Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty-Two

"What?" I say in disbelief.

"I'm not Raphas."

I look him in the eyes and I let out an uneasy chuckle. "Why are you doing this? Are you trying to mess with me, is that it?"

"I'm his brother, Reed."

I search his face. It can't be. This is Raphas. Same eye color, same facial structure. Same everything. Shoulder length black hair, broad shoulders. No, this must be some kind of joke. "This isn't the time for games, Raphas. Your uncle tried to kill me."

He pauses and narrows his eyes at me. "Never call that impostor my uncle again." There's hate in his words. A lot of it. "We don't speak of him here."

I keep watching him intently. Physically, they're identical, but there's something different. Just a single thing. There's a thin scar across his eyebrow that wasn't there the last time I saw him. "When did you get that scar?"

He touches it. "I was born with it. They said that Raphas did this to me in the womb." He then chuckles. "We never got along the two of us, always on opposing sides. Even before we were born. Imagine that."

He starts walking around the long table. It reminds me of when I first met Raphas, we were going in circles around my car. That feels like eons ago. "So you're not Raphas?" I say meekly. I can’t believe this. When he kissed me, I could have sworn it was Raphas. Even the taste of his kiss is identical to Raphas’. I blush, but I don’t tell him that.

He raises his scarred brow. "I already told you I'm not."

I shake my head. "But, you're identical. I wouldn't be able to tell you apart. Same voice, same height, same face, same body. Same everything."

He nods. "The scar is the only thing that tells us apart. Well, to those who pay attention."

I narrow my eyes. "And you let me kiss you without telling me who you truly are? How could you do such a thing?"

There's a slight smirk tugging at his lips. He's making his way towards me slowly, but I remain exactly where I am. "Would you have preferred it if I pushed you away? You woke up disoriented. I gave you some time so you could pull yourself together."

"You should've told me the truth. I would have handled it." My tone is sharp and laced with resentment. I kissed Raphas' brother. I can't believe that happened. How will he react when he discovers?

He stops in his track. "I understand you're my brother's mate."

"And how do you know that?"

"I know a lot of things about you, Bea." He says my name with the same intensity as his brother. He did it upstairs, too. Is it a werewolf thing, or a family thing? I could have sworn it was Raphas saying my name. Either way, I don't like the way he says my name. It makes shivers race down my spine, and I don't know if it has to do with the fact that he looks exactly like Raphas. I need to focus on the scar. On the difference. "My brother turned you a little over a month ago, didn't he?"

I cross my arms over my chest. "I wouldn't know. I'm not keeping track of time." I say this just to complicate things, but I know. How would I ever forget?

"And you were going to mate with him this week, weren't you?" He starts walking again. "I know of everything going on around that camp. I have eyes and ears everywhere."

"So this is StoneMoon?"

"Yes," he says and his eyes brighten with pride. "Isn't it glorious?" That it is, but I don't comment.

"You fought your own uncle and threw him out because of it. So I guess it truly is as glorious as you say it is."

He stops and fury emanates from him in thick waves. I feel horrible for provoking him. "Dantes is not my uncle. He's an impostor. And Raphas is stupid enough to believe him. He'd rather believe a traitor than his own brother. I'll never forgive him for it."

I frown. "I don't understand. You're saying Dantes isn't your uncle?"

"Twenty years ago, my father allowed a rogue into our pack. He was young and alone, lost and afraid. My father always had a kind heart, and decided to raise the rogue as his own. Little did he know that he wasn't a rogue, he was a spy from our enemy's pack. They sent him for a very specific task, and it was one he saw to the end.

"Only one person in our house was suspicious of him. She told my father that the boy was always in the wandering around the kitchen late at night, always up to something. My father believed he was simply hungry and forbade her to mention it again. After years of trust, the boy finally succeeded. You see, his mission was to kill StoneMoon's Alpha and heirs, and that was what he did. He poisoned the family dinner with silver, killing every single member in five minutes, but he decided to spare Raphas and I. We were toddlers, not old enough to remember his arrival, but old enough to remember the term of endearment my father assigned to him."

"Uncle Dantes."

