Chapter 5 THE SISTER WHO FELL

CHAPTER 005

KAELITH:

I looked down the edge of the cliff, my crimson-stained hands trembling ever so slightly, though not from guilt-never from guilt. Raven's broken body had disappeared into the roaring darkness below, swallowed by the merciless river that churned and foamed as if eager to claim her.

For the longest moment, I stood still, my chest rising and falling with strange exhilaration. I had finally done it. The nuisance. The burden. The weakling twin who dared to think she could stand beside me-gone.

A small part of me does feel guilty. She was my blood; we grew up together. But I had to do what was necessary. I was to be Luna. Not her. Theodore is mine and mine alone.

"Luna Kaelith Silvera," I whispered, the title tasting sweet on my tongue, though my lips curled into a smirk. The wolves beside me showed their heads, eyes glowing with obedience. They had seen what I'd done, and none of them would dare speak against me.

"Is that really necessary?"

A figure came beside me, but I didn't turn my eyes away from the rocky river below. "There are other ways to get what we want."

"This is the only way," was my only reply. I continued staring below as the cold night air whipped against my skin.

A small flicker of unease crept into my chest.

'What if she survives?'

I shook the thought away. No. She's dead. She has to be. No one survives a fall like that. The river was as good as a grave, and even if her body were to wash ashore, it would be unrecognizable.

"So, what next?"

I turned back to the wolves and wiped the blood from my chin with the back of my hand, forcing a smile that mirrored the victory bubbling in my veins.

"My ascension." I said, my voice sharper than steel. "There is no Raven anymore. Theodore is mateless and soon... He'll see no other but me."

"It's not as easy as you say, Kaelith. You have to- "

I ignored him and made my way back to the pack. The sound of warriors chasing the rogues echoed loudly, but none of them concerned me. I had orchestrated chaos, and in chaos, the clever thrive.

The torches around the courtyard flickered against the stone walls as I stepped through the broken gates, the smell of blood and smoke hanging heavy in the air.

The pack warriors present all turned to look at me, their faces pale, weary, and uncertain. Perfect. They needed strength. They needed certainty. And I would give it to them.

"Lady Kaelith!" one of the guards called, rushing toward me. His chest was heaving; his uniform smeared with soot. "Where's Raven? Her cage is empty."

I forced my eyes to glisten, tilting my chin just enough for the moonlight to catch the streak of blood still clinging to my cheek. "She ran off. I... I tried to stop her." I whispered, my voice trembling just enough to seem genuine. "I wanted her to see reason, but she ran away with the rogue. I tried to reason with her. I tried, but-" my hands clutched my chest, as though the memory broke me.

A hush fell over the warriors as they stared at me with pity evident in their eyes. I lowered my gaze, hiding a smile that threatened to curl my lips.

"Once a traitor, always a traitor. Raven is a traitor to the pack, and we must see to it she is dealt with accordingly. Come on, let's take you to your parents."

I nodded solemnly, walking under the warm arm of the head of the pack warriors. From the corner of my eyes, I saw my companion slipping through the forest and away from sight, and that's when I saw him-Beta Gilbert-my mate. His muscular arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowed in on me as if trying to read the truth beneath my mask.

My stomach tightened at his stare, but I lifted my chin higher. Gilbert had always been too perceptive for his own good.

I stepped past him, reaching my blood-stained hands to his. He didn't step away. "Raven escaped. She abandoned me." I said, meeting his gaze with feigned grief. "But I'm still here. For the pack. For you."

Before I knew it, thick muscles surrounded me as he engulfed me fully. Sparks flew from the skin-to-skin contact, and I hated it. It only reminded me of the failure of the moon goddess in choosing a suitable mate. Raven was the one to be mated to Gilbert, and I, Alpha Theodore. Not the other way around.

"You're safe. That's all that matters now. Come on, it's late. Let's get you to bed."

I almost laughed at his pathetic excuse of being the caring mate. Such a pathetic man. Thinking he could get a perfect she-wolf like me as his.

It didn't matter though. Soon, Theodore would learn of Raven's 'death'. His rage, his loneliness, his broken bond-everything would lead him to me. And once he did, once he made me the Luna, no one-not Gilbert, not the rogues, not even the Moon Goddess herself-would ever strip it away.