CHAPTER ONE
Sophia
“I want another dress,” I turned to my maids who stood behind me as I rejected the twentieth dress they’d brought to my room earlier that afternoon. Now, it was almost five pm, and I hadn’t made my decision yet. It was hard. Every dress looked mediocre. None of them looked like something you wore on your eighteenth birthday. None of them looked like something you’d wear on the day your chosen mate had picked to mark you. I was getting marked in a few days!
I was so excited, I could hardly keep still.
“I’m sorry, Miss Sophia, you have to wear this one,” one of the maids persuaded, above my grumble.
“I want a black dress, this one is too bright,” I clucked impatiently, surveying the purple dress in front of the full-length mirror. I hated bright colors.
“Your mother has instructed us to make you wear this,” the auburn-haired maid spoke up, her head bowed, eyes avoiding mine. I swallowed hard. Of course, I didn’t have a say, not even on my upcoming birthday. As usual.
I turned to the girls. “I will let you know when I need your help.”
I watched them leave, hurried to my phone which was laying carelessly on my bed, and called Kael’s number.
He was my sweetheart, and had been since our school years. I like to call it love at first sight. And in a few days, we will be together forever.
My call went to voicemail. Frowning, I headed out of my room, intending to go to his house directly. As I passed a chain of rooms, I dialed his number once more, just in case he’d gone into town, and wouldn’t be at home.
Then, I froze. A phone was ringing, and I knew that ringtone. It was Kael’s phone! And it was ringing in my older sister’s room.
Kael was around?
I entered the room and glanced around. Olivia had always loved bright rooms and colors for as long as I could remember, a stark contrast to me. It made me wonder why her room was dark at that moment. There was no one in the mini living room. But I knew there was no mistake about it. Kael was in Olivia’s bedroom. I heard his ringtone clearly. What was he doing there? My heart raced as I rushed into her bedroom.
No.
My stomach sank, as my eyes landed on the figures on the bed. The room was a bit dark, but not so dark that I couldn’t make out the shape of my chosen mate thrusting into my older sister. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, her moans of pleasure mirroring his groans. My mouth went dry, and I suddenly felt nauseous.
“I’m having a nightmare,” I whispered desperately. They didn’t hear me above the slaps of flesh against each other. “This has to be a super cruel nightmare.” I whispered again, my voice cracking.
“f**k me, Kael! f**k me hard!” Olivia screamed, her hips moving up in a crazed motion to meet his equally frenzied thrusts.
“You feel so good wrapped around my d**k, baby,” Kael groaned, leaning down to kiss her hard. “So good,” he repeated.
Tears welled up in my eyes, as I watched them from my position. I couldn’t speak. My body felt…numb. This couldn’t be happening. I will wake up from this nightmare soon.
“Does that b***h feel this good?” I heard Olivia ask, her taunt shocking me out of my miserable thoughts.
Kael slammed into her with more gusto. “I wouldn’t know,” he paused for a bit, a sarcastic laugh tearing up his throat. “I’ve never f****d either of her holes.”
Hearing Kael utter such vile and hateful words, finally made the reality of what was happening sink into me with a harsh force.
“Kael! What–” my voice broke as my chest constricted.
The figures on the bed went still, and just when I thought Kael would run over to me, begging at least, a sharp snicker echoed in the room. Followed by a loud laughter.
“And who else, but your little b***h? Did you enjoy the view, dear sister?” Olivia mocked, still laughing, as she crawled from beneath the man I’d come to love and cherish since forever. That same man now turned in my direction, his eyes flaming with undisguised hatred. I took a step back, shock rushing through my body. Kael had never looked at me like that before. Like he wanted to murder me.
“It’s all your fault,” Kael spat,” and my lips parted.
“Kael, what are you talki–”
“You caused this!” He went on, eyes blazing. He didn’t even bother to get dressed. His d**k was still glistening, body sweaty; evidence of what he’d done with my older sister.
“Can’t you do something right for once in your naive life? You just had to come in here and ruin the moment, didn’t you?” He raved on. I blinked, a wave of shame washing over me. Then anger.
Was he seriously blaming me that I caught him cheating?
“You cheated!” I screamed. “You cheated on me.” I growled. My wolf whimpered, the impact of the pain crushing us both.
“Cheated?” Kael repeated, with a bark of laughter. “Did you really think I ever wanted you? That I loved you? It was all an act, Sophia. I have never been in love with you. And I will never be.” He turned to give Olivia a doting look. “I want Olivia. And I love her.”
I gasped, my chest feeling like it had been pierced by a thousand needles. I didn’t wait to hear the rest of his words, before running out of the room, straight to my parents’ corner. Without the courtesy of a knock, I barged into their large room, startling my mother who was getting a pedicure from the maids.
“Sophia Rosewood! Have you lost your mind?!” My father growled, as everyone’s eyes narrowed in my direction.
“Kael is cheating on me. With Sophia,” I breathed. “I just caught them having sex.” My voice broke.
I waited for them to speak, but they merely exchanged glances, with a barely audible “oh.”
“Didn’t you hear me?” My voice rose an octave higher. “Kael is cheating on me with–”
“We heard you, the first time, Sophia. Stop making a fuss,” my mother snapped, waving her hand to dismiss the maids, and leaning back on her chair. My eyes alternated from my father to my mother who was avoiding my gaze.
“Y-you knew?” I breathed. “You both knew all along?”
“You’ll find your own fated mate, Sophia. Don’t be stubborn. We are sorry it had to happen this way.” My father merely said. I reared my head back in shock.
“Father–”
“No more arguments. It has been decided,” my father waved my words with a note of finality. “The mating ceremony between your sister and her mate has already been arranged. It’s on your birthday. As her sister, I expect you to give them your best wishes.” My father warned me.
“Her mate?” I whispered, bells ringing in my ear.
“Yes. Olivia and Kael will be joined together as mates. You must attend.” My father divulged, and my eyes widened.
