~ARIA~

Tears were still trickling down my face, and my steps were getting heavier when I stepped into the large hall where the party was held last night. Not a single soul was left there.

I sniffled as I dragged my body on, wishing to get to the gate sooner, so I could board a taxi and be home soonest. Speaking of home, I remembered I was going to face my mother and do some explanation as to where I had slept that night.

Bringing out my phone from my pocket, as I got to the gate, I discovered that I had twenty missed calls from Cora, Arya, and Mum. I bit my lips. My mind was totally blank on any lie to tell.

Lie? No way! I was going to tell them the truth. Besides, I didn't force myself on him, Arya did.

I opened the door to our house and was met with two mean, non-smiling, and glaring faces — my mum and my twin.

"Good morning, mum." I greeted her but got no response. I glanced at my mum. She had her unsmiling gaze fixed on me.

What was wrong?

Arya stood in the middle of the sitting room, her hands placed on her hips. From her stance, it seems she was pacing but halted on hearing me coming in.

I trudged forward, feeling so exhausted.

"I'm sorry for returning this morning mum, I..." Arya advanced menacingly towards me, causing me to halt in the middle of my words. I furrowed my eyebrows at her, as she stopped in front of me.

"You betrayal and backstabber, how could you?"

My head was thrown back in utmost surprise. "How could I what?"

"I saw the guards taking you into his room. How could you have the heart to steal my man?"

I let out a whoosh of breath. "Nobody is stealing your man. Do you think I wanted to be there? You seduced him and bolted to goddess knows where and they came after me. Hell, I slept with a man I didn't even know!" I half exclaimed, suddenly feeling dizzy as I held on to the couch beside me.

Her teeth dug furiously into her lips and before I knew it, she swiped her hand across my face. My hands flew to my cheek, feeling the pain sting deep into my cheek.

"They mistook you for me, and you couldn't even tell them that they were taking the wrong person, because you wanted him too. You wanted my man."

My lips were still parted in shock. What just happened?

"Arya... You slapped me?" I asked the obvious because I couldn't believe it myself. My gaze flicked to where my mum sat, working on her nails as if the abominable wasn't playing in front of her.

"Mum... Arya slapped me, you —"

"If she wants she should slap you again and again. I am solidly behind her." How can you sleep with a man your sister is in love with?

My eyes misted on hearing her response.

I tried to hold back the tears but they flew down on their own accord.

"Arya slapped me and this was all you could say?" My breath trembled, causing my words to come out shaky.

She stood up and walked across the room to where we stood. "How could you do this to your sister? Sleeping with her man? I thought you were decent, Aria. It turned out that you are a slut." My mum declared to my horror.

"A shameless slut at that. If you wanted an Alpha, why steal the one I have been gunning for?" I let my hands cover my face as I cried uncontrollably. It wasn't enough that I had just been deflowered by a stranger and pushed out like a hawk. Even my family couldn't believe me.

"Pretender," Arya spat and pushed me, causing me to lose my steps. I almost fell, save for the couch that I held on to.

Tears trickled down in droplets as I watched my mother say nothing. "You know how desperately I wanted him. I have told you all about him, yet you had the guts to snatch him away from me?"

Another slap followed which sent me landing on the couch behind me.

"Arya!!!" I exclaimed. "How dare you raise your fingers at me repeatedly? Have you forgotten I am the older twin?" Someone needed to remind her and that was Mum, but she just stared at our exchange with a look of satisfaction etched on her face. My heart bled.

She had always favored Arya over me. I was Daddy's favorite. But sadly, he was no more. He died in a war three years ago. Leaving me at the mercy of my cruel twin and mother.

"You'd better go and remove that cloth you are wearing before I will strip you naked like you did for the Alpha." She sneered at me and left the sitting room.

It took me several minutes before I could gather enough strength to stand up. Mum was just staring derisively at me. I sniffled as I made my way into our room.

I removed her gown and sank on my bed. My heart was aching uncontrollably and I badly needed comfort. Comfort that only my best friend could provide.

I decided to pack a few things and head to her pack. It was better to be there than be with two people who had done nothing but maltreat me.

I came out of the room and saw the both of them seated on the biggest couch in the sitting room whispering to themselves. It broke my heart that my mum would continually side with my sister even when she was clearly in the wrong. I left them and made my way out of the sitting room with a resolve never to come back to them again.

I arrived at the boundary of Moon Crescent pack in the afternoon, with a badly exhausted body and my core still sore. I badly needed to lie down, but I willed myself to hold on.

After some questioning the guards allowed me entrance into the pack. It didn't take long for me to get to the Hills household. As soon as I got to the front door I slumped on the floor, panting heavily. Since last night, food and water had not crossed my mouth. And to think I had rough sex on an empty stomach.

I knocked faintly on the door. On the fourth knock, the door opened revealing a shocked Cora staring down at me.

"Friend, what is wrong with you?"

After sucking in several breaths, I said, "Just take me inside. I badly need to rest."

She nodded while helping me get to my feet.

I had a long bath, trying to wash off any trace of his smell from my body, along with the memories of it that tugged stubbornly at my mind.

~ADRIAN~

My teeth gnashed against each other in anguish as I stared at the portrait of her hanging on the wall in my chamber. The one who was at the center of my heart — Adriana. She was the bane of my existence. But the cold hands of death snatched her away from me alongside our pup during her childbirth.

