Blamed

Benita's POV

A strange feeling of pain mixed with pleasure coursed through me as Nathan’s fangs sank deeper into the crook of my neck. The pain was intense, but the slight sensation of pleasure was so fascinating that I couldn’t help but close my eyes as a soft moan escaped my lips. I wasn’t sure if I was mistaken or if my ears were playing tricks on me, but I could swear I heard Nathan let out a pleasurable groan.

When he finally pulled away, my neck felt cold without his bite, my body throbbing with an ache I didn’t fully understand.

With panting breaths, our gazes interlocked. His fangs were still extended, and drops of my blood glistened on his lips. He stared at me with pure hatred in his eyes, wiping the blood away before spitting it to the ground as if I’d poisoned him. My stomach twisted.

“Come on, everyone, a round of applause,” Alpha Richardson demanded, and the stunned pack members were forced to clap for us. My eyes remained on Nathan as his stayed on me. I could see the anger, the pain, and the hatred he felt for me.

“Congratulations, Nathan and Benita. You two will be getting married on the day of Nathan’s coronation,” Alpha Richardson announced, and my eyes widened—so did Nathan’s. We never expected our marriage to be so soon. Nathan’s coronation was in two days!

“No! This can’t be happening!” Nina’s scream echoed through the field, compelling everyone to look at her. “No, I can’t take this! I’d rather die!” And before anyone could react, she bolted from the field, her loud sobs trailing behind her.

“Nina!” Nathan called out, trying to chase after her, but his father blocked his path. “And where do you think you’re going?” Alpha Richardson asked coldly. A troubled filled Nathan stared at his father with pleading eyes. “Please, Father, let me go to her, or she’ll harm herself,” he begged desperately, his eyes reddening.

“No!” Alpha Richardson disapproved, his face etched with a frown. “You and Nina are in the past. Benita is your mate—your future.”

Nathan’s body visibly trembled as his father’s words hung in the air, frustration, and sorrow written across his face. His fists clenched by his sides, and for a moment, I thought he might defy Alpha Richardson, but he didn’t. His gaze darted back to me, and I could see the conflict raging within him. It wasn’t just anger and hatred now—it was guilt. Guilt for hurting Nina, for being tied to me.

“Nathan,” Alpha Richardson growled, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You need to accept your future. Nina’s role in your life is over. Benita is your mate, and this is final.”

Nathan's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking between where Nina had run and where I stood. I wanted to say something, to tell him I didn’t want this either, but my throat felt tight, my lips sealed.

“Please, Father…” His voice cracked. “Let me talk to her. Just once. If not… I don’t know what she’ll do.”

Alpha Richardson face hardened, his face hard as stone. “Your responsibility is here now, Nathan. Nina will have to deal with this in her own way.”

Nathan grunted, running a hand through his hair in frustration before finally turning back toward me. His eyes were cold again, but I could see the look of revenge in them, as if he was promising me a miserable life. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped, closing it with a hiss.

Luna Anita, Nathan’s mother, moved closer to me, a warm smile spreading across her face as she surprisingly pulled me into a hug. “Welcome to the family, Benita. I know you’ll make a good Luna,” she whispered before pulling away. Our eyes interlocked, and the genuine love I saw in her eyes made my heart flutter. This was the first time in a long while that someone had looked at me in such a way.

“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll teach you a few things before…” Luna Anita was interrupted by the loud yell of my mother, who was running toward us. “Help! Nina jumped off a cliff!”

Gasps filled the air, and for a moment, everything stopped. My heart pounded in my chest as my mother’s words echoed across the field. I felt my knees weaken, but I forced myself to stay upright, locking eyes with Nathan. His expression twisted with fear and disbelief, his entire body going rigid.

“No!” Nathan yelled, shoving past his father despite Alpha Richardson's attempts to stop him. “Nina!” He sprinted in the direction my mother had come from, his human form blurring as he shifted skillfully into his wolf mid-stride, his large black wolf disappearing into the woods as warriors ran after him searching for Nina.

My heart raced as I turned, wanting to go after them. After all, Nina was my sister. But as I attempted to take a step, Luna Anita stopped me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Stay here. Let them search for her,” she said softly, her eyes filled with concern. I nodded, my body trembling, my palms sweaty.

Worried murmurs rose among the pack members, and as I moved my gaze around, I met the eyes of a few. Their hateful glares made my heart twitch, forcing me to look away.

“Don’t show them weakness,” my wolf whispered in my mind, and I swallowed my pain, while struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to fall on my face.

Suddenly, a loud howl echoed from the woods. I instantly recognized it as Nathan's wolf. It was filled with anguish, and I shivered at the sound. Luna Anita stood beside me, her eyes flicking toward the forest.

“They’ll find her,” she said quietly, though I wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure me or herself.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with thoughts of what might happen next. What would Nathan do if they didn’t find Nina? Or worse, what if they did, and she was… I couldn’t even finish the thought.

“Luna Anita,” I began, my voice breaking, sweat forming on my forehead, “what if Nina… what if she doesn’t make it?” I asked, my eyes glinting with tears. Nina might have been cruel to me, but she was still my sister, and nothing could change that.

Luna Anita’s face softened, though her eyes were filled with worry. But before she could respond, we heard footsteps approaching. I looked forward and noticed my mother, wailing in pain. My eyes settled on Nathan, who was only wearing an underwear.

“Nathan?” Luna Anita called softly, stepping ahead of me, her voice trembling with fear and concern.

Nathan didn’t respond. His body seemed frozen, consumed by something dark and heavy. He stood still, staring at the ground, fists clenched tightly by his sides.

My mother fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, and my gut twisted painfully. Something had happened. Something terrible. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Nathan, where is my sister?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear.

Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes full of sorrow, pain, and hatred, all directed at me. “She’s gone,” he whispered.

Gasps spread through the crowd, and I felt my legs weaken as I collapsed to the ground. Nina was gone. Just like that.

“Oh no,” Luna Anita gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. The tears I had been holding back fell uncontrollably down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe it. Nina, who had been full of life just hours ago, was gone!

“No!” I sobbed loudly, my vision blurring with tears.

Suddenly, Nathan marched toward me and forcefully lifted me from the ground, his grip tight. “Are you happy now?” he snarled, his voice with rage. “Nina is dead because of you!” His accusation hit me like a punch to the gut, and fresh tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t tell what hurt more, losing my sister, my mate hating me, or knowing that half of the pack blamed me for her death.

“Stop it, Nathan! Stop it,” his father commanded.

But Nathan didn’t stop. His grip tightened painfully as he pulled me closer, his face inches away from mine. I winced, feeling bruises already forming on my arms.

“You took everything from me, Benita,” he growled, his voice low but filled with pain. “First, you ruined my life by being my mate. And now you’ve taken Nina. She’s dead because of you. I will never forgive you for this.”

Tears spilled uncontrollably down my face, but I couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. How could I defend myself when I felt just as shattered by Nina’s death as he did? My heart ached not just for my sister, but for the loss of any chance I had of being seen as something other than a curse to him.

“You think this is bad?” he continued, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “This is just the beginning. I swear to you, Benita, you will suffer for this. Every day you live as my mate, you will know nothing but pain!”