The Secret Mark
I barely slept.
Every time I moved, pain shot across my back.
Ten lashes.
For a crime I didn't commit.
What hurt wasn't the punishment.
It was who ordered it.
Damien.
The man who claimed to protect this pack.
The man who once told me, "As long as you're here, nobody will ever hurt you."
Funny.
Turns out he was the one I needed protection from.
I sat on the edge of my bed as the sun rose.
Marcus's words kept replaying in my head.
The lost princess.
The North Kingdom.
The missing child.
None of it made sense.
I had no memories before age ten.
No family. Nothing.
Just a scarred little girl wandering through the woods until someone eventually found her.
So why had Marcus looked like he'd seen a ghost?
A knock sounded.
Before I could answer, Marcus stepped inside.
For once, he looked nervous.
The old Beta closed the door behind him.
"We need to talk."
"Good."
I stood immediately.
"Start explaining."
Marcus sighed.
"I shouldn't have said anything."
"Too late."
He rubbed his face.
"Evelyn, have you ever wondered why you don't remember your childhood?"
"Every day."
"And nobody ever found your family?"
"No."
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
Then he sat down.
"Fifteen years ago, something happened in the North Kingdom."
I frowned.
Everyone knew the North Kingdom.
The strongest werewolf territory on the continent.
Ruled by ancient bloodlines.
Far older than Damien's pack.
Far more powerful.
Marcus continued.
"The royal family had a daughter."
I folded my arms.
"And?"
"She disappeared."
I stared at him.
"Lots of children disappear."
"Not royal heirs."
That was true.
He continued.
"The entire continent searched for her."
"Did they find her?"
"No."
The room fell silent.
Then Marcus looked directly at me.
"The princess had a crescent moon birthmark."
My stomach tightened.
Slowly.
Uncomfortably.
"A lot of people have birthmarks."
"Not that one."
His voice became serious.
"The royal mark is unique."
I looked away.
Because suddenly I didn't want to hear the answer.
Marcus noticed.
"You think I'm crazy."
"A little."
"Good."
He laughed.
"Because I think I might be crazy too."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then another thought appeared.
"If this princess exists..."
Marcus nodded.
"Then what?"
"What if someone else notices?"
His expression darkened.
"That's exactly what worries me."
________________
Unfortunately, the universe apparently hated me.
Because by lunchtime, Bella was already causing problems again.
The pack was preparing for her engagement celebration.
Apparently becoming Luna wasn't enough.
Now she wanted an engagement ceremony too.
I was carrying decorations through the hall when Bella blocked my path.
"Careful."
I stopped walking.
"What now?"
She looked me up and down.
"Still alive?"
I laughed.
"Disappointed?"
Her smile vanished.
For a moment.
Then it returned.
"You should be grateful."
"Grateful?"
"Damien could've expelled you."
I stared at her.
"Why are you so obsessed with me?"
That actually surprised her.
The question landed harder than I expected.
Bella recovered quickly.
"I'm not."
"You are."
I stepped closer.
"You already got everything you wanted."
Her jaw tightened.
"The Luna title."
No response.
"The Alpha."
Still nothing.
"The pack."
Her fingers curled.
"So why are you still trying to destroy me?"
For the first time, genuine hatred flashed through her eyes.
There it was.
The real Bella.
Not the sweet future Luna.
Not the smiling victim.
The real one.
Because happy people don't spend every waking moment attacking someone else.
Before she could answer, a voice interrupted.
"What's going on?"
Damien.
Bella immediately transformed.
Her eyes widened.
Her voice softened.
"Evelyn's upset."
I nearly laughed.
Damien looked at me.
"What happened?"
"You really want to know?"
His expression hardened.
I already knew the answer.
No.
He didn't.
Not really.
Bella grabbed his arm.
"It's fine."
The performance was almost impressive.
Damien glanced between us.
Then, without another question, turned toward Bella.
"Come on."
And just like that, they walked away together.
I stood there.
Watching.
Realizing something.
I wasn't losing Damien.
I had already lost him.
A long time ago.
I just hadn't admitted it yet.
________________
That evening, Marcus secretly handed me a folder.
