Chapter 4

Seraphina.

“I won't do it!” I say, shaking my head.

They stare at each other, eyes wide in shock.

“What makes you think you have a choice?” She asks, stopping right before me and staring into my eyes.

“I will not stoop so low to take the identity of another…. I am the..” I cut, glancing at them.

I can't really tell them my identity, can I? They could kill me in an instance the moment they realise I am the alpha who attacked their vehicles and freed their hostage.

But that doesn't mean I should start up a new life, impersonating my husband's fated mate and mistress. That I will not do!

“You're?” The man adjacent to me asks, seeming intrigued.

I swallow, not knowing what to say.

“You should know this young lady… we've installed a chip inside you and from here, we can hear all your conversations.” the lady says, pointing at my wrist.

My heart skips a beat, my eyes wide in shock.

“Tell anyone that you're not Kenna Starclaw and we will kill you from here…. After all, you were already dying when we found you.” 

How is that even possible? Everyone says the Cindersteel has the best technology but even so, this sounds extreme. They are definitely bluffing.

“To prove to you that we are not bluffing…” the man on my left hand says, walking to a monitor like he could guess my thoughts. “I will show you some demonstrations.” He clicks on something and my whole body begins to vibrate.

I yell out in pain, crutching the sheets. He then stops, smiling at me.

The lady paths my cheeks, a sly smile spreading across her lips. She leans in, making her cheeks brush slightly against mine, then she whispers, “Dare to ruin this for us and your life ends.”

A knock interrupts. The door opens and a guard walks in. “An Ambassador from the Moondrift Pack has arrived.”

They glance at each other and nod. 

“He didn't come himself…”

“It doesn't change the fact that he has come for the girl..”

My heart begins pounding loud. This can't really be my life, living the harsh life meant for the woman who stole my husband and left me to die.

But what can I do at this moment? All they care about is delivering anyone as Kenna Starclaw to Moondrift Pack. They are never going to let me go back home.

“Are you ready?” The lady asks.

I gaze at all of them, not responding. They are three guards and five weird disciples or whatever they call themselves. I can't really take on all of them, not while I am weak like this but I should try.

I take a deep breath and nod. Two of the men help me to sit up, the lady pulls out the syringe from my hands and steadies to stand upright.

She leads me to the door and instantly I punch her jaw, letting her fall. Quickly, I drag out the guns from the guards at the entrance, firing at the guards and two disciples.

I aim to shoot the rest of the disciples but the lady somehow gets up and hits a syringe into my neck, injecting me with whatever it is.

“Consider this me making your journey easier for you.” She whispers.

Slowly I feel my body begin to paralyze. My breath becomes hazardous and before I know it, my eyes shut.

*****

When I open my eyes, I am on a king-sized bed. It feels so soft unlike the wooden table I was laid on in the Cindersteel Creed.

I sit up slowly, my fingers brushing against the embroidered duvet as I gaze around. The room is spacious and feels like home, looking so similar to my room in DarkenMoon Pack, too perfect, too arranged.

But I know better, this isn't home.

I swing my legs over the bed and stretch, wincing as pain shoots through my back. I should have healed completely by now. Any Alpha would have.

I draw a breath and focus, forcing my claws out. I'm going to be needing my alpha abilities if I am going to escape any of this.

To my surprise, nothing claws out. I try again, harder this time but the shift doesn’t come. My pulse quickens and I rush toward a tall mirror standing by the wall.

I stare at my reflection, my face pale, eyes wide. I take another breath and force my eyes to glow, to spark red as they always do when I summon my Alpha power. But there’s nothing. Just my human eyes staring back at me, confused.

“Did the bullets kill my wolf?” I whisper. “Am I now wolfless? Am I now an Omega? No! No!”

I hear a knock and it drifts me out of my thoughts. I turn around, my breath catching in my throat.

A young man steps inside, tall and huge, dressed in blue suits that brightens the appearance of his dark hair.

“I am to escort you to the grand hall, where you would meet the alpha,” he says. “You must have had enough rest.”

So I meet the Alpha, what next? I am beginning to think that whatever he needed Kenna for isn't good, I mean she did escape from him. 

“I am not ready..” I say.

His eyes study me too closely as he walks towards me. I don't flinch, I stand firm, looking him in the eyes, though my heart is beating so fast.

He grabs my right hand and throws his gaze at it, I follow the direction of his stare and my heart skips a beat. There is a moon mark on my wrist, I've never seen it before. I am certain it was never there, all my life.

“You shouldn't keep him waiting,” he says, tightening his grip on my hands and begins dragging me.

“Let me go!” I yell, trying to extract myself from his hold, despite knowing how vain it is.

“Do you not know how much that was paid to get you here?” He blurts out, pulling me further. “Or do you not know that this is an honour.”

He drags me out of the room, through the corridor and pushes me into the supposed grand hall.

My gaze meets a huge man, sitting on an arm chair on a dais. His white shirt makes his blonde hair too obvious.

Beside him are two elderly men who were standing and staring at me like I am a foreigner. Well, I am a foreigner.

He doesn't stop looking at me and his stare makes my feet tremble beneath me.

“Well, does she really have the moon mark?” One of the elders asks, looking behind me, no doubt at the man who just shoved me in.

“Yes, she is indeed the Maiden of The Eclipse.” He replies.

I don't even know what that means but it surely connects to Kenna. The Cindersteel Creed must have put a fake mark on me, to make it believable that I am Kenna Starclaw.

Those outrageous trickish monsters!

I should tell them that I am not her but if I do, I am likely to die. I've seen what they are capable of, this mark that looks so real is evident enough that it is possible that there is really a chip in me, monitoring me.

And if I die, Raze would have everything he desires. That, I can not allow to happen. I must stall and find a way out of this.

But what exactly does Alpha Evander want from the Maiden of the Eclipse?

He suddenly stands and walks towards me. The moment he gets closer, I drag my feet backwards in fear, his frame is indeed intimidating. 

He gets a hold of my hand, pulling me forward. My breath hitches but I swallow. He takes a look at the mark, then into my eyes.

I see his amber eyes, they are suddenly not terrifying as I thought they would be. Rather alluring.

To worsen it, he suddenly smells so familiar like the guy I met in the forest, near my lodge, two years ago, the one time I escaped from my father's watch.

That night, I had a scarf tied on most of my face and surprisingly, he too was masked. But it can't be him, that man that night seemed a coward, unable to show his face after claiming I was his fated mate.

This man before me, has bravery in his eyes.

He lets go of my hand and walks out, not saying anything at all.

“Derek!!” He calls, “To my chambers now!” 

The man who brought me here hurries and follows him, leaving me alone with these elderly men and the guards surrounding the hall.

One of the elderly now moves towards me. I take a step back, my heart beating so fast.