I waited for half an hour before I realized that something was awfully wrong. Blake is very late, in fact, we would always argue about the fact that I was always the late one. He would always arrive a few minutes early for any event and I was seriously starting to worry.

I called him with the house line and the first time it went to voicemail but the second time, he picked up on the forth ring.

“Hey,” I said as soon as the call had connected, “I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay because you’re never late.”

He muttered a small curse under his breath, “I’m sorry Amy; I won’t be able to pick you up today. Something really important came up at the last minute.”

“I-,” I trailed off, “You could have called me Blake, I was waiting here for you.”

“I’m really sorry Amy; I promise I will make it up to you.” There was a voice in the background that he paused to respond to, “Look, I have to go; I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Okay, bye.” I had barely finished what I was saying when he disconnected the call.

I tried to calm my heart and hide my hurt. Blake has never done anything like this to me before so I am sure that there is a very plausible explanation. He probably lost track of time and forgot that he had to pick me up.

I went back into my room and opened the old shoe box I had turned into my piggy bank and took out some of my savings for a taxi.

Our house was so far away from the main road that I had to walk for about another half an hour before I was able to find a single taxi. The driver’s charge was outrageous but I knew it would probably take twice the time to find another one so I agreed.

When I got to the venue, the party was in full swing. It was holding in a huge event center that father had rented out. Brittany had been talking about how it just opened and she wanted to be the first person to host a party there.

It was a large three story building with pure white walls and large glass windows and doors. On the front porch was a large crystal chandelier and from the clothes the butlers wore. I knew the entire place probably cost a fortune.

As I stepped out of the taxi, the smell of wine, sweat and a lot of perfume assaulted my nose. I paid the driver and made my way down the huge parking lot and into the front doors.

Most of the people I could see were friends of Brittany’s. I don’t have a lot of friends and Brittany wouldn’t let me invite the few that I had because she said it would ruin her perfect image and father agreed.

As soon as the people noticed me, I saw them begin to whisper and I started to feel a little self conscious. I looked down at my faded gray gown to make sure it wasn’t ripped anywhere but regardless, it looked cheap compared to the designer clothes that they people here were wearing.

“What the hell is that piece of rag?” a girl asked out loud and the entire party dissolved into a fit of laughter.

“It looks like she picked it out of a dumpster,” another offered.

A guy walked up to me and he fisted the material between his thumb and pointer finger, “it even feels cheap too. I’m sure if I tugged a little then it would rip right off.”

He pulled a little like he was going to rip it off and I gasped and pulled back in shock which made everyone laugh. I needed to get out of there immediately but they were all surrounding me.

“I can’t believe you’re even related to Brittany,” the first girl spat, “I mean look at you. Do you even know what a gym is?”

“Please just let me leave,” I pleaded and her face turned into a mock pout.

“She looks so cute when she begs,” she laughed evilly and then in one quick move, she faked a fall and spilled her champagne all over the front of my dress. “Whoops; that was an accident.”

The entire room dissolved into laughter and I pushed through the crowd to get into the bathroom. I tried my best to pat it down with water but it only made a bigger mess on the dress.

I knew I had to dry it out so I waited until the coast was clear and I snuck up the stairs to find a balcony or a porch. I finally found one on the second floor and rushed towards it when I saw that it was already occupied.

I quickly hid so that the occupants wouldn’t see me. They were wrapped in each other’s arms and passionately kissing so I’m sure they wouldn’t have seen me either way. I was about to leave when they pulled apart and the moonlight illuminated their features. I had to slap a hand against my mouth to stop the gasp from spilling out.

It was Brittany and Blake.

The shock had me rooted to the spot as Brittany ran her hand across my boyfriend’s cheek affectionately.

Is this what he meant when he told me that he was busy? He was here with my twin sister and they were making out. How could she do this to me and how could he do this to me?

“Didn’t you like that Blake?” she asked and he nodded, “Well I’m tired of us having to do it in secret. It has been so long.”

