Dark shadows loomed over her entire being. Her legs felt weak, and she staggered backwards.
"Why did you choose me out of many beautiful girls in this pack? You could have had anyone."
Twenty-year-old Rosaline gazed up at Lucan, her brows drawn together curiously. They were standing next to the lake at the borders of Redthorn Forest. The air was warm, and their hands were locked together like a tight bond that could never be broken.
"I chose you because it has to be you, no one else."
"I don't understand."
He smiled down at her. Bliss rushed into her like waves crashing against the shore—that was what his smile always did to her.
"In this whole pack, you're special. People might not see that yet, but you are. You are my ace, my greatest weapon to winning everything I've ever wanted in life."
At that time, though his words had sounded sweet, she didn't understand them.
Now she did, as she watched him bend to kiss Serena's lips softly, an affection she'd never seen him direct towards her shining in his grey eyes. His look to Serena was different, because now she realized it was genuine, and the one he'd shown her for three years was nothing but fake.
She understood now... she was his strength, he'd said, his ace... she was his tool to gain his dreams of becoming alpha.
She had just been a tool to him.
Rosaline couldn't control the tremble that wracked her body.
She'd seen his betrayal days ago, but perhaps somewhere inside she didn't let it sink in... not as much as it was doing right now, as she saw it right before her eyes.
Lucan only turned to her when his lips separated from Serena's. His mouth curled in a kind of smile that was far from his kind, warm one.
"Don't look so heartbroken, sweet Rose. You're only fulfilling your destiny."
He began to move towards her. Each step that brought him closer made her see the reality from the illusion she'd always seen in him. He wasn't her salvation, he was her destruction.
"So I was nothing but your sacrificial lamb all along. That was what you groomed me for." The bitterness that oozed out of her voice curled around the cramped space of the cell. She thought her heart had already broken when she was framed for a murder she didn't commit, but right now she felt it shattering all over again. With each tiny crack, it hurt like silver slowly being twisted through her chest.
"What did you think? I'd fall for the lowest wolf in my pack? Oh, I forgot—you can't even be called a wolf... you don't have one."
When everyone insulted her, he defended her. But turns out his thoughts weren't any different from theirs—it was even worse.
When he stood in front of her, Rosaline swallowed with difficulty. The sharp pain in her chest morphed with something burning deep within her gut—rage... it engulfed her like furious flames licking her skin. That rage, so immense, she felt her body shake uncontrollably.
"Haven't you ever thought about your purpose? Why a wolf like you—utterly useless to a great pack like Redthorn—was ever born?" he questioned, his eyes glowering with a devious mix of ambition and ruthlessness. The side of this man she'd never seen was his true self. Selfish, ambitious, ready to do whatever it takes to gain power. "You were meant to be my stepping stone. The key to my future."
The irony of it was painfully funny. Rosaline, like a person whose misery had caused her to suddenly lose her mind, laughed.
The sound was worse than mourning sobs. Tears flowed down her eyes until her laughter ceased.
"She has finally lost her mind. Maybe that's why she killed the alpha. If the council sees this, they'll execute her instantly without needing a confession," Serena muttered, clinging to Lucan's arm.
Seeing the two of them together, a phrase came into Rosaline's mind.
The couple bound for hell.
She had no idea when Serena had joined him in his plan, but she was certain now that Lucan's motive to use her had been right from the start.
Right from that very moment Lucan had saved her... no, he hadn't saved her. He'd only extended her lifespan.
Three more years... he'd given her three more years so she could take the fall for him.
Like a panorama, Rosaline saw all her memories replay in her mind speedily. From the earliest memory of her being an introverted little girl, to the moment she was deemed a curse when she couldn't awaken her wolf, through all those times she had been wronged but she took it silently, insulted but she never fought back, abused but she swallowed it.
In this lifetime, she was born unfortunate.
"Go ahead, Lucan. Take your seat as alpha. And you, Serena, as his Luna. But mark my words..." Her eyes, the deepest shade of blue, darkened further. Something invisible emerged from her—perhaps it was the hardening of her broken heart into stone.
The clear skies outside darkened, clouds forming rapidly and lightning flashing distinctly.
"Kill me... but if there's ever a next life for me, I will fight back. And I assure you, it is a fight I will win. From this day on, you have no sister, Serena. From this day on, you're my worst enemy, Lucan Axler. Pray to the heavens that I never breathe again, because if I do... I will take blood for blood."
Cold... the small space within the cell suddenly felt as if it were freezing over. Chills climbed their bodies, and for a moment, Serena and Lucan exchanged glances, seeing the same uncertain shock in each other's eyes.
It felt like they were standing in front of an ever-meek and silent puppy who would never bite or bark, but had suddenly burst out of its shell. Its bark was ferocious despite still looking small and harmless. That bone-chilling gaze made goosebumps rise on their skin.
Lucan's eyes darkened, and he stepped forward, grabbing Rosaline's chin in a brutal grip that made her face scrunch up.
