Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 77: Always

"She's lying. This is just some power hungry imposter coming to disrupt our pack," Raymond argued, stepping between me and the rest of the pack.

"I can prove that I am the real Ciana," I said, holding the pack relic up over my head. I stepped around Raymond so the entire pack could see me.

Everyone gasped when they realized I had the feather. It was more than just a pack relic. This feather was a symbol of truth and justice. Anyone that spoke a lie while holding the feather would be punished by the Moon Goddess.

He wouldn't dare attack me while I held the feather. It was a sacred pack relic and not even Raymond would think about putting it in harm's way.

"Don't listen to this bitch. She's responsible for my son getting viciously attacked, multiple times. She was probably sent here as a spy for the Dark Prince so he can wipe us all out when it pleases him," Raymond argued.

The rest of the pack murmured nervously and a lot of them locked at me with fear in their eyes. I couldn't believe it! These were people I'd known all my life. Raymond had twisted them so much they didn't know what was real and what wasn't.

"That is a lie," Warren said, speaking up. One of the guards hit him in the back of the head and he snarled.

"Prince Theo and the crown don't destroy packs or spy on them. This man has you all confused," Warren stated calmly yet firmly.

It wasn't good enough. I had to use the feather's fabled power to prove that I was who I said I was. The pack wouldn't believe it otherwise. After seeing what the Moonlit Crystal could do, I didn't doubt the power of the feather.

"I swear that I am the true and only Ciana Black, daughter of Alpha Soren Black of the Alvar Pack. As the Moon Goddess is my witness, I speak the truth of who I am. If I lie before this feather, may the Moon Goddess strike me down," I announced aloud.

The entire crowd went silent. Even Raymond and Hawke held their breath. Nothing happened. No lightning bolts shot down. from the sky to strike me down. An apparition of the Moon Goddess didn't appear and condemn me for my lies.

A ripple of relief went through the gathered pack. Then they started murmuring to each other.

I smirked and glanced over at Raymond. With the power of the feather, I'd win back the loyalty of the pack in no time.

"Beta Raymond, would you like your fake Ciana to swear her identity before the Moon Goddess with the feather of justice?" I asked, holding the relic out to him.

Ramond snarled at me and pushed my hand away.

I turned to the fake me and held the feather out.

"How about it, 'Ciana'?" I asked, putting a sarcastic emphasis on her name.

She shook her head and stared nervously at the feather. "Wh- what will happen to me?"

"Don't even think about it!" Raymond snapped. He moved between me and the fake Ciana. "Ciana is whoever I say she is, and I say it is this girl." He pointed to the fake Ciana.

eyes traveled over to Warren, who was still being held by Raymond' s guards. She looked really upset that Warren was held captive. She did seem to have a heart at least, unlike Raymond.

I challenged,

murmurs went through the

Raymond

punished by the Moon

Moon Goddess. If she does, then I will believe she is the real Ciana," a pack member said. He stood up and pointed at fake Ciana.

enough! You dare question my authority and knowledge?" Raymond growled. He leapt off the dais and advanced on the man

away. With a snap of the fingers,

snarl fixed on his face. "You call yourself a loyal pack member, yet you have the audacity

slightly. He looked at me, his

"The feather..."

grabbed his head and twisted. A sickening crack rang out and the guards

cringed, taking a half-step back.

would turn against him. He had planned everything so perfectly and he

say, you got that?" he growled, stalking over

would have berated her for representing me so poorly. My

Raymond had looked at me like that, I would have

ran to me. "Please, you have to help me. He's going

kill both of us if he had to, just to keep control of the pack. How could he betray my father like that? He'd worked side by side with my family for years. He'd

hand. "Beta Raymond told me he needed me to help save his pack.

just like her," Raymond argued, throwing a dismissive arm

see the pack members were too confused to make up

the only way. He said you were at the palace and couldn't help, but the pack needed you now. I really, really thought I was helping the pack," fake Ciana said, her eyes

lies. You're the only one that knows the truth. Take the feather and tell everyone what

and looked from the feather back to Raymond. The Beta wrinkled

you do anything to raise a hand against me,

lies, you'll free them all from his control,"

this," fake Ciana

your place," Raymond shouted at the

while trying to do what Raymond wanted her to do. I couldn't imagine that he was the most agreeable

giving her a warm, friendly smile. "The pack will protect you once Raymond's lies are revealed. They won't support him anymore."

to believe that I was the real Ciana and so

having Warren there would be

truth being revealed in the presence of one of the princes and did nothing to oppose Raymond and restore my pack's honor and loyalty to the crown, Warren being the presentative of the royal court, technically could have them ali

would, but they didn't need to

safe?" she