Chapter 5 Exchanged Identity

"No! Stop!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, struggling while trying to twist out of the restraints that bound me, which caused the needle to break off.

The doctor quickly picked up another syringe and stabbed down at my veins as he pressed my arm down.

The pain burned through me, and I blacked out for a moment.

My leg twitched painfully, aggravating the wound on my ankle.

My mother's choked voice rang above me. "Stop struggling, my good girl... you are hurting yourself. Just suffer a little, it will soon be over..."

Someone adjusted the restraints, tightening them to the point I could barely breathe.

I screamed again, but I could do nothing to escape.

They pumped my blood out one tube at a time, and I felt my strength draining and my body going numb.

My eyes fluttered shut as I plunged into darkness and finally lost consciousness.

***

I didn't know how long I was out.

I only felt dizzy and my limbs were as stiff as stone.

I was awakened by the faint sound of thunder. I opened my eyes and saw clouds gathering outside my window.

It's going to rain soon.

"Child, you're finally awake." It was my mother's voice.

I turned to see her sitting on the edge of the bed with a concerned look. Her eyes were red and swollen.

I tried to speak, but my throat was hot and itchy like burning.

Mother noticed how hard it was for me, she reached for a glass of water and handed it to me.

I sluggishly took it and asked after I took a sip, "How long have I been asleep?"

"It's been a week," Mother said with a sigh. "My child, your sister has already replaced you and went to the Blood Shadow Pack. Her wedding to Lionel will be held in two weeks. Everything is done, and there's nothing you can do to change it."

I stared at her, eyes wide open in shock.

"You're joking, aren't you, Mom? I'm Lionel's mate!"

"You're not anymore," Mother said softly. "Your sister has your blood running in her veins now. She's you now, and you will be her."

It was only then that I realized the rose scent belonging to me had totally disappeared.

My wolf, Rina, fell into a deep sleep.

So from now on, my sister is Rylee Richie.

And I had lost my scent, my name, my wolf, and my identity.

Including my lover.

I stared at my mother, eyes glazing, and asked, "Then what about me?"

Mother looked at me with pity and put her arms around me.

"My girl, you are Jenna from now. It's a good thing you stayed with me. I'll find you a good man in the future."

Right at this moment, the last trace of hope or expectation I had for my family was gone.

I didn't want to talk anymore, so I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down my face silently.

Mother kissed my forehead and said, "I'll get you something to eat."

Then she turned and walked out.

My tears slid down my cheek and wet the pillow and my clothes.

Was this my destiny? Let Jenna rob me of everything and live quietly and humiliated in her shadow.

My life shouldn't be like this... I didn't want to give in to a fate like this!

I opened my eyes and looked out the window.

No one was going to arrange or force my life—no one, not even my parents. I wouldn't allow it!

I rolled over and got out of bed. A sharp pain came from my ankle as I put my shoes on, but now was not the time to think about that.

I quickly got dressed, but when I searched my pockets, I noticed the rose brooch was gone.

It wasn't in the cupboard or under the bed. I couldn't find it anywhere.

And just then, I heard footsteps from outside the door.

I knew it was my mother who had returned.

I didn't have much time.

I gritted my teeth, pushed open the window, and rolled down.

When I fell to the ground, it felt like my organs had exploded inside my body.

I coughed a mouthful of blood and tried to get up, only to fall back into the dirt several times. 

My injuries were far worse than last time.

I climbed to my feet with much difficulty and headed towards the far side.

"Rylee! No…… Jenna! Come back!"

I turned my head to see my mother shouting anxiously from the window.

I looked at her silently.

When she saw me not responding to her shouts, she covered her mouth and cried.

Was she sad that I was leaving?

Probably not. 

She loved Jenna so much that she would risk my life to exchange our blood.

My mother's figure disappeared from the window, and I heard her shouting for someone to catch me.

It was time to say goodbye.

I had to go right now!

Ignoring my injured ankle, I ran desperately toward the forest. The wind roared in my ears like a giant beast.

Trees blocked my path, and branches scratched my face as I ran. My ankle burned terribly, and it felt like my leg would be ruined permanently.

However, I didn't dare stop and I kept running.

I didn’t know how long I ran... The rain poured down on me and my consciousness blurred until I could no longer support the weight of my body.

My vision swam, and I stumbled, falling onto the soft grass beneath me. I watched numbly as my blood soaked the dirt all around me.

-"You can like me. I will belong to you forever. No one can ever take me away from you."

Lionel's voice echoed in my mind.

No... I couldn't give up. He must be waiting for me!

He said he belonged to me.

I couldn't trust anyone else, but I trust him...

I whimpered and pushed myself up, dragging my injured leg behind me.

"Lionel... Lionel...!" I repeat my lover's name over and over in my mind.

The thunderstorm raging around me drowned out my voice. I tried to look ahead, squinting as hard as I could, but there was nothing but rain and darkness.

The downpour was too heavy, to the point that mist covered my vision. I... lost my way.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter, hollow laugh. What an irony!

I tried hard to be a good child, but my parents regarded me as a rebel.

The first time in my life that I tried to fight for myself... and now I had lost everything.

Was I destined to be like this always? To never have anything?

The rain beat down on me like slaps on my already morbid flushing face. The water was cooling on my skin, but I felt like I was burning from the inside.

Ah, I was running a high fever.

My eyes had slid shut without my notice, and I struggled to open my eyes but all in vain.

All I could do was gasped for breath and lay motionless on the ground.

Was I going to die here?

The last consciousness was pulled from my mind as my head hit the ground with a heavy thud.