After Death, I Returned To Steal My Sister's Perfect Alpha

The morning of the Mating Ceremony arrived with deceptive brightness, sunlight streaming through the tall windows of the Grayson estate like nothing had changed. But everything had changed. I stood before my mirror, adjusting the silver pendant at my throat—a family heirloom that had belonged to my grandmother. In my previous life, I'd worn it for luck. This time, it felt more like armor.

Downstairs, the great hall buzzed with activity as pack members from both territories mingled. The air thrummed with nervous energy and barely contained excitement. I descended the grand staircase, my emerald dress flowing behind me like water, and immediately spotted the source of the commotion.

Ryker stood near the ceremonial altar in a pristine white suit, his arms wrapped around Sienna's waist. She wore pale pink—virginal, innocent—and gazed up at him with practiced adoration. The sight should have made me sick, knowing what I knew about both of them. Instead, I felt nothing but cold satisfaction.

As I passed their little display, Sienna's voice rang out, sweet as poisoned honey. "Harper, darling, your Alpha isn't here yet?" She tilted her head with mock concern. "I hope nothing's wrong."

Every conversation in the immediate vicinity stopped. Heads turned toward us, and I could feel the weight of dozens of stares. In my peripheral vision, I caught Ryker's satisfied smirk—he thought he was watching me crumble.

[Poor thing,] someone's thoughts drifted to me. [Married to that monster and he can't even be bothered to show up.]

[I heard his last Luna ran away in the middle of the night,] another mind whispered. [Too scared to stay.]

[Axel Blackwood doesn't care about anyone. She'll be lucky if he doesn't kill her.]

The chorus of pity and fear washed over me like a tide, but I'd learned to swim in deeper waters than this. I smiled—not the trembling, uncertain expression I'd worn three years ago, but something sharper. More confident.

"Actually," I said, my voice carrying clearly through the sudden hush, "Axel is handling crucial territory negotiations this morning. Pack business comes first, as I'm sure you understand."

I moved toward the small platform where the microphone stood, my heels clicking against the marble floor with steady precision. "Since he can't be here to address you all personally, I'd like to say a few words on behalf of both of us."

Sienna's face went white. This wasn't in her script.

[What is she doing?] Her thoughts screamed with panic. [She's supposed to be humiliated, not—not this!]

I lifted the microphone, and the hall fell completely silent. "The Blackwood-Grayson alliance represents more than just a union between two packs. It's a promise of strength, of protection, of a future where our territories thrive together." I raised my champagne glass. "To new beginnings."

The response was immediate and overwhelming. Glasses lifted throughout the hall, voices joining in the toast. I caught sight of several pack elders nodding with approval, their expressions shifting from pity to something resembling respect.

But it was the woman standing near the back of the hall who truly mattered.

Luna Victoria Blackwood was a force of nature wrapped in elegant black silk. Silver streaked through her dark hair like lightning, and her eyes—the same mercury shade as her son's—missed nothing. She watched me with the calculating gaze of someone who'd spent decades navigating pack politics.

[Interesting,] her thoughts reached me, clear and approving. [She has spine. And intelligence. Perhaps Axel chose better than I thought.]

The warmth that spread through my chest at her mental praise was unexpected. In my previous life, Victoria had barely acknowledged my existence. I'd been too meek, too eager to please, too afraid of making waves. This time, I was making tsunamis.

"How lovely," Sienna's voice cut through my moment of triumph. She'd recovered from her shock and was now draped against Ryker like a climbing vine. "Though I suppose some of us prefer our Alphas to actually show up."

She pressed her lips to Ryker's in a kiss that was far too intimate for a public ceremony. Gasps echoed through the hall—not of admiration, but of scandalized disapproval.

"Enough." Victoria's voice cracked like a whip. She glided forward, her presence commanding instant attention. "This is a sacred ceremony, not a brothel. Show some respect."

Sienna jerked back from Ryker, her cheeks flaming red. But her thoughts... her thoughts were pure venom.

[You sanctimonious bitch,] she seethed internally. [Just wait. When Axel beats your precious daughter-in-law to death, we'll see who's laughing then.]

The hatred in her mental voice made my skin crawl, but I kept my expression serene. Let her underestimate me. Let them all think I was still the same naive girl who'd stumbled blindly into their trap.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of formal blessings and traditional pack rituals. I played my part perfectly—gracious, composed, every inch the Luna I was meant to become. When it was over, guests began filtering toward the reception hall, their conversations a mix of gossip and speculation about the new alliances.

I slipped away from the crowd, needing a moment to breathe. The room I'd been assigned was on the third floor of the Blackwood estate—neutral territory for now, neither fully mine nor Axel's until we completed the final bonding ritual.

It was smaller than my childhood bedroom but elegantly appointed, with deep blue walls and furniture that looked like it had been crafted by master artisans. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting everything in silver shadows.

I kicked off my heels and sank onto the edge of the bed, finally allowing my shoulders to drop. The day had been a success, but it was only the beginning. I still had to survive whatever came next, and with Sienna plotting in the shadows...

The door handle turned with a soft click.

I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. A figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered, backlit by the hallway's dim lighting. For a moment, he was just a shadow. Then he stepped forward, and moonlight caught his face.

Axel.

He'd changed from whatever he'd been wearing for his 'territory negotiations' into dark jeans and a black shirt that clung to his frame like a second skin. His silver eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, and when he spoke, his voice was a low rumble that sent shivers racing down my spine.

"I heard you performed admirably today."

The door closed behind him with a soft snick, and suddenly the spacious room felt impossibly small. He moved with predatory grace, each step deliberate and controlled, until he stood just a few feet away.

Close enough that I could see the faint stubble along his jaw. Close enough to catch the scent of cedar and something darker, more dangerous.

Close enough to run if I needed to.

But I didn't run. Instead, I lifted my chin and met those enigmatic silver eyes head-on.

"I did what needed to be done," I said quietly.

Something flickered in his gaze—surprise, perhaps, or approval. "Indeed you did. The question is... why?"