A New Identity

Audrey's POV 

Pain exploded through my stomach, dragging me awake with a gasp.

"Oh, thank God." A female voice whispered and warm hands pressed something against my side. "Don't move, you'll tear the wound.”

I tried to sit up anyway but a groan left my lips and I snapped back against the hard ground.

The sound of dripping water echoing in the silence finally caught my attention and I snapped my eyes open. 

Everywhere was dark, only a faint light was filtering. The stone underneath me was damp and I smelled river water. 

"Where are we?” I whispered, frowning as I looked around. 

"We're in a cave," the voice answered. “I got us out of the river. You’ve been unconscious for two days.”

Two days?

I turned my head to see my lookalike crouched beside me, pressing a folded cloth to my side. 

The memories suddenly rushed forward and I winced, clutching my head. 

"You lost a lot of blood.” She adjusted the cloth and I hissed through my teeth. "Your healing is unusually slow. Are you an omega… without a wolf?”

I nodded slowly, stealing a look at the makeshift bandage around my midsection, it was stained dark with dried blood.

The knife had been poisoned.

“You used your clothes?” I asked, noticing the missing sleeve from her shirt.

She shrugged. “There wasn’t anything else to stop the bleeding.”

“Thank you.” I whispered, shifting uneasily. 

The longer she stared at me, the more I felt uncomfortable. 

It was unnerving to look at someone with your face, even down to the scrunch between my eyebrows… she had it.

“Who are you?” I finally asked.

She handed me a rusted can of water first.

“My name is Leslie,” she said after I drank. “Leslie Ashton.”

I nearly choked on my own spit. “Ashton? As in the Bluemoon territory?” 

She nodded and I leaned back in awe, struggling to make sense of what she just said.  

Alpha Ashton was one of the most powerful alphas in the world. Madame Bertha was born there and she never hesitated to sing the praises of the famous Alpha. 

"You're his daughter," I whispered, staring at a face so identical to mine. 

She bobbed her head. "His only daughter and child, yes." 

Leslie leaned close. “But now, I wonder. Could it be that you're my twin? A long lost sister or a doppleganger?” 

“I have no idea.” I whispered truthfully and her lips twitched. 

She smiled faintly before wincing.

“You don’t look well,” I said.

“I’m fine.” She leaned against the cave wall and took a slow breath. “I’m also the woman betrothed to the Alpha King’s son.”

My heart skipped. Kairos’ face flashed through my mind before I shoved it away.

Now wasn’t the time.

“I came here with my parents for the engagement ceremony,” Leslie whispered. “Instead… someone tried to kill me.”

She opened her mouth to speak but a violent cough seized her. When she pulled her hand away from her mouth, I saw the blood on her palm.

I cursed, scrambling towards her.  "Dammit, Leslie!”

She had been hurt worse than me yet she was tending to my own wound for two days.

“I think a broken rib punctured something inside me. She stared at me and there was something I didn't like in her eyes. “My wolf is not helping me.”

I tried to stand but the pain was like fire licking my entire body. "We need to get you help, you won't survive long if you stay like this.”

She grabbed my wrist instead. “What's your name?”

I eyed her warily. “Audrey.” I muttered. 

"Audrey." She squeezed my hand. "I'm not going to survive this.”

I snatched my hand away. “No.”

“I need you to listen.” The certainty in her voice terrified me. “I don’t have much time.”

I stared at her through burning eyes and slowly nodded.

“The assassins came from the palace,” she said. “Someone wanted me dead before the marriage. Whoever gave that order is still there.”

I shook my head. “We can still leave and tell your parents-“

“I won’t make it.” Leslie snapped but she started coughing again, more blood spilling out of mouth.

I rushed to steady her, but she held onto my hands instead. Her eyes were wild and I saw the tears in them. 

"I’ve spent two days staring at your face,” she whispered. “Wondering if fate brought us together for a reason.”

A sad smile crossed her lips. “I always wished I had a sister.” My throat tightened as she pulled me into a weak embrace.

“Aren’t you curious too?” Her breathing suddenly faltered and her body sagged against mine. “I need your help, Audrey.”

I clutched her tighter, panic rising in my chest. She reached into her pocket with trembling fingers and placed something in my hand.

An old bronze key covered in strange markings.

"What does it open?" I asked.

Her hand found mine around the key and closed over it weakly. "I don't know but you can help me find out.” 

She looked into my eyes with determination. “Take my place.”

My breath caught and I stared at her in horror. “What?”

“Go to the palace as Leslie Ashton and find the person who did this to me.”She lifted a trembling hand and cupped my cheek. “Then find out who you really are.”

Tears blurred my vision but she was smiling. 

“I’m glad… I met you, Audrey.” She whispered and then her hand went slack in mine, her eyes fluttering close.

“Leslie?” Her eyes remained closed. “Leslie!? Wake up… please.”

 

I lifted my shaky hand and pressed my fingers to her neck. 

But there was nothing.

The cave fell silent except for my broken sobs. I cried until my chest ached and there was nothing left but dry soreness. 

I looked down at the key, it was still in my hand but it felt hotter now. I closed my fist around it and squeezed.

"I'll take your place," I whispered, the promise winding tight around my chest.  "I promise, Leslie. I'll find who did this to you and I will make them pay for it."

I looked at her face one more time and then I pressed a cold kiss at the top of her head. 

“Thank you for saving me.” I muttered against her skin.

 

From now on, Audrey Lane was dead. 

I was now Leslie Ashton. The only daughter of Alpha Ashton and the future fiancée to the Cursed Alpha’s son.