The Forgotten Twin Princess Found Her True Pack Chapter 01

The Forgotten Twin Princess Found Her True Pack Chapter 01

Shadowmaw Pack had an ancient tradition.

Whenever the Luna gave birth to a daughter, the pack would plant a redwood sapling behind the pack house. When the pack princess found her mate, the tree would be felled and carved into two great chests bearing the family crest.

It was a symbol. No matter which pack she married into, she would carry the Alpha bloodline’s honor with her when she left.

Two weeks before my sister Leona Salvatore and I were set to hold our mating ceremonies, our brother Killian came back with two massive redwood chests.

He hauled them through the door with visible effort, and Leona’s eyes lit up like stars.

Our Luna mother stroked her hair gently. “You’re about to become a Luna yourself, but in my eyes you’re still my little pup.”

Our Alpha father furrowed his brow. “If Alpha Dean ever mistreats you, he’ll have Shadowmaw Pack to answer to.”

Nobody noticed the number was wrong.

My gaze drifted past Killian to the space behind him.

Empty. Nothing else.

“Where’s my redwood chest?” I asked.

He blinked, as if just remembering that I was also having my mating ceremony on the same day.

“After I finished Leona’s, there wasn’t enough redwood left. I had to use your tree too.”

Mother’s voice was clipped with impatience. “Enough. So we used yours. Just take a regular suitcase.”

I suddenly remembered what our parents had told Killian before he left.

“Make sure those chests are crafted with care. They represent our daughter’s lifelong happiness and honor.”

Their daughter. Singular.

That word had never included me.

Fine. Then I didn’t need this family either.

“Mom, look!” Leona circled the chests, gasping with delight. “They even carved my name on the side!”

Mother ran her fingers over Leona’s hand, her voice thick with emotion. “Of course. A princess of Shadowmaw Pack deserves the very best. We have to be proper about it, or the wolves of Darkmoon Pack will look down on you.”

So Mother understood perfectly well that an Alpha Salvatore daughter without a proper family gift would be mocked by other wolves.

And I didn’t even have one. Because the one who’d be laughed at was me, the invisible pack princess she couldn’t be bothered to care about.

Father promised Leona that Shadowmaw Pack would always have her back.

But just a week ago, he’d told me the opposite. That once I left, I’d belong entirely to another pack. That I should learn to endure whatever came my way.

I stood against the wall, staring at those chests with their intricately carved clasps. My fists clenched, then loosened.

We were both Alpha’s daughters. Leona received protection and support.

I received a warning.

My parents’ justification was always the same two lines.

“Leona has been frail since she was born.”

“You’re her older sister. You should make sacrifices for her.”

Leona and I were twins. At birth, I outweighed her by barely fiveounces.

From that moment on, my parents decided I owed her everything.

When we were little and someone sent a gift, just one, Mother made me give it to her. When I grew up and earned a moonstone from the Alpha as a reward for my abilities, Leona wanted it, so I had to hand it over.

When I finally found my mate, I told myself quietly: at last, it’s my turn to be the one who matters. After all, there could only be one bride at a mating ceremony.

But when Leona found out, she insisted on holding hers on the exact same day.

And just like that, the redwood chest that should have been mine was gone.

Across the room, Leona was still clinging to Mother’s arm, playing cute.

“Can we have the pack servants make spicy beef stew tonight?”

Mother laughed and tapped her forehead with one finger. “Of course.”

For the past two weeks, every meal had been prepared to Leona’s taste, because she kept saying she wouldn’t be able to get home cooking once she moved to Darkmoon Pack.

She loved spicy food. But nobody remembered that I had a serious stomach condition and couldn’t handle it at all.

The first time I saw the table covered in spicy dishes, I said quietly to Mother, “Could you make something mild? Anything is fine.”

She slammed her silverware down on the table. “So now I’m a terrible Luna. Taking care of Leona is wrong, taking care of you is wrong. I just can’t win.”

One sentence, and I became the villain of the whole family.

The way Father and Killian looked at me was worse than any scolding.

After that, I learned to eat in silence.