Chapter 1

CLARA

"Yes, Cla. You are getting married to him. We've got no choice but to arrange for this marriage."

It was as if my whole world had ended when Dad said that. I was brazen, shocked, and utterly surprised by his words.

"But why?" I asked.

"I have a mate, and I am supposed to be the Luna of our pack." I stated, obviously, so I thought.

I expected dad to defend this, he's the beta, and he knows better than I do. Instead, he was quiet, and all he did was sigh.

"Claire is pregnant," Dad said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"She's pregnant for the alpha, and he wants her, not you."

My dad broke the most horrible news to me. At first, I had thought it was nothing but a mere joke, as I burst into unbelievable laughter.

"This isn't a joke, Clara," Dad muttered, his eyes buried beneath mine, and his voice was as calm as possible.

Claire is pregnant? For who? The alpha? He's my mate,everyone knows this. How can she be pregnant?

"Dad?" I called, my voice shaking.

"Everyone knows the alpha is my mate. Derrick is my fated mate, Dad, and there's no way Claire would be pregnant for him. She's my little sister, right?"

I tried to argue, still refusing to believe.

"And besides, Claire should be the one getting married to Lycan King Asher Blackwood," I told Dad.

"It's been decided."

Dad only sighed.

"I am sorry, Cla. Things changed,it's quite unfortunate, and there's nothing we can do about it, except for you to accept it."He said, his voice void of emotion.

"Dad!" I exclaimed.

"If this is a prank, then you better stop it. Everyone knows I am the future Luna, Derrick and I have been dating for two years, and we are already planning our marriage."I said, scoldly.

How can Dad joke about something that is this serious?

Asher Blackwood is to marry my sister, Claire Mookes. That was the agreement, since he practically chose her during her 20th birthday.

How come? Why the sudden changes? And why is Dad asking me to marry him instead, especially when he knows what this would amount to?

"I know this wasn't the agreement," Dad said, "but you have to accept it now. Claire is pregnant, and Alpha Derrick is getting married to her. You should replace her for the peaceful offering, that way, things wouldn't be awkward between the two packs, and we can easily forgo the war."He mumbled silently.

If this is some prank, I think it's high time they stop it. It's not funny anymore. I should be the one getting married to Alpha Derrick,he's my mate.

We've been dating for two years now, and we had just started making arrangements for our wedding ceremony. How can Claire be pregnant for him?

"Dad!" I said, standing to my feet. "I guess this is where we should stop with this conversation."

"I know you love to play dirty," I added, "and this is one of your pranks, and at the same time, Beta Austin Mookes. I should prepare for my wedding, as the pack's soon-to-be Luna."

I turned to leave after ensuring I pecked Dad and kissed him goodbye.

"I'm sorry, Clara," Dad said, his voice laced with regret.

"You don't deserve this, but we have no choice. Claire is already two months gone for the alpha, and you are the only available option for peaceful offering. It's a promise to the late king, and I can't break it."He said, his eyes fixated on me.

I had never known my dad to be a joker. Judging by how serious he had gotten, it suddenly dawned on me that all these weren't a joke, and it was nothing but reality.

Not wanting to believe this, I threw the question at Dad vulnerably. "Am I really getting married to Asher Blackwood of the Lunar Eclipse pack?"

Dad was mute. His face was buried in shame, he felt hurt and disgusted.

It was a sign, a valid sign of my marriage of inconvenience to the man who was known for his ruthlessness. The man I had grown to hate all my life, and the man who was nothing but the genesis of pain and agony.

I stood transfixed, buried in pain, as I was left glaring at Dad. How can this be happening? My sister is pregnant for my mate, and I am what?

A replacement?

"I will not marry him," I stated, obviously hurt and angry.

"Asher Blackwood is out of bounds. He chooses his mate and we should stick to that. I wasn't the one chosen by him," I stated, obviously hurt and angry.

"I am sorry, there's nothing we can do about it. He doesn't know Claire's real face, nor does he know her name. You would be a perfect replacement, and Claire would replace you on your wedding day," Dad said.

Tears brimmed, but I managed to blink them all in.