"It's adorable seeing you like this, Rose, but your death comes tomorrow. Don't worry, your soul will forever be sealed in the afterlife. When I destroy my enemies, I do it thoroughly so they never get a chance to return."
With the brute strength of an alpha, he shoved her against the wall, grabbing her chained wrist and holding her finger up.
Serena took the cue and stepped close with the pre-written confession letter. He forced her thumb down, stamping the paper with her blood.
When it was done, he grinned at her and stepped back.
"Hate me before you die, Rose. You're allowed to do that. Take it as my last little gift for you. I'm accepting your hatred with open arms."
With that, he turned and strode out of the cell with confident steps.
Serena lingered. She didn't know why, but she did. One last glance at her stepsister. One last glance at this ghost-like, bloodied figure who looked and acted nothing like the meek Rosaline.
Something twisted in Serena's chest. It could be guilt, it could be regret, but whatever it was, she swallowed it.
What she wanted sat on her neck like a trophy—Lucan's mark sealing her as his fated mate forever.
She remembered the memory two days before the mating soiree, when she had accidentally seen Lucan purchasing the poisoned silver dagger from a witch. She was never meant to walk into that scene.
"You promised to free the witches held captive in Redthorn's territory when you become alpha in two days. Please don't forget your promise," the witch had said.
"I never forget loyalty. You helped me, I'll grant your request." His eyes had gleamed, reflecting upon the silver dagger. "My damned father has been alpha long enough. The old fucker has lived for longer than he's supposed to. Ruling for over four hundred years is more than enough. It's time for me to take the throne."
Serena's eyes had widened as she realized he was going to kill the alpha!
Lucan's eyes had been nothing like his usual self. This man looked ruthless. It made her blood run cold to glimpse his silver eyes. She had made to run, but before she could flee, he'd caught up with her at impossible speed. He was an alpha, trained from birth. He was stronger and faster than any other wolf in Redthorn.
His arms suddenly wrapped around her midsection, so strong and yet tender she was astonished, her breath seizing.
"I won't tell, I swear I won't..." she blurted out, thinking he would kill her.
"Why should I believe you, dear mate?" he growled, sniffing down her neck as if her scent was hypnotizing to him.
Serena had stiffened.
What did he just call her?
"I'm... I'm your mate?"
"I've smelled you ever since I turned twenty-one. My wolf can't resist you. But what was more important—the plan I've crafted for years, or finding my mate? I have so many plans for this pack. My mate won't be a distraction, will she? You will support your mate, won't you?"
Serena was stunned speechless. The man she had always admired and secretly liked was her mate, and he was holding her in a way no other man had. She hadn't even thought twice about her decision...
"I'll help you, I—I won't be a hindrance to your plans. I won't tell a soul."
"Not so fast, mate. What if I told you that my plan has something to do with your sister... Rose is the biggest part of my plan, my escape plan. When the alpha dies, everything will be blamed on her. Will you still decide to help me?"
Serena was startled.
So that was why he'd been with Rose all these years. He'd been grooming her for her own downfall.
For a moment, she almost hesitated. But her dream was right in front of her.
Only she knew how much heartache she'd endured when Lucan had chosen Rose. It had been unbearable. Now was her chance. She wasn't just Lucan's mate, she would be his Luna too, and the only price to pay to get everything she'd always wanted was to sacrifice Rose.
What loss would there be if Rose disappeared? She had no wolf. Ever since Lucan began to give Rose attention, their mother had been all over her stepsister, forgetting she had another daughter.
It was always Rose this or Rose that. Her life would be so much better if Rose disappeared.
"I'll help you. I've always wanted to be your mate. I'll help in your plans to become alpha and blame everything on Rose."
His eyes, which had been ruthless, warmed up. A wolf would never be able to resist their mate. The bond would draw them inexplicably.
"Wise choice," he murmured, and then kissed her.
When Serena awakened from that memory, she shifted her gaze away from Rosaline.
'I am sorry, Rose. It's either you or me. It has to be you. I'm happy now. This world is not for you. I hope you find peace in the afterlife.' With that silent thought, Serena walked away without turning back.
Watching her sister leave coldly, Rose no longer felt any pain, no heartache—only coldness filled her heart.
When the sun rose the next day, Rose witnessed it. She watched it slowly peek out of the horizon as she stood on the execution ground. The whole pack had gathered around, throwing filth at her and whispering harsh words.
"She should have been killed a long time ago!"
"She's a bad omen to our pack!"
"We must get justice for our late alpha!"
"Rosaline Foxx, for your crime of bitterly plotting against and stabbing the alpha to death with a potently poisoned silver dagger, the pack finds you guilty. You're hereby sentenced to death for your crimes."
The executioner raised the axe. She was going to be beheaded.
Rosaline looked up to the sky, then closed her eyes as her head was lowered onto the execution stone.
Will death taste sweet on my tongue? Will death be my final rest?
She had submitted, but her heart and soul never would. She would avenge this betrayal, even if she became a ghost.