Today was the 5th day of the month of September and counting down, it's been two years since that horrible incident.
Lost in thoughts, Ashley stood in front of her mirror trying so hard not to let guilt overwhelm her. Her rain of thoughts is however interrupted by a noise coming from behind her.
"What's up with you Luciana? You are the only one who has the right to barge into the Luna's room. Even my husband would knock at times." Ashley with arms akimbo pretends to be angry."Try kick me out then. I am sure you can't do that." Luciana lips curved slightly, giving off a sheepish grin as she replied.Luciana knew what her friend was thinking about and she could not help but be happy to see guilt written all over her face. It would make things much easier for others to believe with her attitude.Two years ago, while Ashley and Martins were still in courtship, Martin's niece got missing and the body was found months later.Ashley and Luciana had gone to the alpha's family house to make some preparations for her upcoming wedding and to celebrate the alpha's father's birthday.Everleigh, Martin's six year old niece had followed both friends to get something outside the house without the knowledge of anyone. They only noticed a small creature running towards the car. Ashley was driving but it was too late to stop the brakes as it knocked her out and she died instantly.This was Martin's beloved niece and she just killed her even though it was unintentional.Luciana suggested they dispose off the body in a far away wood else her marriage plans will be stopped while they both will be thrown in prison for murder.They got rid of the body easily as no one was along the way to see what happened.
This was all in the past but Ashley could not still get over the guilt and torture of killing her husband's relative and burying the truth.Although the body was found later, it could not be traced back to them.
"Here, have a glass of juice. I know what you are thinking about but you do not have to keep immersing yourself in guilt. Nobody is ever going to find out. My lips are sealed." Luciana said as she handed over the cup to her worried friend."Thank you, dear. You indeed know me so well but I just can't help it." She smiled in return as she collected the glass of juice."You're welcome. That's the least I can do for my queen." She said, letting out a soft laugh while making sure that she drank the whole juice in the cup.Luciana cast her gaze around the large beautiful heaven of her friend and smiled inwardly knowing it would soon be hers.She had drugged the juice Ashley just drank with a potent sleeping drug and it would not take long before the effects begin to manifest. She was happy that the first step was easy." I feel so tired and I think I need to rest.""You have been thinking a lot lately and that may be the reason. You need to sleep well to receive your guests as the host for your father in-law's birthday this year." Luciana said as she hurried out with the cup in her hands.As she left, she turned to the kitchen to dispose off the cup so there would be no evidence that she drugged the drink.Luciana strolled back to the Luna's room to check if she had really fallen asleep and if it was time to carry out the second plan.Peeping inside the room, she looked at the sleeping Luna and tiptoed inside. With little efforts, she waved her hands over Ashley's face and confirmed that she was deeply asleep.Aside the fact that today was a sad day for Ashley, today was also Ashley's father in-law's birthday. They didn't want a grand ceremony. It would just be a small gathering of family members to mark the old man's birthday.The whole house was been set up by the maids and servants. Although it was something simple, everywhere needed to be clean and sparkly.Luciana was also involved in helping out as she was considered a close family friend.
While moving about to help out, she slipped a note into the hands of a male servant. He swiftly collected the paper and nodded his head in comprehension.Limuel, the newly employed servant whom Luciana had deceived and promised to pay his sick mother's bill made his way to the Luna's room. He looked around the hallway to make sure nobody was following him. As he walked towards the door, the words of Luciana kept ringing in his ears."You know anything can happen to your mother at the snap of my fingers. I bet you wouldn't want to lose your sick mother. You had better do a good job. No mistakes and your mother would be safe.""I must do a good job. I can't fail this one." He heaved a heavy sigh as he thought inside him.He turned the door knob and entered into the room. From inside, he locked the door so nobody would barge in. Taking out a small container from his pocket, he picked up a bottle of water from the table and swallowed a small pill he had removed from the container.His chest was thumping loudly as he hurried to undress Ashley who was on the bed."I am sorry Luna but I have to do this. Forgive me." He mutters under his breath.He strips her naked leaving only her undies on. With that, he also pulls off his clothes and laid down beside the sleeping Luna. With the duvet, he covered both himself and the Luna.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.Limuel sat up quickly while trying to figure out who could be at the door. The knock didn't last for long as he heard another footstep coming closer."The Luna doesn't want to be distributed. I believe she is fast asleep now." A voice from outside said to the other."Alright, head maid. I just thought to check up her if she needed anything." The maid replied.Limuel heaved a sigh of relief and laid down back. He soon fell asleep as he also took a sleeping pill.It was evening and the other family members had started arriving for the birthday celebration. The family members that were present shook hands and greeted one another as they waited for the celebrant to arrive.The host of the party, alpha Martins was already in the hall welcoming the people who had arrived but his Luna was not yet around. He looked around the hall to see if he could catch a glimpse of her probably she was too busy doing some finishing touch preparations."This is unlike Li. Where could she be?" He thought.Be
