ADAM'S POV

None of what was going on made sense to me at all....none of it.

"Please stop moving your head, Adam. We still have to finish your makeup." The woman standing in front of me held my chin, turning my face towards the light as she continued applying foundation to my skin.

"Please, I don't want this." My voice trembled as I tried to pull away. "Can't you just stop?"

"Adam!" My father shouted from behind me. "Sit still and let them finish!"

I flinched, immediately lowering my head and doing as he said.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry, Father. I just... I don't want to get married."

"Well, unfortunately for you, nobody asked what you wanted," he said bluntly.

I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back the tears that had been threatening to fall for the past hour.

Today was supposed to be my twin sister's wedding. Aurelia was supposed to be the one sitting in this chair, having her makeup done, wearing the beautiful white dress hanging in front of me, and preparing to marry Alpha Xaden Blackwood.

But she had run away.

And now, I was the one who had to take her place.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and my stomach twisted painfully. My short black hair was hidden beneath a long blond wig, my face was covered in makeup, and a pair of fake breasts had been strapped to my chest to make me look more like Aurelia. The wedding dress was tight around my waist, and the corset made it difficult to breathe properly.

I didn't look like myself anymore, I barely recognized the person staring back at me.

"Father.” I turned toward him, voice cracking. “"Can't we tell them the truth? We can explain that Aurelia is missing. I'm sure Alpha Blackwood will understand if we ask him for more time."

My father stared at me as if I'd just said the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

"Understand?" he repeated, his voice rising. "You want me to walk into that ceremony and tell one of the most powerful Alphas in the country that my daughter has run away, leaving us with no bride and no explanation? Do you have any idea what that would do to our pack?"

"But I'm not Aurelia,"I pleaded. "I'm her brother and he'll know. What am I supposed to do when he finds out?"

"Then you had better pray that he doesn't find out!" The words hit like a slap , I knew better than to push when he was like this, but fear kept talking for me.

I immediately lowered my head, tears slipping down my cheeks. I knew better than to argue with my father when he was angry, but I couldn't help it. I was frightened, and nobody seemed to care.

"Please," I whispered. "Please, Father, don't make me do this. I'll do anything else. I'll stay here, I'll work for the pack, I'll do whatever you want. Just please don't send me there."

My father let out a frustrated breath and rubbed his forehead.

"Do you think I want to do this? Do you think I enjoy having to send my own son to stand in his sister's place?"

I looked at him hopefully.

"Then don't," I whispered.

but his expression just hardened.

"You are an Omega, Adam. A fucking Omega! Do you understand what that means for this family? You were born the twin of an Alpha, yet you couldn't even produce a wolf worthy of your bloodline. Your were supposed to inherit this pack, but you couldn't even give me the dignity of being born with the strength of a proper heir!"

I stared at him, unable to speak as if the words were stuck in my throat.

I'd heard those words before....so many times that I'd stopped counting, they didn't even hurt as much anymore.

My father had never forgiven me for being born an Omega. He had never forgiven me for the small, weak wolf that appeared when I first shifted, the one that barely came up to his knee. He had expected two powerful children, two heirs who could strengthen his bloodline and secure the future of our pack.

Instead, he had Aurelia and me.

And in his eyes, only one of us had been worth the trouble.

"I didn't choose to be born this way," I whispered.

"What did you say?"

I shook my head quickly, not facing him.

"Nothing, Father."

"No, say it again!"

My lips trembled, " I said I didn't choose to be born this way."

His palm struck the dressing table beside me, making the brushes jump.The makeup artist froze, eyes fixed on the floor.

"AND YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT? You think I haven't spent twenty-three years watching you disappoint me? You cannot lead this pack, you cannot fight like an Alpha, and you cannot even manage to stand here without crying... what kind of man crys! So, for once in your miserable life, do something useful for your family!"

I lowered my head once again, my shoulders shaking as I tried to stop crying. The makeup artist looked uncomfortable, but she didn't dare interfere. Nobody ever interfered when my father spoke to me like that.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping into something even more frightening.

"Your sister will be found. I've already sent men to search for her. Once we find her, we will arrange the switch, and you can come home. Until then, you will remain in that marriage, and you will behave exactly as you are supposed to."

I looked up at him.

"And if you don't find her?"

For a moment, he said nothing.

"We will find her," he roared. "Stop asking stupid questions and do as you're told.”

I flinched again, nodding quickly.

"Yes, Father."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that Aurelia would be found before Xaden discovered the truth, that I would only have to endure a few days of pretending to be someone else before I could return home.

But what if they really don't find her?

What if I was trapped in that marriage for months? Worse, what if he decided to claim his bride before my family had the chance to switch us?

My stomach twisted at the thought.

"Father?" I hesitated, shame burning hotter than fear.

He turned towards me impatiently like he was tired of my entire existence.

"What now?"

I hesitated, ashamed of the question even before I asked it.

"What if... what if the Alpha wants to mate with me?"

The room fell silent, even the make up artist paused with her brush in mid air.

My father just stared at me, and I could see the anger building in his face.