Chapter 1

Darrel's POV. 

I stumbled as the guards shove me forward. I had no energy to fight them anymore.

My arms and back felt sore and my stomach was growling in protest from days of watery porridge and crusted bread.

Every single part of my body was covered with blisters from my hands to my feets due to the hard labour I had been subjected to for the past couple of days.

I was now a prisoner in my own home, treated worse than an omega while I slept in the most disgusting algae infested room in the maid quarters ever since I had been dragged out from my room by the guards to this place five days ago on the day I suppose to celebrate my 18th birthday.

Now I was a prisoner in the only home I’ve ever known.

I have been in the dark for days, unaware of what my offense was and why my parents would give such an order to humiliate and punish me.

No matter how hard I had demanded to see them no one came, not even Drew, the one person I thought I could count on. My mate, my future.

A tight pain squeezed my chest as the feeling of betrayal settled in.

I was made to scrub floors, clean fireplaces, and carry buckets so heavy I thought my arms would fall off. Servants, people who once bowed when I passed spit in my direction now. 

Now they whisper behind their hands whenever I walk past them, calling me a thief, a liar, a witch.

“The Alpha and Luna have called for you.” Lady Adeline said with a stoic expression on her face as she led me to the throne room.

I felt a sense of relief and dread. I was finally going to get answers as to why my parents subjected me to such cruelty.

“Keep moving,” Miss Adeline snaps, roughly pushing me forward.

I clench my fists to stop them from shaking and to rein in my anger.

As the throne room doors creak open, I suck in a trembling breath.

Alpha Clayton, my father sat down majestically on his throne, his eyes cold with no silver of affection. My mother, Luna Serena sat right beside him with an unreadable tensed expression.

The atmosphere in the room felt so tense my heart began pounding frantically in my chest.

And then Drew walks into the room and sits down, his eyes refusing to meet mine. But he was not alone, a lady sat down beside him. 

Her long black hair gleamed like polished obsidian, her skin looked exceptionally flawless and her eyes shimmered with innocence.

She looks like a painting brought to life. And Drew…my Drew was staring at her with so much … warmth.

What was going on here? Why were they acting so indifferent to me?

I thought by now they were going to tell me everything I had been experiencing had been a test and it was all a prank. But instead all I was getting was cold treatment from all of them.

“Mother. Father, why are you doing this to me? Have I done something wrong? If I have done something bad, please tell me, I am completely in the dark right now.” I sobbed tears slipped out of my eyes.

“Enough with the fake tears.You are no child of mine.” my father says, voice clapping like thunder.

His words felt like a punch to my guts? Why would my father say such a thing?

I stared at him, mouth parted, unsure if I heard correctly. “Father, why would you say such a thing?”

“You are not Beta Kingston’s daughter. You are a liar and imposter. And worse of all you are a murderer.” mother cut in looking at me with so much disgust and anger my heart broke.

Every word that came out of my mother's mouth sounds unbelievable. Me? A murderer?

Where did she get this information from? What was happening.

“Mother, I don't understand what you mean? What are you calling me all these names.” I asked, my voice cracking due to the emotions I was trying to push back.

“We now know that you killed your father, Beta Kingston and lied About being his daughter just so you could enjoy the privilege of being a royal. You are nothing but a child of a slave.” My mother yelled.

I could not believe my ears? Who fed them all this information? And why would I kill my own father? 

He was the most important male figure in my life before he died and ever since I arrived at Alpha Clayton and Luna Serena's home when I was seven they have taken me as their daughter and I have taken them as my parents. Hearing such hurtful words was almost too much for me to bear.

“Stop with the lies, you have been exposed, Seraphina is the true daughter of Beta Kingston. And our real daughter, you are just an imposter.” She says, pointing toward the woman beside Drew.

I turned to look at Seraphina who had a pitiful look on her face while Drew gently caressed her shoulder.

My head spinning as I tried to process all that was happening. “That’s not possible…”

“Beta Kingston wore this necklace every day of his life,” Seraphina interrupted, holding out a diamond-studded pendant and I recognized it instantly.

