Switched Fate：Luna With a Face Swap

Lily’s POV. “Lily!” The shout slices through the steady hum of the washing machine like a knife. I freeze, the cold, slippery bottle of detergent clutched in my trembling hand. I stumble out of the storage room with my heart racing. Of course, it is. Claire storms in, her face red with anger. “Where have you been?” she demands, not giving me a chance to answer. “You’re late. Do you even know what time it is?” “I’m sorry, I was cleaning the storage room,” I stammered, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. “Late again,” she sneers. “Stephanie wants boiling water. Now. Don’t keep her waiting.” In a few days, we are holding the wedding of Alpha’s daughter Stephanie and Alpha Alaric, and it will be even busier than now. I nod, hurrying to the kitchen. “Why boiling water?” I mumble to myself. “She likes it that way, remember?” I remind myself. “I can’t afford to forget. I can’t afford mistakes.” I fill a pitcher with water, making sure it’s just the right temperature. As I carry it to Stephanie’s room, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. This is my reality. Running errands, taking commands, never having a moment to myself. I’m not a member of the Dark Rising Pack. When I was very young, my father passed away, and later I became separated from my mother. The Alpha of the Dark Rising Pack adopted me, but for over a decade, I’ve been here acting as a servant. Ridicule and abuse from others have become a daily occurrence for me. “One day, I’ll be free,” I tell myself, though it feels like a distant dream. “For now, I have to endure. I have to survive.” Entering her room, I spot the rug slightly out of place, but it’s too late. My foot catches, and though I manage to stay upright, the water spills onto Stephanie’s little dog lying on the floor. The dog yelps, startled and hurt by the boiling water. It cries, a high-pitched whimper that cuts through the air, and scurries over to Stephanie, who is lounging on her bed. Panic floods me. “Not the dog,” I think, dread creeping in. The little creature curls up against Stephanie, who gently strokes its fur, whispering soothing words. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s here.” Before I can react further, Stephanie’s subordinate, Claire, storms over, her eyes blazing with anger. Her movements are sharp and aggressive, like a predator ready to strike. “You clumsy fool!” Claire shouts, her hand swinging before I can defend myself. The slap lands hard, a sting radiating through my cheek, but her words hurt more. “Do you even care about anything?” “I-I didn’t mean to,” I stammer, my cheek throbbing, the taste of fear bitter in my mouth. “I’m sorry, truly.” “Sorry? You think that fixes anything?” Claire retorts, her voice dripping with disdain, each word laced with venom. She looms over me, her presence suffocating. “You’re just an omega. You have nowhere else to go but here.” “I want to leave,” I blurt out, surprising even myself. The words spill out before I can stop them, driven by a surge of desperation and defiance. Claire’s eyes narrow, her lips curling into a sneer. “Leave? You don’t even have a wolf yet. Where would you go?” She leans in closer, her breath hot and foul against my face. “You think you can survive out there? You’re nothing without us.” The weight of her words presses down on me, but before I can respond, Stephanie’s voice cuts through the tension. “Claire, that’s enough. Leave us.” Her tone is calm and authoritative, yet there’s an underlying hint of irritation. Claire glares at me one last time before storming out. Stephanie then turns to me with an almost patronizing smile. “Are you okay?” she asks, her voice dripping with concern. “It’s my fault for not teaching my servant properly and letting her hurt you.” “I’m fine,” I say, my voice small and shaky. “I’m used to it.” The words come out automatically, a defense mechanism I’ve developed over the years. Stephanie sighs dramatically. She gently takes my hand and gently blows on the burn on the back of it with her mouth: “It must hurt a lot.” Just now, when I got burned, I didn’t cry, but now I feel like crying a little. “You’re truly an angel. If you become Luna in the future, the people will surely be happy.” Stephanie, the daughter of the Alpha of Dark Rising Pack, is born noble, receiving excellent education and abundant affection. She is completely different from the ordinary masses. She seems a bit melancholy. Is she worried about her wedding with the Alpha Alaric?  ”You poor orphan. Such beautiful hands, clearly a photographic genius, but only able to do manual labor. I’d like to ask for your help. Could you go to the West Mountain Villa area and take a set of photos for me?” “I appreciate your appreciation, but my technical skills are still quite immature. