CHAPTER 002

Raven's POV:

"MATE."

Alpha Theodore's growl said it all, his words hanging in the air.

I couldn't believe it. Ever since my 18th birthday weeks ago, I hadn't found my mate, whereas Kaelith did almost instantly. I had thought I wasn't worthy to have one. I had thought I was too weak; the weaker twin who would never be considered to have a mate. But I guess the goddess has something planned for me.

For the first time in forever, I didn't know how to act or even what to do with my body. So, I did what I was most familiar with under such intense situations; I stared down at my feet as they berated me. Of course, I did feel elated, but this wasn't the right time. Not now. Not when I was neck-deep in Kaelith's schemes.

I peeked up at him to see his reaction and noticed his gaze didn't soften. If anything, it hardened even more. I was unsure if he was furious, utterly surprised, or maybe both.

My heart pounded hard in my chest, so loud it drowned out every thought in my head.

"Raven Silvera, you're mine," he said, his deep voice low and commanding. "Do you understand? Mine."

A cold shiver ran down my spine at his words. His possessiveness sank deep into my bones. I nodded weakly, unable to form a single coherent word.

"Good." He seemed to enjoy my answer as he stepped closer, his unique scent intoxicating me. "I'll come tomorrow to claim my prize. Prepare yourself, little wolf."

He turned and left, leaving me trembling and my knees weak.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Night came fast; too fast as Kaelith was nowhere to be found, leaving me to execute the plan all by myself.

"Sh*t." I cursed, nervously biting down on my lips, my feet clicking lightly on the tiled floor of Beta Gilbert's chamber. The room smelt faintly of cedarwood and books, a reflection of his stoic personality. "This is fucking insane. Pick up, sis."

The phone call went to voicemail.

"Oh, Goddess. I'm so dead." I gripped my now-straightened hair, staring at the mirror by the bed. I look so much like Kaelith now and smell just like her. We've done this switch numerous times than I could count, but this was the deepest we've ever gone.

The vibration of my phone dragged me away from my lingering thoughts, and I stared at the name of the caller.

Kaelith.

"What the f*ck. What the actual f*ck." I screamed into the phone as I brought the phone closer to my ears, beginning to pace even faster.

"What!!!! Hehe, hey sis." Kaelith dragged on from the other end of the call.

What?

"You're drunk?" I couldn't believe it. This was the height of it all.

"Did you forget about your plans? I'm in your mate's freaking bedroom, and he will soon be here. Aren't you supposed to guide me, or something? Please, tell me you've drugged him already."

She giggled through the phone, her carefreeness of the situation only making my stomach twist with dread.

"Of course not, Raven! I haven't forgotten," she slurred her voice a mix of laughter. "No need to drug him. You're doing great! Just... relax, okay. Gilbert is going to fall for it. You're going to be fine."

"Fine?" I hissed, clenching the phone tighter as my fingers turned white. "Kaelith, you said you would spike his drink so he could be too drunk to notice or do anything, but you've done none of that. I'm about to commit treason, and all for you. The least you could do is be here to walk me through. And now you're off getting drunk with one of your boyfriends?"

Kaelith let out another laugh, clearly not taking this seriously. "Oh please, relax. It's not like Gilbert will notice. You've got it, Sis. You look just like me, smell just like me. You are a star. So, enjoy and bye!!!"

The line went dead.

"What the actual fuc-"

My scream was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. I immediately ran over to the bed, covering myself with the blanket as I pretended to sleep, though my eyes remained wide open.

I heard the door open. The bed dipped as Gilbert climbed on the bed. My breathing grew erratic.

Beta Gilbert scooped closer to me, cupping me with his body as he held my chin, tilting my head so our eyes could meet. He was all smiles as he planted a kiss on my lips.

"You're the biggest blessing of my life, Raven!"

I almost gasp in shock.

Raven?

How did he find out I wasn't Kaelith so quickly? Maybe the potions and perfumes weren't enough to conceal my scent.

I'm dead.

So dead.

I'll be imprisoned and executed.

My breath turned labored as if I was breathing through a single constricted pipe. My body trembled with fear, making it hard to speak.

"Ra...Raven, err... Raven is my sister." I spluttered, hoping to the moon goddess I could escape this quickly. "She-I'm..."

"Kaelith. Ah! I keep getting confused. Sorry, my darling." He kissed me yet again, sputtering kisses down my neck and my shoulder blades.