Their death dealt me a heavy blow, especially hers. It was a wonder how I survived till now. But one thing was sure, I wasn't the same loving and peaceful Alpha Adrian from years back.

I had grown more ruthless by the day and even chased away all my fellow Alpha friends. Life made no sense to me again, and my loins had not stirred from the time I lost her until last night.

My beta, Dexter dragged me to some annual party at the outskirts of the pack, with an excuse for me to loosen up. Yeah, I did. I soaked myself in several drinks and became drunk.

That was why I couldn't hold it in when that slut came and started grinding herself against me. My mind was blurred to what happened after that, but I was alarmed and ashamed of myself when I woke up to see her lying beside me.

"I'm sorry, Adriana. No one will ever take your place, baby." I cried in a low voice as my hands grazed the glossy portrait of her.

My heart ached for her every day, driving me nuts and to the edge with each passing day.

But I still try my damnedest to keep myself from completely going feral for the purpose of my pack. I wouldn't want them to think I was incapable of leading them anymore.

The soft knock on the door snapped me out of my reverie. I turned just in time to see Dexter stepping in and bowing his head in respect.

"Alpha..." He called out.

The anger of what happened last night and his part in it came rushing through me. I growled, making him raise his head sharply.

He tried to hold my gaze but failed after three seconds.

"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to leave you alone while you were drunk." He apologized, stepping back with fear as I advanced slowly towards him.

"You think it's just about leaving me alone? It's mostly about pushing me into attending the fucking party in the first place." I snarled.

He raised his hands in apology. "My apologies, Alpha. It will never happen again." I sighed and turned my back on him.

"Do you want me to find the whore and get her punished?" He offered and I threw him a glance over my shoulder.

"No need. I don't fucking want to set my eyes on her again." I said with a note of finality.

He nodded. "Okay, Alpha..." Just then there was a soft knock, which directed our attention to the door.

The door opened and one of my guards walked in.

"Alpha, the priestess is here. She demands your presence in the consulting room." He finished, his head still bowed.

"Alright. Tell her I will join her soon." He nodded and left the room.

My brows furrowed in confusion as Dexter and I walked out of the room. What could be the reason for this sudden visit?

"Have you noticed anything unusual around the pack?" I asked as we both fell into steps walking down the large hallway.

He shook his head solemnly. "No, Alpha."

"Very well then."

We parted ways at the door of the consulting room. He took the opposite direction while I twisted the doorknob, ushering myself into the large and spacious consulting room. A place where I handled serious business and meetings.

"To what do I owe this August visit, priestess Amelia?" The silver-haired lady had her back turned facing the window, dressed in her signature white flowing gown and a staff in hand.

"A lovely morning to you, Alpha Adrian. I hope you rose well?" She said, finally turning to meet my gaze.

"Sure did. A lovely morning to you as well."

"I'm just here to deliver a simple message. I won't take much of your time."

"Good." I nodded because that luxury of time was what I didn't have.

"The girl you laid with last night and threw out this morning..." My voice trailed off, just as my eyes widened in utmost shock.

How the hell did she know I was with someone last night? Then, the realization hit me. She was a fucking priestess. Information was at her beck and call.

But she hadn't finished, so I stared at her expectantly. I had a feeling that whatever it was, I might not be comfortable with it.

"She's the woman the goddess has chosen to carry your pup — the future Alpha of Moon Crescent pack. FIND HER!"

Another shocking news rolling off her lips in a span of seconds. What the hell was she talking about? Find who?

"You are confusing me, goddess. You mean the whore that shamelessly seduced me and sneaked into my bed is the one the goddess has chosen to carry my pup?"

Priestess Amelia chuckled softly. "She isn't the whore, and she didn't sneak into your bed, you invited her in. So, find her wherever she was and begin the process of the birth of our future Alpha. Do have a nice day, Adrian." She finished and sidestepped me, making her way towards the exit door.

How possible was it that he was the one who invited her to his bed? And what the hell did she mean by find her?

The doorknob clicked and my senses returned. "How do I go about doing that? Can the goddess at least tell me where to find her?"

She gave me a side smile. "She wants you to figure it out yourself." She said with a note of finality before totally exiting the consulting room, after throwing me into a web of confusion.

"She isn't the whore..." What did she mean by that? What better tag would be given to a lady who goes around seducing men shamelessly? A whore, a slut. Hell, a harlot.

I gnashed my teeth in anger. It pained me that my son died along with his mother. If he hadn't, I would have had an Alpha to replace me when I was gone. In other words, I wouldn't have to carry on with this disturbing instruction from the moon goddess.

The doorknob clicked again and my eyes flew to the door, hoping it was the priestess coming back to tell me she was just messing around with me. I was a tad disappointed when I found out it was Dexter.

"The priestess rarely visits the Alpha's mansion. I hope all is well, Alpha?" I allowed my gaze to rest on him. A look of concern was etched on his face.

"She came to give me a shocking news." I said, staring outside the window.

"What news, Alpha?"

I scoffed. "I'm yet to wrap my head around it. Returning my gaze to him, I said, "Find that shameless whore. You and the warriors should search the neighboring packs."

"As you wish, Alpha."

Dexter bowed in respect and left the room. With his exit, I focused my attention on the thought of how incredibly ridiculous this news was.