Creating The Perfect Alpha

Chapter 12

For a long moment, I just stood there in the hallway, not moving, unable to think. Sofia’s words echoed within me. Only when laughter drifted from the dining room did I realize what I was doing.

Moving back, this time with my eyes lowered, I took my seat.

“Elijah didn’t return with you?” his father asked.

“No, he wasn’t hungry,” I lied.

I heard the soft chuckles echoing around me, making my blood boil again, but this time I kept myself under control.

Conversation continued, but I didn’t participate. I merely listened. Soon, however, something caught my attention. As I slowly dug my fork into the dessert in front of me, my hand halted.

“I can’t wait for the games to finally start,” Brian remarked. “They’ve been postponed for too long.”

“Well, the king wanted more time to mourn,” someone farther down the table added.

“It wasn’t his mourning, it was f*****g Alpha Darren’s. Why did his mate have to get into an accident then?”

An accident? I wondered. What did he mean by accident? I was shot!

“And then die,” he added grumpily.

“It’s not like it was her choice,” I murmured.

Instantly, the whole room went quiet again. I looked up, finding everyone staring at me.

Fuck, I thought. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut?

“Sorry, I just mean... people don’t choose to die,” I whispered.

“Perhaps not,” Brian said. “But it’s not like he mourned for long.”

My curiosity was piqued. I met his eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

Brian frowned, clearly confused by my question.

“It means he moved on pretty fast.”

“Moved on?” I echoed.

My head spun, making me feel dizzy.

“Yeah, with his new mate.”

New mate?

“What the hell does that mean?”

Brian’s frown deepened.

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” he said.

I only felt more confused.

Forget it, Aurora. Forget what he said.

Yet there was something about Sofia’s voice that made me suspicious.

What did she know?

It was clear Brian wasn’t going to explain any further. He just sat there, looking at me as if I were stupid.

“Excuse me.”

I rose instantly from my seat, hurrying out, not even bothering to appear calm. I stormed back to my room, trying to find some kind of electronic device I could use.

Listen, Aurora—

“Shut up! You know something!” I yelled. “And you’ve kept it from me.”

It’s only... maybe now isn’t the time to—

“I said be quiet!”

She whimpered, shrinking further into herself as my eyes finally landed on the former Sofia’s laptop on a small desk.

I sat down and opened it.

“Password,” I demanded.

Sofia remained quiet.

“Password!”

Freedom, Sofia murmured.

I rolled my eyes before typing it in. The screen came to life, revealing numerous icons and programs. Clearly, she didn’t use it much.

I opened Google and found the private wolf community where news was posted. I searched through the articles until my eyes finally landed on the most horrifying thing—worse than finding my sister on her knees in front of my mate.

They were standing together. United.

My hand flew to my mouth, tears forming in my eyes before trailing down my cheeks. Pain exploded in my chest as though I had been shot again.

I pressed my hand harder against my lips, smothering the sobs that escaped me, but it didn’t stop the pain. It only grew stronger.

The tears kept coming.

They were united! They were mated!

I shook my head in disbelief, trying to deny the obvious truth before me, but I couldn’t run from it.

“You knew,” I cried.

I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. I didn’t want you to know how deep the betrayal went.

“So you lied to me instead?” I sobbed, clutching my chest.

N-No, I just... listen, you had only just come back. I didn’t think it was the right time to tell you.

“That was your decision to make?” I hissed.

I...

She turned quiet, and I felt the conflicted emotions flowing through me, knowing they belonged to her.

I shook my head, falling forward and burying my face in my palms. My entire body shook as I let out the pain those two had inflicted upon me. I had almost been grateful to my sister for trying to give me a chance at a new start, but this...

How could they have become mates while I was dead? And so soon after? Like they were... celebrating?

My hands fell away, and I stared at the picture in front of me, the happy couple with their arms wrapped around each other.

Wiping my cheeks, I began reading the article. At first, nothing overly exciting stood out, only for another bomb to be dropped.

“Pregnant... She was pregnant...” I whispered.

This was just months ago, meaning she was already well into her pregnancy.

They conceived a child while I was rotting in the ground?

Anger began moving through me like hot lava, growing and growing until I let out a devastating growl before sweeping my hand through the air, knocking the laptop to the ground.

It hit with a loud crash. A scream tore from me next as I shoved the chair away and knocked the table over. I began trashing the room, not caring if anyone heard, not caring about the mess I would have to clean up.

It was too much.

The pain was too much.

Unfortunately, the room didn’t contain many things. I quickly ran out of things to destroy. My eyes landed on the bed. I began walking toward it, thinking I could rip the pillows apart, but my foot got caught in the curtain I had pulled down.

Like a snake coiling around my ankle, it tripped me, and I fell flat on the floor. It was the slap in the face I needed, and I lost all my strength.

I turned onto my back, sobbing again as I stared up at the ceiling. I just lay there until the tears dried, but I was left completely drained. I had no strength to stand, to even think.

