Ch. The Body-Swapped Heiress Returns as the Alpha’s Mate 2 The Body-Swapped Heiress Returns as the Alpha’s Mate 2

Julian froze for a heartbeat.
I forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.
“You promised you’d recognize me, no matter what I looked like.
“You have only ever one sister—and that’s me.”
Julian’s pupils constricted sharply.
Yet in the very next instant, he looked away.
“Cecilia, don’t overthink it. Once you two switch back, I’ll take you on an island getaway.
“Lydia feels terrible about this too. She’s hurting inside. I’m going to check on her.”
With those words, he turned to Lydia.
“Come. Let’s pick out some jewelry.”
Lydia let out a cheer and slipped her arm through his.
“Julian, you’re the best!”
The sight of their retreating figures side by side stung my eyes.
I headed back to the servant’s quarters and collapsed onto the unyielding wooden bed.
They had genuinely fallen for Lydia long before now.
All those sweet words were nothing but hollow ploys to pacify me.
They just wanted me to stay docile within this frail body, quiet and obedient, so I would not get in the way of their romance.
In three days, my soul would be permanently bound inside Lydia’s frame, with no way to reverse the swap ever again.
My phone buzzed all of a sudden.
Lydia had posted an update and tagged me specifically so I would see it.
In the photo, Adrian slid a diamond ring onto her finger with tender care, while my brother stood by, clapping with a smile.
Wearing my face, she nestled against Adrian’s chest, radiating pure bliss.
“With my brother as our witness, we’ve finally set the wedding date. Soon I will be his Luna.”
Every comment beneath the post was filled with nothing but envy.
[Cecilia is so lucky! Adrian’s the youngest Alpha alive!]
[Childhood sweethearts are the sweetest! I’m definitely being a bridesmaid!]
But no one knew the person in the photo was not me.
She was just an imposter wearing my skin.
Blood rushed straight to my head.
My hands trembling, I typed a comment,
[Do you really deserve to show off something that was never yours?]
The comment posted successfully.
The very next second, my phone vibrated frantically.
Incoming calls from Adrian and Julian.
I ignored them out of spite.
Less than 10 minutes later, the screech of brakes came from outside.
Adrian and Julian stormed in, their faces livid, with Lydia following behind them, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
Julian’s voice was ice-cold, disgust written all over his face.
“Cecilia, apologize to Lydia. Now!”
I couldn’t believe how ridiculous this was.
“I only reminded her not to delude herself into replacing me completely.
“What part of that was wrong?”
Adrian snapped angrily,
“There’s no need for you to assert yourself with petty, sarcastic remarks to upset Lydia!”
An Alpha’s oppressive aura flooded the tiny room.
Once upon a time, this level of pressure would never have hurt me.
But now, trapped in this weak Omega body, I could barely breathe. My face drained of color in an instant.
Yet Adrian did not hold back in the slightest.
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Adrian, tell me honestly. Is it me you love, or the girl living in my body?”
The room fell dead silent.
Julian’s brows furrowed tightly, saying nothing.
Adrian’s eyes flickered with guilt, and he avoided my gaze entirely.
Lydia’s tears streamed down her face harder than ever.
She clutched her chest and trembled,
“Cecilia, I know you hate me.
“If my existence hurts you this much, I’ll just disappear!”
Before anyone could react, she lunged for the fruit knife on the table.
“Maybe if I die, the witchcraft will break, and you’ll get your body back!”
Julian darted forward in an instant, grabbing her tightly.
“Lydia, don’t!”
Adrian snatched the knife away in the same breath, shielding her behind his back, and roared at me,
“Look at what you’ve done!
“Are you only satisfied when you push her to the brink of death?”
Lydia collapsed into Julian’s arms, sobbing brokenly.
“She’s right. I’m just an imposter.
“I stole her body, her family, her fiancé. What right do I have to live…”
Julian’s eyes reddened.
“Don’t say that, Lydia.”
When he turned back to me, his gaze was frigid to the core.
“Cecilia, when did you become so sharp-tongued and cruel?”
His face darkened as he ordered the servant outside,
“Bring the disciplinary whip.”
My entire body stiffened.
The Harrison family’s disciplinary whip was enchanted with special spells.
Wounds inflicted by it temporarily suppressed a werewolf’s self-healing abilities, refusing to close instantly.
Every lash burned with unrelenting, vivid pain.
Even fully grown werewolves with powerful bloodlines needed long recuperation after ten strikes.
Let alone me, trapped in Lydia’s fragile body.
The last time the family discipline was used on me was when I was 16.
I had snuck out of the manor and crossed the pack territory border, nearly falling prey to a pack of rogues.
Father had been furious and struck me three times.
Mother had cried helplessly by my side, dabbing at my sweat, begging me to remember the lesson.
Julian’s voice turned icy cold. “Harrison family rules: no harm to others or oneself shall be tolerated.
“You deliberately provoked Lydia and drove her to attempt self-harm. Ten lashes are your due.”
Adrian tenderly wiped the tears from Lydia’s eyes.
He then took the whip from the servant’s hand.
“I’ll do it.”
Gripping the handle, he looked down at me coldly.
“Apologize and admit your mistake to Lydia, and I’ll reduce the ten lashes to five.”