ADAM'S POV

"What kind of stupid question is that?" My father snapped, his face twisting with anger. " Everyone knows that Xaden is not capable of making a she-wolf pregnant."

I flinched, but I forced myself to continue before he could shout at me again.

"He's an Alpha, Father. Of course he'll want to mark his mate. What happens if he wants to mark me today? I'm not Aurelia, and I don't even know how I'm supposed to behave around him. And even if he can't impregnate a she-wolf , he'll still want to do it. What am I going to do if he wants to..." My voice trailed off, my cheeks burning as I struggled to finish the sentence. "What if he wants to mate with me?"

My father stared at me as though I had just said something unforgivable.

"Then don't let that happen!"he shouted. "Keep him away from you until we find your sister. Surely you can manage that much?"

I looked at him helplessly, my throat tightening as I struggled to find an answer.

"How am I supposed to keep him away from me without making him suspicious? What if he wants to spend time with me? I've never even met the man and I don't know what he expects from me."

"Then you will learn." He curling his fists. "You will do whatever is necessary to protect this family and the alliance and you will not embarrass me in front of the Blackwoods. Is that clear?"

I nodded not knowing what to say.

"Good. Now stop yapping and let them finish preparing you."

He turned away, but I couldn't stop the words from slipping out.

"What if he kills me?"

My father stopped at the door and for a moment, I waited for him to say something reassuring, anything that would make me feel less frightened about what was about to happen. Instead, he looked at me with the same disappointment I had seen in his eyes since the day I first shifted.

"Then you should have thought about that before being born so useless."

Just like that he left and slammed the door behind him.

I sat there, staring at the space where he had been standing, unable to move. His words settled inside my chest, heavy but familiar. I wanted to cry, but I was so tired of crying that even the tears seemed to hurt.

The makeup artist quietly returned to her work, dabbing at the corner of my eye with a sponge.

"Please don't move," she murmured.

I nodded, staring at my reflection.

Aurelia had always been the beautiful one, the strong one, the daughter our parents proudly introduced to important people. I had grown accustomed to being overlooked whenever we stood beside each other. I just never imagined that one day, I would be forced to wear her face and take her place in a marriage that could ruin my life.

A knock sounded at the door, and my mother entered.

She looked at me for a moment before walking towards the dressing table. There was something uneasy about her expression, but she quickly composed herself and opened the small handbag she was carrying.

"Adam, I brought you something."

I turned towards her as she took out a small bottle and a packet of pills, placing them beside the makeup brushes.

"These are scent blockers. The pills will help suppress your natural scent, and this spray will help you smell more like Aurelia."

I stared at the items for a moment and felt absolutely nothing. They were all ready to get rid of me, just like that.

"How long do they last?"

"The pills will help throughout the day, but you'll need to take them regularly. Take one every morning and another before bed, as directed. Spray this on your neck, wrists, and anywhere your scent might be strongest. You'll need to keep using them until we tell you otherwise."

I looked at the bottle, then back at her.

"Every day?"

"Yes, Adam. Every day."

My stomach twisted, that meant I wouldn't be coming home tomorrow. Or the day after. I would have to wake up in a strange house, surrounded by people who believed I was Aurelia, taking pills and spraying myself with something that would hide the scent of my own wolf.

"Mother, what if they stop working?"

She sighed and pulled a chair closer to mine.

"They won't, as long as you follow the instructions."

"But what if they do? What if Xaden smells me? What if he realizes I'm an Omega....what if he finds out I'm a man?"

Her lips pressed together, and she glanced towards the door before looking back at me.

"Then we'll have to deal with that if it happens."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"How can you say that? What am I supposed to do if he finds out? He could reject the alliance, Mother. He could become angry with our family, and I would be the one standing in front of him when he discovers the truth."

"I know this isn't easy."

"Then why are you making me do it?"

My voice came out louder than I intended, and I immediately regretted it when she looked at me sharply.

"Because we have no other choice, Adam. Your sister is gone, and the ceremony cannot be cancelled. Your father has worked too hard to secure this alliance, and we cannot afford to lose it."

I looked away, blinking rapidly as my eyes began to sting again.

There it was again. The alliance, it's always the alliance.

I wondered if my parents had ever stopped to think about what losing me would mean to them. If I disappeared tomorrow, would they search for me the way they were searching for Aurelia? Would they send people into neighbouring territories? Would they worry about whether I was cold, hungry, or afraid?

Or would they simply find another way to protect the pack and carry on as though nothing had happened?

"Do you think Aurelia would do this for me?" I asked quietly and my mother went still.

I didn't know why I had asked. Perhaps I wanted to hear her say that my sister would never allow me to suffer in her place. Perhaps I wanted someone to admit that what was happening to me was unfair.

Instead, my mother picked up the scent-blocking spray and placed it in my hand.

"Take care of yourself, Adam. Do what you must until we find her."

She stood and adjusted the wig on my head, making sure the long blond strands covered my ears.

I wanted to pull away from her touch, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. For all my anger, she was still my mother, and some foolish part of me was waiting for her to change her mind , but she never did.

"Your father is waiting outside," she said. "They're almost ready for you."

I looked down at the bottle in my hand.

"Mother?"

She paused.

"Will you come and get me when you find her?"

Her eyes flickered towards mine, and I saw something I couldn't quite understand. Guilt, perhaps. Or maybe it was simply the discomfort of a woman who knew she was asking her son to endure something she would never willingly endure herself.

"Of course," she said patting my back and then she walked out.

I sat there for a few more seconds, holding the bottle so tightly that my fingers began to ache. I wanted to believe her, but I had heard enough promises in my life to know that words didn't always mean anything.

The makeup artist finished adjusting my veil and stepped away. She helped me take the pill and spray the scent blocker.

"There. You're ready."

Ready.

I almost laughed at the word, but nothing came out.

I wasn't ready, I would never be ready for this.

The door opened again, and my father's Beta stepped inside. He was dressed in a formal black suit, his expression serious as he approached my father, who had returned to the room.

"Alpha Whitmore, the ceremony is about to begin. Alpha Blackwood is waiting at the altar."

My heart dropped out of my chest , I had known this moment was coming, but hearing those words made everything feel horribly real. My hands grew cold, and I suddenly became aware of how tightly the corset was squeezing my ribs. I tried to take a deep breath, but the air seemed to stop halfway into my lungs.

The Beta turned towards me and said "shall we?"

I looked at my father instead, he walked over and pulled the veil down to cover my face, his fingers adjusting it with more force than necessary.

"Remember what I told you. Keep your head down, speak only when necessary... remember to adjust your voice, and don't do anything foolish."

I nodded, unable to trust my voice.

"And Adam?"

I forced myself to look at him.

"If you ruin this alliance, don't bother coming home."

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