“I’m till with Amelia.” He said and she made a deep sound of disgust at the back of her throat.

“Why are you even with her?” she spat, “She has no wolf and she is not even strong. If you mate with her, you will go lower in the pack hierarchy. Why don’t you just leave her?”

“I can’t just leave her Brittany; we’ve been together for a long time.” They still hadn’t realized I was watching.

Brittany sighed and kissed him again, deeper this time. His hands wrapped around her waist and she pulled back leaving him following her for more like a lost puppy. She stroked the back of his neck softly as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

“If you break up with her then you can be stronger Blake,” she whispered, “If you mate with me instead then our union will be strong enough for you to be the future Alpha.”

“What are you saying Brittany?”

“I’m saying we are two of the strongest wolves in the pack. Imagine what our union would do. All you have to do is reject her,” hearing those words leave her mouth had me freezing in my tracks.

I carefully made my way further into the balcony and hid behind a pillar so she wouldn’t see me. She had her hand on his shoulder and I could see him thinking about her offer.

“All you have to do is reject her,” she repeated, “And you will have the position of the future Alpha.”

I waited for him to tell her no, to tell her what he told me almost every day. I waited for him to tell her that he loved me and he was not going to let me go but instead, he was silent. I could see the way his brows furrowed and I knew that he was thinking about it.

The hurt rang deep and I turned around to leave but in a rush, I pushed over a potted plant and two pair of eyes came landing on me- one in surprise and one in victory.

I was already caught so there was no use hiding anymore. I stepped out of the darkness and was fully able to take in the scene in front of me.

Brittany was in a dress the color of a sparkling emerald. It hugged her slim features and flowed down to the floor. From her makeup to her perfectly styled bun, she looked like a million bucks. Blake who was standing next to her looked equally good in a tuxedo and a matching tie. I wonder if they matched on purpose or if it was an accident.

“Amelia,” Brittany said my name with no hint of remorse or surprise.

If I didn’t know any better, I would honestly believe she orchestrated the entire thing for me to catch them but from the annoyed look on her face, it was obvious that she didn’t expect me to walk in on their conversation.

“How could you?” were the only words I could utter, “You are my sister. How could you do this to me?”

“All is fair in love and war,” she shrugged. “Besides, you know that everything I said was the truth. I want him and our union will do more good for him than yours will.”

“Did you really have to go behind my back and do it on my birthday?” I turned to Blake, “And you; you lied to me that you were busy and you were here making out with my sister.”

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes and I angrily wiped them away. My hand came away black and I cursed myself for using Brittany’s mascara in the first place.

Blake opened his mouth to speak but Brittany effectively stepped in his path blocking his view of me. She placed both her hands on his shoulders and forced him to stare into her eyes.

“You want me, just as much as I want you,” she told him, “This is the only opportunity that you will get to do this. Reject her and we can be happy together.”

“Please don’t do this,” I said as the first tear slipped free, “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me and you know it. You said you loved me, do you remember? Don’t do this to us.”

“You can be Alpha,” Brittany whispered, “You can be powerful and no one will ever tell you what to do again. You will have everyone in this pack beneath your little finger and you will have everything that you want with a snap of your hands.”

“Don’t listen to her,” it was almost comical how we were both trying to convince him, “I love you Blake and that is enough for us both.”

Blake slowly placed his hands over Brittany’s that were resting on his shoulder and he pulled them off. I let out a sigh of relief as I realized what he was doing. He was pushing her away, which meant that he was choosing me. He was choosing us and our love over her desperate attempt to sway him.

My relief however was short lived when I saw him pull Brittany to his side and slide his arm over her waist.

“I’m sorry Amelia,” he called me Amelia, not Amy, “But I’m going to have to end this.”

“No,” I shook my head in disbelief, “No, please tell me this is a joke.”

“I have to reject you Amelia; I’m sorry.” He at least had the decency to look guilty, “But I am choosing Brittany.”

