Chapter 1

"Let the Alpha mark Freya in your place, tonight, Kira." Dad said quietly, his eyes not meeting mine, like he couldn't bring himself to look at me directly. He cleared his throat. "Take off that dress, she'll be wearing it.”

I blinked as if I'd just heard my death sentence.

Let Freya take my place tonight?

"But...But why? I'm the Alpha's mate." I swallowed, my heart thumping at what their response would be.

Guilt flickered across Mum's face for a breath, but it was gone before I could hold on to it for too long. Her usual expression fell back into place. "Stop pretending like you don't know your sister's condition!"

She had never smiled at me or looked at me like she did at Freya.

Dad was the same, always going on about what Freya needed but never once asking what I needed or what I wanted.

"No, Mum." My mouth acted before my mind did. "I have lived my whole life watching you pamper her like I was invisible. I will..."

A slap landed on my cheeks and shut me up.

Mum's aggressive gaze bore into mine as I looked up to her with questions I couldn't ask aloud.

Why did she never believe in me? Why did she choose Freya's lies and never believe me?

"Mum...." Freya came in looking frail and white. Clinging to mum, she sniffed like a baby. "It's fine if Kira won't let me replace her, Mum. I'd just accept my fate and die."

Mum gasped, shooting me a deadly glance but a sweet motherly face to Freya. "I would never let you die, darling. You'd get marked tonight,"

I felt dejected, still holding on to my cheeks.

Dad got up slowly, looking at Freya first before me. "She's your sister, Kira," he said, quieter than I expected. "Can you not treat her better than this?"

My eyes darted to Freya, maybe a flicker of plea would make me yield, But No.

Freya's smirk hit me like a slap, and it lasted for a few seconds before her fake pity face slipped back as she sobbed. "Don't worry yourself, I’ll be fine"

Dad and Mum's expression softened for her but hard on me. Cold chills ran down my spine and I felt hopeless and helpless at the same time.

Why was I cursed with a twin sister like Freya?

Childhood was like this too! Snatching everything I ever had or never was by just acting pitiful while I was blamed, condemned and left alone.

"Mum..." I was about to say, when the door opened and Eden came in shining radiantly like my knight in shining armor that he was.

Hope actually flickered in my mind. He loved me, I know that and I know he wouldn't agree to such things.

"Eden..." The moment his eyes found mine, I felt reassured automatically as he winked at me and smiled broadly.

Then he turned to greet my parents, his lips still lifted in a smile.

"You look so amazing today, Alpha" Mum complimented sweetly.

Eden wasn't much of a talker. He preferred to just nod or smile.

"My parents and everyone are downstairs. I came to pick Kira, we should make our appearance now"

This was the most relieving news I'd heard today.

Freya's look of jealousy confirmed she'd been planning everything that was happening since morning.

But I shrugged at her, I know she could only trick her parents, not the Eden I fell in love with and loved me back.

She made her move before I could..."Eden, would you mark me instead of my sister?"

I was stunned at her audacity. "Freya, what are you doing!?"

"I... Why should I?" Eden also appeared confused but that seemed to be for a show.

He didn't recoil when she left Mum to cling to him.

"The doctor confirmed it this morning." Freya's voice broke on cue. "He said the curse will complete itself within three days if an Alpha doesn't mark me. I'd sent the report to Dad's phone. You could check if you don't believe me" she sniffed. "I thought I'd keep it from everyone. But I don't want to be a burden and ruin things for Kira"

My chest was pounding madly.

Praying fervently that he wouldn't fall into her trap.

I don't know why I wasn't making a move either, and just when I thought he'd refuse her, Eden pulled her closer. "Don't speak so unreasonably about death. I would never let anything happen to you"

"Eden, she's..." I was about to say, but he raised his hand to shut me up abruptly.

I swallowed hard.

Eden just stopped me from talking so Freya could feed him her lies?

"But, Eden I was..." I tried to venture again.

"Kira." His voice dropped, the tone of it showed he was really hiding something from me. "Please, let her finish."

Freya sniffed, perfecting her pitiful act. "It's fine if you can't mark me, Eden. I don't want you to scold Kira because of me. I'd just..."

"No it's okay."

My hopes crashed disappointingly in my mind.

This was my greatest fear, and it was coming true right now?

"I'll mark you. This is about your life and we can't compromise that"

I shook my head in denial. Eden had anticipated this day for a long time, he told me he loved me, but how could he possibly do this to me?

"Eden..."

"Be considerate of your sister!" He snapped.

My parents' faces also lit up in joy. "I know you would agree, Alpha Eden. You've been so good to this family, and we can't thank you enough for paying for Freya's treatments last week, and sending gifts over when she was admitted"

My heart shrank. Eden has never mentioned anything to me about paying Freya's bills or sending her gifts..

I shook my head. I shouldn't let Freya take Eden from me.

She successfully turned Mum and Dad against me, not my Eden.

"I object!"