Chapter 3

Benita never expected to see Alpha Bryan with another woman, let alone her sister, who died ten years ago.

This can't be real. No way it's real.

“Wait,” Alpha Bryan ordered.

“Since you’re already here, you should meet her.” He turned to Rina.

“This is Vivian, the one I love and the soon-to-be Luna of Blue Moon Pack.” He had the brightest smile I'd ever seen on him since he became my mate.

“But—”

Rina stepped forward with a smile. “I’m Doctor Vivian. You must’ve heard of me, right?”

Benita looked at her, confused. Of course, she knew of Doctor Vivian, a very well-known doctor. Alpha Bryan often went to see her for checkups and other health issues. She never knew all those visits were for something else.

“Rina, you’re alive.”

Rina furrowed her brows, staring at Benita like she was crazy.

“Who is Rina?” she asked.

Benita smiled, wondering if she had changed so much. “It’s me, Benita, remember? We used to be sisters.” She reached out to touch her, but Rina slapped her hand away.

“I’m not Rina or your sister.” She gave Benita a disgusted look.

Alpha Bryan held her hand tightly. Benita stared down at their joined hands, then slowly looked up at both of them.

Rina whispered something to Bryan, and he looked at her with worry, something he’d never done for Benita since she became his Luna.

She assured him she’d be fine, and Bryan left, but not without giving Benita a warning look.

Once she was sure Bryan had gone, Rina dropped the act and smirked.

“Rina, did something happen to you? It’s me, Benita.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know.”

“Then why—”

“You should address me as Vivian from now on. And stop acting like you’ve seen a ghost,” she snapped.

“So you’ve been alive? How did it happen? I thought you—”

Vivian scoffed and looked at her. “You thought I died? Ridiculous.”

“Then how are you here? And with my mate?” Benita asked.

Vivian folded her arms beneath her chest and walked closer to Benita.

“Your mate, you say? You should know by now he never belonged to you.”

“What are you saying?” Benita whispered.

Vivian smacked her lips and took a seat, her arms resting on the chair, her legs crossed casually.

“Where exactly should I start? Should I begin with the poisoned apple or when Father died?” Her tone was disturbingly casual.

“What do you mean, the poisoned apple? I never did that,” Benita said quickly.

“Yes, of course you didn’t. There’s no way a simp like you could.”

Benita’s fists tightened at her sides. She was trying hard not to act rashly.

“You didn’t poison the apple because I did. Father was always getting on my nerves,” Vivian sighed.

Benita scoffed in disbelief, tears brimming in her eyes. “Of course you’re lying. There’s no way you could’ve done that.”

Vivian’s lips curved into an evil grin. “I made Beta Gideon become the Alpha. And when he wanted to reveal my secret, I killed him.”

Benita’s hand flew to her mouth. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was true—Beta Gideon died five years after becoming Alpha, but they all claimed he was sick.

“The elders selected another Alpha, so I had to lie low. I became a doctor and rose to fame. Then I met Alpha Bryan, but he already had a mate. When I found out it was you, I wanted him instantly.”

“Why are you doing this?” Benita’s voice trembled.

“Because I wanted you to suffer the same way I did.” Vivian stood, walking toward Benita. “Father loved you more. He chose a bastard over me.”

Tears streamed down Benita’s face. “But he loved you too.”

“Quiet!” Vivian silenced her with a hard glare.

“Father never loved me, because he found out Mum cheated, and I wasn’t his daughter,” Vivian revealed. “He’s not our father, Benita. Yet he chose only you.”

She stood just a few feet away and pulled out a syringe and a small bottle.

“Vivian, what are you doing?” Benita asked in fright, stepping back.

“I will have Alpha Bryan, because he loves me.”

“But he’s my mate. Why do this?” Benita whimpered.

Vivian drew the liquid from the bottle into the syringe and grabbed Benita’s arm.

Benita struggled, trying to break free from her grip.

“I won’t kill you,” Rina hissed, her voice low. “But after this, Bryan won’t think twice before rejecting you.”

Her hand moved swiftly with the syringe. Benita’s breath caught in her throat as panic surged through her. Her instincts screamed at her to move, and she shoved Rina back just in time. The syringe slipped from Rina’s grip, hitting the ground with a dull clink.

Benita bolted to the far side of the room, her back hitting the wall.

“Rina, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “You were always so kind. Why are you doing this? What happened to you? Let’s just talk about it—”

“Talk?” Rina scoffed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

She stepped forward slowly, like a predator enjoying the fear in her prey.

“You want to know what happened?” she snapped. Do you have any idea how exhausting it was to keep pretending to like you? Playing the perfect sister, while inside I hated every second.”

Benita blinked, her world spinning. “But… that day you took my place… ten years ago, you saved me.”

Rina’s lips curled into a cold, twisted smile. “That was part of my plan, Benita. I wanted you gone and have you killed secretly, but you hid so well, even I couldn’t find you. Believe me, I tried. I authorized searches. Sent scouts. But it was like you vanished.”

Her smile fell, replaced with a seething rage. "And then I found out you were Bryan’s mate. His mate!" Her voice cracked with fury. “You don’t deserve him. I am meant to be Luna!”

She lunged toward Benita, her eyes wild.

Benita screamed, and the door slammed open with a force that shook the room.

“What have you done, Benita?” Alpha Bryan’s voice boomed through the room like a strike of thunder.

Benita turned toward him, relief flooding her for the briefest second until she saw his expression.