I AM THE SHE-ALPHA

CHAPTER 003

Raven's POV:

My hands trembled as I turned on the faucet, splashing my face with water and hoping this was all a dream, but yet, the mark remained.

It seemed like the hundredth time I'd been calling, desperate for Kaelith to pick up, but the endless ringing only seemed to elevate my panic and despair.

"Pick up, please. Pick up, damn it!" I muttered under my breath, pacing the confines of the large bathroom that seemed too small now as claustrophobia closed in. I noticed my reflection in the mirror as it mocked me-disheveled hair, tear-streaked face, and that unmistakable mark on my neck that seemed to burn with every passing second.

The phone call went to voicemail again.

"Kaelith! I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you don't call me back right now, I'll make sure to end you in the most-" I cut myself off, knowing empty threats wouldn't summon her here. I tried again, my shaking fingers fumbling with the screen.

No answer.

The tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as reality hit me like a stone brick. I was marked-claimed by Beta Gilbert, a man who wasn't my mate, worse yet, was my twin sister's.

I knew this plan would fail from the start. This wasn't just a betrayal; it was treason.

I was scared, but what truly terrified me was the thought of Alpha Theodore. What would he do when he finds out I've been marked by another?

A wave of nausea hit me, and I rested my back against the door; that was when my phone rang. I picked up immediately, my voice filled with panic.

"Kaelith, what in the goddess's name? I've been calling more than a million times, and you didn't pick up. Where were you-"

"Oh, shut it, Raven. You panic too much." Kaelith replied coolly. "Since you're talking to me now, it means Gilbert hasn't found out. I called to get your lazy ass out of the bed and leave his chamber."

I shook my head, grabbing my hair tightly. "There's a problem, Kaelith. A huge problem. Gilbert marked me!"

My breath hitched as there was a long pause, a silence that didn't seem to be a concerted effort to seek.

"How did this happen?"

"I don't know. One minute I was pretending to sleep, and the next, he was kissing me. My memory is vague but I woke up this morning to find myself marked and taken by him. I don't know what to do now, Kaelith." My voice cracked as the unshed tears finally broke free. "We're in big trouble, Sis. We have to tell our father. We have to stop this nonsense now."

"Are you insane? Tell father what? Father would destroy us if he ever found out about this. Look here, just breathe, Raven. The best thing to do is play along until..."

"Until what?" I snapped, cutting her off as I began to dress up. I had to leave before he wakes up. "Until he realizes he slept and marked a wrong mate?"

"That's why I said you should chill out. I'm thinking here."

"Chill out? How on earth do you expect me to 'chill out'? What we have done is unthinkable; need I remind you for the hundredth time?" I sniffled, composing myself as I prepared to leave the Beta's chambers. "I'm coming home. You should find a way to fix this shit you've put me into, or else I'll tell Father everything. Right from the start." I threatened.

"You dare not-"

"Try me, Kaelith, and you'll see how serious I really am." I ended the call, breathing deeply.

I successfully sneaked out of the Beta's chamber and walked around the busy streets of the Fangborn pack, trying to dull time as Karlie fixed all her mistakes. Later that evening, a chauffeur picked me up and took me directly to the pack house. Today was the day Alpha Theodore said he would come for me, and as ceremonial rites, the Delta family was invited to dine with the Alpha. Likely, an invitation had already been sent if the chauffeur was taking me directly to the pack house.

I only hope Kaelith has changed into me, so no one would notice our switch.

The chauffeur parked by the driveway of the pack house, and a pack member led me through the grand mansion. As I arrived, two pack warriors stood before the large door. They didn't say anything, their gaze on me the entire time until I reached them.

"I'm here to see my parents-" I didn't finish my words as a silver cuff was placed over my wrist. A hissing sound apparent as it burned my skin.

"W-what's going on?" I questioned, staring in confusion, but they only yanked me away.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys? Don't you know I am the Delta's daughter? Let go of me!" I barked at the grim-faced security guards, but they remained stoic and silent.

There in the dining room, where I was supposed to be formally introduced to my true mate and Alpha, stood all the important figures in the pack, lined up as they watched the warriors drag me.

"FATHER?" I shouted when I noticed him standing by mother and Kaelith. Beside him was none other than him, Alpha Theodore, and several ministers.

I struggled to let the warriors free me but their grip was too tight. "Mother! Father! Help me. These guys have gone crazy." But none made a move to help me, they only watched with disappointment and disapproval.

"You disappointed us, Raven," Father said, his voice filled with suppressed anger and many more I couldn't decipher. "You not only betrayed the sacred law of the pack but betrayed your own twin sister. I am ashamed to call you my daughter."

What are they talking about? My gaze shifted to Kaelith and she looked more like herself instead of me as we'd agreed; straight hair, paler skin, and her eyes gleaming with fear, that's when it hit me.

Kaelith had betrayed me.

I shook my head, tears beginning to fall. "Momma, papa, believe me. I had nothing to do with all these. It's all Kaelith's who orchestrated-"

"Shut up, Raven," mother shouted, holding father's hand. "You've implicated your sister too much. Don't blame her for your crimes. You ceased being my daughter after committing such treason."

No, no.

"No, please-"

"You slept with my mate, Raven. How could you? I thought you were my sister?" Kaelith whimpered, falling into her mother's arms as she wept. "M-mother, I can feel the burn. My mate marked another. It hurts."

"You!" Kaelith pointed at me, her teary eyes filled with accusation. "You've always been jealous of me, right? So you took my mate from me, pretending to be me. How despicable could you be? HOW DARE YOU," she screamed as a few pack ministers consoled her.

I was too much shock as I stood there like a statue, watching her act her way out.

"Whose idea was this?" A deep voice I recognized all too well growled.

My attention snapped towards Alpha Theodore as he glared at me with pure hatred.

"You slept with a man who wasn't your mate last night, am I correct?"

"This is a trap. Kaelith convinced me to help-"

"YES OR NO!" Alpha Theodore roared, shutting me up instantly.

I nodded solemnly, my gaze to the ground, unable to meet his hatred-filled eyes. I glanced at Kaelith, hoping she would accept her mistake, but she was all quiet, adding layers to my guilt by crying.

I had to defend myself; I possibly couldn't be used as a dump now, not when a nightmare was unfolding before my eyes. "It's all Kaelith's idea. She feels she isn't pure to-"

"SHUT UP," Kaelith screamed. "Why on earth would I ask you to pretend to be me just so you can lay my mate? Make it make sense, Raven."

Now that she said it, even I wouldn't believe me.

Tears fell from my eyes as I knelt to the ground, pleading. "Alpha, mother, father, ministers. I swear I would never have done-"

Theodore raised his hands to stop me, his eyes filled with rage and disgust. "I would never accept a sl*t like you as a mate. You're not worthy of becoming my Luna. Disgusting," he spat. I shook my head, knowing what was coming next, but he said it anyway.

"I, Alpha Theodore Dreadclaw, Alpha of the Fangborn pack, hereby reject you, Raven Silvera, as my mate and Luna."

At that moment, I felt everything within me shatter. My heart squeezed as pain enveloped my chest, the mate mark from Gilbert burning.

"M-mother. Father...Help..." I screamed as the pain intensified, but through my blurry vision, I could only see their disappointment.

Alpha Theodore's voice tore through the cloud of pain that enveloped me. "Take her to the dungeon, for the laws must be obeyed. Raven Silvera shall be executed by full moon."