Where exactly was the confusion between me and Kaelith? We're two different individuals with the same face.

His hands trailed down my body as he whispered. "You remember our agreement for tonight, right baby? You and me, becoming one." The lust in his voice was simply too great, as his smoldering eyes were a subtle pointer to what he meant.

"I-I'm not ready-"

"Shh..." he placed his fingers on my lips, shushing my excuse. "Just lay there and enjoy, for tonight, we shall be bound as one, my sexy, beautiful mate." As he spoke, he pulled my nightgown, his eyes rummaging through my body. "You're so beautiful." His hands found a way and undid my lingerie and bra, leaving me stark naked before him.

'This is wrong; this is so wrong,' I chanted in my head as I closed my eyes, hoping I could disappear.

"Open your eyes for me, baby."

Hesitantly, I opened them back up, but it wasn't Beta Gilbert who was on top of me, but Alpha Theodore.

"Alpha..."

"Yes." He moaned, kissing every inch of my body. "You know exactly what I want to be. Call me your Alpha. Call me your daddy."

He was here. My mate. My Theodore.

I trailed my gaze to the ceiling in complete ecstasy as he took me.

After he was done, he collapsed beside me, falling asleep immediately.

**********^*******^*******

I jumped awake as the sound of my alarm blasted into the room and I shut it off immediately.

"Morning already?" I yawned, reaching for my bottle of water, which I usually keep beside my bedside, but my hands fell on space.

My gaze snapped towards the position of the small table normally there, but it...wasn't there.

That's when I noticed the different layout of the room. The plain white room, the smell of cedarwood and books.

Shit.

I turned sharply to my side to see Beta Gilbert lying there, and all the memories of last night came flooding back in.

I gasped, the recollection of my memories shocking me. I must have hallucinated to think Beta Gilbert was Alpha Theodore.

No, no. I slept with him.

I slept with Kaelith's mate.

Panic settled in as I slowly crept from the bed, took my phone and clothes, and headed into the bathroom as silently as possible.

I sat on the toilet seat, swiping through my phone, but there was no message from Kaelith. My hands shook as I dropped the phone, immediately putting my clothes back on, but when I pulled my hair back to zip my dress, I noticed a faint bruise at the back of my neck.

I frowned, getting closer to the mirror and my eyes widened in horror.

It couldn't be. My hands slapped against my mouth to stifle the scream that escaped my lungs.

There, right above my shoulder blade, was a large bite mark.

Beta Gilbert marked me!

CHAPTER 003

Raven's POV:

My hands trembled as I turned on the faucet, splashing my face with water and hoping this was all a dream, but yet, the mark remained.

It seemed like the hundredth time I'd been calling, desperate for Kaelith to pick up, but the endless ringing only seemed to elevate my panic and despair.

"Pick up, please. Pick up, damn it!" I muttered under my breath, pacing the confines of the large bathroom that seemed too small now as claustrophobia closed in. I noticed my reflection in the mirror as it mocked me-disheveled hair, tear-streaked face, and that unmistakable mark on my neck that seemed to burn with every passing second.

The phone call went to voicemail again.

"Kaelith! I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you don't call me back right now, I'll make sure to end you in the most-" I cut myself off, knowing empty threats wouldn't summon her here. I tried again, my shaking fingers fumbling with the screen.

No answer.

The tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as reality hit me like a stone brick. I was marked-claimed by Beta Gilbert, a man who wasn't my mate, worse yet, was my twin sister's.

I knew this plan would fail from the start. This wasn't just a betrayal; it was treason.

I was scared, but what truly terrified me was the thought of Alpha Theodore. What would he do when he finds out I've been marked by another?

A wave of nausea hit me, and I rested my back against the door; that was when my phone rang. I picked up immediately, my voice filled with panic.

"Kaelith, what in the goddess's name? I've been calling more than a million times, and you didn't pick up. Where were you-"

"Oh, shut it, Raven. You panic too much." Kaelith replied coolly. "Since you're talking to me now, it means Gilbert hasn't found out. I called to get your lazy ass out of the bed and leave his chamber."

I shook my head, grabbing my hair tightly. "There's a problem, Kaelith. A huge problem. Gilbert marked me!"

My breath hitched as there was a long pause, a silence that didn't seem to be a concerted effort to seek.

"How did this happen?"

