Chapter 2

CLARA

All my life, I had never thought that my sister would one day betray me for her own selfish gain.

Never did I think that our once lovely bond would be broken, and I would be left to be a shadow of myself as I gazed at my sister, who had been staring at me since my father left.

She do not feel remorseful about this,instead, she seemed happier, energetic, and lively. She had changed,everything about her seemed new, and I don't think I know her anymore.

"You will marry him! You've got no choice," She said commandingly.

"Claire, this..."

"Enough, Clara!" She raised her hands to the air as she cut me short of my words authoritatively.

"Dad, and I, including my husband to be, had already agreed to it. You are getting married to him, and he is coming over for the wedding party tonight."She said authoritatively.

Shocked and bewildered, erupted in my face.

"Tonight? I am getting married to Derrick, not him!" I pointed this out to her.

"But I am pregnant with his child,we had been dating even before you became his mate," she said truthfully.

Shocked once again, filled my face, as I did not want to accept this.

How could they be dating? Alpha Derrick had always been single. I knew because he never lied to me, and I was the first woman in his life. We had dated for two years, and everyone knew.

"Yes! We had been dating,we were in love before he found out about you being his mate. He wanted to respect Dad,that's why he dated you," she added.

I scoffed. Disbelief etched in my voice. I was fighting between accepting the truth and coming to terms with what was going on in my life.

"How... You... are my sister."

"Of course, but there are some certain things we can't control, and this is one of them," she said, not emitting any atom of guilt.

"You could have at least told me and not made things difficult," I fired at her.

"You shouldn't be shouting at your Luna to be, you know," Derrick said, walking in.

I scoffed as I stared at the two traitors. For what it was worth, Claire was my sister, and Derrick happened to be my mate.

"I am sorry that you had to find out this way, but there's nothing we can do about it than to accept it," I smirked, ironically at them.

"So, I was played? Beautifully played and used by you two?" I found myself asking in disbelief.

"Twisted!" Derrick said.

"You weren't used. You never let me touch you, remember, and Claire would let me have her and screw her," Derrick said, as he held Claire's hands, and she smiled at him.

"So basically, he never used you. No canal knowledge.He only gave you the chance to be respected as a Luna for two years," My little sister, who I had thought was little all this while, said.

"I guess the message is well passed,go get ready for your wedding party. King Asher Blackwood would be here soon," Claire said.

"And on no account should this be detected that you are not your sister, unless you want to end your life ruthlessly in his hands," Derrick added,it was more like a threat, as I was left in bewilderment.

Tears brimmed, but I blinked them all in.

They said a sister was supposed to be our own backbone and support system, but how could my own be the reason for my downfall, and yet she was unhinged and happy with my pain.

"You are to be my sister, I raised you. I was the perfect big sister to you. I let you have whatever you wanted, why did you choose to betray me?" I found myself asking as I wallowed in pain.

She only scoffed, smirked, and rolled her eyes.

"That's it, you are too perfect, and you make Dad compare me to you always. Always makes me the bad child between us," she half-yelled.

I was shocked,her confession was sudden, but it hit the right spot.

I turned to Derrick.

"And you, you acted like you loved me. You made me a vital part of your pack, had me invest all my knowledge to build this pack with you, so you could dump me?"

"I didn't. You were just an accent, that is too talented to be thrown off. I needed your talent, just like you wanted me as your mate," he said, and his words stung.

"Besides, everything is over. It's a win-win. Thanks to your sister, you get to be the queen of all Luna and the wife of Asher Blackwood," Derrick stated, obviously not feeling guilty for what he had done.

"Grow up, Cla. You should be happy about this. Asher Blackwood is the best choice for you, run along, go get ready for your wedding. Besides," Derrick paused, took Claire's hands into his, and pecked her, while staring at her.

"No one can tell the difference between you two, you both look so much alike. Thanks to strong genes," he added.

"I'll meet up with you at the party, and oh, your dress is already in your room, you should look better in it. A matching outfit with him," Claire said.

I watched her turn to leave, and I couldn't help but wallow in pain. Not for once did I think my almost perfect life would take a very tragic turn within a second.

Just a few days to my wedding, I got to find out that my sister and my mate had been lovers from the very beginning, and I was nothing but a toy that was being used to build the pack.

I was an accent, and when they no longer needed me, they disposed of me like I meant nothing.

To worsen it, I was made to be a substitute bride for my sister, and now I didn't think I would be able to escape this.

I was made to marry him, Asher Blackwood, isn't just any king. He's a monster, a murderer who kills without mercy.

He's a man who doesn't show mercy, and he would kill me if he finds out I am not the one he's getting married to. At the same time, I couldn't help this.

It was at this moment I knew that I was in a state of denial, and nothing would stop them from doing to me whatever they thought was best.

I suddenly wished I could escape this, I wished to be free, and I really wished things never got to this point. I slowly staggered into my room, isolated away from the pack and almost close to the alpha Chambers.

Derrick had specifically chosen this room for me, so that we could get to see each other at night.

That's what I had thought, but I never knew I was being used, and all the time he told me he loved me was nothing but a lie, just to get me to do whatever benefited him.

I couldn't control the tears that were streaming down from my eyes as I stood near my window. The memories of what I had shared with Derrick for the past years flooded my mind. And somehow, everything seemed like a dream to me.

That's what I had thought, but when the door clicked open and the maids walked in with my dress, I realized it was never a dream, and I was really replacing my sister. I allowed the tears to flow freely from my eyes as I ushered them into the room.

"The king is here, Luna Clara, and we are instructed to have you dressed for the party" one of the maids announced, her head bowed to the floor as she spoke.

I stifled my tears, then turned to look at her.

"How long has he been here?"

"Not quite long, Luna," she answered.

"I am no longer your Luna, you shouldn't call me that. Claire is," I told her, and she nodded.

"Leave everything. I would make use of them when I am ready." I said, and she reluctantly dropped it.

"You may leave!" I muttered.

She didn't make a move,she was just staring at the floor.

"They asked you to watch over me?" I questioned, and she reluctantly nodded.

"I am sorry, Luna Clara."

I nodded, slowly wiping my tears off.

"It's okay,you can as well finish what you are here for," I said, and she nodded.

I motioned towards the room properly, sat on the bed, and allowed her to do whatever pleased her, since that was what she was here for, and I had no say in this.

Dad agreed to it already,he gave his consent. The alpha also agreed, and my supposed sister wasn't left out. It's not like I had a choice,one way or the other, I was going to do it anyway, since Claire was already pregnant.

Soon after, the maid was done with the dress and the makeup. And after some time, someone walked in.

"I am made to lead you to the ceremonial hall, Ma," she said.

"Lead the way."

"No, the alpha instructed that you should be on the front, and the guards are already waiting for you outside," she said.

Derrick brought guards? Is this how far he was willing to go, just so I could marry a man meant for my sister, while she takes my place?

Without a word of argument, I nodded my head as I stood to my feet, then followed the directions I was being led until I stopped at the building.

Cold washed through me when I felt him. His pure gaze, I could feel it on me. They were intense and icy. It made my heart flutter with fear.

"You are late," I heard Father say through the mind link, but I blocked him off immediately.

I could feel everything around me turning hollow. His gaze was so intense that I found myself shaking. Everything seemed cold, including the atmosphere.