Alpha Martins POVMy heart was beating fast and my wolf, Max was getting agitated. "How could our mate do this to us? That means she doesn't love us." He whimpered.I stormed out of the room to catch my breath and figure it out all . I didn't want to look like a weakling in front of so many people. It hurts, but I dare not cry. What I should do at least is to imprison her.One part of me is furious while the other part is still fighting to accept the fact that she killed my niece and cheated on me with a mere servant.I walked back calmly into the room and gave my order."Beta Carl, summon my prison guards to arrest her. Although she is the Luna, she has committed a grevious crime that is punishable by our law. As for this servant who had the nerves to sleep with my wife, he should be flogged thirty lashes of cane before thrown into the cell.""Father, I am sorry about what happened and to think that it happened on a happy day like this, I feel so ashamed. Happy birthday, father." I
Ashley's POV"Beta Carl, summon my prison guards to arrest her. Although she is the luna, she has committed a grevious crime that is punishable by our law." It kept reaching my ear and a single tear fell down my cheek as it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.I know I did wrong in the past and I am willing to accept my punishment but I can't accept that he wouldn't trust me as his wife who would never cheat on him.Why me? Why am I on the receiving end with no good thing? What have I ever done to deserve this? I wanted to scream and shout at Luciana.How could I not know she was the one behind all of this after what happened yesterday?" She deliberately drugged me, set me up with that servant and betrayed me.Lola my wolf howled in pain in my head and I doubled over in pain clutching at my chest. I suddenly felt nauseous and bent over the floor with my hands over my mouth.Am I not well? A stench hit my nose at the corner where I sat and I quickly concluded that it m
Ashley's POVI couldn't believe my ears. Pregnant? I knew she is mischievous and evil but how dare she call my child a bastard.But this was not the time to leap on someone as my head was spinning. The figures in front of me tripled and I blacked out. What keeps happening to me?Splash! I jerked up, waking up with my clothes drenched in water. One of the guards had poured a bucket of water on me in an attempt to wake me up.As I opened my eyes, I noticed Luciana was no longer in the cell. Two maids came into the cell and one I could recognize as Julie the pack's midwife and nurse."Luna, please excuse me." She said bowing her head slightly before getting down to business. She examined me for a while before leaving. I was left all alone again.The two guards kept whispering by the door and although it was faint whispers, my wolf hearing was still alert. I could hear them talking about telling the alpha something about me."You shouldn't have done that. What if it complicates the issue
Luciana POV"Now, bitch you can finally get out of my way." With an expressionless face, I stood watching Ashley been tortured to death."Finally, there is relief in my heart." Even my wolf is at peace. One would think of me as a wicked friend. Wicked is even an understatement. If there is a quality much bigger than wicked, I'll gladly accept it."Hehehe, who cares about Ashley anyways?"For the past two centuries, I've been a shadow his in her own shadow.First off, she took Martains away from me, stole my position as the Luna and still stood in my way, preventing me from actualizing my dream."I thank the moon goddess for giving me such an innocent face. Nobody is ever going to blame me directly for anything with my looks on the outside."I watched Ashley groaning in pain as the whip tore through her flesh. She was trying to endure on her own and had even blocked out her wolf from helping her.Gradually, she lost it and her eyelids closed in utter surrender. She was gone! Gone forev
Ashley's POVI can hear rustling leaves whispering something in the gentle breeze. The chirping birds discussing from one end to the other with their melodious call reverberating through the woods.I was not sure where I was, just that I am in an empty wood devoid of any being except for the birds and the rustling leaves.I cannot remember everything that happened.I sat up with a gasp as I recalled something just as a flash. Me being a strong wolf, a Luna and my sudden death without really remembering how I died.These were the only things I remembered. My head ached in pain as I tried to recall further what must have happened.I thought I was dead, but here I am, lying in an unknown place. Thirsty and dry, I got up and walked for a while looking for water to quench the burning thirst in my throat.From a distance from where I had walked, I could see a small stream and my pace quickened in that direction.I bent down and scooped up water with my hands from the stream and drank to m
