Chapter 2 The devil within

AMBER

"What are you talking about, Amber?" Astrid asked again.

"Cedric rejected me!" I cried as my vision blurred again with tears, "I don't know what to do, Astrid."

"It's alright my love," Astrid soothed, trying to calm me down. "What did he accuse you of?"

"Adultery," I replied, still sobbing. "He showed me nude pictures of myself and another man in bed. I don't know who sent him those pictures but that wasn't me."

"You don't need to tell me, sweetie," Astrid whispered, "I know you're innocent."

"But I couldn't prove my innocence, Astrid," I sobbed, "Now everyone sees me as an outcast including my own mother. Please you need to help me find who ever is behind this and prove my innocence," I pleaded, "you're the only one I can turn to now,"

"It's alright sweetie," Astrid chuckled. "Of course I'll help you. We're not just friends Amber, we're sisters and I'll always be there for you."

I was overwhelmed with joy. For a second, I thought it was all over for me. "Thank you very much Astrid." I smiled, wiping the tears off my eyes.

"Sure," she replied. "Why don't you come over to my place, so we can talk about it."

"Okay," I smiled before hanging up the call.

For a moment, I felt very relieved. That same evening, I made my way to Astrid's house which wasn't far from where I was. Her parents had travelled and left her at home.

But when I reached her house, she wasn't at home. I became a bit confused. "Why would Astrid tell me to come to her place when she's not at home?" I whispered to myself.

I reached for my phone to call her but then I saw a message-it was from Cedric.

My heart skipped a beat that moment. I wanted to read the message but I was reluctant, a thousand and one thoughts flew across my mind.

"Does he want to accept me back? Has he realised that I was innocent?" I mused before I finally opened the message.

I was completely shocked and nervous when I read the message. It says:

'Come over to the greenwood hotel right now, we need to talk.'

"Why does Cedric want to see me at the hotel?" I asked myself, "maybe he wants to apologize and accept me back, or is it a mistake?"

I battled with my thoughts for about five minutes before I decided to go. I was still nervous, but I had a feeling that he had found out the truth and wanted to make things right between us again.

It was 9 PM and I boarded a taxi and went straight to greenwood hotel, a very huge hotel. As soon as I reached the hotel, I began to doubt if Cedric was actually going to accept me back or not, I was really scared.

I entered the hotel and soon, I located his room. I was about to knock first when I realised that the door was slightly opened.

I pushed the door slowly and entered the room but it was dark. I managed to reach for the light switch and I turned it on.

As soon as the lights came on, it revealed the biggest shock I had ever received in my entire life.

Cedric flinched the moment the lights came on. He stared at me in shock.

I stared at Cedric as he wrapped his bed sheet around his naked body. My visions blurred again and soon, a large amount of tears were streaming down my cheeks.

I switched my gaze from Cedric to the woman he was in bed with-it was none other than my best friend Astrid!

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Cedric stuttered, his eyes widened in confusion.

I didn't answer him but I kept staring at Astrid as she pulled the bed sheet towards herself, trying to avoid eye contact with me.

"Why?" I whispered, shaking my head in distress, "Astrid-why did you do this to me?"

"You haven't answered me Amber!" Cedric yelled, "I told you I don't ever want to see you again didn't I?"

"Cedric, why did you do this to me?" I cried in despair, "Of all people, why her-?"

"Because I was there for him but you weren't, Amber," Astrid yelled, with no sign of remorse. "I have always been there for him. I have always loved him but you never did. You only became Luna because of your father, not because you loved him!"

That moment, the reality of it all dawned on me. "You-you have been sleeping with my husband all along?" my voice cracked as I pointed at her. "I thought we were friends-I thought we were sisters!"

"I'm not your husband!" Cedric yelled at me. "Get out of here now!"

"Cedric please I have something to tell you," I said, leaning towards him. "I'm pregnant."

All of a sudden, Cedric and Astrid began to laugh aloud. I stared at him confused. "What's funny?"

"I hope you're not saying that I got you pregnant, are you?" Cedric growled, his expression changed instantly.

"Why would I lie about something like this? I promise I'm pregnant with your child-" I fell on my knees as I pleaded.

"Really, Amber?" Astrid scoffed, "Are you really that desperate? First you cheated on the Alpha and now you are lying about being pregnant?"

"Cheated?" I barked, "You are in bed with my mate right in front of me and you're talking about cheating? I told you I didn't do it, I..."

Suddenly, I stared at Astrid as she smirked. My eyes widened in disbelief as I realised what was really happening.

"You!" I whispered, pointing at Astrid as I rose to my feet, "you sent those fake pictures, you sent me that message to come here because you wanted me to catch you on purpose, It was all you!"

"Yes it was me!" Astrid yelled showing no sign of remorse. "Why do I always have to be in your shadows, uhh? Why should you have all the good things and I-"

I couldn't take it anymore. I clenched my fist in rage and before she could finish speaking, I rushed at her as I yelled out loud.

"Traitor!!!"

Cedric caught me immediately as I launched at Astrid. I tried to break free from his grip but then all of a sudden, he gave a gruesome slap across my face, causing me to fall to the ground.

"What is the matter with you?" he growled, "haven't you done enough? I don't want you anymore and if you don't leave, I'm going to do something I might regret!"

I raised my head and stared at him, he wasn't budging at all. I could tell that his mind was made up.

I switched my gaze from Cedric to Astrid as she sat there on the bed smirking at me villainously.

We had been best friends my whole life and I trusted her even more than my own mother. I never knew she had always been jealous of me until this day, she was the devil within all along.

I stood up to my feet and smiled at Cedric. I had always loved him genuinely but I never knew he was using me. I wiped the blood at the end of my lips which I sustained from the slap he gave me.

"I'll leave," I whispered to him, "but trust me, you'll never get away with this-both of you!"

I stumbled out of the room, walking slowly down the hallway. I couldn't believe that my best friend would betray me like this.

At a point, I fell on my knees and began to weep again, tears streamed down my cheeks as I held my belly tightly.

"Don't worry my child," I whispered, "they're going to pay for everything they did to us-I promise."