Chapter 24: The Deed Is Done

Luna Queen Elizabeth brushed the outline of her jaw as Polly Harris sniffed audibility. The woman hadn't moved from her kneeling position, telling her story on the floor as if she was some poor beggar, which to Elizabeth she was. Elizabeth had listened to her tale, not saying a word. Now she waited again as Polly sniffled and wailed, something she had been doing throughout and something that was getting under Elizabeth's skin.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "I didn't ask you for your life story." her tone hinged on annoyance. "I want to know why you are kneeling before me and not your sister Lady Pearl Harris?"

Polly hiccuped, vigorously nodding her head up and down. "Yes, of course, your Majesty." She inhaled deeply before releasing her breath and continuing on with her narrative.

*Once my sister, Pearl, was chosen, I tried to swallow my resentment and jealousy...I should have been able to push down my feeling of envy. I was the best of us. I had become the Beta of The Silent Maw Pack; I was our Pack's best hunter, the best fighter. I should have been able to let my emotions go.*

*After Pearl moved to the Capital with the Alpha King, she wrote me a letter, and from there, we began corresponding. I would tell her about my daily life as Beta in the Pack, and she would share with me her life as King Zachary's mistress. Her letters slowly turned to melancholy. I got the impression that she was unhappy and wanted to return home to the Mountains that hugged our village. Pearl casually mentioned once that the King seemed to be gradually forgetting about her existence.*

*Her letters both angered and delighted me. Even though I knew what I was feeling made me a petty female, I couldn't help myself. I basked in her misery because I knew that I would have squandered my position with the King if I had been chosen. I would not let him forget me. I would make him want me and only me*.

*Soon though, my trivial sense of happiness was dampened when news came to our Pack that my twin sister was pregnant. Our Pack's Alpha was to hold a grand celebration in her honor. My unwedded, sickly, pathetic sister was being treated as if she were the Pride of the Pack and not me. All because she spread her legs.*

*I sought to keep my composure when my Alpha spoke with our Pack about the legend known in our Pack. He told of a rightful heir to the Royal family, one that would Bring The Glory. He said that one of our members had proven themselves and, in doing so, would learn the hidden treasure of the Silent Maw Pack*.

*Again I knew that the choice could only be me. The best, the pride of our Pack, but once again, my desire was shattered. Our Alpha explained that she, my sister, would learn the secret as a gift to her and her child. The wolf inside me ragged, clawing to break free and tear everything and one apart. How was Pearl, who was nothing more than the King's whore the one to learn what I had always wanted to know?*

*At the grand celebration party for my sister and her newborn child was to be told our Pack's secret. When I saw my sister, I was unable to contain my fury any longer. I made a decision, and that night I began my plan. I knew that she wasn't returning to the Capital until the following night, so I invited her to have a picnic with me like we used to, on top of Tost Mountain.*

*The next day was a perfect autumn day. The Mountain breeze was crisp, an ideal mixture of temperatures. Not too warm but not too cool, Just the way she and I liked.*

*Before we left, I met her in her bed chambers and proposed that we wear each other's clothes just as we had done when we were young females. Pearl had giggled but complied, saying she was glad to see that some things hadn't changed.*

*We left the sleeping babe with a nurse's maid and then made our way along the trail of our favorite Mountain in our village. Pearl had fussed over leaving her infant child, which to this day I do not understand. The child was nothing more than a wailing cube, extremely annoying. After an hour or so, Pearl stopped her fussing, and we talked as if no time had passed at all, only I knew that things were not the same*.

*When we had finally reached the top of Tost Mountain, we stood shoulder to shoulder and looked out at the wondrous view. The wind hollowed, blowing leaves around our long, now tangled hair. We had what would become our last conversation. Pearl turned to face me, her beautiful soft smile on her lips. "I'm so happy for you, Poll." She gripped my hand, lacing her fingers with my own. "I always knew you would become a Beta."*

*I looked at her then. Her cheeks windburned, her eyes light and full of life. She was my mirror image, only the reflection was distorted. I still don't know why. I don't know what made me. I can't even fully remember how but one moment, we were smiling at each other, and the next, I pushed her from Tost Mountain cliff.*

*I stood there for a long time after I watched her fall into the trees far below us. My only thought was I would now learn the secret of the Silent Maw Pack. The knowledge I have yearned to know since I was a small child. The treasure our Pack had kept for centuries. Then the thought of me being the Pride of the Pack came, and I wondered if that was the reason why I pushed my twin sister, my mirror self.*

*Regardless of my true reasoning, I had to follow through with my plan. I made my way down the mountain, back to my Pack. I made sure I was frazzled, my clothes torn and covered with dirt. I was clumsy, weak. I became, I was now Pearl.*

*I told my fellow werewolves that my sister, Polly, dared to stand on the edge of the cliff, and the rocks beneath her crumbled and fell. Taking her with them. I was pleased to find that my Pack morened about my supposed death, but when I awaited my reward, the hidden treasure of my Pack, I learned that the secret had already been told the night before, and everything I did was for not. *

*Before I was set to leave for the Capital, I was in my sister's bed chambers with her brat of a child gathering her things. I found the letters I had sent her tied with a silver ribbon at her desk, along with a letter she must have written to me but never sent. I must have reread her letter a dozen times that night and more in years to come. She wrote:*

*"My Dear Polly,*

*I hope your life as Beta is a fun one. I must admit my life as the King's mistress has not been a happy one recently. Though the birth of my daughter has brought me great joy. Our Pack's Alph has written to me saying that the Silent Maw Pack will bestow on me with the treasure they have kept for centuries. However, I cannot accept this grand gift. I don't deserve the honor. Not only because I'm a weak female with no real purpose in this life, But also because of the birth of my daughter, who will not be allowed to become a rightful heir of the Kingdom of Kreqin since people here only crown princes.

She and I are simply a mother and daughter, whereas you, my dear sister, have always been a great warrior of our Pack, and in my humble opinion, you should be the one who the Pack bestows the honor of learning the secret of centuries, for you are the Pride of our Pack."*

*Your loving sister,

Pearl.*

Polly Harris wiped at her red-rimmed, swollen eyes, folding her dead sister's last letter back into the tight wrinkled square. She faced the Luna Queen awaiting her punishment. Polly had told her envy-filled story. She admitted to killing a female who had never hurt any werewolf, including herself. A female who loved her deeply, someone who loved more than anyone Polly had ever known in this world.

Polly Harris had killed her sister out of jealousy. She killed her for nothing, but the deed was done and could not be unchanged. When Polly found that letter, Polly knew that she had to continue with her plan regardless of the Pack's secret. She had to abandon her identity as Polly and live as Pearl from then on. Besides, Polly was always better at imitating Pearl when they played. 'Who is *who*?'