain was searing, and my skin began to bruise under the onslaught. My muscles ached, and every inch of me felt like I was being torn apart.

It felt like I was trapped in a rogue attack.

Rogue attack…

As Shawn continued his assault, the memory of my dream about the rogue attack flashed in my mind. I had brushed it off as nothing, but now, I wished I had taken it as the warning it was. If I had, maybe I would’ve been more cautious—maybe I could have avoided this nightmare.

"Stop... please... I’m not Carry! She’s your mate, right? How can you not smell her scent on me? Think about it, Shawn, please!” I begged, my voice breaking under the pain.

“Masking a scent is hardly a challenge!” He snarled, dismissing my words as he continued the relentless blows.

My body screamed in agony, and my thoughts became muddled as the pain overwhelmed me. “Please… stop…”

“I’ll never stop! Just like I never stopped giving you everything you ever wanted—gifts, luxury, everything! And this is how you repay me? By cheating on me? You betrayed me, Carry! Now, I won’t show you an ounce of mercy. You deserve every bit of this!” He yelled, and for a brief moment, I saw the raw pain behind his anger.

I knew where his rage was coming from. Betrayal from someone you love is soul-crushing. But why wouldn’t he let me prove that I wasn’t Carry? That I was telling the truth? We looked identical, but we were not the same being!

Suddenly, I remembered the one thing that might save me. The birthmarks. When we were born, our parents discovered we had different birthmarks on our lower chests—mine was heart-shaped, while Carry’s was a half moon. It was the one thing that truly set us apart.

Maybe… just maybe, this could save me.

“We have different birthmarks!” I blurted out, my voice trembling with desperation.

Shawn’s eyes darkened with a sinister glint, his lips twisting into a cruel smirk as he glanced down at my chest. “Really, now?” He drawled, stalking closer. His voice dropped to a chilling whisper in my ear. “Carry’s birthmark is a half moon. So, what’s yours?”

I instinctively tried to cover myself, feeling disgusted by his gaze. “It’s... it’s a heart-shaped mark…”

His smirk only deepened, his breath warm against my skin. “Is that so?” He taunted. “Then show me the birthmark.”

His words dripped with malice, and I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Showing him was my only hope, yet the thought of exposing myself to him filled me with dread.