"I don't know. One minute I was pretending to sleep, and the next, he was kissing me. My memory is vague but I woke up this morning to find myself marked and taken by him. I don't know what to do now, Kaelith." My voice cracked as the unshed tears finally broke free. "We're in big trouble, Sis. We have to tell our father. We have to stop this nonsense now."

"Are you insane? Tell father what? Father would destroy us if he ever found out about this. Look here, just breathe, Raven. The best thing to do is play along until..."

"Until what?" I snapped, cutting her off as I began to dress up. I had to leave before he wakes up. "Until he realizes he slept and marked a wrong mate?"

"That's why I said you should chill out. I'm thinking here."

"Chill out? How on earth do you expect me to 'chill out'? What we have done is unthinkable; need I remind you for the hundredth time?" I sniffled, composing myself as I prepared to leave the Beta's chambers. "I'm coming home. You should find a way to fix this shit you've put me into, or else I'll tell Father everything. Right from the start." I threatened.

"You dare not-"

"Try me, Kaelith, and you'll see how serious I really am." I ended the call, breathing deeply.

I successfully sneaked out of the Beta's chamber and walked around the busy streets of the Fangborn pack, trying to dull time as Karlie fixed all her mistakes. Later that evening, a chauffeur picked me up and took me directly to the pack house. Today was the day Alpha Theodore said he would come for me, and as ceremonial rites, the Delta family was invited to dine with the Alpha. Likely, an invitation had already been sent if the chauffeur was taking me directly to the pack house.

I only hope Kaelith has changed into me, so no one would notice our switch.

The chauffeur parked by the driveway of the pack house, and a pack member led me through the grand mansion. As I arrived, two pack warriors stood before the large door. They didn't say anything, their gaze on me the entire time until I reached them.

"I'm here to see my parents-" I didn't finish my words as a silver cuff was placed over my wrist. A hissing sound apparent as it burned my skin.

"W-what's going on?" I questioned, staring in confusion, but they only yanked me away.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys? Don't you know I am the Delta's daughter? Let go of me!" I barked at the grim-faced security guards, but they remained stoic and silent.

There in the dining room, where I was supposed to be formally introduced to my true mate and Alpha, stood all the important figures in the pack, lined up as they watched the warriors drag me.

"FATHER?" I shouted when I noticed him standing by mother and Kaelith. Beside him was none other than him, Alpha Theodore, and several ministers.

I struggled to let the warriors free me but their grip was too tight. "Mother! Father! Help me. These guys have gone crazy." But none made a move to help me, they only watched with disappointment and disapproval.

"You disappointed us, Raven," Father said, his voice filled with suppressed anger and many more I couldn't decipher. "You not only betrayed the sacred law of the pack but betrayed your own twin sister. I am ashamed to call you my daughter."

What are they talking about? My gaze shifted to Kaelith and she looked more like herself instead of me as we'd agreed; straight hair, paler skin, and her eyes gleaming with fear, that's when it hit me.

Kaelith had betrayed me.

I shook my head, tears beginning to fall. "Momma, papa, believe me. I had nothing to do with all these. It's all Kaelith's who orchestrated-"

"Shut up, Raven," mother shouted, holding father's hand. "You've implicated your sister too much. Don't blame her for your crimes. You ceased being my daughter after committing such treason."

No, no.

"No, please-"

"You slept with my mate, Raven. How could you? I thought you were my sister?" Kaelith whimpered, falling into her mother's arms as she wept. "M-mother, I can feel the burn. My mate marked another. It hurts."

"You!" Kaelith pointed at me, her teary eyes filled with accusation. "You've always been jealous of me, right? So you took my mate from me, pretending to be me. How despicable could you be? HOW DARE YOU," she screamed as a few pack ministers consoled her.

I was too much shock as I stood there like a statue, watching her act her way out.

"Whose idea was this?" A deep voice I recognized all too well growled.

My attention snapped towards Alpha Theodore as he glared at me with pure hatred.

"You slept with a man who wasn't your mate last night, am I correct?"

"This is a trap. Kaelith convinced me to help-"

"YES OR NO!" Alpha Theodore roared, shutting me up instantly.

I nodded solemnly, my gaze to the ground, unable to meet his hatred-filled eyes. I glanced at Kaelith, hoping she would accept her mistake, but she was all quiet, adding layers to my guilt by crying.

I had to defend myself; I possibly couldn't be used as a dump now, not when a nightmare was unfolding before my eyes. "It's all Kaelith's idea. She feels she isn't pure to-"

"SHUT UP," Kaelith screamed. "Why on earth would I ask you to pretend to be me just so you can lay my mate? Make it make sense, Raven."

