I glanced down at myself again. My jeans suddenly felt too tight, my shirt too plain. I was an intruder here. A misplaced puzzle piece.
Then, Alpha Garry—her father—stepped onto the dais.
“Tonight, we celebrate the return of my daughter, Maureen,” he announced, his voice brimming with pride. “She has suffered greatly, but now she’s home—where she belongs. From this moment on, she will be cherished as she deserves.”
Thunderous applause filled the hall. I stood at the edge of the crowd, feeling like a ghost.
“She’s gorgeous,” someone whispered behind me.
“Poor Maureen,” another murmured. “Imagine everything she went through... while that girl took her place.”
Heat crept up my cheeks.
“She’s a fraud.”
“What a joke.”
The words dug into me like thorns. I swallowed hard, willing myself not to react.
Then, a voice—calm, sweet, yet laced with something sharper—cut through the air.
“Avery.”
I turned. Maureen stood before me, a glass of red wine in her delicate hand. Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes gleamed with something darker.
“Enjoying the party?” she asked lightly.
I hesitated. “I—”
Her expression didn’t waver. “You must be thrilled to see everything back where it should be.”