PAST AND PRESENT

ANOKAI’S POV.

The first person I killed in my entire life was my mate, the alpha’s son— I had found him cheating, moaning underneath my own sister when I killed him.

The second person was my sister. I didn’t let her say anything, didn’t let her screams finish when I did the same to her.

The third person was my past self, the one who killed two people. I had to send her away to live in this underground prison cell where the air was stale, and the sun was forbidden to enter.

My name is Anokai Rivers, the second daughter of the beta of Rivermoon Pack and the branded murderer for the death of the alpha's son. For three years, I have lived in this prison, atoning for my mistake and thinking about whether I’ll do anything different.

I can’t remember anything about the murder. It had all happened in a blur. It was my first shift as a wolf, and I had just turned 18 when I found my sister, the gorgeous one whom everyone always picked and loved, underneath my mate, Ethan, talking shit about me as they had beautiful, damning sex.

I didn’t even let them finish before I sent them to the moon goddess.

But if I were to change something, I’d ask Ethan why.

Why did he decide to throw everything we had away?

Why did he pick her over me?

Why did he pick the day I was supposed to give him myself, a day that he was supposed to mark me and make me his Luna, and give it to the sister that has always haunted my entire existence?

I wasn’t all that perfect. For starters, I could not read. The words on the books always seemed too small or never stayed in one place. It was my one big flaw and the one that my parents hated the most. But Ethan loved it. He would read me books, paint the picture so well in my head that it didn’t make me feel like I could not read.

He would buy me the prettiest jewelry and ask me to flaunt it in front of everyone. When he traveled for Pack matters, he would return with the most gorgeous dresses, asking me to wear them for him and complimenting me. He was the perfect mate to have and the heartthrob of every woman in the pack.

I was happy. We knew we were each other’s mates at 16, and for the two years we were together, it was bliss.

My father never liked me. My family never wanted me. I was the bad seed, the one who stained their image like every other second daughter. Aurelia was the perfect one. The blessed child, the best of both of them.

But Ethan never made me feel like that. He flaunted me, flaunted us, flaunted our bond.

I was his mate, and everyone knew it.

So why?

Why did he betray me?

Why was he on top of Aurelia? Why did he tell her he never loved me and was just toying with me? That I had never mattered to him and would never matter to him?

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, making it so hard for me to breathe. For three years, all I wanted was answers, but there was no one to give them.

No Ethan.

No Aurelia.

No parents because they disowned me the minute they heard about the killings.

My thoughts were brought to a halt as the door to the cell opened and two pack guards entered. They didn’t even let me say anything before one of them threw something on my head, blurring my vision, and then hauled me up.

For three years, I have not seen anyone, let alone been taken out of my cell. Fear gripped me. I went feral—kicking, thrashing against anything.

“What is happening! Tell me! What is going on!”

I heard a hiss from one of the guards before a hand grabbed my neck, choking me.

“If you move again, I’ll kill you.” He growled.

My mind was spinning, different thoughts echoing in my head. Was I going to be killed? Is this the last day for me?

I didn’t know where they were leading me to, just that we were moving. I could hear doors opening, greetings being muttered, but nothing else.

For years, I had waited for the day that I'd be taken out of the cell or the day someone would come and see me. But never in my life had I expected this, for a hood to cover my face and to be led to nowhere.

Cold washed over my skin.

This was it.

This was my death.

I gulped down as I resolved in my heart. If this is my end, then so be it.

At least I’ll stop feeling guilty and stop thinking about why Ethan had picked Aurelia, or why he said those words to her.

Suddenly, we stopped, and I heard a knock, “Your highness, we’re here.”

My heart stopped altogether. The word ‘your highness’ running through my head again and again.

This could only mean one thing.

The alpha.

I wasn’t able to finish the rest of my thoughts as the door opened and the guard led me inside the room. One of them removed the hood from my head, the sunlight streaming in as I closed my eyes.

I opened it again, making sure I was seeing clearly as I blinked. My heart did a leap in my chest, my entire face blank as I stared into the face of the person I thought I had murdered. The person who has haunted me for three years.

It was Ethan.

Ethan, my mate. Ethan, the first person I ever killed in my entire life.

Ethan, the reason I was locked in the cell, left to rot away for the rest of my entire life, seated on the alpha’s chair, his eyes boring deep into mine.

Ethan, who excited me, made me feel on top of the world, only to snatch everything back from me.

But it wasn’t just Ethan.

I looked at his side, at the woman perched on his table in a red dress and her hair packed in a bun.

It was my sister, Aurelia, looking down at me with a smug expression. There was a long slash on her right cheek, one I was sure was my kill that put it on her face.

“Hello, sister.”

My heart was beating fast in my chest as I stepped away, flicking my eyes to both of them.

No, no, no, no, none of this can be real.

I killed them.

I killed both of them.

That’s why I’ve been in the cell for three years, begging the moon goddess for forgiveness for my actions.

My eyes suddenly widened as I looked at both of them, the truth dawning on me.

Unless—-

Ethan rose from his chair and stalked towards me. I moved back until my back hit the wall of the office, and he stopped in front of me, eyes looking down,

“Hello Anokai.” He tipped my jaw forward with a finger, “We have so much to talk about.”