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to satisfy Miss Stephanie,” I gently refuse, fearing another beating as the pack rules prohibit servants from going out. “If you can help me, I’ll find your mother for you,” Stephanie’s eyes narrow slightly, a predatory glint in them. “I heard you’ve been looking for someone with a butterfly scar on their shoulder. Is that person important to you?” Her tone is sweet, almost too sweet, like poisoned honey. My heart skips a beat. “Yes, she’s my mother. I’ve been searching for her,” I admit, my voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear. How does she know about my mother? Stephanie leans in closer, her expression a mix of sympathy. “I know where your mother is,” she says softly, watching my reaction closely. I feel a rush of hope mixed with caution. “You do?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. Could this be real? Could she really know? “Yes,” she replies smoothly, her smile widening. “But there’s a condition.” Her voice takes on a harder edge, the sweetness vanishing in an instant. “What condition?” I ask, wary but desperate. I’ll do anything if it means finding my mother. “Come to West Mountain Villa tomorrow night at eight o’clock to take a photograph. Remember, it must be only you,” she says, her tone firm and commanding. “No one else knows about this.” I nod, unable to refuse. “I’ll be there,” I promise, the words heavy on my tongue. Stephanie’s smile returns, even more patronizing than before. “Good girl,” she says, patting my shoulder as if I were a child. “Don’t disappoint me, Lily.” As I leave Stephanie’s room, her words echo in my mind. “I know where your mother is.” Could it be true? Could she really know? My mother... visions of her flood my mind, memories of a happier time. I remember the warmth of the sun on my face, my mother’s gentle voice guiding me as we planted flowers in our garden. “These will grow strong and beautiful, just like you,” she would say, her hands tender around mine. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the cold, sterile environment I live in now. A sharp nudge jolts me back to the present. “Lily, stop daydreaming and get back to work!” Another servant glares at me. I mumble an apology and return to cleaning the window, the repetitive motion soothing. Stephanie’s words echo in my mind: “I know where your mother is.” Hope and doubt battle within me. I shake off the thoughts, trying to focus. Tomorrow will bring answers, I hope. The alarm on my worn clock rings at 4 AM. I rub my eyes, feeling the weight of another sleepless night. “Got to start early,” I murmur, knowing today might bring answers about my mother. Stephanie told me to come to her house at 8 PM, alone. I slip out of bed quietly, careful not to wake anyone. The washroom is cold as I start the laundry, the chill seeping into my bones. “Just another day,” I think, but today feels different. I move on to the kitchen, preparing breakfast swiftly and quietly. By 6 AM, I’ve finished the laundry and breakfast. “Good start,” I think, a small smile tugging at my lips. I spend the morning cleaning, completing each task with precision. “I can’t afford any mistakes today.” As the house wakes up, I blend into the background, my work continuing nonstop. By lunchtime, I’ve finished most of my chores, feeling a glimmer of hope. But as evening approaches, Emma’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Lily, I need you to run an errand.” My heart sinks. This could take hours. “What is it?” I ask, keeping the panic from my voice. “Go to the market and fetch some supplies,” she says, handing me a list. I rush out the door, my mind focused on the task. The market is busy, but I move quickly, gathering everything I need. I return breathless, handing the supplies to Emma. “Well done, Lily. Now get back to your other chores,” she says curtly. I nod and finish the remaining tasks as the sun sets. At 7:30 PM, I’m finally done. I grab my coat and head out, the cool evening air hitting my face. “This is it,” I think, my steps quickening toward Stephanie’s house, my heart filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. … The wind is cool against my skin, carrying the scent of rain that doesn’t come. It’s a night that feels alive, the kind where you want to stand still and let the breeze wash over you. But tonight, I have no time to linger. “Focus, Lily.” I reached West Mountain Villa right on time. I knock on the main door, but there’s no answer. “Maybe she forgot,” I think, hesitant. But then I notice the door is slightly ajar. Normally, I’d never dare enter without permission, but tonight is different. “She called me here. She must have left it open,” I tell myself, pushing the door open with a trembling hand. Inside, the house is dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls. I step in, my heart pounding. “Stephanie?” I call out softly, my voice barely above a whisper. The silence is oppressive, the kind that makes every creak of the floorboards sound like a thunderclap. I wander through the hallway, peeking into rooms as I go. Each one is empty, dark, and foreboding. “Where is she?” I wonder, anxiety gnawing at me. But I can’t turn back now. “This is about my mother. I have to be brave.” Finally, I reach a door on the right. It’s larger than the others, and something about it feels significant. “She must be in here,” I think. As I approach, I hear voices—two of them. One voice is unfamiliar, but I think I’ve heard the other before. “Oh, Honey, f**k me… please…” The sounds from the room froze me in place. Was that Stephanie’s voice?