"No! Father! I can't do this! You can't treat me this way!" My shrill scream nearly shattered the silence of the Vance Family council hall.
My father, Linus, the Alpha of our pack, his golden wolf eyes bloodshot, spoke in a hoarse voice, "Aurelia, this is an order. For the Vance Family, and to ensure your brother Torian's sacrifice wasn't in vain, you must go."
"Torian didn't sacrifice himself! He's only missing!" I retorted, tears blurring my vision.
My twin brother, the future Alpha heir of the family, had mysteriously disappeared on the eve of his departure for Wolfden Academy to fulfill an important alliance, his fate unknown.
"His broken sword and a blood-stained family crest were found at the edge of the Mist Forest," my mother, Elena, our noble Luna, choked on her words, "No signs of life, only vague traces leading toward Wolfden."
Wolfden, the sacred ground of Alphas, now seemed more like a fearsome beast with its jaws wide open.
"And so, you want me, a defective who can't even control her wolf form, to replace a genius Alpha?" I felt an absurdity in their decision, while the wolf spirit within me growled restlessly. "What about my scent? Did you forget that my scent is so faint, it's almost undetectable? Those powerful Alphas will easily see through me!"
Yes, I, Aurelia Vance, the daughter of an Alpha and a Luna, possessed pathetically weak wolfish strength. My presence was a world apart from Torian's blazing Alpha aura.
"We will hide your scent," the elder's voice was as cold and hard as stone. "Karen and Jasper will return from the academy to assist you. From now on, you are Torian Vance. The future of the Vance Family cannot be jeopardized."
"As for Aurelia Vance," my father's voice was like the blow of a cold hammer, "she has already passed away from illness."
Rage, fear, helplessness… Is this the law of fate? That the individual can be sacrificed for the family's sake?
"And what if I refuse?" I clenched my teeth, my voice trembling as I asked.
A flash of pain flickered in my father Linus's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolute determination. The Alpha's pressure emanated from him, freezing the air around us. "Aurelia, do not force me to take action."
I understood—I had no choice.
"Fine." I spat out the word with difficulty, "I agree."
But I swore, in the name of the Lunar Deity, no matter who harmed Torian, I would hunt them down!
Karen and Jasper quickly returned from Wolfden Academy.
Karen, my cousin, a composed and reliable Beta, looked at me with eyes full of sympathy.
"Stop stalling, my dear cousin!" Jasper, the one who always thrived on chaos, threw an arm around my shoulder, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now, let's give our new Young Master Torian a complete makeover!"
Cold scissors severed my golden locks, the soft strands falling to the ground like the remnants of my princess days.
Jasper, with a skill that made me suspect he had experience shearing alpacas, deftly trimmed my hair into Torian's sharp, short style. He incessantly reminded me, "Remember, your gaze must be firm, your steps strong, and don't show any weakness in front of unfamiliar Alphas!"
I listened impassively.
When I donned Torian's training uniform, brimming with his intense Alpha aura, I nearly felt suffocated.
The scent of prime Alpha—pine and cold steel—stirred restlessness in my wolf spirit.
Karen handed me a bottle filled with a strong herbal-smelling liquid.
"A special Concealment Agent," he explained softly, worry evident in his tone. "It can temporarily mask your scent, but its effects are limited, and it shouldn't be used too frequently."
I took the potion and drank it in a single gulp. A fiery sensation immediately burned in my throat.
A stranger stared back at me from the mirror. A pale face, defiant eyes, and short hair clumsily cropped to a ridiculous length. Apart from the sapphire eyes identical to Torian's, there was almost no trace of Aurelia left.
"From now on, you are Torian Vance." My father Linus's voice came from behind me, carrying a barely perceptible tremor. "Go. Seek the truth, and… return safely."
The carriage awaited silently in the light morning mist.
I—no, "Torian Vance"—under the escort of Karen and Jasper, embarked on an uncertain journey to Wolfden Academy.