Chapter 1 Last moment
ADRIANA NOX
“Uhmm… I think I saw Miles enter a room with your sister. I'm sure it wasn't you, was it?”
As I ran across the garden, barefoot and out of breath, Diana’s last words at the hall filled my head.
My trembling fist clenched as I took a step forward. My heartbeat stopped for a moment as I wrapped my hand around the cold knob and twisted it, then pushed the door open.
The moment my feet stepped into the dim room, the sounds of moans hit me. My belly knotted, and I took a deep breath before sneaking forward.
My jaw dropped, my heart sank, and my blood froze as I stared at the barely visible back of the man on the bed. No matter how dark the room was, I would identify those tattoos anywhere.
The same tattoos that I had drawn with my own hand on our anniversary a year ago.
I shuffled forward like a zombie but froze again as the familiar tone of the moans coming from the bitch beneath him finally clicked in my mind.
“Arlene,” I muttered and felt my body break.
Five Hours Earlier
“Arlene!” I chuckled as my nephew ran past me, heading towards Arlene, who approached him with a bouquet. Arlene shrieked and reached out her hand to grip him before he fell, like he always does.
“Gently, gently,” she whispered as she patted his head with a grin on her face.
“I will help with that,” I said and took the flower from her.
“Why do I feel so nervous?” Arlene asked as we trode down the hallway.
“Maybe that’s because you have always been nervous ever since we were kids,” I replied. She giggled and nudged me slightly.
“We will be college graduates soon,” she said, releasing a deep sigh. I kept silent and kept glancing at my phone for a notification. Miles would be here soon.
We planned to announce our relationship to the Pack tonight, but I still felt skeptical about it, knowing the kind of relationship that exists between my brothers and his father.
“Will you invite Miles?” Arlene asked, and I raised my head.
“Yeah, I don't know if…”
“You should tell them, you're an adult now. Besides, your kind of love is what makes every girl envious,” she said. My heart warmed, and I smiled.
Ever since my mother’s death, I had been distant from Arlene. I don't do it on purpose. Her presence always reminded me of my mother, and it would break my heart in the end. I would say that my relationship with Miles and my brothers’ son was what kept me sane throughout high school and college.
My brothers’ mate, Luna Valerie, helped me to heal and move on from my mother’s death. For the first time, we lived in peace and experienced the lycan kings’ good side. I hoped that side would last forever.
“I thought he ran off again,” Valerie’s voice hit me, and I looked at Jaden, who was being smuggled up in Arlene’s arms.
“He ran to us,” I said, and Valerie chuckled, moving from Bianca’s side.
“The party will start soon. I hope you two are ready?” Valerie asked as she ran her fingers through our hair.
“Yes, we are!” Arlene said, grinning from ear to ear.
Valerie chuckled and nodded at Jaden’s nanny. The woman came forward and took him from Arlene’s hand.
“We must visit Luna Jasmine before the party starts,” Valerie said and glanced at the wristwatch strapped around her wrist.
My throat knotted, and I exchanged glances with Arlene. She didn't look comfortable with the topic either, but we had to.
The talk of our mother, the previous luna of the pack, always put everyone on edge. Even after six years since her death, we still couldn't stop the flashbacks and regrets from slipping in.
If only…
“Take care of the guests when they arrive,” Valerie’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She turned away from Bianca and waved us to the door. We followed her wordlessly out of the manor and ignored every greeting thrown at us till the car we took got to the graveyard. We stepped out and strode towards my mother’s tomb, our faces filled with overwhelming emotions and regrets. We all had a lot to say to her, but we couldn't.
I had been a rebellious child and was never her favorite, but Arlene was, and I hated my mother and everyone else for that. Perhaps I let my hatred overshadow the love she had for me. If only I had been wiser earlier, I would have given her a reason to love me more for who I was.
A soft squeeze on my shoulder pulled me back to reality. I glanced at my clenched fist and realized that I had been crying for quite some time.
“I am sure your mother is proud of you,” Valerie whispered as she leaned forward.
“I wish she were proud of me when she was still alive,” I muttered.
Valerie sighed and dropped the rose in her hand, knowing that that was the end of her trying to make me feel less guilty.
I always hated it that people loved Arlene more than they loved me. The only one who seemed to love who I was was just Miles, and I had sworn never to let him go.
“Hey, Mom, we will be leaving college in a few days. I know you are proud…” Arlene paused and looked at me, forcing a smile on her face.
“Of us,” she added as she faced the tomb again.
Sometimes I do hate myself for disliking my sister’s innocent and pure soul. She wasn't selfish like me, and she always had that genuine smile that drew everyone to her.
Isn't that enough to prove why people loved her more? But still…
“We will make you prouder, Mom,” I added in a cracking voice and dropped my flower, then glanced at Arlene, who watched me with a smile on her face.
By the time we left the graveyard back to the manor, the sun had gone down and the ceremony had started.
My brothers had thrown a party on our behalf to celebrate the end of our college era. Soon it would be time to find our mate, and this made me even more nervous.
“I will leave you two now, enjoy the party with your friends,” Valerie said, patting our heads. We chorused a word of gratitude as she turned and walked away to her quarters.
Arlene grinned, and we bumped our fists together before the large doors to the hall pulled open and we stepped in.
The moment I stepped into the room, my eyes found their way to Miles, who stood in a corner with his circle of friends.
Everyone in the hall began to clap and cheer as we sauntered in. Miles straightened up and began to walk towards me with a large smile on his face.
My heartbeat accelerated, and my fist clenched as I looked at everyone in the room. The guests were our college-mates and friends, but it still felt strange to let Miles kiss me in front of everyone.
Arlene chuckled and nudged me forward. My hands shook, and I tried so hard to keep my breath stable.
As he got close, my phone suddenly rang, stirring me back to reality.
I glanced at the screen and felt a lump in my throat as the college janitors flashed across the screen.
I looked up at Miles, who was staring at me with confusion scribbled across his face, then back at the phone.
I forced a smile on my face and spun around, rushing out of the hall to answer the call.
That was the last time I saw Miles stare at me with so much love in his eyes. That was the last moment he stayed faithful to me before betraying me the next hour with my twin sister on her bed.