Chapter 1 Chapter One

Chapter One

The fastest way to sharpen a girl’s mind, is by spilling all she’s ever believed in, down the drain~ Keira Archibald.

Keira

“You were never marked,” the doctor said, and the room seemed to close in around me. Those weren’t the words you’d expect to hear after being almost shot to death. I was torn between staring at the reflection of my neck—the spot where a star mark had always rested, and still did—through the mirror a nurse had been kind enough to give me, and then at the bullet wound on my arm.

My voice was shaky when I spoke up. “Is the wound bad?” I asked, with an effort. The surprise on Dr Leed’s face was very clear, but it vanished swiftly, and he was back to professional mode again.

“Luckily, the person who shot you was either too lazy, or he’s a newbie,” he explained, his eyes still holding concern for me. The smell of disinfectant suddenly got more pronounced, and with my hands balling the patient’s robe I was wearing, the realization of my situation slowly but steadily sunk in.

‘No, no, it can’t be true. The doctor has to be lying,’ I chanted inwardly again and again.

How could it be true? How could it be true that my supposed mate, the man I’d loved since forever, the man I slept next to every night for years was…

My thoughts trailed off as sobs wracked my body before I could stop them. Wiping off the corner of my eyes, I straightened again, and glanced at Dr Leed who was now sporting an awkward look on his face.

“Check again,” I ordered, my voice a sharp contrast to the turmoil going on in my heart and mind. A contrast to my breakdown barely moments ago.

He blinked in surprise. “Luna Keira, I can’t be mistaken. The mark–”

“I said check again!!!” I screamed, startling both of us. He nodded and moved to obey, his hand inching toward my neck and tilting back after a minute.

The somber look on his face sent my heart to my shoes.

“You are wrong, aren’t you?” I asked, hating how desperate I sounded.

He shook his head. “That’s not a mate mark, Luna. It’s an ordinary mark that bears no significance.” His words echoed through my ears as I leaned back against the pillow. Everything began making sense.

Why Aiden was always against the idea of me going to the pack’s hospital. Even when I did, he always accompanied me. He wouldn’t even let me take Erion—our adopted son for his regular checkups. My eyes widened as a thought occurred to me. Goddess forbid it to be true.

“I need to go,” I scrambled off the bed with renewed urgency, my vision a bit blurry.

“Luna Keira,” Doctor Leed stepped forward, perhaps to stop me. I spared him with a steely gaze.

“The mark might be fake, but I am still the Luna of Stormfang pack. And you’d accord me that respect, Doctor,” I warned him. I watched him swallow, then take two steps backward.

“The wolfsbane will be gone from your body in an hour. But the best way to get it off even faster is through erm–” he cleared his throat, “–maybe if you can convince the Alpha to have sex with you, I can assure you the effects will be gone soon.” He said, avoiding my gaze.

The choice of his words struck me squarely, and my voice barely qualified as a whisper. “How dare you?”

He paled. “Luna, I didn’t mean–”

“Shut up! Aiden has an explanation for all this. And I’m going to get it. Before then, I forbid you from telling anybody.” I warned him, knowing fully well that it was futile.

News traveled faster than anything in packs, worse still if the doctors and healers aided its spread. I wondered who I was trying to convince. Myself, or the doctor.

“Luna, please, wait,” Doctor Leed called out from behind me. I whirled around, my eyes narrowing at the skeptical look on his face.

“Speak,” I ordered, feeling the effects of the exhaustion I’d been trying to push back creeping in.

“I wonder if you’d like to see the Alpha before you go home.” He said, and my confusion deepened.

“The Alpha is at home. He’s handling some official matters, that’s why he didn’t accompany me,” I paused and looked at him carefully. “Is the Alpha here?”

“Yes, Luna. He came in with an unconscious lady twenty minutes after you arrived.” He informed me.

“You must be mistaken,” I shook my head. “Aiden doesn’t have any sister that I know of.” I knew my words sounded ridiculous even to my own ears. But it was the best I could do; try to give Aiden the benefit of doubt.

“Which ward?” I asked him in a resigned tone.

“VIP,” he replied.

My legs were already on the move. I was very familiar with every floor and everywhere in the large pack’s hospital. It was the place I always frequented in my bid to get a cure for my infertility. Halfway, I recalled that I didn’t remember to ask the doctor which of the VIP wards he was referring to. Familiar voices broke through my thoughts just then, and I raised my head, startled to realize that I was standing directly outside one of the VIP wards. The words floated clearly, and I froze in place.

“Thank you for bringing me here as fast as you could, Aiden,” the female voice said coquettishly, and I stifled a gasp. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. However, what was Rena doing with Aiden in a VIP ward? Aiden, she’d called him. She never called him that in my presence.

“You had me worried, my love,” Aiden replied calmly in a soft tone he’d never employed, even with me. “You’re my fated mate, sweetheart, and the mother of Erion. Please, don’t do that to me again. Luckily, the doctor said you were just exhausted. Haven’t you been resting well?” He asked, and blood rushed to my head. My legs wobbled unsteadily, and even with the wide expanse of room in the wide hallway, I felt hot.

I was in a daze as I turned to leave, unable to hear anymore.

The ride home was swift, and I opened my door, feeling a bit comforted by the familiar smell of burnt cinnamon.

“You’re home late,” a mean voice said, and before I could force a smile and reply, water splashed on me. Shock masked my features as I stared straight ahead at Erion whose nose was upturned in a cold sneer.

“You splashed water on Mum?” I whispered, trying to get him to apologize.

“Go away, you’re not my mother.” And with that, he went upstairs, leaving me standing there, dripping with water.

My hurt deepened. What had I been living for then?

My life for the past few years was a lie.

Thirty minutes later, I stared down at the little bag I’d packed, to get out of Stormfang. Just then, the doorbell rang. I made a beeline for the door, my mind lit with a last sparkle of hope.

“Aiden, you’re back–”

My eyes landed on the large envelope on the ground, with nobody in sight. The sun had gone down too. With shaky hands, I opened it, and my heart stopped at the so familiar sight.

The head of a howling wolf, with a large spear buried in the ground beside it.

“Dear Keira, XTY,” the letter read, and I inhaled sharply. It was a code word.

I continued.

“If you’re reading this yourself, the spear had always been yours. Come home, you’re the rightful heir.”