The Substitute Mate: Rise, luna! Rise!Chapter 1
VIENNA'S POV
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an amber glow over the Ambersy Pack's territory. Today was our 16th birthday-mine and my twin sister Victoria's. The celebration was in full swing, the air thick with laughter and the scent of roasted meats. I stood to the side, watching Victoria being in the center of adoration from our pack members. She was always the favorite, the golden child.
"Happy Birthday, Victoria!" an elder exclaimed, handing her a beautifully wrapped gift.
"Thank you, Elder Maris," Victoria beamed, her eyes twinkling. She had awakened her wolf at 15, a rare gift that had elevated her status in the pack. Meanwhile, I stood in her shadow, still wolfless and weak.
"Happy Birthday, Vienna," someone said, almost as an afterthought. I forced a smile and nodded, trying to ignore the sting of being overlooked.
Just as the evening began to wind down, a blood-curdling howl shattered the festive atmosphere. Chaos erupted as rogue wolves, led by the strongest of their kind, stormed our pack's land.
"Ambush!" My father, the Alpha, roared. "Defend the pack!"