Mirror image

COPPERBORROW TOWN

GOLDEN STARLIGHT PLAZA

WINTER POV

"Have a tight grip on that," my employer warned me.

I nodded and forced a smile, clutching the heavy grocery bag tightly. With each step towards the loading van, the weight threatened to pull me down. Finally, as I reached the van, I released the bag and let it drop from my hands, thankful that I didn't lose my balance. I could be clumsy at times, and I definitely didn't want the groceries to fall on me while my face met the unforgiving pavement.

Not only would it potentially leave me scarred, but it would also become the talk of the town during my stay in Golden Starlight Plaza. Rumours never died down here; they would persist until I forced myself to leave, and that was the last thing I wanted.

"Winter!" my employer called out, striding towards me.

I wiped my stained palms on my work shirt and turned to face him, mustering a bright smile.

As he had mentioned, my name was Winter Watson, given to me by my birth parents. It was the only good thing I had inherited from them. I was a wolfless omega werewolf, just like my parents, belonging to the Silver Moon pack.

In Western Copperborrow, packs were used to divide the districts, and Greek letters denoted different castes. That was the explanation given to humans since they didn't believe in the existence of werewolves.

I resided in the fourth district with my parents, the Silver Moon pack, but held the lowest rank within the pack. Not that it bothered me much. Even if it did, there was nothing I could do about it. My life was complicated, and I had grown accustomed to such a difficult life.

Since turning eighteen, I had been leaving for work every morning—a part-time job—to earn some money. I aspired for a better life, and I believed that my hard work would eventually pay off. It was fortunate that my employer had accepted me to work in the plaza, considering that others with better qualifications hadn't been accepted. Yet, here I was.

"You are still here?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise.

I was startled as Mr Kade, my employer, barked at me.

Though I wanted to remind him that I was within earshot, it was best to keep quiet. Losing my job was not something I could afford right now, especially given the challenges I was facing.

"I'm on it," I forced a smile and replied, though he only glared in return.

Today, my employer had assigned me the task of delivering items to the Royal Moon pack. He offered a generous salary for the job, which I readily accepted. Opportunities like this didn't come often, and I needed to make the most of it. Besides, it would be my first time venturing out of my pack, and I couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect.

"Then get going," he instructed.

I nodded and hurried to the delivery truck that I often used. Sliding into the driver's seat, I started the engine, which roared to life. Although I didn't know the exact location, I relied on a map on my phone to guide me, hoping I wouldn't get lost—a skill I was all too familiar with.

As I approached my destination, I could see the imposing, massive dark gate of the Royal Moon pack from a distance, fueling my excitement even further. They were not only the strongest pack in our district but also incredibly wealthy, thanks to the Alpha's successful endeavours.

The Alpha and Luna had two sons and a daughter who were intelligent, beautiful, and powerful, just like their parents. They held high ranks within the pack, which came as no surprise. With the most influential parents in all of Copperborrow, it was only natural for their children to follow suit.

The gate automatically opened as I neared, and I parked the truck nearby. Spotting a designated area to drop off the items, I made my way there before contacting the Alpha, per Mr Kade's instructions.

"I'm sorry!" I quickly apologised, sidestepping a man to avoid colliding with him.

I dropped off the box I was carrying and glanced up to see who I had almost bumped into. The man had a weathered face but didn't seem too old. Perhaps he was around the same age as my father, who was in his late forties. He sported a goatee, and his uncertain grey eyes met mine.

"Luna?" he asked incredulously.

His mouth dropped open, and he quickly grabbed the other box I had carried before rushing to drop it off at the corner where I had placed the first one.

"What do you mean by Luna?" I mumbled as he walked towards me.

He stared at me momentarily before stammering, "N-never mind, I must have mistaken you for someone else."

"This is strange," he muttered to himself. "You look just like her."

"Just like who?" I asked, eyeing him curiously.

He smiled briefly before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I should be going. Take care, kid."

"Weirdo," I mumbled under my breath, watching him walk away.

As I dropped off the last boxes, I occasionally felt his gaze on me. It was unnerving to know that he was still watching. I hurriedly finished my tasks, drove back to work, and completed the remaining tasks for the day before heading home.

"Take those and get them washed!" I dodged the filthy cloth that flew towards me as I stepped inside. Wrinkling my nose, I observed my mother, who had an apron tied around her waist, standing in the cramped kitchen cooking pasta from the scent gliding around the room.

"Don't just stand there and stare at me!" she yelled, and I winced.

I had sensitive hearings, and I was not too fond of it when people yelled, whereas they could speak quietly.

Well, I never mentioned this part about my parents before, about them being a bully. It had always been this way. Sometimes I got off easy, and sometimes it was tough. I often felt unwanted and wanted to run away, but there was nowhere to escape. They were my parents and would always be, at least until I found a mate.

"Where's the money you made today, darling daughter?" my father asked, walking in with a newspaper obscuring his face.

I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore him. I was saving every penny I earned, and he was one of the reasons why I worked tirelessly. My father was an addicted gambler, and we frequently had creditors knocking at our door, demanding payment for his unpaid debts.

Experiencing these embarrassing encounters repeatedly, I had made it my mission to work hard and pay off every debt before leaving the house for good. I didn't want anything tied to my name because it was a common practice that even if you had a mate and your parents were in debt, you couldn't escape the burden. You would be obligated to repay the money, often double the amount.

My father dropped the newspaper on the table and rolled up his sleeves as he purposefully walked towards me. "I asked you a question, or do I need to search you myself?"

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang. I sighed and muttered, "I'll get it," rushing to the door before anyone could object.

As I approached the door, I wondered who could be standing on the other side. We weren't expecting anyone, but it could be one of my parents' omega friends who often showed up unannounced or, worse, a creditor.

However, as I opened the door, I found myself face-to-face with a woman. She had white hair and a heart-shaped face. A mole adorned her upper lip, and her pale blue eyes narrowed as she stared at me. Her button nose wrinkled, and her full lips crinkled.

This woman standing before me wasn't just anyone. I was staring at myself. It was as if I was looking into a mirror.