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.

still being held by Raymond' s

are smarter and wiser than the Moon Goddess?" I challenged, arching an eyebrow at him and waving the feather

through the

Raymond is wrong?"

don't want to be punished by the Moon

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

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

widened as he tried to get away. With a snap of the fingers, Raymond had his guards hold the

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

looked at me, his eyes pleading and helpless.

"The feather..."

could get another word out, Raymond grabbed his head and twisted. A sickening crack rang out and the guards released him. The man fell in a

a half-step back.

that when the pack learned who I was, they would turn against him. He had planned everything so perfectly and

you got that?" he growled,

shrank away from him. If I wasn't concerned about her safety, I would have berated her for representing me so poorly. My father had always taught me not to back down and to

looked at me like that, I would have told him exactly what I thought of

away from the guards standing near her and ran to me. "Please,

his eyes. He would 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 always put the pack first. What had happened

hand. "Beta Raymond told me he needed me to help save his pack. He asked a witch to cast

looks just like her," Raymond

members were too confused to make up their minds. They still didn't know who

and couldn't help, but the pack

expose his lies. You're the only one that knows the truth. Take the feather

chewed her lower lip and looked from the feather back to Raymond. The Beta

do anything to raise a hand against me, you'll regret

you wanted to help the pack. If you take the feather and expose his lies, you'll free them all from his control," I urged,

kill me if I do this," fake Ciana whispered. I

right, you know your place," Raymond shouted at the back of

much terror and abuse she'd suffered while trying to do what Raymond wanted her to do. I

I said again, giving her a warm, friendly smile. "The pack will protect you

reluctant to believe that I was the real Ciana and so many

hoped that having Warren there would be enough

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

he would, but they

keep me safe?" she asked again.