Beautiful Lie

Astrid’s Point of View

It was at that moment when I felt a surge of terror engulfing my entire senses, making me feel that I was at the edge of my doom. I was all too aware that I had already gotten used to the Demon Lord’s presence. I would see him watching me while he stood up in the dark corner of my room whenever I fell asleep, looking at my reflection in the mirror whenever I fixed myself and even watching my every move at home. All he did was to stand in the darkness, not even moving a bit, and all I ever did was to look at him for a few seconds before the darkness swallowed him in silence.

However, that was not the case now. I saw him moving, even leaching into Alexander, as if he was planning something terrible for him. He did move, and I thought that was the scariest encounter I had with him. My knees fell on the ground, my mouth opened, and my chest tightened. It felt like my entire senses were severely affected by the sudden attack of panic.

"What happened, Astrid? Are you alright? Please, say something!" A familiar and concerned voice echoed in my ears. "Hey, Astrid!"

Holding both of my shoulders, he had shaken them gently as he looked straight into my eyes. All I could do was gasp heavily before I could come back to my senses, and then I felt my blood circulate once again after the instant panic that struck me.

Alexander was kneeling in front of me as soon as my senses finally recovered. Worry and confusion were both evident in his green pair of eyes. He caressed my cheek before holding my hand tightly.

"What happened, Astrid?" he asked.

Even swallowing seemed so difficult all of a sudden. I clutched my chest, trying to calm my heart that was racing aggressively inside of it.

"I apologize, Alex. I’m…" I shut my eyes to think and opened them again after a few seconds. "I think I just hallucinated. "Perhaps this happened because I was already tired."

However, he didn’t look convinced. "Don’t worry, I will do everything to ease your mind. I know that you’re worried about your family’s life. Rest assured that I am here to protect you and your family.. Even if it means sacrificing the lives of our packmates…"

My eyes widened because of what he expressed.

"Really, Alex?" I asked, and he smiled and nodded.

The side of my lips curled up into a smile. I could still feel Alex contemplating this, and he was concerned about our packmates, but the good thing was that my hard work paid off by making him feel all the pleasure and affection he wanted.

We spent two days relentlessly making love in his bed, and all the way from me faking my tears for Atasha was such a tiring task for me. I needed to look convincing in front of him as that was the only way he would help me.

"Thank you, Alex. Thanks for loving me so much. I promise that I will love and take care of you until my last breath." I then embraced him and kissed him on his lips.

The next morning, he escorted me back to my house. He also brought some flowers to give to my mother and a bottle of costly wine to my father. My mother was all smiles when he handed her the flowers.

"My goodness, they are beautiful! This is so sweet of you, Alex!" Mama exclaimed. Her expression indicated that she was truly moved by what Alex just did.

"I appreciate the wine, Alex. Let’s spend time together for a drink next time," Papa stated with a smile on his lips.

"All for you, Madame, Sir…" Alex said politely. "Thank you so much for granting me consent to take your daughter on a mountain camping trip." He looked at me with a grin. "We had a great time trekking, right, Astrid?"

"Most definitely," I managed to respond, even though I was a bit uneasy as to how my parents would react towards him.

"It was exhausting, but it was also enjoyable and exhilarating."

My mother clasped her hands together and gave us an envious look. "You two must have really enjoyed that activity."

"Y-Yeah, Mama. When we both reached the peak... of the mountain, I was really ecstatic!"

"It’s all worthwhile…" Alex kept grinning at me.

"Yep! Thanks for taking me out, Alex. Let’s do it again next time."

"That’s for sure, Astrid."

He bid goodbye to my parents and winked at me before he left our house. I secretly huffed in relief. I didn’t know that Alex was also a good liar, like me. At that moment, I felt that we were really destined to be together, to be mates.

***

"Astrid!"

Atasha’s gloomy expression brightened when I opened the door to the attic where she was held captive. After being seated on the side of the window and taking a peak at what was happening in the outside world, she rose to her feet and rushed towards me.

"I missed you!" she exclaimed in glee and then embraced me tightly.

I patted her shoulder. I was the one who initially withdrew from that embrace as I wanted to see her face. "I missed you too. How are you doing here?"

"I am fine now, because you’re here…" she said in a sincere tone of voice.

"I brought you some food, Atasha."

I went back to the door frame and took the food tray. I cooked some corn soup, some vegetable salad, and roasted chicken. Atasha instantly held her stomach after seeing the food. I assumed that our father didn’t feed her enough while I was gone. I clicked my tongue as I shook my head.

