Chapter 1 Switch

Atasha's Point of View

I WOKE up from an eternal sleep upon hearing loud cries and screams of agony coming outside. I got up and suddenly felt the heat slowly embracing my skin as if our house was in the middle of a blazing fire.

Fire and smoke welcomed my eyes as I peeped from the small window of my hidden place there in the attic. My eyes widened, petrified to see our fellow neighbors killed by the warrior wolves who had Crimson Moon tattoos on their shoulders. Our rival pack... they are attacking us!

I stepped back and breathed heavily. We aren't safe here anymore... we need to escape, or else we will be beheaded, and our bodies will be burnt in fire anytime soon!

I usually do not step out of my hidden place as our father, Julian Greene, doesn't want me to interact with anyone else in the pack. Ever since my identical twin sister, Astrid, and I reached seventeen years old, I was restricted from going out. The Moon Goddess cursed me for not being able to shift; that's what my father thought. With that being said, I'm grateful to the Moon Goddess because the curse didn't belong to my sister.

Afraid of the embarrassment, he sorted out the situation by hiding me. He didn't want to be humiliated by having a cursed child. I totally understand the situation as it is my father also protecting us against other packs. As I turned nineteen with my sister, I realized that my only role was to protect my family because I'm a cursed child at the end of the day. I was thankful that I was still being accepted even if I couldn't shift.

My twin sister could not remove the smile on her face ever since she met the love of her life, but that wasn't the case for me. I don't know the feeling of being in love; if I have been in love, does it also plaster a big smile on my face like my sister? Does it also make me joyful like her? I always look up to Astrid, and I promised the Moon Goddess that I would protect my sister no matter what. She could do incredible things that I could not, and seeing her happy with her mate also makes me content in life. While me? I haven't even interacted with my wolf – only if I had one– and have been waiting for the longest time for me to be able to shift, but that didn't happen. Though, I'm not going to lie; the thought that I can't shift and will die alone for the rest of my life gives me a lot of sleepless nights.

I rushed downstairs and was about to enter Astrid's room when I heard familiar voices from the living room. I didn't hesitate and went there only to see my twin sister on her bent knees, her palms clasped together as her tears were falling endlessly. She's begging our father for something I didn't have any idea about.

"Please, Papa. Do not trade me away! I am begging you! I don't want to go with them... I-I d-don't want to leave Alexander! H-He's my mate, for Moon Goddess' sake!" Astrid cried in despair. I almost jumped when I saw how our father slapped her in the face, making her wail even more.

"Stop it, Papa!" I immediately ran and hugged my sister, protecting her from our abusive father. "What the hell are you doing? We're in the middle of a hopeless fight!"

"Who told you to come out of your room, Atasha?!" he yelled with his face so reddened out of anger.

My lips formed a thin line. He doesn't really care even if I end up getting burnt alive in the cage he made for me. What did we do in the past to have such a vicious and heartless father?

"A-Atasha, h-help me! T-The other pack wants to take me! I-I don't want to go with them. I-I'm scared. . . ."

"W-What? What are you talking about?" I caressed her swollen cheeks. She shook her head as her tears couldn't stop from falling. She couldn't even breathe properly. That made me feel the excruciating feeling deep within me. As her twin sister, I can't bear to see her hurting like this.

I turned my gaze on our father. "What's going on that I didn't know? We're being attacked, yet you're hurting my sister again!"

"Do you really want to know what's going on?" He stepped forward and grabbed my arm by force. A small whimper escaped my lips as his grip was too tight as if he was trying to break my bones. "We are all going to die if she doesn't go with the other pack! Their Alpha wants her, and he will give the peace we ever wanted in return. Your useless sister is the only one who can protect us right now, and she's coming with them no matter what!"

"W-What did you say, Papa? No!" I shook my head and took my arm from his grip. "You can't do that! She's about to get married, don't you remember? She has a mate already! Why would the rival pack's Alpha want to take her? You can't send her away! I won't allow it! Alexander is her–"

"Her mate just died! Crimson Moon's Alpha killed him!" He cut me off, dropping such a bomb that I wouldn't ever want Astrid to hear.

"No! No! Alexander isn't dead. H-He couldn't b-be–" Before Astrid could even finish her word, she lost her consciousness.

"Astrid!" I called her, but she had already fallen into my arms.

Hugging my twin sister was the only thing I could do. The fire was slowly burning our small cold house. Tears started to pool down my eyes as I knew that the situation was too difficult for Astrid. She wouldn't be able to handle the pain of losing her mate... same goes for the sufferings of being someone else's slave.

I am sure that she will be a slave of the Alpha once they take her away... I would never allow that to happen!

"Let me take her." Papa was about to carry her, but I shoved his filthy hands away.

Don't you dare touch my sister! I won't allow you to send her away!" I screamed out of anger.

I glared at him. He inhaled heavily and grabbed my hair, making me scream in pain. "You have no right to tell me what to do! You're just my disgraced daughter! Get off her!"

I hugged my twin sister as tight as I could. It was as if it would be the last time that I would be able to get close to her... as if it would be the last time that I would see her. My tears ran down my cheeks as I felt the sting of pain in my heart.

I have to do something.

I need to protect my twin sister, Astrid. She's my everything...

I kissed her forehead and slowly laid her down on the floor.

"Let me do it, Papa." I let out a deep breath and brushed my tears away before I gazed up at him. "Let me replace her."

His forehead creased. He then released my hair.

"What did you say?" He sounded confused.

I stood up and stared at him bravely. Even though his eyes were smoldering, I didn't even flinch.

"I'll do it, Papa. We have the same face. I bet the Alpha wouldn't be able to tell who is who. He doesn't know that Astrid has a twin sister, does he? So, I will go instead of her. " I sobbed. "And please, don't make things more difficult for her... you know how it felt to lose a mate when our mom died in the war. "

His face softened as if I hit the right spot in his heart. I breathed heavily and looked at Astrid again.

"For once, be a father to my sister . . . from now on, you only have one daughter to take care of. "