I will never be able to translate the pain I felt into words. It felt like someone had just taken a knife to the center of my heart and twisted it in then ripped it out. My legs gave way and I crumpled to the floor in a heap of tears.

Vibrations wracked through my body as the pain took control of me from the inside out. I struggled to drag myself out of the balcony and away from them but I couldn’t will my body to move. Even breathing felt like a chore and I wanted everything to just end

Suddenly, I heard footsteps and I saw the shiny brogues that belonged to my father. I looked up at him at the same time he stared down at me and his lips formed a distasteful sneer.

“Get off the floor Amelia; it is embarrassing,” he looked up at Brittany and Blake, “What is going on?”

“Father, Blake and I are going to be together.” I could hear the glee in Brittany’s voice, “Aren’t you happy for us?”

“I am darling,” he smiled genuinely and I felt another wrack of pain go through me.

I must have blacked out briefly because the next thing I realized, I was in a pair of arms hovering over the floor and for a second I thought it was my father holding me until I heard Brittany’s voice.

“I don’t see why you have to carry her Blake,” her voice held annoyance and disapproval, “You are my mate now, do you realize how weird it looks for everyone to see you carrying my sister out of the party?”

“She passed out Brittany,” his voice held patience as he spoke to her.

“Brittany is right,” I heard my father say and the hurt I felt ran deeper, “It would look unseemly for you to be holding your ex so intimately.”

“I will never speak to her again if that is what you wish,” Blake began, “But just allow me the decency of getting her back to safety and taking care of her. I feel guilty for what just happened and the pain that she just went through.”

Brittany made a sound close to a scoff and I peeled open my eyes a little to see her looking at my father and silently pleading with him to take her side. I expected him to but then he looked at Blake and sighed.

“This will be the last time you come in contact with her,” he warned, “Once she is fine; you are never to interact with her again.”

Blake nodded, “Yes sir.”

Without another word, Brittany and my father stood to their feet and that was when I realized that we were inside my house. We were inside my bedroom to be exact. I can’t remember the last time my father was in here and I surely didn’t think that this would be the circumstances under which Blake would come in here for the first time.

I waited until I heard the door click shut, signifying the exit of my father and sister before I spoke.

“Let go of me,” I whispered and that was when Blake realized that I was awake.

“Amelia,”

“Put me down,” I was surprised that my voice came out stable considering how bunched up and how much pain I was in on my inside, “Put me down and get out. I never want to see you again.”

He sighed and gently placed me down on the bed, “Amelia, I need you to listen to me.”

“You betrayed me Blake; you betrayed us,” I sat up so I was looking directly into his guilt stricken eyes, “over the promise of being Alpha.”

“You don’t understand-,”

“No you don’t understand!” I all but yelled, “I would have never done that to you, ever. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“You don’t have a wolf Amelia,” he yelled, “I couldn’t be with you.”

I swallowed down the hurt I felt at his words and suddenly the last few months felt like a big joke. There I was trying to be perfect for him and this is what he has to say about it.

“Get out,” I managed out and he opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off, “Get out, Blake.”

He sighed and without another word, he turned on his heels and left the room.

BLAKE’S P.O.V

Intense pain and guilt filled me as I forced myself to leave that room. I had zero plans of leaving her unattended but I knew that the wisest decision was to give her space. She would fall asleep soon enough considering how drowsy and sleepy she looked while she was speaking to me.

I waited the better part of seven minutes before I pulled the door open and sure enough, she had fallen asleep again.

I slowly made my way over to her and stroked her cheek softly. I have never had the privilege of seeing Amelia sleep. She is always awake and always running around and doing something that she always looked so stressed but in her sleep, she looked like she was at peace.

As I stroked her face, I couldn’t help but think about how we first met. She was grocery shopping and I was there with some friends of mine. We were being stupid and racing our grocery carts and I hit her with mine. Her bags tore and everything spilled and I will never forget the way she started apologizing to me and simultaneously crying over the groceries.