I just lay there, staring. I noticed the shadows lengthen and darkness settle in, yet I still didn’t move. Time barely seemed to pass, but I knew it did because the sun came back, and I still hadn’t moved.

Aurora?

I didn’t reply.

Aurora, please, talk to me...

“You knew...” was all I got out.

I’m sorry. I really am.

Her apologies didn’t help me. The betrayal I felt couldn’t be described with words. It left me so numb that I didn’t even know what to do anymore. A knock suddenly interrupted the silence.

“Sofia?”

That was the same voice that had greeted me when I was brought back yesterday. I turned my head toward the door but lacked the strength to respond.

Answer, Sofia said. It’s Lora.

“Who’s Lora?”

The one who is always sent by the alpha to deliver messages or demand your presence. She keeps an eye on us.

“When you say ‘keep an eye on us’?”

You know what I mean.

Like my own personal jailer, disguised as a friend.

“Sofia?”

She will come inside if you don’t answer.

“She’ll come inside regardless,” I whispered.

And I was right.

The door opened, and a beautiful she-wolf poked her head inside. Her eyes scanned the room, shock crossing her face before she focused on me.

“What happened?” she exclaimed, hurrying over to me.

She helped me sit up before untangling me from the curtain.

“Oh, well,” I began. “I tripped.”

“Tripped?”

Lora looked around, clearly not believing that for a second.

“Yes, tripped,” I replied, my voice devoid of strength.

“Are you okay?”

She helped me stand, holding my arm. I met her eyes, seeing the worry in them, but I knew it was fake. If Sofia hadn’t told me, though, I might have believed it.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“But the room?”

“So? I’ll clean it up.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do that. Maybe just go take a shower and then find Elijah?”

I understood Lora’s role even better. Not only was she supposed to keep an eye on me, she was also personally responsible for making sure something happened between Elijah and me.

“I’ll take that shower,” I said.

I walked into the closet first, picking out something baggy before heading to the bathroom. Once inside, I locked the door before stepping in front of the mirror. I looked like a mess, and not the pretty kind.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes, pausing there for a moment, unable to move.

Shower, Sofia reminded me.

Right. Shower.

I finally pushed away from the sink before walking toward the shower. I turned on the hot water, letting it warm up as I undressed before stepping beneath the steaming spray.

I could tell it was a little too hot, but I let it burn me, not having the strength to even adjust the temperature. I didn’t even try to use shampoo or body wash. I just stood there, staring ahead.

Aurora?

Again, I didn’t respond.

Listen, I know this is... I know this isn’t what you wanted to read.

“Is it that obvious?” I mocked.

Sofia whimpered softly.

I just mean... screw them.

Her words shocked me.

“Sorry?”

Screw them. You got a new chance. They think they won, but you’re here. You’re someone else now. You got a new chance.

Her words echoed within me, and as they did, I contemplated them.

“Screw them,” I repeated.

Exactly, screw them.

There was something sound in what she was saying.

“Screw them,” I repeated.

Yes, yes, Sofia began laughing, joy filling us both.

“They don’t know I was reborn.”

No, they don’t. They think they won.

“They did think they won.”

Yes, and now—

“And now I’m going to ruin them.”

Sofia froze.

Sorry?

I reached for the shampoo, working it into my hair.

“You said it yourself. They don’t know I’m someone else.”

Yes, but that’s not what I meant. I’m not talking about assassinating them.

“Hmm, could I?”

Stop it! You forget you’re not a luna anymore. You don’t carry the same power. You can’t just go in there with a knife. Besides, you’re not a killer.

Perhaps I was going to change in many ways.

“Maybe this is the new me.”

No, it’s Aurora. Don’t let them ruin you, Sofia urged.

Her pleading reached me, making me pause to think it through, but even thinking about them sent a boiling rage shooting through me.

“I can’t just let them get away with this.”

Get away with what? Moving on?

“You don’t understand.”

But I do. You were betrayed by them.

“I wasn’t just betrayed. Someone killed me!” I yelled.

Shh.

I glanced at the door, but the sound of the water must have drowned out my voice. After waiting a moment, I turned back to Sofia.

“Someone killed me,” I repeated in a lower voice.

I’m aware, but you didn’t see who.

“My sister is pregnant with Darren’s child. She let me out that night.”

She let you out, then why kill you?

“To... stage an accident!”

You don’t think she could have done that regardless? Besides, from what I can see in your memories, she wanted to trade lives with you, not kill you.

I froze for a second, recalling the conversation I had with her. Sofia did have a point...

“Then Darren! Darren did it!”

But didn’t you say he wanted to breed with you? How can you have his pups if you’re dead?

Another good point...

I stood there for a moment, staring at the water dripping from my body before running toward the drain. As Sofia continued to dismantle my theories, I felt the fight drain out of me again.

I leaned against the tiles behind me, feeling their cool surface.

“But... someone killed me.”