Chapter 001

Camilla’s POV

A smile crept up my face as I remembered what day today was.

It was the mating anniversary ceremony.

For the first time in two years, I was actually looking forward to this because I just found out I was pregnant.

Where was Alpha Dane? I couldn’t wait to tell him that he was soon going to become a father. Everyone was busy with the arrangements for the anniversary party, so I decided to find him myself.

Walking down the hall, I began to hear strange noises from the guest room, so I decided to go in and check but I froze at a spot the moment my eyes landed on the two figures who were kissing and caressing each other.

"Oh, Dane, stop being naughty, remember it’s your anniversary day and we wouldn’t want anything to jeopardize our plan," my step sister said, with her back against the wall and her hands locked around my husband’s neck.

Dane, dressed in a high-end gray suit, smiled and looked at her with so much affection, "Clara, I just can’t wait to mark you as my mate. I am going to reject her in front of everyone and make sure she’s humiliated for letting me marry her, even when she knew she was barren," he assured, fiddling her hair.

Clara immediately flashed a bright smile, looking elated, "Great! Then we can be together and I can give you the heir you’ve always wanted. I can't wait for that to happen, honey.”

"Yes, baby. You will become the mother of my children," he reassured, dipping his head to lock his lips with hers.

As he was about to move to her cleavage, I let out a gasp.

"Dane?!" I called out with trembling lips and owlish blinking eyes.

"Clara?" I placed a hand on my chest, trying to catch the rapidly escaping breaths, "You two..." Tears flooded my eyes, threatening to fall as my lips quivered even more.

"Camilla, what the hell are you doing here?" Dane asked, fastening the zip of his trouser, before he began to walk to me.

"Don't come near me, you licentious dirt bag!" I screamed, taking a few steps backward.

"How can the two of you do this to me? You plan to disgrace me in front of everyone today?" I cried.

Dane sighed, staring at me with cold eyes, "You are just a barren woman, Camilla. Of course I can’t continue pretending like I am okay with that.”

"What? Dane?” Tears cascaded down my cheeks and I didn't care about the effect they were having on my exquisite make-up.

Clara walked forward, a smug look on her face, “Why all this drama? You had it coming, sis,” she let out a mocking chuckle, further infuriating me. “Men like Dane need heirs but you couldn’t give him that. For two years, he has been patient with you but not anymore.”

“Clara…”

“Now, I’m going to be with him and give him what you couldn’t.”

“Wow,” fisting my hands by my side, I nodded sagely, “the two of you can have yourselves then, I am ready to accept your rejection,” I said and in anger, I dashed my palm against Dane’s left cheek, making sure my fingers imprinted on his skin, before turning to leave.

But he immediately blocked the way, folding his arms with a look of conceit boldly plastered on his face.

With folding knees, I raised my eyes to him. “Get out of my way?”

“How dare you hit me!”

So this was his concern? “You bastards! For two years, I have loved and respected you but you chose to keep me in the dark, by sleeping with my step sister!” I blurted through clenched teeth.

I was dying to get out of here. I didn’t want to breathe in the same air nor in the same space with these two revolting people anymore.

Summoning a strange courage I never knew was in me, I made for the door and pushed Clara out of the way but the latter was able to grab me by my hair before I could leave.

“Let go of me, Clara!” I struggled but she seemed way stronger than I. Soon Dane was standing beside us, offering her a helping hand, by forcefully grabbing my elbow.

“Dane, maybe we should kill this bitch. She has no use living, especially after she boldly insulted you by slapping you,” Clara proposed, looking at me with so much darkness in her eyes.

“Yeah,” Dane blurted, nodding his head in support while I stood there begging for my life. “I should have done this from the start. Camilla, I was going to be kind enough to just reject you in front of everyone and send you off, but since you came in here and crossed your limits, you have yourself to blame.”

“There’s no place to run to,” he sneered and closed the gap between us, wrapping his fingers around my neck tightly.

“No- ple- -please,” I struggled to speak while still fighting to free myself from his grasp but my effort was only comparable to an ant attempting to shake an oak tree.

"Cla- Clara..." My attempt at speaking only made it hurt more and the sinister-eyed Dane tightened his grip, raising me from the floor even.

My life was slowly slipping away.

Dane let go of me, causing me to collapse to the floor, as I clutched my neck and coughed heavily.

Clara closed in on a frightened me, whose back had kissed the wall. “Sister, I've always wanted to be the one to take your life.”

If anyone had ever told me that Clara never loved me, I would have never believed. She always made herself available for me, I never knew she was only getting close to me for a purpose.

“Say hi to mom and dad,” before I could comprehend her words, she raised her shoe and deliberately shoved the pointy part of her heels into my neck.

"Dear moon goddess, please do not let me die this way," those were the only words I could mutter before I blacked out.