Chapter 01

Chapter 01

I heard footsteps the moment I left the busy market and walked into an empty street.

Truth is, I had noticed - or maybe suspected - that I was being followed about twenty minutes ago but I had ignored it, as I went through the market shopping and maybe giving whoever it was a chance to just get tired and leave.

But the feeling pressed on - and walking into this forsaken street was just an attempt to draw the person out and ask them why the hell they were trailing me.

As I walked deeper into the streets, my heart skipped a beat when a thought flashed through my mind.

What if Ezius has found me and sent people for me?

But he has no idea that I was alive even - besides it's just one person. I can easily do away with them, at least I hope so.

I quickened my footsteps, yet keeping it slow enough to ensure that the person several miles behind me wouldn't suspect that I was aware.

When I saw an opportunity, I rounded a corner and hid, waiting.

The footstep drew near, and nearer while I waited, keeping my breath steady and preparing to pounce.

The moment I noticed the person was close enough I grabbed an arm just before they could turn and flipped - the lady - around pinning her to the war.

“Why are you following me, and who are you?” I hissed, my fingers wrapping around her throat.

She didn't fight back nor resist. Instead she smiled and bowed her head slightly.

“Greetings Alpha Rhea.”

I froze at the name and my hand dropped from her neck immediately.

I have not heard that name for a long time now - six years to be exact, and I wasn't in any way prepared for the chills it sent slamming down my spine.

“I do not care who you are.” I said backing away, “but Rhea is dead and she was no Alpha.”

Her smile faltered and she glanced around as if to ensure that there was no danger around before she took a deep breath.

She looked not older than twenty and although I could sense no danger from her aura, I could still sense her strength.

She might look beautiful, and innocent but something told me that this is no innocent girl.

“My name is Lisa, my lady -”

-”stop calling me that.”

“- and I was sent here by Damon.”

Again, I froze at the name but I shook my head and took more steps back.

I have no idea where this lady has come from or why she was here. And even though every part of me wanted to ask her what she wanted, every part of me yearned to know, I couldn't.

That part of me was over.

That part of me was buried several years ago and I had no interest in bringing her back.

So I should not care about Lyra or even Damon.

“Go back to whichever hole you came from, Lyra. Tell Damon that Rhea is dead.”

I turned and started walking away but I groaned when I heard her following me.

“You know for the past few days I have been wondering. Is it worth it? Living as a poor omega, being bullied constantly. This life you chose, the life you threw away your life for, is it worth it?”

My breath quickened with anger as I turned towards her sharply, “I did not throw my life away! My people did, my people casted my away and turned their backs on me. So yes! It's very much worth it. Now the only reason your head is on your neck is because I can sense that you are nk threat. But do not push your luck.”

“Forgive me, if I went too far. But not all of us turned our backs on you. We need you, Alpha Rhea…”

“I am not..”

“Your Uncle - he has completely taken over the entire city and he has subjected everyone under a reign of terror. Our people are dying.”

I tried to hide my shock under a neutral look, because I didn't want her to see how I cared.

“Again, I do not care. Your people - not mine - should think of a way to get themselves out of the predicament. This is my home now.”

And I meant that more than anything.

Once before they were my people, once before I had loved them, just like my father taught us to.

But it didn't take them much to turn on us, murdered my father, my mother and…

I shook my head, unwilling to let the memory in. That is all in the past and I have already made up my mind to not think about it.

“Goodbye Lyra. Tell Damon that you did not find me.” I said, turning to stride away.

Luckily she didn't follow me this time around.

“Your uncle found Freya, your sister.” Lyra yelled behind me. My steps almost faltered but I kept on walking, not daring to turn back and ask her what she meant because I knew it was a lie.

Freya was dead.

I buried her myself years ago.

But her words followed me until I got to the big mansion which had been my home for the past three years.

The moment I walked into the big gates, I took a very deep breath, pushing the encounter behind me.

I will not think about it, nor will I worry.

So with a refreshed resolve I walked into the house, a huge smile in place.

One of the reasons I refuse to visit the past is because of the fact that I was living a damn near perfect life right now.

I'm engaged to a powerful Alpha who loved me dearly. Even though I didn't really get along with his family, I still would not trade it for anything.

I got out of a situation and made the best out of it. It took a lot of will, a lot of grit but I rebuilt my life and started afresh as a different person.

And it will remain that way.

My smile however dropped, when I walked into the sitting room and I saw Darius sitting on our long white sofa with his sister, Amara and mother beside him.

They all looked angry, and the tension in the atmosphere was so thick, I could cut through it with a sword.

“Oh there she is!” Amara called when she saw me.

I tried not to look concerned or bothered as I approached them, keeping my smile even in place even though my instincts were blaring red lights.

“Hello Darius, I didn't know you would be home so early,” I said touching his shoulder but he flinched away, making me drop my arm back to my sides.

Okay, what was going on? And why was he glaring at me like he was two seconds away from snapping my neck.

“So you still have the nerves to come in here and act like nothing happened? Pretend and act innocent, you whore?”

His mother yelled standing up.

I frowned, this time letting my confusion show on my face.

“Excuse me?”

“Just take a look at her face, mother. What a great actor. I've always warned you two that She's just nothing but a pathetic whore.” Amara snarled, her lips curled in disgust.

