Shatter the Alpha's Reflection

"Miss Gray, are you sure you want to go through with another cosmetic procedure? This will be your ninety-ninth one. You know, you’re already quite stunning, even more so than..."

"Just do it."

Lyra Hansen, the pack’s healer, hesitated, her tone softening as she tried to reason with Alexia Gray. She had hoped to convince Alexia that her natural beauty was more than enough, that she didn’t need to keep altering herself to fit someone else’s ideal. But Alexia only smiled faintly, her fingers twisting the mate mark on her neck. She understood what Lyra was leaving unsaid. Still, she yearned more than anything to become what Enzo Dixon admired.

A few days later, once her facial wounds had healed, Alexia hurried from the clinic to the Silverfang Pack’s headquarters, her heart racing as she hoped to make it in time for the fourth anniversary of her marking ceremony with Enzo, the Alpha of the pack. She stood outside his office, her hand raised to knock when she overheard voices inside.

Instinctively, she paused, her sharp werewolf hearing catching every word of Enzo’s conversation.

"Alpha Dixon, I heard your stepsister is planning to return after finishing her studies at the Lycan Academy. Has she changed her mind about you?"

Enzo’s voice was calm, almost fond. "I don’t know, but Opal has always been the most important to me. Whether she wants to be with me or not, I respect her choice. Just being close to her is enough."

A chill swept through Alexia, her breath catching in her throat. Enzo’s words became a blur, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.

A packmate chuckled, "Didn’t expect you to be so smitten, Alpha! If Opal hears this, she might just agree to be your Luna. After all, she’s just your stepmother’s daughter; there’s no blood connection."

Enzo said nothing, and another voice chimed in, "Have you heard about Alexia Gray? She’s had all those surgeries to get your attention. She must look quite a bit like Opal by now, huh? Doesn’t that affect you, Alpha?"

Alexia held her breath, her heart pounding as if awaiting a verdict on her fate.

Enzo’s voice was cold and dismissive. "Alexia? No imitation could ever compare to my Opal."

One sentence, like a sledgehammer, shattered Alexia’s heart, leaving her breathless.

The questioner seemed surprised. "Then why do you treat her so kindly? I thought you genuinely cared. Maybe she thinks so too, or why else would she keep altering herself? It sounds painful just to imagine."

Enzo chuckled lightly, his tone dismissive. "You’re overthinking it. She’s just a distraction to fill the void Opal left. If you’re interested, I could introduce you to her."

Laughter erupted in the room, and one of his packmates readily agreed. "That’d be great; I’ve been curious about her for a while."

Outside, Alexia’s face turned pale, her nails digging into her palms. The pain in her chest threatened to erupt, but she forced herself to stay silent.

She had