CHAPTER 4

Benita looked down.

Blood.

A dark, growing pool stained the floor.

“Rina…” Benita whispered, horror clawing at her throat.

Rina held her wrist with more blood rushing out. Benita’s mind raced.

“I swear, I didn’t—” she began, her voice shaking.

Smack!

Bryan’s hand connected with her cheek, the sound ringing out like a gunshot. Her head snapped to the side as the sting bloomed across her skin.

Her breath caught and then came the final blow.

“Guards,” he growled, “take her away. Lock her up.”

Two guards stepped forward, their hands already reaching for her.

“No! Bryan, please, listen to me!” Benita cried, struggling against their grips. “I didn’t touch her! Rina—Rina was trying to—”

“Enough!” he barked, his eyes flashing with fury. “I don’t want to hear another lie.”

She turned her gaze toward Rina.

But as Benita was dragged from the room, barely on her feet, she saw it.

Rina looked up and their eyes locked.

She had a wide smirk on her face.

****

Benita was locked in a room, heavily guarded with men stationed outside. Her phone had been taken from her, and she was left alone for hours, until Alpha Bryan finally came to see her.

“Vivian is currently in the hospital. Luckily for you, she's fine. You should apologize to her.”

Benita stared at him for a while before finally finding her voice. “Why should I be the one to apologize? I did nothing.”

“Don't toy with my patience, Benita. I'll drag you there myself if I have to.” Alpha Bryan’s voice was cold.

Benita wiped the tears off her face and sniffed. “You don't even know who she really is. She's just playing you.”

Alpha Bryan nodded, looking oddly amused. Benita watched him, confused.

“Just as Vivian predicted. She told me you'd mistaken her for your dead sister, and when she tried to talk to you, you pulled a syringe on her and injured her. She only wanted to help Benita,” he said.

“What—what are you talking about?”

“Vivian told me everything. She said you told her you'd been having hallucinations since your sister died. I should’ve just listened to the elders and taken your title away. I can’t have a crazy woman like my Luna.” He gave her a look filled with disdain.

Benita scoffed in disbelief. “Is that your excuse now? You cheated on me, Bryan. And now you’re calling me crazy because your precious lover said so?”

Alpha Bryan shot her a hard glare. “Watch your tongue, Benita.”

Benita stood, breathing hard. Deep down, she was scared, but realizing the game Vivian was playing made her blood boil. “What? Are you going to hit me again?”

“Benita!”

“I’ll apologize to her, like you want. But I’ll never stand by and watch her become Luna.” Her breath grew heavier.

******

Benita had left the house and gone to the hospital with Alpha Bryan in his car.

They arrived, and Alpha Bryan followed her in.

Vivian lay on the hospital bed, an IV drip hooked to her. She opened her eyes slowly when they entered. Her lips looked pale, nobody would’ve believed she was the victim.

“Bryan, can you excuse us, please?” Vivian asked.

Alpha Bryan refused, insisting on staying.

“Benita didn’t really mean to hurt me. I must’ve triggered something in her by asking about her past. I need to talk to her alone,” Vivian said, looking calmly at Benita.

Alpha Bryan turned to Benita, “If you dare hurt her, I swear, you won’t just be apologizing, you’ll be digging your grave,” he said to Benita with a hard glare before stepping out.

Vivian swung her legs over the bed and sat up straight. She twisted her neck to each side and stretched her arms. “Oh Moon Goddess, I hate hospitals,” she groaned.

Benita scoffed and walked closer, grabbing Vivian by the arm.

Vivian smirked, tilting her head. “You can clearly see how much Bryan cares for me. Do you really think you can do anything?”

There was silence, both sisters staring at each other. Vivian seized the opportunity and suddenly injected Benita.

Benita immediately fell to the ground. Her body felt weak, and her vision started to blur.

“What did you do?” she managed to say.

Vivian crouched beside her. “It’ll only make you sleep. I didn’t really do anything.” She chuckled.

Two women dressed in white came out from behind the curtain and carried Benita away through the window. Vivian already had everything perfectly planned.

“Goodnight, sis,” she muttered with an evil grin. Then she broke the glass window, grabbed a shard, and cut her own arm with it.

Her scream brought Alpha Bryan rushing into the room.

“She jumped through the window,” Vivian cried, pointing toward it as she sat down, clutching her arm.

Alpha Bryan’s eyes reddened, his fists clenched. He turned to his guards. “Find her. Now.”

“I’m sorry. I was only trying to explain things to her, and she accused me of stealing you,” Vivian said softly, her face twisted in pain.

Alpha Bryan pulled her into his arms as the nurses rushed in to tend to her wound. Vivian turned toward the window, a smirk playing on her lips.

********

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Hours later, Benita groaned and stirred. Loud noises echoed around her. She blinked, trying to focus, and saw a woman dressed like a nurse speaking to someone, maybe a man? She couldn’t see him clearly.

“She’s a perfect fit for the experiment. Her medical report shows we have a 99% chance of success. Everything will be ready soon.”

The nurse sounded excited, but Benita couldn’t make sense of what they were saying.

She tried to get up, but her body wouldn’t move. She felt weak and helpless.

The nurse finished her conversation and walked over to Benita's bed.

She quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.