CHAPTER TWO

RAVEN'S POV

it's been two long years away from home and coming back to Woodcroft pack felt like a dream.

My parents couldn't also make it to the academy to pick me up this morning because apparently my twin sister Rhea was still sick so i had to hurdle my way down here.

Now I am getting really worried ,how sick is Rhea really that my parents couldn't leave her side and come to my graduation and watch me be the healer they have always dreamed of me being.

When I stepped into our house,I kept my bags on the floor and inhaled the familiar scent of mum's homemade lavender oil. it's feels so great to be home again.

My mom was the first to see me as she came out of the kitchen."Raven!" she rushed towards me and hugged me tightly. My father followed behind her smiling warmly at me.

They congratulated me and asked about my journey and apologized for not making it to my graduation.I decided to just let it go and hugged them back, this was the first time they were missing my graduation anyways.

"Where's Rhea?" I asked as I looked around the living room.

"She stepped out a while ago" my father said.

"Stepped out?" I looked at them in confusion "I thought you guys said she was too sick and that's why you couldn't attend my graduation ceremony" I said to them

Now they glanced at themselves as if I caught them in a lie

" Yes Raven but she's feeling better now,why don't you go upstairs and freshen up, while I make you something to eat" my mum replied me.

I stared at them for a second, then nodded

and carried my bags upstairs.

I pushed open the bedroom door I used to share with my twin sister two years ago and halted.

The room was different now. The two small beds that used to be here were gone and now it was occupied by one large queen-sized bed.

The walls were repainted to a turquoise green color which is Rhea's favorite color ,there was a big vanity table and a whole new wardrobe. I felt like an intruder,like I was intruding in her personal space.

I stood there for a long moment taking it all in and then I walked in quietly and placed my suitcase near the wardrobe.

I freshened up and changed into something comfortable.

As I was about to about to leave the room I heard voices downstairs, a male voice.

it sounded quite familiar.

I stepped out and walked down the stairs slowly.The closer I got, the clearer it became. I got to the last step and our eyes met. Damien Wood,speak of the devil.

He froze as his eyes met mine.

"You!" he blurted out, shock written all over his face. "What are you doing here?"

I stopped midway into the living room, my hand's crossed as I stared at him coldly.

"I should be asking you that,"I replied slowly. " What are you doing in my home?".

"Wait... are you Raven , Rhea's twin sister?" He asked me

"Yes, so you do know my name " I said.

He frowned. "But...you don't look like her"

I raised a brow in mock astonishment. "Do all twins look alike? haven't you heard of fraternal twins before?"

He was still staring at me like he has seen his worst nightmare.

"You vanished this morning without saying goodbye"I said as I took a step closer to him "I didn't see you when I woke up,is that how you treat your mate?".

A glass fell down and i turned slightly to see what happened and I saw my parents staring at me in horror.

"What did you say, Raven?" My mother asked staring at me in disbelief.

I frowned at her question but I answered

"Damien Wood is my mate, we found out at the graduation ceremony yesterday".

The front door opened before anyone could respond. Rhea walked in, she looked different in a positive way, different from two years ago, she was literally glowing.

"Damien is whose mate?" she asked sharply as her eyes met mine.

I smiled at her."Hi, Rhea,long time no see"

She didn't smile back,she just glared at me like I was an unwelcome visitor.

I looked around the room and noticed my parents were still staring at me in shock.

Why were they all acting like I had just said something forbidden and no one was no one saying anything either.

I gaze landed on Damien again and he looked like he wanted to vanish again.

Few minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Alpha Owen and Luna Beatrice, Damien's parents walked, it seemed Damien had mind linked them.

Immediately they entered,the tension released a bit as my parents ushered them in.

They congratulated me on my graduation and welcomed me home and I thanked them politely.

We all went to sit down on the sofa. Rhea sat between my mum and dad while Damien sat with his parents and I sat on a single chair. The sitting formation made it look like I was about to be judged for a serious crime.