"What is this?"
"Research."
I opened it.
Newspaper clippings.
Old reports.
Photos.
The missing North Princess.
The first picture showed a little girl.
Maybe five years old.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
A crescent moon necklace.
My breath caught.
Because she looked exactly like me.
Or rather—
I looked exactly like her.
"What the hell..."
Marcus nodded.
"That's what I said."
I flipped through the pages.
More reports.
More searches.
More failed investigations.
Then I found something else.
A photograph of the royal family.
King.
Queen.
And standing beside them—
A teenage boy.
Tall.
Silver eyes.
Familiar silver eyes.
I froze.
No.
No way.
I grabbed the photo.
"Marcus."
"What?"
I pointed.
"Who's this?"
The old Beta looked down.
"The prince."
My heart nearly stopped.
Prince Alexander.
The stranger from the forest.
The man who saved me.
The man who somehow knew there was something unusual about me.
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
"Marcus."
"What?"
"I think I've met him."
The old Beta nearly fell out of his chair.
"You what?"
________________
Meanwhile...
Hundreds of miles north.
Inside the royal palace.
Alexander stood before a massive fireplace.
Several advisors filled the room.
Maps covered the walls.
Reports sat stacked on a long table.
One advisor cleared his throat.
"We still haven't found her."
Alexander didn't answer.
The advisor continued.
"The search has lasted fifteen years."
Silence.
Then Alexander spoke.
"I found something."
Everyone froze.
The advisor blinked.
"What?"
Alexander stared into the fire.
"A scent."
The room went silent.
Every werewolf understood the importance of scent.
Especially royal bloodlines.
"Where?"
Alexander answered immediately.
"Black River Pack."
Several advisors exchanged shocked looks.
"That's Damien's territory."
Alexander nodded.
"It is."
One of the older wolves frowned.
"You think the princess is there?"
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"I think someone wants her hidden."
________________
Three days later, disaster struck.
Again.
This time during Bella's engagement banquet.
The entire pack attended.
Guests arrived from neighboring territories.
Music played.
Champagne flowed.
Everyone celebrated.
Everyone except me.
I spent most of the evening hiding near the back.
Then Bella approached carrying a glass of wine.
I immediately knew trouble was coming.
Her smile was too perfect.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"No."
"That's unfortunate."
I rolled my eyes.
"What do you want?"
Instead of answering, she stumbled.
The wine flew through the air.
Splash.
Directly across her white dress.
The room gasped.
Bella stared down.
Then slowly looked up at me.
Tears instantly appeared.
"What did you do?"
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
"No."
Guests began whispering.
Damien turned around.
Bella pointed at me.
"Evelyn ruined my dress."
I looked toward the ceiling.
Moon Goddess, give me strength.
Damien walked over.
"What happened?"
Bella sniffled.
"I was talking to her."
"Then?"
"She got angry."
I couldn't believe this.
Actually, I could.
That was the worst part.
I could.
Because this was exactly the kind of thing Bella would do.
Damien turned toward me.
His expression already told me everything.
He believed her.
Again.
"I didn't touch her."
Bella cried harder.
"Oh my God."
I threw my hands up.
"Really?"
The crowd watched silently.
Waiting.
Judging.
Damien's voice became cold.
"Apologize."
My jaw dropped.
"No."
"Evelyn."
"No."
The room became tense.
Damien stepped closer.
"Don't make this harder."
I laughed.
A bitter sound.
"Harder?"
He lowered his voice.
"You've caused enough problems."
Something inside me snapped.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
Quietly.
Like a rope finally breaking after years of strain.
I looked directly at him.
"You know what, Damien?"
His eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"I hope she's worth it."
The room froze.
Damien stared.
Bella stared.
Everyone stared.
I continued.
"Because one day you're going to realize exactly who she is."
Bella's face paled.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I smiled slightly.
"You know something?"
Bella immediately interrupted.
"She's lying!"
Too fast.
The crowd noticed.
So did I.
For the first time all night—
Bella looked afraid.
And somewhere deep inside me—
I realized I wasn't the only one keeping secrets anymore.