Martains POVI allowed myself to bask in Luciana's scent. It gradually followed me till I slumped on my bed like a dead log of wood."Goodnight." This was the only word I said to her before closing my eyes in deep slumber in her arms.....Just before dawn, I woke up. On other days, I wake up at dawn to carry out my daily morning routines.I woke up with arms wrapped around my torso and slender, long legs tangled in mine. It took me a while to realize that I wasn't in my bed alone and the memories of last night came rushing back.I looked at Luciana and then down to her stomach. I felt nothing much but for the sake of our child and the effort she has shown in being by my side through all these times, I might as well consider that.Untangling myself from Luciana, she snuggled herself deeper into my neck but I gently removed her hands and legs and got up.I dressed up lightly and went down to the pack's gym to relieve myself.As I kept swinging punches at the punching by, I thought abou
Lance POV"What did you just say? You found the commander, my wife, Olivia?" I asked repeatedly to make sure I heard him well."Yes, beta. We are still at the border with her." He replied."Just wait there, I'm coming over to see for myself." I said before closing the mindlink and hurrying out to confirm if it was really Olivia, my wife.I pray to the moon goddess that she is the one. I have been through a lot of hell for the past two years without her.Searching frantically over the place and over different packs for even a scent but there was no trace anywhere.She disappeared without a trace during a fight between a rival pack and ours. She had just given birth then and was too weak to fight but she joined in the fight nevertheless.Up till this day, I regret that decision of allowing her fight. If I had strongly refused, my dear wife would never have gone missing, leaving our new born child and me alone.I kept walking briskly at first but started running. Everyone I passed by loo
Ashley/Olivia's POV"No, you should go alone, Martains. I won't be coming. I have to go back to the house and do my chores.""It's alright but thank you for always being by my side, Emily."He did not disagree and just allowed me to go home. I left him while he went to pay a visit to Ashley.There was no way I would go to my own grave. Wouldn't that be like digging another grave and opening up a soft spot in my heart?Martains was convinced that I was just Emily who was sent to help him. It was better at this instead of revealing anything further that I was Ashley."You can finally return to the man who makes you smile like a fool." Lola teased me, jumping around in my head."Oh please, don't tell me you aren't excited too." I replied to her."I am but I am only excited because I would see my cute little baby, Adrian.""Hehehe, I know you miss him but you would not agree to it." I got to the house and then to my room. I quickly arranged the little things I had. I would be leaving for
Ashley/Olivia's POVThe wood was silent once again, the only sound being the heavy breathing of Martains and the warriors.I watched as Martains and Carl stood still even when his warriors had taken Luciana's body and kicked the dead Greg's body somewhere far.He was not a member of any pack in Oakstone so his body could only be left there. As an alpha, he would have deserved better but he choose the path of a traitor. His pack members would look for him and take his dead body back to Silvertail if they wanted to.The expression on Martains's face was that of pain and devastation."You found the truth and brought an end to it all. You can break from the hard truth but endure it, man." Carl said, tapping on his shoulders before moving to join the other warriors.It was just me and Martains now. I moved closer, closing the gap between us.My hand found its way to his shoulders and tapped on it continuously. He held my hands and bent his head, letting the tears flow.It was the first tim
Ashley/Olivia's POVGreg charged forward at Martains with a fierce battle cry, his claws extended and his teeth bared.The warriors around Martains rushed at him before he could even get closer and then they pinned him down.One of them raised his hands to hit down on Greg but Martains raised his hands for them to stop."Just pin him down first and don't let him move a bit. I am surprised why he is charged at me and wants to kill me. I need to understand everything going on here before I lay a finger on him."So they pinned him down as he kept struggling to free himself.I cleaned the dirt that had gathered on my body from rolling around and stood where I was while Martains and Carl walked towards me.The expression on his face showed he was confused seeing Luciana on the floor, the crazy wolf who wanted to attack him and then his personal maid, Emily in the woods."Why are you here, Emily? Why was he attacking you? And why is Luciana lying half dead on the floor? Tell me what is happ
