Chapter 2 Chapter-2
Raven's POV
They returned hours later, and Alaric and Kat entered the living room and stood in front of me.
“Stop overreacting, Raven,” Alaric said. “It’s just normal pain. You’re exaggerating for attention.”
“Normal?” My voice cracked. “The mate bond is tearing me apart while you’re in bed with my sister, and somehow I’m the problem?”
Kat stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Raven. This is all my fault. Please don’t fight. Just punish me.” Fake tears rolled down her cheeks.
Alaric pulled her closer. “Don’t bother, Kat. She’s just trying to make drama.”
Something in my chest cracked. “I gave you everything. My pack. My shares. My loyalty. This is how you repay me?”
“Look, Raven. I’m doing this because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of that ugly mark on your face.” He pointed at my scar like it was something diseased. “You’re not the woman I loved. The other Alphas laugh at me. Call me the Alpha with the ugly Luna. I’m embarrassed standing beside you.”
“I got this mark from saving you. You could have died.”
“I never asked for your help,” he replied immediately.
“Then reject me and divorce me. Give me back my pack and my business.”
His expression turned dangerous. “No. I’m about to become the largest pack in the region. I won’t give that up.” He paused. “It’s normal for an Alpha to keep two mates. You’ll work inside the pack. She’ll handle everything outside. I’ll give you an allowance.”
He said it as if I should work hard while she got all the credit.
“You can’t do this,” I murmured.
“That was your duty as Luna. You did it for the title. I always liked Kat, but I married you before your mom and my dad.”
He said it without guilt.
“If you don’t stop this, I’ll go to the Werewolf Council.”
His eyes flashed red.
Before I could move, his hand closed around my throat, shoving me against the wall.
“Say one more word, and I’ll kill you right here,” he said through clenched teeth. His eyes had turned blood-red. He was barely holding himself back.
“Ala...ric...” I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. Black spots danced across my vision.
The Beta and guards moved forward but stopped at a look from Alaric.
Finally, he released me.
I collapsed, gasping and coughing and tasting blood.
“I’m the pack Alpha,” he said, staring down at me like I was nothing. “You will obey.”
He left without looking back.
………………..
It had been two weeks since the incident happened. I hadn’t seen Alaric or Kat. They were living in our room, and now the whole pack had started accepting them.
Alaric restricted my access to the project to a minimum. He also ordered guards to prevent me from leaving the house, entering his room, or entering the office in our pack house. He just wanted me to handle the paperwork and minor tasks, but he didn’t give me complete access.
The pain of the mark was increasing so much, especially at night. Every time Alaric touched Kat, every time he marked her, the bond and the mark burned like acid through my veins. It was difficult for me to sleep with the constant pain. I lost my appetite to eat. And even though the pack doctor gave me some medicine, being an Alpha wolf, it wasn’t helping me.
I sat alone in my room, picking at the dinner tray the omega had brought. The food tasted like ash, but I forced myself to eat.
Suddenly, Kat’s scream pierced through the house.
“Help! Someone help me!”
I ran toward the sound. Pack members rushed to the main hall where Alaric already held Kat in his arms. She sobbed against his chest. Her dress was torn, dirt smeared across her arms, scratches marking her neck.
Alaric’s head snapped toward me, eyes blazing. “Don’t you dare come near her!”
“Now, what is my fault?”
Kat trembled violently, her voice breaking. “A rogue... at the western border... he attacked me. He said someone paid him to hurt me.”
“Who paid him?”
“A woman with a scarred face,” Kat croaked. “She gave him money and told him to make it look like an accident.”
The hall erupted in gasps, and everyone’s eyes fell on me with hatred.
“That’s insane! I never...”
“He described you perfectly!” Kat choked out. “The scar, your height, everything!”
“This is a lie! Where is this rogue? Let me question him!”
“Dead,” Beta Robert said. “The patrol killed him.”
“Of course he’s dead,” I said bitterly. “How convenient.”
“Convenient?” Alaric gripped my arm painfully. “The rogue nearly killed Kat!”
“She’s lying! Can’t you see?”
“We found this in your room.” Robert held up a note. The handwriting looked like mine. “Western border. One hour after sunset. Be quick and quiet.”
“I didn’t write that! Someone planted it!”
“It’s your handwriting!”
“That’s not my handwriting, someone’s framing me!!” My voice cracked. “Alaric, look closely. It’s forged!”
Kat sobbed harder. “I know you’re hurt because of Alaric and me, but this... this is too far.”
“I didn’t do this!” I screamed.
Alaric’s eyes turned black. “You conspired with rogues. You attempted murder. That’s treason.”
“No, please.”
“Guards! Take Raven to the dungeon. Immediately.”
“Alaric, don’t!” I struggled as warriors grabbed my arms. “I’m your mate! You know me!”
“I thought I did,” he said hollowly. “All I see now is a monster.”
“Please! Just investigate! Check the evidence.”
“The evidence is clear,” Elder Patricia, Alaric’s mother, said coldly.
Alaric turned his back. “Take her away. No visitors. No food for her.”
“No, Alaric, listen!” I shouted while he turned his back on me. The guards were forcefully dragging me away.
As they dragged me toward the dungeon, I caught Kat’s gaze. Her tears stopped. She smiled, cold, evil, and victorious.