Finally, I couldn't take the silence anymore

"Why is everyone acting strange?" I asked as my gaze went around the room. "Why did the mood change the moment I said Damien is my mate?".

Silence again.

Then Alpha Owen cleared his throat.

"Raven ,your sister is pregnant and she is pregnant for Damien".

"What!!!!!!" I blurted out

"They have been in a relationship for the past one year" Luna Beatrice continued gently. "They have chosen each other".

" Yes and they are getting married" Alpha Owen finished as he and his wife stared at me in pity.

"This is a joke, right?" I said weakly as I stared at their faces hoping for one of them to laugh but no one laughed.

"It’s not a joke, Raven,I am sorry" Damien said quietly with his eyes on the floor.

" I see ,so at what point did you decide to replace your fated mate?".

He sighed before replying raising his eyes to look at me now. "I fell in love with your sister".

" So what about me then?" I asked aloud. "Where do I fit in this plan?"

Rhea crossed her arms and looked at me with venom in her eyes "Look Raven,i have been training to be Luna for some months now, so you don't fit in the plan” she said.

Alpha Owen nodded and said "Yes ,that's true,the solution is simple,you and Damien will reject each other and he will be with Rhea,the mother of his child,that's the plan"

Reject,the word felt like a blade to my chest.

"If I reject him" I whispered, "if he rejects me rather, I will lose my fated mate forever and I would be single forever,is that why you are saying I should do?" I asked no one in particular.

"you can choose someone else"Luna Beatrice said softly.

I laughed bitterly. "choose?” I repeated. "Who would choose me after knowing my mate rejected me?,who would accept me after knowing my mate left me for my sister?".

No one answered me, they all looked away.

"Mom, dad"I turned to them desperately "Please say something,you know this isn't right"but they continued to look away, ignoring my plea,at that moment my heart sank.

"Raven you are a healer now"my father said finally as he turned to look at me. "You are gifted but your sister Rhea this is all she has"

"And whose fault is it" I demanded as I stared at my father in utter disappointment."Is it my fault that I am gifted?" I asked him.

"Did I ask the Moon Goddess to bless me with this gift?,so why should I sacrifice my mate because Rhea needs something to hold onto?"

Tears streamed down my face as I continued "The Moon Goddess gave him to me ,she gives each of us our destined mate and she never makes a mistake ,so who are you to take him away from me?".

Ria stood up abruptly." why are you so selfish!" she yelled at me "You have always had everything! ,this is the one thing that belongs to me!"

"Belongs to you?" I repeated in disbelief."he is not yours Rhea,he is my fated mate and I am not responsible for your insecurities"

"This is why I don't like you being around!" she replied. "You always want to be in the spotlight,well not this time Raven".

"Enough" Alpha Owen shouted at us , His Alpha aura pressed down on me heavily.

"Raven" he commanded in his Alpha voice "you will accept the rejection and you will not speak of this to anyone. The pack stability comes first,not your happiness"

The weight of the aura in his voice forced me to bow my head down slightly but I still managed to say to him.

" you want me to keep silent and let you insult the gift of the moon goddess,this is a crime Alpha and you know it"

"You will not disobey your Alpha, I command you " He said with his Alpha voice disregarding the truth I just stated to him.

For the first time in my life, I felt small, I came home thinking I was returning to my family, instead I came back to the biggest heartbreak of my life .

I slowly lifted my eyes and looked at Damien who stared at me with pity in his eyes.

"If you knew you were in love with my sister,"I asked quietly, "why did you sleep with me then?".

The room froze at the question ,Rhea turned to him sharply."You slept with her?".She asked in a disgusting tone.

Damien ran a hand through his hair." I am so sorry,I could not control myself,the mate bond was too overwhelming" he said

So cheap of him to blame the bond.Rhea inhaled deeply and then looked at me coldly."He has apologized,” she said. "Just accept it" .

Accept it like that would change anything.

I looked at all of them,my parents,the Alpha,the Luna,my mate,my twin and it dawn on me that I have lost my home and there was no place for me here.

Not as a daughter,not as a sister and definitely not as a mate.