Niora's hand trembled as she applied the final brushstroke of makeup, each stroke a desperate attempt to hide the jagged scar that carved its way from her right temple down to her cheek.
A cruel reminder of a childhood she couldn't remember. The reflection staring back at her felt foreign, haunted by questions she'd never been able to silence. How did I get this scar? Why can't I remember anything?
Her mother's lullaby excuse echoed in her mind
"You fell in the garden, darling. Just an accident don't think to luch about it." Niora had always been the outsider, the scar-faced girl nobody befriended. No one wanted the monster.
But tonight had to be different. The Becoming of Age Ceremony her eighteenth birthday finally arrived this was evry girls dream this day.
This was no ordinary celebration. Across wolfkind, it marked the sacred moment when a girl's wolf first awakens under the full moon, signaling her passage into adulthood. Both physically and spiritually scars seen and unseen, will heal once their wolf appears.
It also meant the Mate Rite, the forging of fated bonds that would shape destiny and inheritance. And in the world or magic creatures mate bonds were sacred especially in world of wolfs and pack she belonged to the Shadowveil Pack.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she traced the scar one final time. The mirror reflected her excitement and dread in equal measure.
She pressed her fingertip across the scar, her pulse pounding with hope
"Niora, darling! The guests are arriving!" her mother, Mary, called from downstairs.
"Coming, Mom!" Niora responded, smoothing the emerald green dress she had picked out with trembling hands.
Her voice couldn't hide her excitement.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and descended the grand staircase.
All eyes turned to her. Some smiled politely others whispered behind their hands. Pity, discomfort, curiosity all too familiar reactions for Niora, the girl who never quite belonged.
Still, she lifted her chin. Tonight was her moment. She wouldn't let anyone ruin it.
At the base of the stairs, her father, James, stepped forward and took her hand gently.
"You look beautiful, my little wolf," he whispered with a warm smile, guiding her to the dance floor.
"Thanks, Dad," she replied, flashing a radiant smile that momentarily masked the storm inside her.
The music began a soft, melodic waltz and for a moment, Niora felt like she was floating. Applause followed as the dance ended, and the party moved into full swing.
She drifted through the crowd, accepting birthday wishes from strangers and familiar faces of disgust.
Every interaction felt hollow. She searched the room, eyes darting, heart lifting when she Then she saw him.. Lucias, at the refreshment table. Relief raced through her until his eyes met hers his eyes were cold.
"There's my birthday girl," Lucias said, placing an arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. But something about him felt… different. Cold.
"Excited for the cake?" he asked.
Niora smiled, brushing aside the discomfort.
"And after that… we will find out if we are true mates," she said with excitement.
Niora and Lucias grew up together they have been childhood lovers. They were each other's first everything best friend, first kiss, first love. Everyone in the pack, even the elders, believed they were fated mates. And even if fate had other plans, they had made a vow if the Moon Goddess did not choose for them, they would become choose mates.
"Nervous?" he asked, his cold black eyes studying her.
"A little," she admitted, "but I know what will happen. We belong together." Her cheeks flushed with a blend of shyness and excitement.
The moment finally came. The magnificent cake stood ready, its eighteen silver candles glowing like stars.
Niora took her place beside it, holding the knife. She took a breath, ready to speak.
"Thank you all for coming—"
"Niora, wait," Mary interrupted, stepping forward, her expression unreadable.
Niora blinked. "Mom?"
Mary turned to the guests. "Before the cake is cut, we have something important to share."
The crowd shifted.
A girl entered beautiful, black-haired, and strabgly familiar.
"This is Linda," Mary said. "Your sister. Today is her birthday too. We'd like you to cut the cake together."
The knife slipped from Niora's fingers.
"Sister?" she echoed, stunned. "No. This is some kind of mistake."
Mary's voice was cold. "You were switched at birth. Linda is our biological daughter. Your red hair, your eyes they never made sense. We told ourselves you looked like the healer line… but that was just a story."
James stepped in. "Linda was raised by your biological parents until they passed away recently. We did a DNA test. She's our biological child."
Linda stepped forward, her voice shaking. "My pare.. your biological parents were cruel. They tried to sell me. They locked me away. I escaped. I found out about the switch through old records 3 days ago. Mom and Dad took me in. They saved me."
Gasps filled the hall. Mary moved to Linda, holding her tightly.
The floor seemed to collapse beneath Niora. "They knew. They knew and didn't tell me." Her throat tightened. Rage clashed with heartbreak.
"Linda's suffered so much. You've had everything, Niora. Surely, you can understand."
"But this is my birthday," Niora whispered. "My eighteenth birthday."
"It's hers too," Mary said. "Same day. Same switch."
Gasps echoed. Niora turned to Mary just as she moved to embrace Linda.
And then the whispers started.
"She's being so selfish…"
"That poor girl has suffered so much…"
"Look how sweet Linda is, not causing any trouble, and here she is, so calculating."
"Linda suffered under her parents' hands while Niora lived a life that wasn't even hers."
"Niora should be more grateful for the life she's had…"
"Now that the real daughter is back, she doesn't even want to share a simple celebration…"
"Who knows, maybe this other girl never even had a birthday…"
"She's so evil…"
The voices stabbed her like knives.
Her world tilted. Her lungs tightened.
Mary gently sliced the cake and handed the first piece to Linda.
Niora felt invisible.
She forced a brittle smile. "Of course… we can share. Happy birthday, Linda. I'm sorry. I was just… surprised."
Niora's tears threatened to fall. She watched as Mary gently cut the cake and fed Linda a piece.
"Of course," Niora said, her voice brittle. "We can share. I'm sorry, Linda. I was just shocked."
Linda smiled sweetly, her voice trembling just enough to stir sympathy.
"Thank you, Niora. You don't know how long I've dreamed of having a sister... After everything I've been through, maybe all the pain was worth it."
She turned to the guests with teary eyes, her tone soft and pure.
"I'm just so grateful. The Moon Goddess finally gave me someone to call family."