THE BETA'S SIN

CHAPTER 3

JAKE DAVIS

I lean back in the armchair of the room, my eyes fixed on the wine glass spinning between my fingers.

The kiss between Clara and me still burns in my mind, and no matter how much I try to convince myself that it was a mistake, I know the truth.

I love her.

Maybe I always have, even when I walked away, even when I tried to erase that moment we shared a year and a half ago.

Now, however, everything is even more complicated. She is still Anthony's wife, still trapped in a marriage that doesn't bring her happiness. But what right do I have to interfere? None.

That's why I decided to leave.

I need to clear my head, fill it with anything other than Clara.

I grab my phone and send a message to some friends from training.

It doesn’t take long before they suggest a night out at a club in the city.

Electronic music pulses around me, and the multicolored lights illuminate the sweaty faces of the clubgoers.

I’ve lost count of how many drinks I’ve had, but it doesn’t matter. I want to numb every thought and every image of Clara that keeps surfacing.

I need to forget her.

My friends laugh loudly, teasing me for being so quiet.

“Relax a little, Jake! We’re here to have fun!” one of them shouts, shoving another glass of whiskey in my direction.

I accept it, downing it in one go.

That’s when I notice the commotion in the corner of the club.

A group of werewolves is surrounding a girl at the bar.

She’s drinking alone; her expression is clearly uncomfortable.

One of them grips her wrist while another leans in too close, murmuring something that makes her avert her gaze, uneasy.

I grit my teeth.

I can’t stand this kind of thing. Without thinking twice, I walk over.

“Get out of here.” I order, my voice laced with authority.

The werewolves turn to me, and one of them scoffs.

“And who do you think you are, big guy?”

I don’t answer.

Instead, I punch the guy in the face, making him stumble backward, surprised.

The others growl, ready to react, but one look from me is enough to make them back off.

“Go. Now.”

Grumbling, the werewolves move away, and the girl exhales sharply, turning to me.

“You didn’t have to do that.” she says with a small smile.

“I could handle myself.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Didn’t look like it.”

She lets out a laugh and extends her hand.

“Okay, then. Thank you for defending me, noble gentleman. I’m Liza.”

I shake her hand, finally taking a better look at her.

She’s beautiful. Dark hair, bright blue eyes.

Different from Clara, yet bringing an attraction that makes me feel momentarily relieved.

“Jake. It’s a pleasure to rescue you, milady.” I tease, making her laugh.

“To show my gratitude, I think I owe you a drink.” she says, and I smile, sitting beside her.

We talk for a while, drink more, and laugh together.

Liza recently moved here to visit family she hasn’t seen in a long time.

“What does that mean?” she asks, pointing to my pack’s tattoo on my arm.

“It’s something from my group. A vow of loyalty.”

She takes another sip, and I blink, feeling good with her.

I feel light, as if I can finally forget everything that haunts me.

My friends tease me, encouraging me to “enjoy the night.” I know they’re right. I need to get Clara out of my head.

Liza stands in front of me, her eyes locking onto mine.

I feel something inside me.

My hand touches her face, and for a moment, I can’t remember Clara’s face anymore—only Liza, right in front of me.

She places her hands on my shoulders, pulling at my shirt, her lips so close to mine.

I’ve drunk too much tonight, and I feel my vision blur, everything spinning around me, but I focus only on her face.

“Kiss me, Jake…”

And so I do.

The kiss is intense, fueled by alcohol and the desire to lose myself at the moment.

Our tongues meet, and I pull her closer, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

“What do you think about getting out of here?”

“Great idea.”

A desperate need to escape what I feel for Clara. Without thinking much, we leave the club together, hands and bodies pressed close.

When I open my eyes, the world spins around me.

I blink a few times, feeling my head pound.

My body is heavy, as if I’ve been hit by a truck. The dim light in the room reveals that I’m not at the mansion.

I turn in bed, and my heart stops for a moment.

Liza sleeps beside me, naked, the messy sheets partially covering her skin. My breath catches in my throat.

What the hell happened?

I try to recall, but everything is a blur.

I remember drinking, laughing with her, leaving together... but nothing after that.

A strange taste lingers in my mouth, and I realize something is wrong.

I blink, the sharp pain in my head intensifying.

When I try to sit up, something on my hand catches my attention.

There’s a ring on my finger.

What is this?

No. No. No.

I hold my breath, panic taking over me.

I look at Liza’s hand. Another identical ring is there.

Did we… get married?

My mind spirals into chaos. This can’t be happening. How? Why? I don’t remember anything!

I get out of bed, my vision blurring with dizziness. My clothes are scattered on the floor.

My phone lies on a glass table, and next to it, a folded piece of paper.

With trembling hands, I pick it up and unfold it.

It’s a marriage certificate.