I had seen her around school before because I knew Brittany and I offered to buy her groceries back on the condition that she went on a date with me. She was stunned of course and she asked me if it was a prank and if it was then I could just lie to my friends instead of actually embarrassing her.

Something about her pulled me in that day and as I got to know her, I fell head over heels in love with her. She was the smartest, kindest and most beautiful person I knew and it hurt like a bitch to reject her on that balcony but I had to do it.

Before I started walking around with the cool kids, I was an adopted kid and everyone knew it. I was thin and lanky and all the kids would pick on me. It took years of masterful planning to get to where I am now and the thought- the idea of having all that power at my fingertips. No one will ever be able to hurt or bully me again.

I love Amelia but I need to have that level of support behind me and Brittany can give it to me. It is no secret that she is the favorite daughter. If she asks her father for the moon, he will string it on a leash and bring it to her. If she asks for every star in the sky, he will not hesitate before giving it to her.

If I mate with her then I am secured for life and that is something that my love for Amelia cannot guarantee me.

I looked down at her sleeping features and pressed a small kiss to her forehead. She stirred a little but she did not rouse and I hoped that she would understand and one day come to forgive me for what I had done to her today.

I knew my actions would make her life worse than it already was with the bullies but I figured that if I got the Alpha position then I could at least help ease the pain a little for her.

I stared at her for a minute longer before I realized that it was time to say my goodbyes. I reluctantly left the room to inform her father that she was now resting and I would be leaving but he wasn’t in the living room.

I made my way towards Brittany’s room hoping to see her there but she was not their either. I decided to roam the corridors as a last minute attempt to find them when I heard voices coming from a door.

I peeked in and saw Brittany and her father standing in the room. They were facing the other end so they couldn’t see me and I wanted to announce my presence but something stopped me from doing so.

“You did a good thing today Brittany,” I heard him say as he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “I would have never been able to come up with it myself; you are brilliant.”

“Thank you father,” I saw her preen at the compliment, “Blake is an attractive man and I wanted him so I thought why not get him? Amelia was simply an afterthought.”

“Did you slip her the pills today?” her father asked and my interest was piqued.

“I couldn’t father; she made breakfast and she didn’t leave the table once, there was no chance for me to slip it in.”

“That was irresponsible of you Brittany,” I had never seen or heard him scold her like he did, “Don’t you realize that you could have cost us everything today? She could have shifted from the amount of emotion she was in. If I hadn’t seen what was going on and shot her with a dart then she would have.”

I was instantly confused. I thought back to the balcony and how Amelia was writhing in pain on the floor. Looking back I realize that her posture and her moans of pain did remind me of when I was shifting for the first time and if that is true then why would they want to stop her and why would her father have hit her with a dart to prevent her from shifting?

If anything, they should be excited that she was finally about to shift. Her inability to shift has been the cause of contention in the pack for a while and it has cast some doubts on their family.

“I’m sorry father,” Brittany’s voice brought me back to the conversation. “I just thought it wouldn’t matter because we have given it to her every day for years. I figured that one day would not make a difference.”

“You know the truth Brittany, and you know how powerful it is,” he chided, “There is a reason we give her that poison every day and you were about to ruin it in the span of a few minutes.”

I had to slap my hand over my mouth to stop the gasp that escaped me when I heard the word poison. Thankfully, the duo didn’t hear me because Brittany still had her head cast down and her father was staring at her with a disapproving look.

How could they even think of poisoning their family so she wouldn’t shift? I knew that there were so bad blood lost between all of them but I had no idea that it ran this deep. I had no idea that they would do something as despicable as this to their family.

Amelia is the nicest, kindest person that I know. Everything that she does, she does with her family in mind and it would kill her to know that they have been doing this to her for years. I can only imagine the hurt and the heartbreak that she would experience hearing this. It has already been a terrible day for her.

I didn’t want to hear any more so I quietly slipped away and made my way towards Amelia’s room. I had to warn her about it. Even though I knew it would break her heart, I knew that she deserved to know that she was in danger. I just hated that I was going to have to be the one to break her heart two times in a day.