Lauren's POV

I couldn't believe what I saw as I moved closer. The face was looking exactly like the man I got wedded to but it seems his eyes have been closed for a while now. Did I just get married to a dead man?

"How is that possible?" My wolf asked me.

I touched him then I saw that he was breathing but wasn't opening his eyes. I didn't hear any news that Jefferson McDonald is a twin except that he has a younger brother.

I was so confused that I sat there thinking. This must be a joke played on me by the moon goddess. I sat there and tears kept falling down my eyes.

The door suddenly opened and someone walked in. The person who walked in was still in the same attire that he wore at our wedding. This was so confusing. He was looking so much like Jefferson McDonald. "Who is the real Jefferson?" I asked myself.

I stood up and waited for the one who was coming. The more he came closer the more scared I was.

"Surprised?" He asked with a smirk on his lips.

" Are you...... "

"Twins?" He finished the sentence for me.

I nodded my head curiously.

"No, I'm Alec McDonald," he replied with a smug look.

I was confused. I know the name of Jefferson's younger brother was Alec but no one said they look much alike.

"But why are you looking like the Alpha King?" I asked, suspiciously.

The look on his face changed to a deadly one and I wondered what happened. "Do not call him Alpha King! "He growled at me.

Now I know that the problem is not the question but the title. Then what I saw him do gave me a dull brain. Alec turned his neck and what I saw was a different face. He had changed from Jefferson's face to himself. I have never in my entire life seen such a thing. I was so shocked that I fell, landing my ass on the ground.

"What the hell was that?!" I didn't help but to exclaim.

"Shapeshifting, " he snorted.

"Aren't shapeshifters extinct?" I asked, trying not to believe him or his words.

He didn't reply to me. All he did was grab a stool and sit in front of me. "I'm not here to be questioned by you. I was the one who brought you to be married to my brother. I am your master. Do you understand?" His voice was firm and scary.

I was trembling with the deadly look in his eyes. George and Mimi had sold me to the devil. Was that how bad I was to them?

"You don't agree?" He asked, distinctively.

I nodded my head quickly, then realized what I had done and shook it. I was so afraid. I'm just a mere wolf and I couldn't contend with shapeshifters. I was surely doomed to fail.

He wasn't bothered by my answer, he just continued. "Now you know the real Alpha King. I don't need you to do much for me. All I want you to do is be obedient and stay with him and make sure to report back to me everything that happened in this room and I will spare you and your grandfather," he said casually.

"Please don't hurt my grandfather,” I pleaded, instantly. I had hurt that man so much more than to add another trouble to it.

"I won't if you do what I order you to do," he emitted bluntly. I nodded quickly and I watched his back disappear. I fell back to the ground wondering what I was to do. Alec and Jefferson are blood brothers. I was sure he wouldn't hurt his brother. He must be doing this to protect him. If not, why would he get his half-dead brother a wife?

So I know I have to help Alec, So he also would return to his life and I would be free to live my life. My mission is to wake Jefferson up!

I went to where Jefferson was lying and I looked at him with pity. I wondered what was happening in the Black Raven pack. Everyone thought the Alpha King had married me but it was his brother while he was lying here in a coma.

.......

I had thought that I would have all the restrictions in the pack house but surprisingly, I didn't have any. I was allowed to move freely and many even called me Luna. Alec was still posing as Jefferson but he didn't move close to me. He had a Mistress whom I felt was Jefferson's mistress. Her name is Maya and she hated me so much but I never cared about her. Just a week in the McDonald's house, I learned a lot of things. The McDonald's are never at peace and many wanted the post of the Alpha King but Jefferson was the one up to the task.

The doctors came to inject him every day and that got me curious. I wanted to know what type of drugs was being given to him. Then I remembered a friend of mine who was a nurse at the Pine Pack. She had always urged me to come visit her but because I was busy with George I didn't go.

I told Alec that I wanted to visit a friend and surprisingly he didn't object.

"Why are you giving me a free hand?" I asked him, wanting to be safe.

"Because you wouldn't dare to betray me," he uttered, bluntly and left.

Going to Maya to ask what the drug was all about was a risk but I had to know. The doctor who injected him had said it would give him a fast recovery but I do not trust him.

Pine pack wasn't far from black Raven pack and Alec allowed me to go with the car. I had told Macy to meet me at the hotel. She was quite worried but I told her I only wanted to ask a few questions from her.

"Lauren! What brings you here?" Macy exclaimed, rising from her chair to greet me.

I forced a smile, the weight of recent events tugging at the corners of my lips. "Hey, Macy. I needed to talk to someone, and you're the only one I trust.”

Concern etched across Macy's face. "Of course, sit down. What's on your mind?"

Taking a seat, I fumbled with the bag I carried. Inside were the pills I had taken from Jefferson's catalog, the ones I had believed were essential for his well-being. As I pulled them out, Macy's eyes widened, recognition flashing across her face.

"Where did you get these?" she asked sharply, her professional demeanor giving way to urgency.

I hesitated, unsure how much to disclose. "They're from a friend’s catalog and it is private, so can you just give me some answers? Personally, I thought they were necessary for his treatment, but still, I trust your professional expertise."

Macy took the pills from my hand, scrutinizing them closely. "Lauren, these are deadly. They're not meant to be administered casually. These could make the strongest Alpha paralyzed."

The revelation hit me like a sledgehammer. Deadly?

"Lauren, you have to keep these away because you could be prosecuted for murder if these are found in your hands," she exclaimed.

"Why would these be in his catalog then?" I questioned, my mind whirring with possibilities.

I had thought Alec was helping his brother but he was killing him the most. I became so confused that I decided to find a place to clear my head.

Leaving Macy's office, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The puzzle pieces were scattered, and it was time to put them together, to uncover the truth behind the sedatives, and to protect Jefferson from whatever threat loomed in the shadows.

But for now, I wasn’t going back to that house. I found an eatery open, and I tried not to think about the name as I entered. I needed to take something chilly, sit for a while, and calm my nerves. I walked over to the counter.

“Give me a burger, and a milkshake, please,” I ordered and the attendant was quick to answer.

“Okay, coming up, ma’am.” The young lady over the counter immediately attended to my order.

The eatery door pushed open, and I swallowed hard. The burger was good, and the milkshake even went down better with it. I dropped the cup from my mouth, to find unwelcoming stares from the person who had earlier walked in. It was a man, tall, built, and clad in black clothing. He didn’t seem violent, and if it was soothing enough, he had grey hairs that showed he wasn’t entirely young or active.

I calmed down and waited to see his next move. He moved, and his steps were right towards me. My instincts instantly kicked in, and I clutched my bag to my side. If I needed to run, I had to wait till he was close enough for me to go around the rows of chairs on the other side and evade him. He kept coming, and I was already counting the seconds to stand.

Like he read my thoughts, he paused and stretched out a hand to gesture he wanted to say something. I didn’t relax. I was even more on the edge.

I voiced, "What do you want, man?"

"Lauren, I need to talk to you about the Alpha King. "