My name is there. So is Liza’s.

My stomach churns. This is a nightmare. It can’t be real. But it’s right there, in front of me—a paper officially binding me to something I don’t even remember doing.

Then it hits me.

I was drugged.

The heaviness, the unconsciousness... None of this is normal.

Someone set me up. But who? And why?

I look at Liza, still peacefully asleep.

Did she know? Or was she a victim too?

I need to get out of here. Think. Figure out how to undo this.

Liza’s apartment is small and simple—a stark contrast to the luxurious hotels and high-end houses I’m used to.

The dim morning light filters through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow that does nothing to hide reality.

The place is modest, almost spartan, but what really catches my attention are the papers scattered across the kitchen counter.

I approach and pick one up.

My heart beats faster when I realize they’re overdue bills.

Rent notices, electricity cut-off warnings, even eviction threats. I frown.

Who is this woman I married? What exactly is going on here?

Trying to make sense of everything, I open a drawer.

It’s a mess—uncapped pens, loose keys, crumpled receipts. But then, something stops my world.

A photo.

I pull out the small piece of paper and feel the air leave my lungs. It’s old, slightly faded, but I would recognize that face anywhere.

Clara.

She’s in the photo, arms around a smiling young woman beside her.

Liza.

A shiver runs down my spine. What does this mean? How does Liza know Clara?

Liza stirs in bed, a soft murmur escaping her lips.

I quickly close the drawer, shoving the photo into my pocket before turning back to the room.

I need answers. Now.

She blinks a few times, confusion written all over her face.

When her eyes meet mine, her expression shifts from daze to sheer panic.

"What... what happened?" Liza murmurs, pulling the sheet against her chest as if she needs something to hold on to.

Her eyes scan the room and then fall on her own hand. The ring gleams on her finger like a cruel reminder.

"No..." her voice comes out shaky.

"It can't be."

I cross my arms, watching her cautiously.

"Yeah. It looks like we got married. And to make things worse, I don't remember a thing. Do you?"

She shakes her head frantically, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No! I... I remember drinking, dancing... and then... nothing."

I run a hand over my face, trying to stay calm.

"This has to end. We can't keep this up. We'll find a way to annul it as soon as possible."

Her eyes widen, and before I can brace myself for any reaction, Liza grabs my hand tightly, her fingers trembling.

"No! Please, Jake, don't do this!"

The desperation in her voice catches me off guard. I frown.

"What? Liza, this doesn't make sense. We don't even know each other. Why would you want to stay married to me?"

Tears start rolling down her face, and the answer comes in a trembling whisper.

"Because I'm in danger."

A chill runs down my spine.

"What danger?"

She swallows hard, her voice barely audible.

"The werewolves at the club... They won't let this slide. I stood up to them before. They've been threatening me for weeks. But now, if I'm married to someone like you, from your pack... I might be safe."

I feel a weight settle on my shoulders.

I wasn't expecting this. I look at her, analyzing every detail of her expression. There's fear there, but also genuine desperation.

"You're saying this marriage could protect you?" my voice comes out lower, trying to process the situation.

Liza nods, pressing her lips together.

"Yes. I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth. They're coming back. And next time, they might not just try to intimidate me. You saw what they were like. They're not just some random thugs. They're dangerous."

I run a hand through my hair, trying to take it all in.

This isn't just a hangover and a night of bad decisions.

I've gotten myself into something much bigger.

And then I remember the photo.

I take it out of my pocket and hold it up in front of Liza.

"And this picture? How do you know this girl?"

Liza's eyes widen. She reaches out hesitantly, as if afraid to touch the image.

"Where did you get that?"

"It doesn't matter." I reply, impatient.

"Just tell me. How do you know Clara?"

Liza bites her lower lip, looking away. Then, with a deep sigh, she finally answers:

"Because she's my sister."

The ground seems to vanish beneath my feet.

"What?"

Liza continues, her voice shaky.

"It was because of her that I came to this city. I searched for her for years. And when I finally managed to track her down... it was too late. She was already married, and it seemed like her life was perfect. I didn't want to ruin that."

A pressure builds in my chest. Everything feels unreal.

"You're telling me you came all this way for her but never revealed yourself?"

Liza nods, tears streaming down her face.

"I thought it was better that way. But then... I got involved with the wrong people. And now... now I'm trapped."

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to contain the storm in my mind.

This is insane. All of it. The marriage, the threats, Clara...

I don't know what to do.

My head throbs like something is hammering inside my skull.

The drug’s effects are still there, making me dizzy and making me feel like I'm outside my own body.

My stomach churns, and the reality around me feels like a nightmare I can't wake up from.

I try to focus, take a deep breath, and find some clarity in the midst of the chaos.

But no matter how hard I try, one fact remains: I'm married.