AYLA
I had been framed, and now I was dying for sins I never committed. I wasn’t Ayla. My name was Calista, and I had never stabbed anyone. I couldn’t even hurt a rat, yet they all thought I had stabbed a full-grown person.
Ayla had lied about me in that video, and that broke my heart into many pieces. The two people I had expected to fight for me were also against me, all deluded by the claim that my sister was me.
What was happening right now? Was this a nightmare, or was I going mad? Either way, I was going to get killed here. But I wasn’t going down without a fight.
"Lycan King," Elder Elowen bowed before him, not daring to meet his eyes as she spoke, "while I believe your judgement is always right, killing the lady is not advisable. You have already been mated. It will have an adverse effect on your beast, and considering its nature..."
"Enough!" Alpha Ezra growled, cutting her off.
He shot his gaze at me. "She’s right. I cannot kill you, and I cannot reject you. You had this perfectly thought out. You knew that stripping away the mate bond, either by rejecting you or killing you, would make my beast go wild, and it might not be possible to save it."
I shook my head desperately, hot tears rolling down my face. "I don’t know anything about that, Alpha. I didn’t stab my sister to take her place. I am Calista. My name is written on the contract. I am the Gemini Wolf. I have the mark of the Gemini Wolf on my back. You can check it."
He narrowed his eyes at me, a hard frown saturating his features, then gestured at the guards to rip off my clothes.
They did so immediately, tearing the wedding dress, which had now been soiled with sweat, tears, and dirt, off my shoulder and revealing the twin crescent moon mark on the top left corner of my back.
"That’s a lie!" Mother quickly pointed an accusatory finger at me. "She never had that on her back. She must have tattooed it there."
My eyes widened, my heart fluttering like a bird trapped in a cage at the new accusation from Mother. I had had this mark all my life.
A fresh batch of hot tears flooded my face, my eyes stinging badly.
Oh, Lord. Why me? Why was this happening to me?
The Lycan King marched forward and leaned in to scent the area where my birthmark was. His irises expanded until they occupied his entire eyes, spreading darkness through them before he straightened back up.
"Ink," he growled. "I smell ink."
"Please believe me. I did not do it!" I insisted, sobbing.
"In all my twenty-eight years on earth, I have never been this insulted," he growled, pinning his gaze on me. "An eye for an eye. A uterus for a uterus. Since you have taken away what was meant to bear a child for me, I will make sure you never have a child. And when I finally find a cure for my curse, I will kill you instantly."
His hand tightened around the blade as he pressed its sharp edge against my stomach. Before he could plunge it in, I blurted out, "Of what use would taking my uterus be to you?"
He paused, looking at me.
"You need a child. Make me your breeder," I continued out of sheer desperation to save my precious organ.
I had always looked forward to having my own child. I had always thought that having my own child would make me stop feeling so alone in this world. I had been so lonely and had only had Rowan by my side all these years.
I paused, confusion slamming into me. How did my sister’s thoughts slip into my head? Those were supposed to be hers.
"Breeder?" the Lycan King muttered, tilting his head. "Do you think a weak Omega like you can carry my child? And even if you successfully do, you wouldn’t survive its birth, and that would mean trouble for my beast."
"I may be wrong, but from what I have learned, producing an heir is the cure to your curse. You wouldn’t need me anymore after you have your child. It’s a risk worth taking," I muttered.
I could see consideration in his eyes, and I decided to push further.
"You could finally get the chance to unlock the cure to your curse by using me."
The Lycan King’s eyes glazed over, and a low growl escaped him as he abruptly pulled the knife away from my belly.
Rage continued to burn through his eyes as he growled, "Just because I am not punishing you now doesn’t mean you have been saved. You wanted to take the place of your sister. Fine. You have succeeded. But know this: you shall learn exactly what it means to mock the Lycan King while under my wings!"
His tone held a dangerous warning that sent shivers down my spine.
A huge breath I hadn’t known I was holding escaped me.
I managed to save myself today. Now, I had to spend a huge chunk of time proving my innocence.