This wasn't okay. How could it be okay for him? My whole life had just been thrown upside down, and I was meant to do what? Accept it as it was?

"I'm sorry, Cla. You didn't deserve this," Dad muttered.

"Yes. I don't deserve it. I had worked too hard for this pack and Derrick for him to cheat on me and get Claire pregnant. I would not get married to the man whom I loathed more than I hated anyone else," I stated.

"What am I? A tool to beckon? Or a toy to be traded to everyone for a peaceful offering? Claire specifically wanted him.She wanted to be chosen by him. Why should I replace her for a decision she had made herself? Why should I even let her have my mate when I was Derrick's fated mate?" I demanded angrily.

My eyes darted to Dad, who was lost, staring at me. I could feel his pain, anger, and guilt, but that didn't compare to what I was feeling right now.

Suddenly, learning that my little sister, whom I had spent my entire life looking after, after our mom's death, was taking over my man was disheartening. Learning that I would be a replacement bride was more heartbreaking.

How could I receive two disheartening and heartbreaking news at the same time, just three days before my wedding?

It was three days before my wedding, for heaven's sake, and Dad knew how much I had invested in this relationship.

Even Claire knew this, everyone in this pack knew this. How could they play a dangerous game on me?

I should be preparing for my wedding.I should be having a chat with everyone, and here is what I was getting.

An arranged marriage with the dangerous Asher Blackwood. The man didn't know peace, he was known for war, and he loved the smell of blood.

He killed at constant intervals, and he didn't let his offenders go. Not for once had I heard any good news about him.

Claire specifically agreed to marry him because she said she had a crush on him. How could I suddenly be a substitute bride while my sister took over my mate, all of a sudden, and everyone seemed okay with that?

"I am sorry, Dad. I don't think I can marry that monster, and I should go prepare for my wedding," My voice was barely audible as I muttered these words.

My heart sank deep into my chest, and I didn't know how to feel about this anymore. I was emotionally drained and physically broken. I still refused to believe this.

I mean, Claire was my little sister. I raised her, and she knew how deeply in love I was with my mate.

She knew everything about us.I told her everything regarding myself and Derrick. How could she be pregnant for her sister's mate? Was this not so random and unbelievable?

My heart was shattered, and Dad could sense the tension, the disbelief, and the pain I was going through at the moment. I knew this broke him, but then again, how could he agree to it?

"I should have been watchful. I should have questioned their relationship from the very get-go, and I shouldn't have let it slide. I am sorry,I failed you as a father," he muttered.

I only scoffed, blinking away my tears.

"How could she betray me? She's my sister, Dad," I told him, slowly letting the tears pour from my eyes as I couldn't handle this anymore.

"I know, but destiny has its own plan mapped out for us. Derrick isn't a good man for you."

"Asher Blackwood is, yeah?! I get it," I mumbled, cutting Dad short.

"I shouldn't have made some bet with the late Alpha. I didn't think it would end up like this, since Claire wanted the king. I didn't want you both to suffer," Dad said brokenly.

"Can something be done? Is there a way to cut off this alliance? I can't marry a man who tastes blood and prefers blood to water," I whispered, wiping off my tears.

"Dad, please, do something about this. I am okay with Claire getting married to Derrick, but..."

"But what? You can't stand in for me? Or you are just too selfish to let Derrick go while pretending to be the innocent, calm, and reserved bitch you've always been?" Claire's words came harshly as she walked in gently.

At first, I had thought I heard a stranger speak because I never believed that my sister, who had been nothing but kind and lovely to me since the very beginning, could be this heartless and cold-hearted towards me.

Dad and I stared at her as she smirked. I could see some changes in her,she looked different, authoritative, and controlling.

"Claire," I called softly.

"You wouldn't do this, right? You can't be pregnant for my mate. Derrick is my mate, and you know that."I paused to take a deep breath.

"Plus, you'd always wanted to get married to Asher Blackwood,you said you liked him," I muttered, my gaze fixed on my sister, who seemed not to be remorseful.

She scoffed, smirked, and rolled her eyes.

"Dad? I'd love to have a word with my sister, if you don't mind?”