4

Livia POV


I dropped a pile of folded laundry onto my bed, my head still spinning from the chaos of the last twenty-four hours. Things were indeed falling apart and out of logical reasoning.

My father may have lost the plot entirely, because what did he mean by asking my spineless, yet sweet twin sister to marry the Alpha King?

A man she has not met?

And she willingly agreed. If anything, I do not like when women are treated like items to be cargoed or used as collaterals to solve problems.

Whatever we were going through currently was definitely temporary and definitely not worth sacrificing my twin sister for an easy way out, but the good daughter has already agreed. The bedroom door flew open, and Livyana burst in, her face pale and her hands shaking violently.


"I can't do this, Livia," she gasped, her voice trembling. "I can't!"


I crossed my arms, still madly upset with her after our brief meeting with father yesterday. "Why can't you? What were you thinking, agreeing to a marriage with the Alpha King? A man you’ve never even met or spoken to?"


"I agreed because I saw how happy Mum and Dad were!" Livyana cried, wringing her hands. "You saw the debt! It was the only way out, Livia. I couldn't bring myself to crush their hopes after everything the Queen Mother did for us."


Before I could reply, the deep, resonant blast of a ceremonial horn echoed through the compound, shaking the floor beneath our feet. The Alpha King had arrived.


I walked over to the window, flicking the curtain back just enough to peek outside. Jet-black vehicles were pouring into our driveway, surrounded by a legion of royal guards.


"Well, looks like your husband-to-be has arrived to claim you," I said dryly, letting the curtain fall shut.

"Your precious buyer has come for his homely bag of sweet potatoes and soon-to-be pup-making machine."


"Livia, please!" Livyana burst into tears, covering her face. "You're making me feel worse, and right now is really not the time."


"You already accepted the proposal, Livy," I said, my voice softening slightly despite myself. "You either deal with it, or better yet—go down there and cancel it."


"Cancel what?!" she sobbed. "And have our things thrown out on the street? We don't have the propensity to insult Her Majesty’s kindness! She has been nothing but gracious to us, Livia. We can't give her a reason to destroy our family."


"Then happy married life to you," I muttered, turning back to my laundry.


The door swung open again, and Mum hurried in, her face flushed with excitement. "Why aren't you dressed yet, my beautiful child? The Alpha King is waiting downstairs! Hurry up, quickly!" Without waiting for an answer, she rushed back out to play host.


Livyana panicked. "Livia, you have to help me. I can't go out there like this. I can't!"


"Why can't you?" I snapped, growing thoroughly impatient. "Just walk downstairs!"


Instead of answering, Livyana turned and bolted into the bathroom. Seconds later, the sound of violent retching filled the room. When she stumbled back out, wiping her mouth, she looked faint and utterly pale.


"I’m pregnant," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's Nathan's."


I froze. The shirt in my hands dropped to the floor. "What do you mean, you're pregnant?"


"I didn't know!" she sobbed, clutching her stomach.

"I’ve been feeling sick for weeks, so I went to the pack doctor this morning. She told me I'm already two months along. I asked her about terminating it, but she said I can't. Because of my weak constitution, a late termination could cause severe complications—it could kill me."


"Then we have to go down there right now and tell Dad the truth!" I declared, reaching for her wrist. "You cannot marry the Alpha King while carrying another man's baby! If he finds out, he will have you executed for treason!"


"That’s why you need to help me, Livia," Livyana begged, grabbing my hands and holding them tight.


I stopped. I stared at her, watching the desperate, calculating look in her eyes. "Don't tell me you're insinuating what I think you're insinuating."


"You’ve always wanted to escape this hellhole!" Livyana pleaded, her words coming in a desperate rush. "You can just pretend to be me for three months! I'll leave May Town, go somewhere quiet, and have the baby. Once it's born, we can swap places back!"


"And what happens to the child?!" I shouted in a harsh whisper. "You expect me to spend three months playing second fiddle to a powerful Alpha? How selfish can you be, Livy?! You want me to trade my entire life away just like that?"


"Livia, you're my twin sister!" tears streamed down her cheeks. "Would you rather watch me be dragged through the mud, publicly shamed, or become a total disappointment to our parents? What about Mum how would a news of this kind impact her health? It’s just three months! I swear I’ll come back! As for the baby, the pack doctor promised to help me find a good, loving family to adopt it discreetly. Please, Livia. I’ve covered for you so many times. Just help me this once!"


Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door swung open, and Dad walked in, I could tell from the look on his face that he was happy, the unusually proud kind of happy.


He didn’t even look my way, he went straight to my sister,"Livyana, the Alpha King has requested a private audience with you," Dad said, smiling warmly at her. "He is waiting in the garden. Please, make sure he finds you likeable. I trust you, my dear daughter." He gave her an approving nod and stepped back out, closing the door behind him.


Silence fell over the room, a thousand thoughts going through my mind at once.


I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my palms against my temples as my blood ran cold. This was madness. Absolute, suicidal madness.


"Gosh, Livyana, this is a terrible idea," I hissed, opening my eyes to glare at her. "But three months! That's it! You better not bail out on me!"


Livyana gasped, throwing her arms around my neck in a crushing hug. "Thank you so much! Thank you, my soul sister! I love you so much.”


We did not have time, so we quickly switched into each other’s cloths before I slipped out the bedroom door, I prayed that would not regret agreeing to do this.