“Mmmm…" Aurora let out a low and weak moan as she slowly lifted her eyelids and squinted to adjust her eyes to the sudden darkness that came into view.
As soon as her eyes focused on the low light, she was facing a high ceiling. She frowned slightly and snapped her head to the window which had dim night light sipping through it and her frown deepened.
As she briefly scrutinized the room with the help of the night light from the window, her eyes narrowed and her heart skipped several beats.
This wasn't her room nor did it look like any other rooms she was familiar with in the palace. It was unfamiliar in a way that alarmed her.
The room she was lying in, was an empty large room with windows and a huge door that was far away from her as she lay on the bare cold floor.
She quickly attempted to sit up. And was surprised when she couldn't move a muscle. She felt like there was no energy left in her body. Her body felt weak and limp.
She bit her lower lips in frustration and attempted again, only to remain in the same position. Just then, a thought clicked in her mind.
“My coronation… What happened? Goddess! Why am I here?!” She whispered with wide eyes and her body tensed up.
How possible was it that it was night and she was lying in a strange dark room instead of being coronated? What went wrong?
Then a scene flashed through her mind. How could she forget? After dressing up in her traditional apparel to be crowned the Alpha, her personal maid, Lina, suddenly pressed a white piece of cloth to her nose.
She had fought with Lina and knocked her out within minutes. But whatever Lina had put in the cloth she had pressed to her nose, began to take effect. She remembered feeling dizzy and faint before passing out even before she could call for help.
Her mind reeled with so many questions. What happened after she passed out?
Just then, the door in the room was pushed open. Four people walked in at the same time, their footsteps echoing in the room.
Aurora looked in the direction of the door and her eyes lit up when she saw the two familiar figures at the front.
“Thank goddess!" She whispered.
At that moment, a cold bucket of water was splashed on her. She froze in place as a shiver ran down her body.
- - - - - - - -
"Where is this place and why did both of you bring me here? What happened to the coronation? What is going on? Answer me!" She fumed, her eyes narrowing at the two familiar figures who, much to her surprise, had revealed that they brought her there.
When she didn't get an answer from them she raised her head higher to look at both of them standing in front of her as she sat down on the cold floor after regaining some strength when the cold water was poured on her.
They were both snuggled in each other's embrace as they watched her with a delightful smirk on their faces.
One was her mate, Castro and the other was her twin sister, Aurelia.
“This is the abandoned warehouse at the pack's border. As for why you're here, you'll find out later. Don't be in a hurry Rora.” Castro's playful voice echoed in the warehouse.
“What are you talking about?”
“Aurora, you're in the way of what I want. I want your inheritance and the throne. Your inheritance is such a fortune that a woman can't handle, not even a woman like you who thinks she's strong and powerful. When it became clear to me that you weren't going to play according to my plans, I knew I needed to do something.”
“You left me no choice, Rora. I had to do what's best for us.” Castro concluded with a smug smile. He let go of Aurelia and approached Aurora in slow steps, with both hands tucked in his pockets.
“You brought this upon yourself. You refused to let me become Alpha instead. You know the tradition: if I let you become Alpha, my place will only be under you for the rest of my life. You don't think I'll allow a woman control me all the days of my life, do you?” He asked, looking down at her.
Aurora chuckled in disbelief. It was difficult to digest the fact that she was betrayed by the two most important people in her life. She never thought they were capable of harming her.
Why didn't she see through them all this while? She was taught to never let her guard down and trust wholeheartedly because the hearts of people were unpredictable. But they were never among the people she guarded against.
She could have sworn with her life and throne that they would not even think of harming her, talk more of executing their thoughts.
But she was proved wrong today. Her weak and limp body shivered slightly when a rush of cold breeze came in through the window.
She ignored her physical condition as she looked up at Aurelia, who stood a little distance away from her, and was taken aback when she saw Aurelia's vicious expression.
“Aurelia, you sided with an outsider to destroy me? Why? The inheritance doesn't belong to me alone, you have a portion of it. I've discussed with the elders to give you a position higher than everyone else so that you could rule side by side with me. I gave you everything you asked for. I gave you the absolute freedom to do whatever you wanted. What reason do you even have for siding with him?!”
Aurelia sneered and raised her chin. She walked to stand in front of Aurora and folded her arms across her chest.
“I have a portion in the inheritance? A position? Liar! Up until now, I don't even know what portion of it is mine or if I even have a share in it. After all, our parents loved you more.” She replied, eyeing Aurora.
“Quit pretending, it's over. You think I don't know that you pretended to indulge my excesses since we were young just to show everyone how better you are compared to me! Yes, we're sisters, but our destinies are different. You were destined to be the great female Alpha of Lunarmoon. While I was destined to live in your shadows forever!”
"I joined him because, with him, my future is more assured. I was given the chance to rewrite our destinies: I get to kill you and then take your place as his Luna when he becomes Alpha. And I'll become the all-powerful Luna of this pack.”
Aurora gasped in shock at Aurelia's change of attitude and her words. She had no idea of what Aurelia thought of the things she did, all in a bid to love and protect her like an elder sister would. How long has she hated her for?
Tears filled her eyes and she allowed them flow down freely. She took several deep breaths as she fought the feeling of being breathless. The pain in her heart might never heal, at least not for a while. And she might never get the time to heal either.
Before she could speak again, she heard Castro whistle with a playful smirk. And the two unfamiliar figures who were burly men with a rofian look, stepped out from behind them and grabbed Aurora, pulling her up forcefully.
She stood up and stared at them blankly. A tremor coursed through her body and she shivered. She knew they already had their minds made up on what they wanted to do to her.
For the second time in her lifetime, she felt the tight hand of fear grip her heart. Her life flashed before her eyes within seconds.
“Don’t kill me, I will give you whatever you want. Please, for old times’ sake!” She pleaded with a hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry, sister. We can't spare you. There's alot at stake if we let you go back alive. I'm not as gullible as you are to believe your words. But don't worry, you will reunite with Dad and Mom. After all, you're the favourite one." Aurelia mocked and signaled Castro.
“I, Castro Ford, reject Aurora Quinn as my mate." Castro suddenly pronounced. He walked back to Aurelia and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.
Aurora froze the moment those words came out of his mouth. She had expected him to reject her before killing her, so he wouldn't be affected. But she wished he hadn't. Even if she was going to die, she didn't want to die from the excruciating pain of a rejection.
At that moment, a wave of pain hit her hard and her whole body vibrated. She wanted to clutch her stomach and sprawl on the floor, but the men were still holding her tight.
“Babe, we don't have much time. Those people are trying to play smart by looking for her. We can't give them any reason to suspect us. Let's go see my father." Castro said as he led Aurelia out of the room.
Halfway to the door, they came to a halt and turned back.
“In your next life, don't get in the way of others. Don't try to take on the role of men, claiming to be a strong woman. And don't be so gullible.”
”I...won't. Make sure… I die.” She growled, her voice laced with pain and restraint. “Else… I'll be… your doom!”