Ashley/Olivia's POVAs I turned to leave, a massive figure emerged from the trees and pounced on me, making me roll over. Luciana's eyes widened in surprise as Greg, his face contorted in rage, pounced on me.I was not expecting to meet Greg here. I was surprised but he would be more surprised. However, this was an opportunity to end it all. Martains and his men would be here soon.As an alpha, Greg was strong and he poured in all his rage on me. Our strengths were at the same level.I was below him so he did not see my face until I rolled him over and he caught sight of my face, my full appearance."Greg, no!" Luciana croaked, her voice weak from the poison."Olivia? What...why.. are you...? And what is the meaning of this? I mean, you, Luciana.""Are you surprised to see me here, brother-in-law?" I smirked, standing up and he took a step backwards."Don't listen to her, Greg. She is not the real Olivia." Luciana said, almost in a whisper, forcing herself to speak."Shhsh! Don't str
Luciana's POV"You have to escape now, Luna. The truth is out and the alpha is blazing with fury. They would come to arrest you soon. You have to run away now!" Mary burst into the room, panting hard."What? Those two brats already revealed me too soon just because I could not get rid of them last night?" I sprang up, my body shaking with fear."Why are you still staying there talking? You have to run now else there will be no way out. Time is not on your side." Mary moved closer and dragged my hands, shoving a small bag into my hands and, a veil and a clothe to disguise.The reality hit me hard and I threw on the cloth immediately and covered the veil.I sneaked out of the room with the lead of Mary through a secret passageway we had created in the house for emergency.The passageway led directly to one of the borders of the pack."Hurry up, now Luna! You can't get caught." Mary shouted from the top while I entered the passageway, running as fast as I could.I was now like a fugitive
Alpha Martains's POV"Guards!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the halls. "Arrest Luciana at once! She is a traitor and a murderer!"My hands tightened into a fist as I thought that I had lived with a murderer all these years. I have lived with the person who backstabbed my mate and I, deceiving me with her innocence.My guards scurried off to carry out my orders."How dare you, Luciana? How dare you? You've fooled me big time. I am angry at myself but my anger for you is overflowing." Her face in my memory no longer looked like the innocent Luciana with all smiles. All I could see was a devilish smirk and smile.Some dots at this point however connected in my head but I was too foolish to pick up all these loose ends too soon and accuse her. Probably I felt that would be accusing another innocent soul based on my emotional judgements but see where it has led me.Ashley would never have died. She would have been alive, taking care of our child.Why would she come for me immediat
Ashley/Olivia's POVI returned to the house from the dungeon and made my way straight to Martains room.My mind still shifted back and forth from my encounter with Sam and Morris in the dungeon. I felt something was off when I left the dungeon. It was as if something evil was lurking around and it had to be from Luciana.I knew I had to act fast to ensure their safety, and so I increased my pace to Martains' room.I met beta Carl still in the room with Martains."What is it, Emily?" Martains asked in a soft voice."I need to speak with you, alpha."Carl and Martains exchanged glances and Carl stood up, about to leave."You can stay. It is something you should also hear."I came up with something quickly to make him do just as I would say without looking suspicious."I could not sleep. It always happen this way to me when something not so good is about to happen.""And do you have any idea what that is?" the both of them looked at me expectantly.It was believable and I got them hooked
Ashley/Olivia's POV Sam and Morris were arrested and that was it. Martains was not going ahead to arrest Luciana, imprison her and torture her."What the heck did those two tell him? He is supposed to be in a rage now and should be dealing with Luciana." I pondered on my head, pacing about my room."Or did they lie to him about who the person is? Or did they even leave that part out?" "Argh!" I screamed in annoyance as the possible hit me. It was either they lied or did not tell Martains that it was Luciana."Just what did they tell him?" I mumbled as I made my way out of the door to Martains's room.The tensed and angry lines on my face relaxed when I got to his door."Don't wait to knock, come in, Emily." Martains voice from inside startled me. I had not even knocked and he knew I was outside.I turned the knob open and entered inside. Martains stood before a small door leading to a small balcony in his room with his hands in his pocket.He had an unreadable express on his face.I
Luciana's POV I sat down in my room, my mind filled with thoughts of how to push forward my second plan to get rid of Martains and make Oakstone mine and Greg's."I must work this time. I won't allow anyone to ruin it this time." I mumbled as I sat on the bed lost in my thoughts.I tried to free my mind of whatever would weigh me down but my mind kept traveling back to Martains and Emily. Emily was the only pain in my neck but Martains had decided to join sudes with her and was also becoming a pain in the neck."Damn! How dare he do that in my face? I could have done worse if not that I am trying to be on his good side so my plans do not get ruined. Does he think I am the docile Ashley?" I said, scoffing."I thought they had finally gotten rid of you, Emily but you are back, stirring up more trouble and threats to me."Just as I was starting to calm down from the rage and frustration I was feeling, one of my loyal servants burst into the room."Your highness, I have urgent news." he s