My Vengeance Wears Her Dead Mate's Skin

I slammed the wine glass onto the ground, shattering it into pieces. The crimson silk of my dress fluttered in the wind, and my voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.

“Who dares!” I growled, the Alpha tone in my voice sending a ripple of unease through the gathered werewolves. Even Frances, the former Luna of the Robinson Pack, finally looked up to meet my gaze.

Good. You should look at me, you venomous old crone.

I kept my claws hidden within my sleeve, circling the room with deliberate steps. My voice was calm but laced with authority. “That rejection letter was nothing more than a moment of anger. And without the official seal of the pack, it holds no weight.”

The Robinson Pack members froze. The so-called rejection letter was nothing more than a lie Jasper had fabricated to deceive me. They thought I was dead—why would they bother with official pack seals? But here I was, alive and well, exposing their scheme.

The look of panic on their faces was almost satisfying. I softened my expression, giving them an out. The Robinsons cared about their reputation, and I needed to play along—for now. After all, to destroy them, I had to first get back into their pack.

I turned to Jasper, my mate and the Alpha of the Robinson Pack, and took his hand with a gentle smile. “Jasper, I was foolish to let my emotions get the better of me. I’ve been to see Henrik, the healer, and he says my health is improving. He believes I’ll be able to give you strong pups in the future.”

I glanced at Wren, my half-sister and a Delta in the pack, who stood nearby, her hand resting on her stomach. “As for Wren… I know she’s always admired you. Since the mark ceremony is already underway, let’s make her your chosen mate.”

Jasper’s tense expression softened, relief flooding his features. He had been worried about how to handle this mess, but now I was giving him an easy way out—and even offering to legitimize Wren’s place in the pack.

But Wren wasn’t having it. She stepped forward, her face pale, her hand clutching her stomach. “I won’t be a chosen mate!” she spat, her voice trembling. “What are you? Some kind of ghost? Why are you ruining this for me?”

I smiled, my fangs glinting as I picked up a piece of roasted meat from the table and took a bite. “Of course, I’m alive. If I were a ghost, you’d already be dead, wouldn’t you? And why would you think I’m a ghost? Unless… you had something to do with my supposed death?”

Wren’s face went white, and she stammered, “You’re lying! Jasper, my stomach—it hurts.”

She clung to Jasper’s arm, her eyes pleading. But Jasper, ever the opportunist, gently pried her hand away and turned to me, his voice smooth. “Welcome back, Nina. The pack has been in chaos without you. I only agreed to take Wren as my chosen mate because I thought you were gone, and I wanted to care for her in your absence. But now that you’re here, everything is as it should be.”

I pretended to blush, leaning into his embrace. Frances, the former Luna, watched with cold eyes. She couldn’t argue—the rejection was fake, and with the pack gathered here, she couldn’t cast me out without tarnishing her reputation.

She raised her glass, her voice dripping with false humility. “Welcome back, Nina. Let’s put this misunderstanding behind us. As your mother-in-law, I’ve failed you, and I’ll make it up to you.”

I raised my glass in return, my smile bright and mocking. The anger in her eyes was almost palpable, but she had no choice but to play along.

As I sipped my drink, I felt Nina’s wolf, Luna, stirring within me, a quiet but fierce presence. She was angry, hurt, and full of rage toward this pack that had betrayed her. I reached out with my aura, calming her. Don’t worry, Nina. I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done to you.

The game had just begun, and I was ready to play.