Chapter 2

(River's POV)

My smile faltered and my heart sank immediately as I reached my eyes to meet her's.

No matter how much I tried to deny it within myself, Amber was back in the Crescent Moon Pack, and to our lips.

I bit my lips, and hid the pregnancy report behind me as I greeted her, “Sister, when did you come?” 

However, instead of replying to me, she flinched at my sight and hid behind Zed. I looked nervously at her, and then at Zed.

His eyes were bloody red, and cold. It was as if he wanted to crumble me right that second. 

A chill ran down my spine. “W—What’s going on?” 

Zed let out a heavy scoff. “Are you disappointed to see her return? You didn't expect this when she left, right?”

I pursed my lips, looking anxiously but I couldn't respond to him. I had no idea what was going on, but I understood something was off.

“Why aren't you replying? Don't you have something to confess?”

I gulped. “What are you saying, Zed? Why would I be disappointed seeing her return?” I said, touching the corner of my earlobes as my eyes lingered on Amber. 

My heart thumped with guilt. That was a lie. I hoped Amber wouldn't return this soon. 

Three years is a lot of time, but it wasn't enough time to change my mate’s heart. 

“Aren't you ashamed of lying?” Zed stormed towards me and grabbed my neck.

My eyes widened and I trembled in fear, watching him suddenly get this enraged. 

He clenched his teeth, and spat at me, “How could I even let you live peacefully when you dared to harm Amber? How couldn't I notice before that you were such a vile person?”

I started in disbelief as tears dropped down my cheeks. “What are you saying, Zed? I never harmed Amber.”

Even though it was true that I was disappointed at her return, I had never done anything to her that I should be guilty of. Even when she outcasted me, or stole my thunder, I just bore them. I never complained. So, what was this about?

“Zed, let my sister go.” Amber rushed towards us, and hugged him from behind, slowly calming him down.

As he let me go, I rubbed the tears from my eyes and looked at the cute couple.

“How could I leave her alone, Amber when she hurt you this much?” He said, full of concern in his eyes.

“Zed, she's my sister, and I don't want you to hurt her. Okay?” Amber said, pouting as she tugged his sleeves.

“Amber, she should be published for her deeds! You shouldn't be this kind to let this scheming person go.”

I let out a laugh, looking at them when they turned their attention towards me.

Zed clenched his fist, and came towards me, raging but he was pulled back by Amber.

“Even though she hurt me without considering our relationship, I don't want her to go to jail.”

Zed let out a defeating sigh and nodded. He then, turned towards me with his eyes full of disgust. “This is why no one likes you. Look at your sister, and then, yourself. You're full of jealousy, and schemes. You even plotted against your sister.”

I laughed aloud this time, no more caring about what they'd think. “I plotted against her? Will you be more clear? What did I do?” I questioned, at the top of my lungs.

Amber flinched and hid behind Zed again, instinctively. She was shivering while she knelt down on her knees. “P…please… Please don't hurt… me again… Please don't hurt me…”

My lips parted in disbelief, and I nervously reached out to her but Zed slapped my hands away.

“What are you trying to do this time? Injure her in my presence?” Zed thundered before slapping me hard on my face.

Amber hugged Zed’s leg right at that moment. “No… No… I'll leave… I'll leave again. So, don't hurt us. I know you love Zed. I'll never take him from you.”

Zed turned soft again and went on his knees as he gently caressed her, and rubbed her tears off. “Don't leave me here all alone again, Amber. Don't leave me. I was never her's. I was always yours. So, don't leave again. The person who should be leaving isn't you, Amber.”

Again, he turned towards me with disgust. “Look at what you did to her! She became like this all because of you! You're the one who should leave!”

My hands were still touching my cheeks as I took a moment to process all of this.

This was very confusing. I didn't even know what my crime was. 

I clenched my teeth and approached them before I grabbed Zed’s collar. “What did I even do???” I screamed.

I was filled with rage, but my heart was cut into pieces and pieces. 

I just wanted to let him know about my pregnancy but before I could even do so, I was being framed.

Zed scoffed and pushed me aside. “Aren't you clear about what you did? You plotted an ‘accident’ to make your sister go vegetative! You probably wanted to kill her, but since your plan didn't work, you just left her alone to die. You made me lose years without her, River!”

My lips parted, and I flinched back. “What are you saying, Zed? I… I would never kill someone…”

Zed gritted his teeth. “Why are you lying again, River? Amber already told me the truth, and showed all the proofs.”

“Where are the proofs?” I demanded, in disbelief.

As I said it, Zed threw a bunch of photos of a broken car. I immediately knew which one it was. It was Amber’s. Our father had gifted this to her on her birthday.

Since we weren't of age, father had given her a driver too but Amber insisted on driving it one day.

Then, Zed turned on a video, which seemed like CCTV footage. 

I was stunned at what I saw. It was a video where the car crashed while I was driving, and I left Amber there, while she begged me repeatedly to save her.

“What can you say now?” Zed gritted his teeth in anger.

I shook my head in denial. That was definitely not me. How could it be me? Amber never let anyone else touch the car, and even more, when it's me. I had never ridden her car except for one day.

That day she insisted on driving the car herself and with me. It was strange but except for a minor accident, which I knew was going to happen, nothing more happened. 

“Why are you silent now? Can't say anything more?” Zed asked, breaking my chain of thoughts.

I gasped for breath as I shook my head again. “Zed, this video is definitely a fake. It's made up. Please believe me. Please investigate.” I begged him, holding his hand but he brushed it away with disdain.

“What more do you want me to investigate? The proof is crystal clear. You were driving that car and left Amber cold-heartedly in the car. I missed her for years, just because of you!”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “That video is a lie. Why…? Why would I kill her?”

Zed yanked me hard into the floor and played a recording. 

“I love Zed. Can you give him to me? I can't be without him.”

“I… Sister, I can't… Zed is the one I love. I can't give him up for you.”

“But, he's my mate! I was supposed to be the one marrying him!”

“I… I can't give up on Zed. We love each other, and Zed doesn't like you.”

“If you don't break the marriage, I'd do anything to break this marriage between you both! I won't allow for this marriage to happen. I love him!”

My mind was blank. This had never happened. 

I loved Zed, but that was a secret. I kept it hidden in my heart, and never let it surface.

“Zed, you know that's not the truth… I never wanted to break the marriage…”

“Say what you want, River. Here is all the evidence. You plotted the accident to break our marriage, and so that you could become the Luna of the Crescent Moon Pack. You're such a greedy person!”

I shook my head and argued but he wasn't ready to listen. “If I really wanted to marry you, why would I not go ahead with the substitution in the first place? I should've been happy that I was going to get married to you instead of Amber, but I was the first one to say no to it.”

Zed snorted. “That was just an act everyone fell for. You're a heinous person.”

I laughed, gasping for breath as I tried to hold back my tears.

“It clearly wasn't me. It clearly wasn't…”

Zed rolled his eyes and then turned towards Amber. 

He again turned gentle. “Amber, you shouldn't let such a vile person go. You should teach her a lesson.”

“But… But I don't want her to suffer… I don't want her to serve sentences…”

“You still have to teach her a lesson, Amber. Otherwise, she'll think you're too easy.” Zed insisted.

Amber nodded, and came forward, hiding her smug look. “Then, I want her to apologise to me while kneeling.”

I snickered, looking away when Zed commanded, “What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear her? Kneel to her and apologize until she's satisfied!”