Becoming her

CHAPTER 6

Rachel’s POV

I barely slept that night. My mind was racing, full of doubts and fears. I kept thinking about my son, about Aaron, and about the deal I had made with Valtor, wondering how my life turned this way. 

When the morning light crept through the small window, I finally sat up. My body ached, but the pain in my chest was worse. I turned my head and saw the framed picture still sitting beside the bed.

The woman in the photo looked exactly like me. Same dark hair, same eyes, same pale skin. I inhaled deeply, taking the frame up. 

It just felt hard to believe, it was like looking at yourself in the mirror.

“What happened to you?” I muttered, tracing my fingers on her forehead. 

Before I could think too much, the door creaked open. Valtor walked in, holding a bundle of clothes. 

I quickly hid the frame under my bed, I swallowed hard, trying to meet my gaze. 

“You are going to act like her, so that was why I kept the picture there,* he revealed. setting the clothes on the bed, We have no time to waste so we start now.”

I looked down at the dress he had brought, a small smile appearing on my lips. It was beautiful…too beautiful. Deep blue long gown. The same dress from the photo.

I got up from bed, taking the dress from him and I walked to the mirror, placing my dress on my body. 

This was the first time I had such a fancy dress, but the only problem was that it was entirely mine. 

 “You can still back out. But if you do, you’ll never see your son again,” he threatened. 

I inhaled deeply with a frown as I turned to him. He was such an asshole, I should have known what I was getting myself into. 

I rolled my eyes back to the mirror. I had no choice. If pretending to be another woman for a short while could get me my son back then, I was willing to go to any length. 

When I put it on, it felt strange, the cloth was my size… it was almost too perfect that I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.

Valtor stood behind me, his arms crossed on his brows chest. “Not bad,” he said. “But your posture is wrong.”

I frowned. “What?”

He stepped closer until he was right behind me, his hand pressed gently against my lower back, straightening me up.

“She had a straight back.”

I stiffened at his touch, but I did as he said.

“Better,” he murmured. Then his eyes met mine in the mirror, he swallowed hard, flickering his eyes away. 

It must also be hard for him, seeing an exact replica of his late wife. 

“Let's get down to business,” he said, handing me a file. “This is all the information you need to know about my wife.”

I slowly collected it, flipping through the pages. 

He took a step closer, his hot breath on my face, as he stared down into my eyes, my breath hitched, I darted my eyes nervously, my heart hammering loudly in my chest. 

Was he crazy? This was insane. 

I slowly turned to him, my eyes catching his Adam's apple moving up and down. 

Damn,this man was really hot…at this point I don't think acting like his wife was going to be my problem, it was definitely resisting this man. 

“I want you to learn everything, there should be no mistake,” he warned, his deep voice sending cold shivers down my spine. 

I slowly nodded, pursing my lips. He moved back, giving me one last look before walking away. 

I let out a sigh of relief, clutching my chest, I didn't even realize that I had been holding my breath for a long time. 

“Let's just get this over with,” I muttered, taking the file back to my bed. 

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, and after months of constant practice, I was finally ready, I had become an exact replica of his ex wife. And today was the day I was supposed to meet his family. 

I wore a black short gown, a gold necklace and some brackets. I looked at myself through the mirror, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. 

“I can't believe I'm actually doing this,” I muttered, admiring the dress on me. A soft knock at the door drew my attention. 

Before I could respond, the door creaked open and Valtor walked in. 

“He needs to know that you are not his wife, he needs your permission to come into the room, what if you were dressing,” my wolf hissed. 

I knew she was right but who was going to scold the Lycan Alpha, definitely not me. 

He stared at me, his facial expressions unreadable. I inhaled deeply not knowing how to react in this awkward moment. 

“You are almost complete,” he said suddenly, walking towards me. 

“Almost?” I frowned, taking a few steps back. I spent almost three months trying to be like your late wife, bro I can't even recognize myself anytime I look into the mirror.

“She also had a scar on her wrist,” he said, grabbing my hand. His fingers traced my smooth skin. “A mark from…” he paused, his face flickering to anger, his jaws tightened. 

I pulled my hand away. “I don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to like it,” he said, his voice cold. “You just have to do it.”

I rolled my eyes, giving him my hand. “How do you intend to make a scar…”

His lips curled into a faint smile as he extended a claw, without giving me time to process what was happening, I screamed in pain as his claws dug a long line across my wrist. 

“Fuck,” I screamed, trying to free myself from his grip but his grip was tight. 

“A little Lycan blood would make you heal but the scar would remain since I was the one that made the cut,” he explained, using his fangs to cut his wrist. 

“Ouch,” I groaned as he dropped a few drops of blood on the wound, it began to heal immediately, leaving a long scar. 

He smiled, tucking his hands in his pocket. “I will see you in the car,” he said and immediately he walked out without even looking back. 

I opened my mouth to scream but I could only do it in my head. That man was just crazy. 

I looked down at the scar, clenching my fists, I had no time to engage in my fantasy of killing him. I grabbed my purse and ran after him. 

After a long excruciating awkward drive we finally arrived at a big mansion. The Lycan Alpha’s mansion was a very big mansion…might be the biggest in existence, its towers reaching into the night sky. Vines covered the stone walls, and carvings of wolves decorated the heavy iron gates. As soon as the car stopped, Valtor turned to me. 

“Remember, if you fail, you will never see your son again and that's if you survive my wrath,” he warned, his voice filled with venom. 

Without another word, he stepped out of the car as sentinels rushed to him. I swallowed hard, fear evident on my face, I could feel the little confident I had left crumpling down with each heartbeat. 

“No,” I shook my head, taking in a deep breath. “You can do this, you have been practicing for this,” a long prep talk, I finally gathered my courage, forcing a bright smile as I opened the door. 

Everyone turned to me, their jaws dropped open, the horror on their faces made my legs tremble. 

Valtor walked to me, placing his hand around my neck, giving me a reassuring nod as if he didn't just give me a death threat. 

With a bright smile, I turned back to the sentinels. “Hello, my name's Rachel.”