Chapter 2 MARKED BY THE WRONG MATE

CHAPTER 002

Raven's POV:

"MATE."

Alpha Theodore's growl said it all, his words hanging in the air.

I couldn't believe it. Ever since my 18th birthday weeks ago, I hadn't found my mate, whereas Kaelith did almost instantly. I had thought I wasn't worthy to have one. I had thought I was too weak; the weaker twin who would never be considered to have a mate. But I guess the goddess has something planned for me.

For the first time in forever, I didn't know how to act or even what to do with my body. So, I did what I was most familiar with under such intense situations; I stared down at my feet as they berated me. Of course, I did feel elated, but this wasn't the right time. Not now. Not when I was neck-deep in Kaelith's schemes.

I peeked up at him to see his reaction and noticed his gaze didn't soften. If anything, it hardened even more. I was unsure if he was furious, utterly surprised, or maybe both.

My heart pounded hard in my chest, so loud it drowned out every thought in my head.

"Raven Silvera, you're mine," he said, his deep voice low and commanding. "Do you understand? Mine."

A cold shiver ran down my spine at his words. His possessiveness sank deep into my bones. I nodded weakly, unable to form a single coherent word.

"Good." He seemed to enjoy my answer as he stepped closer, his unique scent intoxicating me. "I'll come tomorrow to claim my prize. Prepare yourself, little wolf."

He turned and left, leaving me trembling and my knees weak.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Night came fast; too fast as Kaelith was nowhere to be found, leaving me to execute the plan all by myself.

"Sh*t." I cursed, nervously biting down on my lips, my feet clicking lightly on the tiled floor of Beta Gilbert's chamber. The room smelt faintly of cedarwood and books, a reflection of his stoic personality. "This is fucking insane. Pick up, sis."

The phone call went to voicemail.

"Oh, Goddess. I'm so dead." I gripped my now-straightened hair, staring at the mirror by the bed. I look so much like Kaelith now and smell just like her. We've done this switch numerous times than I could count, but this was the deepest we've ever gone.

The vibration of my phone dragged me away from my lingering thoughts, and I stared at the name of the caller.

Kaelith.

"What the f*ck. What the actual f*ck." I screamed into the phone as I brought the phone closer to my ears, beginning to pace even faster.

"What!!!! Hehe, hey sis." Kaelith dragged on from the other end of the call.

What?

"You're drunk?" I couldn't believe it. This was the height of it all.

"Did you forget about your plans? I'm in your mate's freaking bedroom, and he will soon be here. Aren't you supposed to guide me, or something? Please, tell me you've drugged him already."

She giggled through the phone, her carefreeness of the situation only making my stomach twist with dread.

"Of course not, Raven! I haven't forgotten," she slurred her voice a mix of laughter. "No need to drug him. You're doing great! Just... relax, okay. Gilbert is going to fall for it. You're going to be fine."

"Fine?" I hissed, clenching the phone tighter as my fingers turned white. "Kaelith, you said you would spike his drink so he could be too drunk to notice or do anything, but you've done none of that. I'm about to commit treason, and all for you. The least you could do is be here to walk me through. And now you're off getting drunk with one of your boyfriends?"

Kaelith let out another laugh, clearly not taking this seriously. "Oh please, relax. It's not like Gilbert will notice. You've got it, Sis. You look just like me, smell just like me. You are a star. So, enjoy and bye!!!"

The line went dead.

"What the actual fuc-"

My scream was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. I immediately ran over to the bed, covering myself with the blanket as I pretended to sleep, though my eyes remained wide open.

I heard the door open. The bed dipped as Gilbert climbed on the bed. My breathing grew erratic.

Beta Gilbert scooped closer to me, cupping me with his body as he held my chin, tilting my head so our eyes could meet. He was all smiles as he planted a kiss on my lips.

"You're the biggest blessing of my life, Raven!"

I almost gasp in shock.

Raven?

How did he find out I wasn't Kaelith so quickly? Maybe the potions and perfumes weren't enough to conceal my scent.

I'm dead.

So dead.

I'll be imprisoned and executed.

My breath turned labored as if I was breathing through a single constricted pipe. My body trembled with fear, making it hard to speak.

"Ra...Raven, err... Raven is my sister." I spluttered, hoping to the moon goddess I could escape this quickly. "She-I'm..."

"Kaelith. Ah! I keep getting confused. Sorry, my darling." He kissed me yet again, sputtering kisses down my neck and my shoulder blades.

Where exactly was the confusion between me and Kaelith? We're two different individuals with the same face.

His hands trailed down my body as he whispered. "You remember our agreement for tonight, right baby? You and me, becoming one." The lust in his voice was simply too great, as his smoldering eyes were a subtle pointer to what he meant.

"I-I'm not ready-"

"Shh..." he placed his fingers on my lips, shushing my excuse. "Just lay there and enjoy, for tonight, we shall be bound as one, my sexy, beautiful mate." As he spoke, he pulled my nightgown, his eyes rummaging through my body. "You're so beautiful." His hands found a way and undid my lingerie and bra, leaving me stark naked before him.

'This is wrong; this is so wrong,' I chanted in my head as I closed my eyes, hoping I could disappear.

"Open your eyes for me, baby."

Hesitantly, I opened them back up, but it wasn't Beta Gilbert who was on top of me, but Alpha Theodore.

"Alpha..."

"Yes." He moaned, kissing every inch of my body. "You know exactly what I want to be. Call me your Alpha. Call me your daddy."

He was here. My mate. My Theodore.

I trailed my gaze to the ceiling in complete ecstasy as he took me.

After he was done, he collapsed beside me, falling asleep immediately.

**********^*******^*******

I jumped awake as the sound of my alarm blasted into the room and I shut it off immediately.

"Morning already?" I yawned, reaching for my bottle of water, which I usually keep beside my bedside, but my hands fell on space.

My gaze snapped towards the position of the small table normally there, but it...wasn't there.

That's when I noticed the different layout of the room. The plain white room, the smell of cedarwood and books.

Shit.

I turned sharply to my side to see Beta Gilbert lying there, and all the memories of last night came flooding back in.

I gasped, the recollection of my memories shocking me. I must have hallucinated to think Beta Gilbert was Alpha Theodore.

No, no. I slept with him.

I slept with Kaelith's mate.

Panic settled in as I slowly crept from the bed, took my phone and clothes, and headed into the bathroom as silently as possible.

I sat on the toilet seat, swiping through my phone, but there was no message from Kaelith. My hands shook as I dropped the phone, immediately putting my clothes back on, but when I pulled my hair back to zip my dress, I noticed a faint bruise at the back of my neck.

I frowned, getting closer to the mirror and my eyes widened in horror.

It couldn't be. My hands slapped against my mouth to stifle the scream that escaped my lungs.

There, right above my shoulder blade, was a large bite mark.

Beta Gilbert marked me!