"Yes, we called him our uncle, when in fact he never truly was. And when my parents died, he took the role as Alpha and recruited new pack mates. The old StoneMoon no longer existed, he created a tall tale about an enemy attacking them and the only other pack mate apart from us who knew about this had her tongue cut, so that she may never tell anyone of what happened."

I gasp. "Sylvia?"

"Yes, Sylvia knew. She tried to warn us as children, but we never truly understood what she meant."

"But how did you find out about all this? Who told you if not Sylvia?"

"That I cannot tell you, Bea." He says in a low voice. "You might tell my brother and he'll go running to Dantes like he has his entire life."

"But does Raphas know about all this?" I'm getting hysterical again. "He's in danger. Dantes tried to kill me, who knows what he'll do to Raphas? You have to do something. You have to help him!"

"Raphas knows, but he doesn't believe me. He never has. When the time came, I challenged Dantes and I won the duel, just like I knew I would, and Raphas chose to leave with him." His eyes darken and he stares at the wall. "As for his safety, I doubt Dantes will kill him. He spared us when we were pups for a reason.”

“What reason?”

The corner of his lips twitch but he’s in no way amused. “Some things are better left untold, Bea.”

"But he's a cold-blooded killer. We have to do something!"

"I tried weeks ago. I ordered two of my pack mates to watch the camp and bring Raphas to me. He killed them." He finally reaches me. "So you see, there's nothing more I can do about it."

I frown. "I remember that night. He said they were rogues who attacked him in the forest. He came back hurt and covered in blood. He said they were trying to kill him."

"He knew they were StoneMoon. Just like he knew I sent them. His message was loud and clear. I won't send him any more help. He made his choice, he'll have to deal with it."

Would Raphas lie to me? Why would he tell me they were rogues? I remember that day perfectly. I was waiting all day for him but he only returned late in the night nearly bleeding to death. Then again, he and I weren't as close as we are now, so maybe that's why he didn't tell me the truth. It stings, I won't lie.

"Have a seat and eat something, Bea. You need your strength."

"So the two wolves who saved me yesterday, they're StoneMoon?"

"Yes." His eyes are on mine and it's like Raphas is standing next to me. Even their scent is the same. "You were lucky they were there. They brought you to me."

"How did they know they know they were supposed to save me? Do they go around saving everyone who's about to be killed?"

He smiles. "They're there so I can spy on Dantes, so I can find out what his next move is. I know they're building a pack to try and defeat me. I want to know their numbers, their capabilities."

"That's cheating."

"All is fair in love and war. Didn't anyone ever tell you that?"

That shuts me up. "I need to go back. I need to tell Raphas I'm here. He's probably out of his mind looking for me."

"Serves him right. Isn't he always disappearing without a word? I've always despised this trait of his."

He's right, but I don't tell him. "Please, just tell me how to get back and I'll leave. I don't mean to be a bother to anyone."

"Of course. I'll ask Samuel to escort you back. In fact, I'll do this. I'll send him with a message to Raphas. I'll tell him you're safe and here at StoneMoon, and he'll come find you. Then, you'll decide where to go from here. I don't think Dantes will take your being alive well."

I nod gratefully. "You're right. Thank you, Reed." Saying Reed instead of Raphas feels wrong, but I need to get accustomed to this. He nods and gestures at the table. "Eat, I had this all prepared for you."

"You shouldn't have," I say, blush rising to my cheeks.

"Nonsense. You're my brother's mate, you're already part of the family. I'll go talk to Samuel now." He pulls my chair out for me. "Meanwhile, you have dinner. I'm sure you must be hungry."

He leaves the room and I don't waste any time. Everything is resolved now. It'll all fall into place in a few days when I see Raphas. I have to get over the shock of thinking Reed was Raphas. And I need to push that kiss out of my mind. Immediately.

I start filling my plate and I haven't eaten this well in a long time. Everything tastes delicious and it feels incredible to be having chicken and beef and not deer and rabbits. I close my eyes and I thank the Moon for getting me here safely. I pray that she delivers Raphas safely to me. And Max, too.

Come to me, my love. Come.