001

VALERIE

The atmosphere was festive, the street was decorated gorgeously with bright balloons which rose to the sky and countless ribbons fell on the heads of the people.

Today was a very important day for the wolf tribe as they celebrate the marriage ceremony of their Alpha, Tristan. They cheered and flocked around the gorgeous and magnificent carriage which I was sitting in to the palace at the other end of the road, looking at the beautiful and noble bride of their Alpha with admiration and devotion.

I was sitting in the carriage dressed up in a beautiful royal dress and I was adorned with expensive and beautiful beads. The carriage was guarded by heavily armed guards and we were heading to the royal palace. I was getting married to the vicious and Ruthless Alpha Tristan Blackwood.

"Smile, today is your day " My mom uttered, she was sitting in the carriage with me. I wasn't able to smile, I was lost in thoughts thinking about my fate in the hands of the Alpha king who I know nothing about and how I went from being single twenty four hours ago to getting married to Alpha Tristan.

Twenty four hours ago,

I woke up to the sound of my alarm beeping at the table beside my bed and I quickly stretched out my hand and switched it off. My name is Valerie Lawson and I have an identical twin sister, Vanessa. People can't tell us apart and my parents could hardly do that.

I live Ten kilometers away from my family. I left home when I turned eighteen and now I'm twenty.

I have always lived in the shadow of my sister despite being the older one, my parents have always favored Vanessa more, making me feel abandoned and rejected. I moved out of the house in order to stay away from everyone and their Ill treatments which has always brought tears to my eyes.

I found love with Frank who has been my boyfriend for Three years and today is our anniversary, I quickly took my bath and wore a beautiful red gown and took a taxi to the restaurant where we always celebrate our anniversary, I was all smiles immediately I alighted from the taxi and saw frank sited at the restaurant, he has already ordered food for us, I walked up to him and planted a soft kiss on his cheek but he wasn't looking excited.

Are you okay? I queried while staring at him.

"Let's break up" he answered and I felt my whole life crashing in front of me. I looked at him trying to make sure he wasn't pranking me but instead of the smiley face I used to know, my eyes met a serious and angry face.

"It's this about me?I can fix myself, just tell me what the problem is," I pleaded. I knew I was sounding so desperate but I can't let go of Frank, I love him so much.

"I'm fed up with this relationship, I think we should call it quits. Enjoy your meal, I have already paid for it" he said to me before walking out of the restaurant.

I tried so hard to control the tears lurking at the corner of my eyes, I was so heartbroken and my heart was aching so badly.

"Why did he choose today to do this to me?" I asked myself and quickly broke down in tears, I never expected him to break up with me, I was so foolish to think he was my mate. I got home and crashed on my bed crying my eyes out when my phone rang and it was my Dad calling. I ignored his call but he kept on calling and I decided to answer it.

"You have to come back home now! Your sister has been hospitalized" He announced over the phone and I was shocked.

"What..... happened" I stuttered.

"I will tell you everything when you come back home," He replied.

Vanessa and I aren't so close but that doesn't change the fact that I love her so much, I quickly packed my bag and took a taxi to the hospital where they were, I was going to spend some time with them, I want to use this opportunity and heal from the pain Jace has caused me.

I was able to locate the hospital because of the address my Dad sent me.

"I'm here to see Vanessa Lawson, she was admitted into this hospital this morning" I said to the receptionist while breathing heavily.

"Okay!, She's at the first ward down the hall" she said to me and gave me a look that made me realize she thought I was Vanessa because of our striking resemblance. I quickly headed towards the ward and I saw my mom sitting on a chair close to Vanessa crying and my Dad was pacing around the room nervously.

My mom's mood increased the moment I walked into the ward. I fell on the chair close to my sister as hot tears fell freely down my cheeks, my sister was lying down on the hospital bed severely injured and she was in a coma.

"What happened to her?" I queried while trying so hard to control my tears.

"She was attacked and beaten up on her way to the shopping mall" my father replied and I was too shocked to speak.

Who could have attacked and beaten up Vanessa, what did she do wrong?" I asked myself. My sister's condition broke my heart, her face was battered beyond repair.

"Let's file a complaint to the police, we must find the evil people behind this!" I uttered angrily but my Dad stopped me.

"That's not the problem, we have a major problem at hand" my Dad said gazing at me.

"What is that?" I queried.

"Her wedding with Alpha Tristan the King of the wolf tribe Is in a few days and the doctor said it will take her weeks or months to recover fully.

"In a few days? And none of you informed me about it?" I queried sadly. Well, I'm not surprised, they have always treated me like an outcast.

"So, what should we do about the wedding? We need to inform them about her situation. Maybe they can postpone the wedding," I said innocently.

"No! We won't do that, do you want people to laugh at us?Do you know what it means to have your daughter get married to the Alpha king?Do you know how many people are waiting to take this opportunity?" My mom flared up and I was flabbergasted.

"What do you think we should do?" I queried, staring at her.

"That is where you come in, we want you to take up Vanessa's identity and get married to Alpha Tristian"

My father blurted out carelessly and I could feel cold shivers run down my body.

"What did you just say?"

"You heard him right, no one will know. Besides, Alpha Tristan and his family don't know that Vanessa has a twin sister" my mom replied and I couldn't believe what was coming out of the mouths of my selfish parents.

"I can't do this, I don't know anything about this man aside from what I see on the news and Tv and I don't love him".

"It's not about love, it's about responsibility, we can't let this opportunity slip away. Vanessa will take her place when she wakes up in a few weeks and you will go back to your life" My Dad blurted out.

"This is very risky, what if I get caught? I have heard a lot about this man, how vicious and Ruthless he is. He will plate my head and have them serve it to his dogs if he ever finds out that we fooled him"

"You won't get caught, no one will suspect you. All you need to do is play your part very well and make sure you leave no room for suspicions" my mom replied nonchalantly and that made me wonder if she can hear herself at all.

"I think what your mom is trying to say is that you should be careful "

"I need to think this through," I said to them.

"We are not asking you, you don't have a choice here, you must do what we say" my mom said and I walked out of the room in tears.

I come from a middle-class family and my parents are struggling to find their place in the Wolf tribe, getting married to Alpha Tristian whose family Rules the Wolf Tribe will surely secure them a place and that's an opportunity they can't afford to lose.

My parents have always hidden me from the world, they act as if I'm not their child and all of a sudden they want me to Make a risky sacrifice by taking the identity of Vanessa and getting married to Tristan, No Way!

what should I do?" I asked myself tossing around my bed trying to sleep but couldn't. I kept on thinking about my sister and the times we shared together as kids. Seeing her fighting for her life at the hospital aroused a rage in me. I knew that whoever did that to her must be related to the royal family and I was bent on getting to the root of it and making sure my sister gets the justice she deserves.

The next day, I went to the hospital and saw my parents distressed and nervous.

"I will do it!!!! I announced and they were flabbergasted."