Chapter 1

Aria.

“Trenton Lockwood!!!”

The cheers of the students and the cheerleading squad echoed through Winterridge University’s hockey arena, pom-poms waving in the air.

Trenton Lockwood, the golden son of Alpha Liam Lockwood, the future pack leader, my stepbrother, skated through the ice, every stride precise, every movement effortless like he had been born for the role.

Again, for the fifth time, he shot the puck into the goal post and the crowd erupted into louder cheers.

“Goal…”

Some of his team members removed their helmets and pulled off their jerseys, waving them in the air as they skated towards him and surrounded him, everyone singing his praises. A small smile curled his lips—that smile though, often rare but unravelled me in ways I couldn't pinpoint—as he basked in the victory.

The rival team—the Silvercrest University—had gloomy expressions on their faces, clearly frustrated that the game wasn't going their way. Winterridge had won seven goals and Silvercrest had won two. If they kept the momentum going, in the next thirty minutes we would qualify to play in the finals.

“Captain,” Lucian, Trenton's best friend, called as he grabbed a bottle of organic water and handed it over to him. “Have some water.”

My chest tightened as Trenton gave him a grateful nod, took it from him, twisted the lid open, and gulped down the water, his throat bobbing in a way that made my stomach churn.

My hand tightened around the pom-poms as I thought about my actions an hour ago.

Oh… fuck, I shouldn't have done this.

Earlier, Tristan, his twin brother and the not so impressive son had summoned me over to the locker room. He had handed me a vial of poison and told me to add it to his brother's water. He wanted him gone so he would be the one to own everything that belonged to Trenton; his place as the star player in the championship, the throne, and even his popularity amongst the students.

At first, I refused. I couldn't understand why he would want to kill his brother but then Tristan had been my fated mate, although he hadn't accepted me because he couldn't understand why the Goddess would make someone as weak and as wolfless as me his fated mate. Moreover, the fact that we were step siblings made it worse.

But to me, it didn't matter. I had fallen in love with Tristan since the very first day my mother—Luna Lyra—introduced him to me as my big brother two years ago after she engaged the Alpha.

But then Tristan promised that if I could get rid of his brother, he would accept our mate bond and that was why I did it. Earlier, I had secretly switched his organic water with the one I had poisoned.

Now as Trenton’s silver eyes flicked towards me as he handed the half-filled bottle back to Lucian, a pang of guilt twisted in my chest like a dagger.

I shouldn't have done this especially since he had always treated me better than Tristan who just couldn't bear the sight of me.

While Tristan, who was waving his hockey stick in his hand leisurely, smirked at me. Devilish. Triumphant. Satisfied.

The coach blew the whistle and the teams returned back to their different formations, ready to continue their game.

Trenton gripped his stick tightly, his eyes set with determination… a minute passed, then two…

Suddenly, Trenton staggered to the floor. His helmet clattered onto the ice. One hand flew to his throat as if he couldn’t breathe.

I knew it was the poison having an effect, probably curling all over his body like a chain.

As the coach blew the whistle for the start of the game, everyone was staring at the superstar. His team members circled him quickly and before I could blink, blood was already dripping down his nose and mouth.

Chaos erupted.

The panic in the air was palpable.

Lucian was holding him and barking out orders to the medical team who were already running towards the rink with a stretcher.

Tristan stepped closer, terrified too. He pulled his jersey, waving it in a bid to use it to fan him and get him to take more of the poisoned water.

How cruel could he be?

Ruining all his brother's chances of survival completely.

The scene was that of a caring brother and not someone who had been jealous of his brother his entire life, enough to poison him.

The cheer squad ran forward too, but as for me… I just couldn't take a step. Not with the way my legs were trembling.

Somehow through the crowd, his pale silver eyes found mine. He rolled them once and then they became lifeless, never leaving me and sending chills down my spine.

“He is dead!”

I heard the medical team scream and the rest of the world faded into the background.

I wanted to scream, to tell the entire world how I had been ruthless enough to poison the only man who had seen me but I just couldn't. The fear of what was at stake if they got to know and moreover, the air in my throat had been knocked out.

As everyone let out painful screams, cried and mourned, I just turned away from the scene. My legs were weak and trembling as I made my way back to the dorm but once I got in, I slumped against the door and wept.

—————

Six Hours Later.

“Are you sure no one saw you coming here?” Tristan asked the moment I stepped into the cheerleading hall.

The news of Trenton's death had spread across the kingdom. Even social media was buzzing with the news of how he had died a few minutes after he took a bottle of water. Everyone knew that he must have been poisoned but they speculated that the rival team must have orchestrated it. Alpha Liam had sworn not to bury his son until he found out the perpetrators. Even my mother had been weeping all day.

I shook my head. “No…” my voice was barely audible. “No one saw me.”

His silver eyes that were just the replica of his brother's were fixed on my swollen eyes. I dipped my head down, avoiding his gaze because it actually seemed like Trenton was the one staring at me now.

He lifted my chin. “Have you been crying?”

I shook my head. “No…” I lied, not wanting to appear weak in front of my love because I knew how much he hated weakness. “Something dropped in my eyes as I was coming here.”

He nodded, his lips curling into a dark, satisfied smirk. “Good. You did well today.” He grabbed two glasses of wine from the bench behind him and handed me one. He clinked his glass against mine. “Cheers to us. Our mate bond.”

Mate bond?

Now… I was confused because it seemed like I couldn't feel it anymore. Instead, my chest felt empty like I had just lost a part of myself.

Once he threw down his wine, he gestured at me to take mine. “Take your drink, then we can discuss how we will reveal our bond to everyone after my brother's mourning phase is over.”

The words my brother had a mocking undertone to them.

Something inside me screamed at me not to take the wine, even my hand wouldn't stop trembling but then… he would only discuss the bond after I had taken the drink.

Forcing a smile at him, I threw down the wine.

“Good girl.” He took the glass from me. “Now…” his gaze became icy, “farewell. Make sure to send my greetings to my brother.”

My blood went dry.

A sharp burn exploded in my chest… then to my throat. My fingers slipped from the glass as the room began to spin.

“You… poisoned me…” I whispered.