Chapter 4: The Rejected Twin

The day of the ceremony came, and Hazel was wild with excitement. 

It was still early in the morning, but Hazel got off the bed and started preparing for the ceremony.

She and Asher had recognized themselves. They even shared a kiss, and the bond was evident as it sizzled between them.

She had to worry only about the right dress to wear.

For the first time in her life, Hazel didn't let herself worry about Maeve. She had done all she could for her. It was time she focused on herself.

She started to plan in her head how she and Asher's joining ceremony would be and how she was going to be the Luna of the most powerful pack.

But then her thoughts returned to Maeve. She did not know if Maeve had gotten a mate yet. She had been acting strange for the last few days, and Hazel hoped whatever it was, she had a way to get herself a mate when the ceremony started.

Maeve was a pain in the ass but she was still her sister. She did not deserve to be in the hands of Kael –the Alpha of the West— whom she would be sold to if she did not have a mate.

"Happy birthday, Hazel!" Maeve called out as she walked into her room.

It was their birthday, but Hazel's brows squeezed together as she wondered why Maeve was wishing her a happy birthday she had not done so in so many years.

"Happy Birthday, Maeve. Are you okay?" Hazel asked, looking sceptical.

Maeve was too happy, and this worried Hazel. Whenever she had this mood, then she was preparing something massive. 

"Nothing much. I just came to check up on you and hope you're doing fine," Maeve said, flashing her a toothy smile.

"Okay... Thank you," Hazel replied as she searched her sister's face.

Something wasn't right.

"Have you found a mate?" Hazel asked.

If Hazel thought her sister was flashing her a bright smile, then the one she had on, seemed to be twice brighter.

"Let's just see what the night has in store Hazel," Maeve replied and then started walking out of the room.

When she got to the door, Maeve stopped and turned to look at Hazel and said, "I'll miss you, Hazel." Then she walked out. 

Hazel couldn't understand what she meant by that. She tried to think of what could make Maeve so happy on a day like this, and it came down to the fact that Marve must have found her mate.

Later in the day, their mum came over to help them get ready. She spoke words of advice to them –they were mostly directed to Hazel, as though she was going to be needing them in her new life as Luna of such an important clan.

Maeve, on the other hand, was the least bit bothered about being sidelined. In fact, she had made a few positive comments toward Hazel.

When their father saw them, tears filled his eyes.

"I am indeed the luckiest man alive to have such beautiful girls," he said as he leaned down to kiss them each on the cheeks.

"You both know what is at stake. If you don't have a mate today, this would be your last moment ever with us. Are you listening to me, Maeve?" Keith asked. 

Maeve had indeed been listening, but she felt like someone else needed the advice more than she.

Their mating ceremony had in attendance werewolves from practically all the packs around them. 

Amidst the many, One werewolf stood out to Keith –Kael, the Alpha of the West.

Keith walked up to the front of the cave, with his beautiful daughters in tow.

The girls were the centre of attraction. 

Hazel had been scanning to see if she could see Asher, but she had not seen him. She was nervous. 

She looked at Maeve and saw how calm she was, and she wondered what could be going on in her head. Until now, she hadn't seen Maeve with any boy at all.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming. Today is the day my beautiful daughters show us their mates. We have awaited this day for the past eighteen years, and it is a dream come through for us." He paused and looked at the crowd.

"I hope that they each present us with a mate and that the moon guides their hearts," Keith said to the crowd, and everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

He looked over at Kael, and the evil man gave him a small nod. It was a reminder about their agreement, and Keith returned the nod to prove he was still aware. He just hoped Maeve had found someone.

"Whoever has recognized any of my girls as their mate is hereby called to step forward and state their claim," Keith announced to the congregation

The entire place was silent, and then a figure rose and walked to the front of the room.

Hazel breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that it was Asher. For a moment, she was scared he was not going to come for her.

Everyone looked on in reverence as they realized it was the Alpha of the Red Night pack.

Asher walked up to Keith and gave him a bow.

"I am Asher, Alpha of the Red Night pack, and I have come to claim my mate," he said.

Hazel could not stop smiling.

"Very well, you may claim her," Keith said, giving him a knowing smile.

Asher nodded.

Hazel's eyes were closed as she awaited to feel Asher's kiss on her lips. 

She could not keep a straight face as she broke into smiles every second. 

Suddenly, she heard cheers of congratulations and joy. It seemed everyone was applauding something.

She wondered what it could be and she opened her eyes to have a look when she saw the most terrifying thing in her life —Asher kissing Maeve. 

Hazel felt dizzy all of a sudden. 

 

This had to be a dream. This could not be happening at all.

Both her parents were just as shocked as she was.

That was when it all came back to Hazel. Maeve had been acting off, and she now knew why. 

All the threats she had issued had finally come to pass. 

"No! No!" Hazel cried as she lunged at Asher. 

"I am your mate!" She screamed as she tried to hold on to him, but he pushed her to the ground in disgust.

"What's wrong, Hazel? Why are you trying to claim what isn't yours?" Maeve asked with a wicked grin on her face.

"Asher!" Hazel tried again, but all her cries fell on deaf ears. 

Shanaya had come through for Maeve. Asher had chosen the wrong sister.

Keith was beyond confused. He was also disappointed. How was it that Hazel had tried to take away Maeve's mate? 

He turned, and his eyes locked on Kael. 

He looked down at the wailing figure of Hazel on the ground, and a huge surge of anger welled up in him.

He had to fulfil his promise to the evil alpha, or his pack would suffer greatly at his hands.

Keith took a deep breath and reached down to grab Hazel's hands. He dragged her over to where Kael stood and dropped her at his feet.

"I have paid my debt," Keith said to Kael with a broken heart.

"No!" Hazel screamed and held on to her father's legs. 

"Please don't give me away. Maeve did something to Asher's father, Please!" She pleaded.

Keith gave her a sideways glance, and tears ran down his face. He knew that Maeve must have definitely done something, but Hazel was the prize he had to pay for others to live. 

With a heavy heart, he pulled away from her grip, and Kael dragged her away.

"No!" Hazel screamed at the top of her lungs.