It was my father's pendant and he had worn it every single day but when he died it had mysteriously gone missing.

But how… was this stranger with my father's necklace.

“Where did you get that?” I ask, taking a step forward to grab it from her hand but Damein stood up abruptly, shielding her with his body. “Stay back.” he warned me with a cold tone, filled with unspoken threats.

My heart shattered as I watched him look at me with so much anger and …. Hatred.

“Drew? You believe this girl, this stranger after everything we’ve been through?” I asked, my voice cracked 

He looked away once again, refusing to say anything. But his silence is louder than any answer.

At that moment I felt something crack inside me.

“I didn’t know I was the Beta's daughter. I grew up in a small village at the western border . The woman I thought was my mother told me the truth about my identity only days before she died. She said she saved me from assassins and that my father Alpha Kingston had given her this necklace along with some documents instructing her to stay in hiding and protect me… she told me that this necklace would prove my legitimacy.”

She was lying. None of this makes sense.

“She’s lying! Why won’t anyone believe me?”I screamed desperately looking at the faces of the people I call family.

“We trusted you, But the truth has been revealed. You’re not who we thought you were and the high priestess also confirmed Seraphina's identity”

As if summoned, the doors burst open and the high priestess entered wearing her infamous white and crimson robe.

“She is the cause of the plague.” she yelled like a maniac, pointing at me.

“What?” 

I was in total shock, what’s with these new allegations again and what plague were they talking about.

The priestess bowed to my father and mother as well as Drew.

“The plague at the northern border grows worse. The heavens have spoken. Darrel is to blame. Her lies and treachery have angered the heavens.”

“That’s ridiculous, I have never lied nor have I committed treason.” I argued.

“She has no wolf, she is an abomination. The goddess demands her blood.” The priestess continued completely ignoring my protest.

“No… this is a lie, I am being framed. How can you not see this. Father, mother, Drew…..”

“Have you shifted?” my father suddenly asked, stepping forward.

My throat closed, and my eyes widened in panic.

“I… no,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper. “But I will. I just need more time…”

“Enough! You disgust me Darrel I can't believe I once had feelings for you. ” Drew said, his voice laced with disgust. 

“The daughter of the beta should be able to shift on the day of her 18th birthday, no delays and you Darrel have not. But Seraphina can. Seraphina show us.” 

Seraphina nods walking down the platform, then, right before my eyes, she begins to shift.

The sound of bones napping and tearing of material filled the air and in an instant , a regal grey wolf stands where seraphina was moments ago, a single dark stripe of fur across her neck.

Even Luna Serena steps closer, eyes filled with admiration as she called at Seraphina's wolf “A royal lineage…”

Drew wraps his coat around Seraphina as she shifts back, shielding her naked body from view like a dutiful lover.

I wanted to scream, hoping that this was all a nightmare and I would wake up soon.

"She's lying. Mom...dad I don't know the reason why I haven't felt my wolf but I am still your real daughter. Please believe me." I cried out, tears streaming freely down my cheeks as I pleaded.

“You were given every chance, But the signs are clear. The girl before us is our real daughter and you…. You are a traitor.” Alpha Clayton sneered, turning his back to me.

“Father…..” I gasped, a sharp pain ripping through my heart 

“There is only one way to save the northern border from devastation. The goddess demands her sacrifice.” The priestess speaks once more.

Sacrifice? This had to be a joke? Why was the high priestess so determined to get rid of me?

Could Seraphina and the high priestess be working together? Why were they doing all these? What the?…or is she trying to steal my identity and get me killed?

There is no way my father would agree to this nonsense.

“If that is what is needed then. So be it. Send her to the northern border tomorrow and on the red full moon…. sacrifice her.”

Wait, what?

“Father…. Please don't do this…. Father look at me…” I cried out but my pleas fell on deaf ears as I was dragged out of the throne room.

I locked eyes with Drew

one last time, pleading for his help, but He did not flinch nor did he look away.

And in that moment, I realized the truth….

My family had abandoned me.