She shouldn’t be starving here. She had to be in fit condition for the Crimson Moon pack leaders to devour her.

"Go eat it," I ordered, and she nodded. I handed her the tray and we both sat on the floor in front of the small window, which was her only access to the outside world.

"Were you the one who cooked all this food? They taste good!" Atasha did not waste time and dug into the food right away.

Here I was, looking at her with a blank expression on the outside, but victorious on the inside. She looked so miserable in her state that I instantly felt pity for her. Her entire outside appearance became unpleasant. I couldn’t be happier now that I was prettier and freer than she was.

"I am sorry that you have to live like this, Atasha." That was a lie, I had to say. She needed to feel that I was on her side, and I was in deep sorrow knowing she was experiencing this situation.

"Oh, please. Don’t be. I understood our father. He was only trying to protect me, I guess…" She chuckled and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Living in the attic is somewhat cool. You see…" Her eyes checked the mini shelf. Beside it was a small bed full of dust. "If you think about it, this place is peaceful, a little bit cozy, and truly spares me a lot of time reading. You know that I hate reading books, but I managed to love that hobby now."

I chuckled a bit. "Aren’t you sad that they locked you up here?"

"I am, but they have no choice. I am a cursed werewolf."

The smile on her face faded away. Sadness and disappointment were both visible in her expression. My heart couldn’t be happier seeing her like this. The thought of Atasha bearing in her mind that she was cursed by the Moon Goddess satisfied me so much.

"Don’t worry, even if you are locked in here, we will make sure to protect you…" I said with a fake smile.

"I envy you, Astrid." She sighed and glanced over at the window. "You get to live your life normally. You’re able to shift, you meet your mate, and you’re free to do everything that will make you happy."

My lower lip quivered as she said those words. It was like a sudden realization that hit me, but I still wanted to get rid of it. How dare she say those things to me?

I lived miserably because of her. Her existence overshadowed mine… All this time, I was unhappy because of her mere presence.

How could she be so stupid?

She offered me a thin smile. "Life has a lot to offer you. The Moon Goddess bestowed upon you a normal life and a compatible, good-looking, kind mate. While me, I am stuck in here… perhaps for the rest of my life…" She giggled as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Until I die…"

"Oh, please don’t say that…" I faked a worried look and teary eyes. "I will be here with you. I promise I won’t leave you. Cheer up!"

With a tight smile, she nodded. "Thanks, Astrid. I am so glad I have a twin sister like you."

But I wasn’t glad to have you though. Just the mere sight of you made me want to throw up...

I offered her a sincere smile, keeping my emotions at bay. My hand rose to caress her cheek, which made her look relieved. "Likewise, Atasha."

"By the way, how’s school? My best friend, Myrna... is she looking for me? I am concerned that she’s worrying about me. I didn’t get a chance to speak with her after the mating season," she asked, her voice full of hope.

One of my eyebrows was raised immediately. Oh, that Myrna, who was a freaking nerd Omega, who kept asking me about her whereabouts? I was impressed that Atasha still had time to think about her right at this moment.

"I am sorry, Atasha, but she didn’t approach me to ask about you. But I frequently see her with her peers." I let out a sigh while shaking my head.

"Peers?" Her shoulders dropped.

I nodded slowly. "Seems like her new friends."

I continued gazing at her. Atasha looked as if her heart had just been torn apart. She seemingly got so upset and pained at the thought that her best friend didn’t care enough to look for her and instantly made friends after her disappearance.

"What about Leo?"

I shook and tilted my head to the left. "He appears to have been very busy in recent weeks, Atasha. He didn’t ask me about you either. He may have found his mate and given his full attention to her. But hey, isn’t it good? No one’s suspecting your disappearance!"

She inhaled heavily and nodded in defeat. "Yes, I guess so… It’s okay. I still have you."

"Of course, you’re my mirror image… my twin sister. I’m always here for you…" To crush you, and make you suffer the consequences of ruining my life.

"Thank you, Astrid," she said, lips trembling before she engulfed me with a hug.

I hugged her back as I rolled my eyes. I could feel my face hurting because of faking smiles and kindness in front of her— those things I could do just to ensure she wouldn’t be suspicious of me. I wanted her to think that I was the only one who could understand her, that I was the only one caring for her and loving her even if she became a cursed werewolf.

I wanted her to believe in me, to rely on me, to put her hopes in me... that once I knocked her heart off too high, she wouldn’t be able to stand on her feet to the point that all she could do was wish her death, as that was the only thing that would set her free.

You deserve all of these, Atasha. I am just starting with my plans. Just so you wait... I would offer nothing but misery in your life.