Replaced By My Twin: Now The Alpha's Obsession

~ AKIRA ~ “A…manda?” Mother's voice shook violently, her eyes widening as if she'd stared directly into the face of a ghost. “W-what are you doing here?” I blinked, my gaze darting to the woman in white who stood by the altar. My vision blurred for a heartbeat, then snapped back into focus. Surely I must be seeing things. I had to be. And “Amanda”? That wasn't my name. My mind raced as I tried to understand why the hell Amanda, my identical twin sister, stood at the altar beside Alex. My Alexander. Not just that, she was wearing my tailored lace wedding dress. Holding my bouquet. The hall felt completely unstable. I reached out blindly, grasping the nearest pew for balance. “What do you mean, ‘what am I doing here, Mum?’” A small, soundless laugh broke through my lips before I could stop it. “Today is my wedding! I am supposed to be the one at the altar getting married to Alex. And my name is freaking Akira! Not Amanda.” I spat, my eyes flicking past Mother's pale face to the couple in front. Collective gasps filled the hall. Hands flew over lips. Some guests leaned over the aisle to get a closer look. Finally, Alex turned. I waited for the recognition. For the moment he'd rush down the steps to fix this. For when he'd realize he was marrying the wrong bride. Instead, I was met with a hardened expression. I missed a step, and my knees buckled. His eyes, those amber eyes, didn't look at me as they always did. I only saw a profound look of exhaustion and pity in them now. Amanda stepped down from the altar next, her movements unnervingly calm. She stopped a foot away, her eyes cast down. “Look, Amanda, please don't do this,” she whispered, her voice smooth and controlled. “Not now, not here.” She reached for my hands, hers adorned with my engagement ring. I recoiled, forcing myself to my feet. This has got to be some sick, stupid joke. Why the f**k was Amanda calling me by her name? And how did that ring get to her finger? A sharp pain shot behind my temple, causing me to squeeze my head between my palms. Everything had been fine until last night, but the events of it eluded me. Ignoring Amanda and Mum, I forced my leg forward, storming up the aisle toward Alex. “Alex, please… look at me.” Alex didn't move. He only shifted, willfully creating a barrier between us with his posture, his finger blocking the passageway to his nostrils. I stopped dead in my tracks, his physical rejection tearing through me. It was only then, standing by the church wall's transparent panel, that I caught my reflection. The woman staring back at me didn't look like me. My usual neat, wavy brown hair looked like a bird had nested in it the entire night, and my clothes were an inappropriate, crumpled mess. But those weren't the only things odd. My breath, which usually smelled of mint and lavender even without my morning routine, now reeked of alcohol. Two years sober, gone in an instant. “A... Alex,” my voice cracked. I reached out, my fingers trembling in the empty space between us. “It's me… your Akira. Your love.” I didn't know if it was his silence that shattered me, or his expression of disdain, or the fact that everyone was trying to make me look insane, but— “Amanda!” He growled, voice sharp. “Stop this!” He jabbed a finger toward my sister in the beautiful white lacy ball dress. “The only reason you aren't in a state rehab or prison cell is because of your sister, Akira.” “Tell me,” he snarled, yanking me by the hand, “are you so obsessed with Akira that you want to steal her life?” Hot tears spilled over my lashes, tracing down my face. “B-but I... I... am your Akira.” “Amanda, please stop.” Amanda interrupted, her voice laced with an unusual meekness as she closed the distance between us. “Last night you tried to kill yourself. You couldn't handle the fact that I was marrying Alexander,” she muttered, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, her eyes gleaming with fake worry. One might think she was about to cry. “But as I’d told you… getting married to Alex wouldn't change our bond. You're still my sister.” My head shook wildly as I shoved her hand away. “No.” The word burned in my throat. She couldn't be saying the truth. Alex was supposed to be mine, not... not hers. “We are sorry about everything, my in-laws.” Mother stepped forward, slightly bowing to Alex's parents before drilling her eyes into mine. “She’s drunk.” I stood perplexed, moving before I could think as Father dragged me away from the altar. “Turns out her drinking problem is far more than we imagined,” Father clicked his tongue, his hand clamping down on my shoulder with unwavering might before eventually ceding me to his wife to escort me toward the entrance of the church. They looked at Amanda like that, not me. She was the bad one, the drunk, the screw-up. SHE WAS THE MESS! Heat made its way up my throat. “You psychotic little b***h!” I snarled, jerking my hand free from mother's grip. And before anyone could register what was going on... Crack! My palm stung against Amanda's cheek. Alex spun me to face him, hand raised mid-air, fire blazing in his eyes. “I'm alright, Alex,” Amanda muttered, voice trembling as she clenched her reddened cheek. “Don't hurt her. It's… it's probably one of those drugs she took.” The crowd erupted. The priest shook his head as he dropped the Bible in his hands. “This is the house of God, you crazy girl,” an old hag who could barely stand on her own shouted from the crowd. “Save your drama for the streets.” “You see why I said no drugs?” another woman snarled, squeezing the ears of a teenage boy beside her. “Imagine doing this at your sister's wedding.” “Pathetic,” someone else chimed in. Amanda’s gaze lowered before anyone could notice the satisfaction that flickered across her face. Her head pressed against Alex's chest while he ran his hand through her hair. “Out, Amanda,” he gestured toward the door. “Out while I'm still being nice.” Tears welled up, blurring my vision. “How could you?” I tilted my head just so she could see my face. To see the hurt she'd caused me and, most especially, her betrayal. But Amanda didn't flinch. Instead, she busied herself pretending to be more hurt than the slap could have caused. “I-I...” I fumbled, the ache tearing through me. “I covered all your secrets, Amanda. And now... you want to steal my man?” “If there's anyone you're describing, that's yourself!” Alex spat. “LaRosa,” the word purred honey smooth against his lips. That was the same name he had crowned me with after he discovered my love for roses. And now... “Do you think it was a good idea bringing her out of prison?” “Terribly sorry, Alexander,” Mother ventured again, her blue eyes a sea of storms. “Sorry about your sister, Akira,” she muttered past me. She had begun to drag me away when my voice thundered against the glassy walls. “Stop!” Her grip loosened around my arm. She backed away slowly. “I will leave.” “But before that,” I turned back to the altar, locking eyes with the woman in my dress, fighting back tears, “you should know your daughters better than anyone, Mrs. Darks. Akira has a distinct birthmark behind her neck, and Amanda doesn't.” At the altar, Amanda froze, her fingers tightening around Alex's suit. I bet she didn't think that through. Checkmate, b***h!!!