“I do not understand….” Before I could finish my sentence, a sharp should filled the room, followed by the sharp sting on my left cheek. It took a moment for my brain to realise that I have just been slapped by Darius's mother.

My eyes stung with unshed tears as the pain filled my face and I looked at Darius who was just staring at the expression with a cold look on his face.

He did nothing to stop it, neither did he say anything the way he normally does whenever his family tries to bully me in his presence.

“Darius…Darius, what's going on? Please talk to me.”

He didn't and that left me more confused than anything.

“What's going on, is that we have finally caught you in your act.” Amara hissed, shoving me with both arms and I staggered back, “From the moment I set my eyes on you, I always knew that you were only after my brother's wealth, but never did u imagine that you would stoop this low. And he really did nothing other than love you!!”

I glanced between the two women who were glaring and practically shooting daggers at me with their eyes.

“Are you going to just stand there and look Clueless? Fine! Amara, show her the pictures.”

With a smirk Amara took out her phone from her pocket, swiped it open and shoved the screen to my face.

I had to lean back to see whatever it was she's trying to show me.

“This! This is what we are trying to say. Now you cannot deny or lie because you have been caught red handed.”

But I couldn't talk even if I wanted ro.

No, because I was too frozen to even move or shake my tongue and talk more to form a coherent speech.

I stared at the photo on Amara's screen with wide eyes, my heartbeat skyrocketing.

That was me on a man's lap wearing nothing but red lacy lingerie.

Except - the woman in the picture wasn't me, even though she had my face.

I could recognise that look and blue eyes anywhere.

That is my sister Freya.

Several thoughts ran through my mind, and I could feel my knee shaking as I kept staring at the picture.

Freya was dead - how come?

How did Amara get this photo of her? Again, how on earth is my mute sister still alive?

“Too shocked to lie? Cat got your tongue? Because there's even a video - incase you want to use photo editing as an excuse.”

Amara's cold voice snapped me out of my haze and I turned immediately to Darius who still hadn't said a single word.

Surely, he knows that I would never do such a thing, doesn't he?

Of course he trusts me, he can't just believe this.

With shaky knees, I staggered towards him and fell on my knees giving my fingers into his pants as I looked at him with tears.

“Darius, please listen to me. Look at me - you have to believe me. I love you. I would never do such a thing.”

“I would believe you, Narnia,” he said, his voice gruff and low, “but the evidence is right there before you. So how do you explain that?”

“I swear on my life, Darius - that…that isn't me. That's my sister. Yes. I have never told you about my family, that's my twin sister and…”

Darius shoved my hand away from my laps and I collapsed on the floor as I saw the disbelief in his eyes.

Of course he doesn't believe me. Even I realise how stupid the words sounded as they came out.

Amara laughed, “Seriously, twin sister? That's your best defence?”

But it's true!

I wanted to tell, but I couldn't because my chest was closing up very tightly.

I wanted to scream and plead - anything to make Darius believe me and stop staring at me like I was some sort of traitor but no sounds were coming out from my throat.

“I trusted you, Narnia.” Darius said and I flinched at the hurt dripping from his words, “I trusted you, against all odds. I chose to love and believe you and this is how you pay me back?”

I didn't do it.

My cheeks were wet with tears. I didn't even know we're falling. My head was spinning and my stomach was so tight that it hurt.

I didn't do it.

“I didn’t fall in love with a whore. Neither am I going to marry one, so as from now - this relationship, the engagement is over. You are nothing more to me than a stranger and I want you out of my house in the next hour.”

A scream left my lungs as his cold words delivered blows straight to my heart and gut.

“No!” I whispered, my voice coming out more horse than I thought it would, “No no no. Please, no!”

He cannot do this to me.

I clung to his pants again but he just kicked my hand away.

No, God please no.

“Serves you right,” Amara said, “I'm glad that my brother finally saw you for who you are.”

“I'm proud of you Darius - for getting rid of this rag. Now you can comfortably let Vivienne back into your life, especially now that she's pregnant with your baby.”

I snapped my gaze to the woman, as her words registered into my mind and gazed at her because surely I didn't hear her right.

What?

“Oh do not look so shocked. You have been sleeping around with different men!” She snapped.

The remaining shred of strength, hope I was holding onto crashed and shattered into a million pieces as I looked up at Darius, my vision blurry with tears.

“What is she talking about?” I whispered, my stomach turning.

“I was feeling guilty about this for so long,” Darius said, “but I guess that's unnecessary - considering what you have been doing. Yes, Vivienne is pregnant with my child.”

He ended that with a nonchalant shrug.

“You slept with your ex?”

“Darius and Vivienne have been seeing each other since she came back into town two months ago.”

Amara explained and I gasped out a bitter laugh.

“Two months ago…” I repeated the words and laughed again.

Two months.

Two months he has been cheating on me and now - now this.

After everything I have given and sacrificed for him, he pays me back by cheating with his ex?

I had nothing else to say.

I stood up and cleaned my face with my palm then turned to Darius with an angry glare.

“I curse the day I met you, Darius Grey! And I swear to you by the time I am done making you pay for this humiliation, you will regret ever being born. Count my words…I will make you beg, just as I begged and I'll make you suffer.”