Now that she said it, even I wouldn't believe me.

Tears fell from my eyes as I knelt to the ground, pleading. "Alpha, mother, father, ministers. I swear I would never have done-"

Theodore raised his hands to stop me, his eyes filled with rage and disgust. "I would never accept a sl*t like you as a mate. You're not worthy of becoming my Luna. Disgusting," he spat. I shook my head, knowing what was coming next, but he said it anyway.

"I, Alpha Theodore Dreadclaw, Alpha of the Fangborn pack, hereby reject you, Raven Silvera, as my mate and Luna."

At that moment, I felt everything within me shatter. My heart squeezed as pain enveloped my chest, the mate mark from Gilbert burning.

"M-mother. Father...Help..." I screamed as the pain intensified, but through my blurry vision, I could only see their disappointment.

Alpha Theodore's voice tore through the cloud of pain that enveloped me. "Take her to the dungeon, for the laws must be obeyed. Raven Silvera shall be executed by full moon."

CHAPTER 004

Raven's POV:

The cold dungeon air wrapped around me like a wet, suffocating blanket as it seeped into my bones, and the smell of decay irritated my nostrils. How long have I stayed here? A day or two, maybe three, I don't really know, but the mark on my neck burned hotter with each passing day, a cruel reminder of my betrayal, my rejection, and the culprit that led me here.

I sat by the far corner of the dungeon, clutching my arms as if that could shield me from the despair sinking its claws into my soul.

How did everything succumb to this?

It seemed like a dream I couldn't escape.

All of these, it's all because of 'her.'

Kaelith's face flashed in my mind-her fake crocodile tears, the way she turned the entire pack against me with her deceit and lies.

'I was a fool,' I thought, hating the fact I trusted her, believing that this plan, as reckless as it was, would somehow come in our favor.

Another stream of tears fell down my face as I remembered my parent's disappointment, their disownment, the pack's discouraging glares, and his disgust. My mate, my Alpha, my Theodore.

I replayed his rejection in my mind, his words cutting deeper than any dagger.

"I'm innocent!" I shouted, my frustration getting the best of me as a new stream of tears fell.

"Shut it, girl. Everyone thinks they are." A grave voice spoke from the cell adjacent to mine. "You're to die in a few hours just like us, but do you see us crying? No! Stop your foolish whining and enjoy these few hours of your life."

I ignored them, as I had done for days now, scooting even farther into the wall of the cell, for I didn't want to associate with these rogues. They attacked our pack weeks ago and killed some of the pack warriors. They were criminals and savages.

Now, I was one of them.

I turned to the small window, and true to the rogue's words, it was almost a full moon.

Almost to the point of my death.

The deafening silence that gripped the entire dungeon like a second skin was shattered with a loud boom, shaking the very foundation of the whole place.

I clung to the cold walls as the ground trembled from the force of the explosion, debris falling from the ceiling. The dungeon was now enveloped with shouts, the metallic clatter of iron bars hitting the stone floor, and dust that blocked every view.

"What the hell was that?" The rogue across from me snarled, gripping the iron bar of his cell as another blast erupted, this time, closer to us.

The walls cracked as I scrambled to my feet, adrenaline surging through me as I peered through the iron bars of my cell.

Chaos. Pure, unrelenting chaos.

A wave of dust filled the whole place as a figure draped in black, the face covered by a hood, emerged from the wreckage.

The rogue in the cell opposite mine cackled, gripping the bars of his cell with wild excitement. "Hurrah, the great Beta has come to save us. Looks like the cavalry's arrived! Time for freedom!"

The stranger, the beta freed all the rogues and lastly opened the gate opposite mine, releasing the lousy rogue.

"Thank you, Great Beta." The rogue said, running away immediately.

The stranger didn't say anything, only turned to me as he stared. I didn't know what to do but stare at his supposed face, completely covered by the shadow of his hood.

He turned and was about to leave, causing me to scream, my voice filled with desperation. "Please, sir. Help me. I don't want to die, please."

The stranger stopped, his back now facing me. He was silent for a while before he spoke. "Why should I help you?"

His voice was strangely smooth yet strong, like a fine wine with a powerful alcoholic effect.

"B-because...because." I was speechless. He was a rogue, and I was his enemy, a member of the pack meant to destroy him. He had no reason to save me, but I was desperate. "Please."

