PART- 2

[ Cassandra ]

Amelia was pretty, virtuous and more importantly the most powerful alpha’s fated mate. She was loved by all while I was a mere shadow.

Dominic loved her unconditionally and so passionately that they were called the ideal couple, the one made for each other until the tragedy happened.

That day, I and my older sister Amelia went to hunt into the woods. We always went hunting or running together but that day, Amelia suggested we’d do something adventurous and go to the dense woods where our father forbade us to go as it was the area where rogue attacks were frequent.

Amelia convinced me that nothing would happened to us but it proved to be the biggest mistakes of our lives.

Rogues surrounded us in the middle of the forest. They were many in numbers. Amelia told me to run while she tried to fought them. I didn’t want to go but she gave me her swear and I escaped.

My nightmare started from that day. I was accused of pushing my sister in the hands of those rogues. My parents didn’t see my pain and locked me in a basement as a punishment to ‘kill’ their favourite daughter.

Nobody came to see me, with no water, food and treatment, I felt my wolf dying.

I was the pack’s punching bag, an omega and no more the alpha’s second daughter. I wish I had died along with my sister, it’d be far better.

It was my punishment until the day Dominic showed up when I was being dragged on the streets because I dared to visit my sister’s symbolic memorial to pay my respect.

He saved me and declared he’d marry me. 

He never accused me of killing his mate when he was devastated the most.

“Move aside!”

I heard Dominic’s cold alpha tone and saw the crowd parting to give him the way.

Shocked and confused when I finally pulled myself together, I entered the packhouse behind him. His solo attention was on a half-conscious Amelia in his arms.

“Oh God! Amelia is that really you?” I blinked my eyes as I recovered from the shock.

Dominic was walking straight inside the packhouse, he looked impatient and worried.

“I found her unconscious and tied with chains at that bloody rogue king’s camp. She is unwell and undernourished. They have tortured her almost to death. I don’t want to imagine what they would have done to her.” He responded to me for the first time.

I could see anger and pain flashing on his face simultaneously.

“She needs urgent treatment. She must be in the hospital.” I advised as a doctor because she looked really pale, barely holding to keep her eyes open.

“Cassie..” She whispered my name and then closed her eyes.

“Amy..” My eyes welled up and as I was about to touch her, something inside me urged me to stop.

I drowned more into guilt. I could have saved her.

The thought made me feel sick in the stomach, my pup.

“Cassandra, are you unwell? You look pale.” He asked me with a frown.

 My heart skipped a beat. He looked concerned for me.

“Yes, I am fine but there’s something you need to kno-” I forced a smile and about to break the greatest news of our lives when he cut me off.

“If you are fine then prepare the herbal medicine for Amelia. She’s burning with fever.” He said without sparing a glance at me, his solo focus was on my sister.

I felt a pang in my chest but I agreed, Amelia needed to be treated first and she was the love of his life, his fated mate.

“Okay, I’ll prepare it right away.” I nodded and went to prepare the medicine.

“Bring it to my room. I am taking her there. She needs proper rest.” He said.

And then he headed directly towards his room.

I blinked my eyes to see his gentle side. He took her to his room which was forbidden for me. He told me not to step my foot inside his room because it was meant for Amelia. He prepared it when they got engaged and decorated it together.

I had never seen it from inside as I respected the boundaries he set between us.

Heading towards the kitchen with fresh herbs to prepare medicine for my sister so her body could heal faster. I avoided the judging stares of the maids and guards.

“Finally, our Alpha’s true mate is back. Now we can get rid of that imposter weakling. I can’t wait to meet our new Luna. She’s so pretty.”

“Did you see the alpha’s worried face? His love is undeniable. He ignored that wife when she was trying to get his attention. I wanted to laugh there but I was afraid of our alpha.”

“Although, that wench tried to kill our Alpha’s fated mate, she survived. Our Goddess will punish her for stealing someone else’s mate.”

I clenched my fists as I overheard everyone, they were still blaming me and calling me names.

But I had to endure it for some more time. I’d find the right opportunity to tell Dominic about our baby. I hoped it’d silence them.

I was finally going to give this pack an heir because they also said that my womb was cursed for stealing alpha from his true mate.

After preparing the medicinal liquid, I made my way to Dominic’s room, my head down as I tried to act composed but my feet stopped when I sneaked into the room as the door was slightly open.

For the first time, I was seeing the interior. The peach and blue walls.

The walls were covered with their photos or mostly Amelia’s and then her words reached into my ears.

“Dom, I can’t believe you still have this room as it was when we decorated it together. We had many plans for our future once we got married. I feel like living all those moments again.” Amelia sniffed.

She looked really happy and emotional to be in the place which always belonged to her even in her long absence.

Her voice was weak and sweet as she leaned on his chest and he had his arm wrapped around her.

“I never touched anything here because your memories lived in this room. I waited for the day when you would come back.” Dominic responded in a tender voice, a tone I never heard for anyone except for her.

“You know when those monsters captured me and locked me in a dark cell, I only prayed that one day I would be united with my mate. I never lost hopes even when they beat me until I passed out and repeated the same next day. They made me serve them as slaves.” She broke down but he wiped her tears.

“Hey, don’t cry. I punished them. They all are dead now and you are safe with me.” He said gently stroking her hairs.

“But you are married to my sister now, Dom. She's been your wife and Luna for two years.” She hiccuped.

“Amy, you have to listen to me first. Marriage isn’t what you think. I will explain to you once you get better. You are finally here. We can always talk once you recover.” He replied to her in a thick voice.

My chest constricted as reality struck me hearing his words. What did he mean?

I knew the marriage wasn’t out of love but for me, at least, it was for love. I grew to love him with each passing day. He respected me and always treated me as an alpha must treat his luna.

He never raised his voice on me and strictly ordered everyone to treat me like they should have treated his fated Luna.

It seemed it was all meaningless.

But then I focused on their conversation. I shouldn’t rush to conclusions.

“Dominic, do you still love me or have you developed feelings for Cassandra when I wasn’t around?”

I heard Amelia asking him and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.