2 Chapter Two

"Get up you lazy thief! You have duties to attend to" That was Margret's voice resounding in Ariana's ear and echoing through the room.

"Good morning mama," Ariana said as she fluttered her eyes open.

Margret with a look of disgust on her face, "The morning can only be good for a wicked soul like yours after what you did to my necklace"

She turned to leave the room but paused by the door as if her legs froze at that point. She turned her head to Ariana who was still in bed

"And do not let me remind you that you must replace that necklace with your own money; I don't care how you do it."

She forcefully slammed the door behind her as she left the room.

The soft light of dawn streamed through Ariana's bedroom window as she rose from her bed, determined to face another day of patrolling the border. Her heart still ached from the events of the previous evening, the accusations and betrayal weighing heavily on her mind. The image of Mia's evil smile haunted her, and she couldn't help but wonder why her own sister had such intense hatred towards her.

Ariana knew she had to push those thoughts aside for now. She couldn't let her family's drama distract her from her duty to protect her pack's territory. She dressed quickly in her leather armor, feeling the weight of her silver dagger at her side. It was a symbol of her responsibility and strength, and she took comfort in its presence.

As she left her room, she glanced at the family portraits hanging beautifully on the hallway walls. Each smiling face seemed to mock her, a painful reminder of the unity that had been shattered by Mia's accusation. With a heavy heart, she went down the stairs and stepped out into the fresh morning air.

The forest greeted her with its usual sounds; the rustling leaves, and distant calls of wildlife. Ariana's footsteps echoed through the silence, and she couldn't help but feel that the world held its breath, waiting for something to happen. She remained vigilant, scanning the trees and listening for any unusual sounds, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Mia and the threat she posed.

"Why does Mia hate me so much?" Ariana wondered aloud, her voice a soft murmur in the quiet of the woods. It was a question that had haunted her for years, and now, as she faced the prospect of her sister's dangerous threats, it felt more pressing than ever.

Hours passed as Ariana continued her patrol, the forest growing denser around her. Her senses remained on high alert, her instincts sharp. But a persistent unease clung to her, a feeling of impending doom that she felt deeply in her soul.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through her chest, causing her to stagger. Ariana gasped, clutching at her heart as her wolf's presence weakened. It felt as if a piece of her very soul had been torn away, leaving her feeling vulnerable and incomplete. All she could feel was intense panic, and she knew she had to return home.

With each step back to the house, Ariana's footsteps grew heavier, as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. Her instincts screamed at her to seek refuge in the familiarity of her own territory.

Finally, she arrived back at her family's home, her heart pounding in her chest. She pushed open the room door with trembling hands, the exhaustion and worry etched across her face. But what she walked into was a scene that shattered her heart into a thousand pieces.

On the bed she had shared with Mia, lay her mate, Liam, locked in a passionate embrace with her own sister. Their lips were locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies tangled together.

Ariana's world crumbled around her. She couldn't find the words to express her betrayal and heartache. Her mate, the one person who was supposed to cherish and protect her, was locked in a passionate embrace with her own sister. It was a betrayal beyond comprehension.

Time seemed to slow as Ariana took in the scene before her. The sunlight filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the room. The room was filled with the hushed sounds of their illicit passion, a soul-crushing pain in Ariana's heart.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stumbled back a step, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a gasp. Her wide, disbelieving eyes remained locked on the sight before her, unwilling to look away from the agony that had become her reality.

Mia and Liam, wrapped up in each other, didn't even notice her presence until it was too late.

Ariana's scream pierced the room, a cry of anguish and betrayal as she fell into the walls as if depending on it to support her weight.

Mia's lips tore away from Liam's, and she turned her head, her eyes meeting Ariana's with a chilling grin.

"Well, well, well," she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.

"Look who's home early."

Liam finally pulled away from Mia, his guilt-ridden eyes meeting Ariana's anguished gaze.

"Ariana, it's not what it looks like," he stammered.

Ariana's vision blurred with tears, and her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. She felt like a wounded animal, cornered and vulnerable. Ariana turned her gaze to her sister, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and fury. Her voice, choked with emotion, barely managed to find words.

"How could you, Mia?" she whispered, the betrayal cutting deep. "How could you try to take my mate?"

Mia's laughter filled the room, a cruel laughter that mocked Ariana's pain.

"Looks like our little Ariana has some fire after all,"

Mia shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You always get what you want, Ariana. I just wanted a taste of what it's like."

The weight of the betrayal was heavy in the air. Ariana's wolf howled in agony, and she felt more alone than ever.

"Calm down please Ariana. I can explain" Liam pleaded remorsefully.

But Ariana's rage was boiling over. She couldn't stand to hear another word from him. With a trembling hand, she raised it high and delivered a stinging slap across Liam's face.

Just then, Mia called out in a singsong voice, "Mom, Dad, come up here. There's something you should see; Ariana is trying to kill me!"

"What!? Don't you dare lay your filthy hands on my daughter Ariana!" Margret's voice filled the air, adding to the tension.

With each step, the sound of her feet can be heard at a distance as she hurriedly made her way towards their room.

Ariana's parents were on their way. She had walked into a nightmare, and there was no escaping the torment that awaited her.