He turned to me, and with a snap of his sword, the door sprung open, the key lock damaged.

"Run," he said, his back still facing towards me. "For if I see you again, I will kill you myself."

I need not be told twice, as he broke my cage and I ran as fast as my small legs could carry me, out of the dungeon and into the forest.

Chaos and panic filled the whole place as the Fangborn Pack warriors tried to subdue the rogues.

The icy wind whipped at my hair as I tore through the dense forest, dry branches tearing at my skin and legs, but I didn't dare stop.

I couldn't stop.

Shouts and growls followed behind me as the trees thinned suddenly, and I skidded to a halt, my heart sinking.

A cliff. I always hated that cliff.

The jagged edge loomed before me, the drop plunging into a dark, roaring river below as the moonlight reflected off the churning water, mocking my escape.

I made a move to find another way out to escape but as I spun around, my blood ran cold.

Standing there were two fully transformed wolves and Kaelith in the middle. She held a cruel smile that twisted her perfect face.

"Well, well, Sister." She poured, stepping closer, her voice dripping with venom. "Ever the coward you are. Running already? I thought you'd at least grow the balls to wait for your grand execution."

"Kaelith," I breathed, slowly backing closer to the cliff's edge as stone pebbles dropped beyond. "You... This is all your fault. You framed me? You turned the whole Pack, our parents, and my mate against me! Why?"

She burst out laughing, stepping even closer. "Oh, Raven. Always the dumb twin you are, how pathetic. But what do you want me to do? I can't have the pack against me, can I?"

"And after all, only one of us can be Luna."

My gaze narrowed. "You have your own mate," I hissed, "Stop this nonsense, admit your mistake and we can go back to the way it was, please, sister. For our sake. For my sake."

"Nonsense?" She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound that chilled my bones. How could I not have noticed so much evil in her? "I am to be Luna. I am the better twin; instead, I am stuck with an ordinary Beta as a mate. Either one of us was going to have Theodore as a mate, and when I saw Gilbert was my mate, I knew I had to intercede before Alpha Theodore could claim you."

"That's why you framed me. You had these planned all this while."

"Bravo, Sherlock. You're finally catching on."

"Y-you'll never succeed." I couldn't believe she would do this to her sister. "You'll never be Luna."

Kaelith smirked. "And who's to stop me? A dead girl?" She turned to the wolves beside her. "Get her."

As they lunged for me, I jumped away from the cliff end, narrowly escaping a swipe to the face and a fall to my death.

Before I could regain balance, I saw a blur as Kaelith lunged at me, her claws glinting in the moonlight. I barely dodged, but she was faster than I'd anticipated. Her nails tore through my arm, blood splattering the rocks as pain ripped through me.

"Stop running, Raven!" Kaelith snarled, her eyes glowing with predatory fury. "It's useless."

I stumbled back, clutching my arms, but she was relentless. She swung again, her claws tearing my chin. I screamed, falling to the floor as she climbed on top of me. I shivered from her cold claws on my face.

"Sister, please, let me go," I shivered as I pleaded, "I swear, I would be out of here, and you'll never see me again."

She smiled, which made my stomach turn, and not in a good way. "Nah, I prefer you dead."

She slashed her claws at me as she spoke, causing a blood-curdling scream to escape me, but she didn't stop.

"That way,"

Slash!

"My secret,"

"would never be..."

Slash!

"Exposed,"

Slash!

"And I can also take my position as Luna. It's a win-win."

My vision turned hazy as I felt my strength slipping. I couldn't move, only lying on the floor as my body was being torn apart by her.

"Are you going to kill your own sister?"

I couldn't recognize the voice that spoke, I was in too much pain to think.

Do they want to kill me? I was already dead. Killed by my sister.

Kaelith replied. "Nah, I can't possibly kill my blood, can I? Let the wild wolves finish the job."

In the course of a few days, I had undergone what I could never have imagined. I wasn't ready to die, not now and at least not in the hands of my sister and wild wolves. I began to drag myself to the cliff, bearing the pain that coursed through my veins.

I didn't know how far I'd gotten, but I felt the free edge of the cliffside.

I could hear muffled sounds from behind me, and I knew the wild wolves were ready to feast, but after everything, this wasn't how I wanted to be remembered on earth.

If I wanted to die, I would die by my own accord.

With the last remaining strength I had, I said my final goodbye to the world and pushed myself off the cliff.