Exchange

ALINA

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ alarm blared, and its echo went along the damp stones of the Blackwood pit. Clenching a sharp dagger in my hand, I ran through the forest alongside the prison, my stark feet bleeding from the shattered ground, and the thorns were cutting my skin.

"Search for the prisoner! She didn't go far!" The commander groaned angrily. The guards were faster than the wind. I was powerless, poorly fed, and my wolf was broken, but the fire of the past seven years of betrayal was lit in me, and so I kept running.

For seven, long years, I had made several attempts to escape the prison, yet I was caught every single time.

I came out on a road just when two lights were pointed at me, and the screeching of the tires echoed through the air. Without a single thought, the black car did a sharp turn and stopped just a few inches away from my feet. My gaze looked at the man, and before he could react, I opened his door with a yank.

"Drive," My breathless voice ordered, and I pointed the dagger at his neck. "If you want to see how little a prisoner has, don't."

He nodded and started driving. The black suit on him looked more expensive than my life. His hair that was turning gray was slicked back, and his eyes, sharp and smart, were looking at mine through the rearview mirror, connecting the glance. There was no fear in his eyes.

"Get moving!" I shouted as the growls sounded like thunder in the woods. The guards were desperately searching for me.

He didn't hesitate to do as told. With a forceful shove, he put the car into gear. The engine growled loudly, and I could feel the impact as it pushed me against the seat.

"Who are you?" I asked, coughing.

We were driving, but neither of us spoke much. The woods lying behind the prison were getting darker and darker till the point when he decided to take a dirt route off the beaten track and turned the engine off.

It was in the middle of the woods near a lake. Startled, I got out of the car, my dagger still pointing at him. He quickly followed suit, closing the car door behind him.

“You ran away from the prison?” He twitched his thick brows.

“If you dare report me, I'll kill you.”

“Those who kill never threaten.” He said, calm and composed.

As silence thickened between us, my hands started shaking. It was almost as if the dagger would slip from my grip.

“Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you or report you.”

“Why?” My lips swallowed a gulp.

“I am Julius Campbell.” He came from the shadow into the light of the moon.

The name startled me. He was the Gamma of the NightShade pack, Alpha king’s closet. Someone of his status would never help a prisoner until he had an interest.

"My daughter, Serena, has disappeared. She has been engaged to Felix Night, the Alpha King, for two years. The day after tomorrow, she was going to marry him. If Alpha King finds out about it, he will burn down my house to the ground, and he will kill us all."

"What does that have to do with me?"

He inhaled a deep breath before speaking the next words. “You look like my daughter. I don't know whether it's a miracle or a mere coincidence but we both can help each other.”

My eyes widened.

“You don't believe me, right?” He slid his fingers into the pocket of his pants, pulled out a wallet, and showed me her picture. He wasn't lying. We really looked the same. From her blonde hair to blue eyes, everything was the exact replica of mine.

"What's your name?” He asked.

“Alina Sinclair.” My trembling voice replied. The name I had forgotten long ago. It was prisoner 421 for seven years.

“Will you take Serena ’s place, until I find her?”

It was my chance. My only chance to take revenge from Kyle Hawthorne, the Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack. Years ago, he accidentally killed someone in a car crash a few hours before his coronation ceremony. Kyle begged me to take the blame. He said after becoming the Alpha, he would come and save me.

I waited, waited, and waited.

Kyle never came, and one day, I heard a few prison guards talking that Kyle got married to his true mate, Lisa Winston, my best friend. He betrayed me, broke me, and ruined my reputation in the pack. For seven years, I went through hell, enduring countless suffering.

There are a total of six packs in Somerland. Each pack has a strong Alpha. But the Alpha King is superior to everyone. All six packs have one common prison, the cold prison. It's the worst place on earth. Even for a small bite, you need to bleed and fight.

"I will do it." My hand lowered the dagger.

It was my time to turn the tables and snatch everything from Kyle and Lisa. I vowed to take revenge on them. The cruelest revenge ever.

The following two days were filled with training and making me ready for what was to come. Julius took me to a secret estate. I was cleaned to the point of being sore, my hair which was in a bad condition was cut and treated until it was like silk. The wounds and scars on my body slowly started to heal.

"Serena is soft," Julius was teaching me while I was walking in heels. "She talks softly. She doesn't raise her voice. She is the Perfect Luna. You are too sharp, Alina. You need to soften your character."

"I have been through seven years of hell, Julius. I can't afford to be soft."

"Well, then pretend you are," he brought a vial that was filled with a shining gold liquid. "And never forget the rules."

"I know them," My voice said under my breath.

"Repeat the rules."

"Firstly, I must never reveal the mark of the prisoner on my back. Secondly, I must never change into my wolf because Serena has a rare golden wolf and I do not. Lastly, I should take a drop from this vial every twenty-four hours to hide my scent with Serena 's."

The mark of the prisoner was a prisoner’s identity. According to the strict rules, a prisoner was banned from entering any of the packs. If found out, only death awaits.

"Right." Julius gave me the vial.

"If you change your scent even for a moment, the Alpha King will sense a stranger, and he will kill you where you stand.”

My head nodded.

In just two days, I had to learn everything about Serena Campbell. She was engaged to the Alpha King for two years. He knew her inside and out like a book.

The wedding day finally came.

The NightShade cathedral was full of people. For many of them, Serena 's appearance was a surprise since she rarely revealed herself in public, an obedient girl, confined to her room. The only one she ever was the Alpha King.

Standing at the altar in a white, long, dress, my gaze scanned through the lavish hall. For seven years, I had only witnessed damp walls, brutal fights, and dirty chores. None of them knew that the girl standing before them was an imposter, a runaway prisoner.

Then, the heavy doors were flung open.

Felix Night entered, dressed in all black, and a shiver ran down my spine. He was like a fortress of absolute muscle and dark power, his light brown eyes beneath his dark hair resembled liquid fired glass. It felt like all the air in the room was getting sucked out as he locked eyes with me.

My heart was pounding so hard that I thought it would break through my chest. My wolf growled within me, awakened after years.

*Just keep the scent. Don't shift.* I repeated the words to signal her, asking her to stay calm, stay in control.

The ceremony was like a vague memory, only the ancient traditions were clear. When the priest uttered the last question, I spoke but barely, my voice was just a whisper.

"I do."

The tension in the room was like a tightly stretched wire that suddenly snapped. We were bonded. Felix came over, his big hand went around my waist and pulled me towards him for the ceremonial kiss. His touch was like fire.

He did not kiss me. Rather, he inclined his head and his nose rubbed against the crook of my neck. I was like a statue. My heart stopped.

He remained there for quite a while, breathing deeply. Then, he slightly pulled away and observed my eyes. He was looking straight through the lace of my veil as if a hunter was watching his weak prey.

"You…" He said with a low growl.