"How lovely" The voice echoed as the claps continued to resonate in my ears, causing my pupils to dilate in fear as my heart instantly skipped a thousand beats at the sight before me.
How could it be? How could he be an absolute replica of me with every feature of his resembling those of mine? There was not a single difference I could point out, but the only thing that would make it easier to differentiate us was the aura of fear that surrounded me.
He was just standing there, right in front of me, without moving and with a grin on his face. His hands were still clapping, as it felt like he had been clapping for days, but all of these hadn't even been up to a minute. I tried to stand my ground and not let the fear of him surround my aura, but no matter how hard I tried, I still cowered in absolute terror.
I try to keep my eyes from quivering at the sight of him, but how could I even look into those eyes that I once betrayed?
"A family reunion, it would have been complete if Adolph didn't kill the rest of our siblings." He said, My ears picked up every single tone of his and settled it deep in my head.
"That's obviously why he isn't here today." He added with a chuckle. His hands aren't clapping anymore; he lowered them and tucked them into the pocket of his trousers. From afar, he was standing tall with his shoulders broad, and not a single aura of fear could be found surrounding him. Rather, his aura was confident, and there was something else roaming around him—an aura of satisfaction.
He has spent centuries of his life in hiding, planning for this exact day when he would show his face to me again. The last time I saw those faces of his was the day I betrayed him; the eyes of betrayal that stared at me as he took his last breath didn't leave my head for decades, but now those same eyes are here, looking straight into my soul. The only difference is that these eyes that are now staring at me are dead. There's not a single emotion in those eyes, and it wouldn't take the blind to know that he only has one goal, which is revenge.
I try to make myself believe that he perhaps wants the throne to himself, but I used to know Anselm; he wouldn't want anything to do with this throne as at that time and still used to assure me that if it ever came down to one of us having the throne then it should be me. He knows he doesn't have to sweat before he gets the throne to himself, but why does he now want the throne and not my life?
I try to make myself believe that he might have changed his motive, but after knowing what he used to do in hiding, I doubt he suddenly became caring or considerate. If a man would kill and sell off female werewolves for money to achieve his goal, he wouldn't decide to give up in the last minute, would he?
"Anselm," I called his name; the sound of my voice calling his name seemed to have pleased him as the smirk on his face grew wider while he walked closer to where I was.
One…Two…Three. My head couldn't help but calculate his every step until he was finally standing right beside me.
He was standing right beside me, somehow too close for comfort because I know what he is capable of doing to me while he's standing this close to me.
"My dear twin," he said, as if in a whisper.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, swallowing the heavy lump of saliva that was building up in my mouth.
"Didn't Diane give you the memo?" he asked, turning to Diane, who looked like she was in the middle of two ghosts.
"What do you really want from me, Anselm? We both know you didn't hide for centuries just to come back for the throne." I confronted him. The strength came from nowhere, but while it is still in me, I should use it to its fullest before I start to cower.
"But you know nothing about what I am or what I want."
"I know you."
"You have no idea who I am anymore, Ricky," he said. It was scary to hear him still call me that, the last time being when I killed him.
"We both know you want my life."
"I should want your life, right? I'm glad you acknowledge that fact," he scoffed.
"Then why are you bringing up the bullshit about the throne?" I queried. Looking him dead in the eyes as he subtly stared back with a smile.
"Because you're my twin." He answered.
"I got you killed... I killed you, so why won't you kill me? You're also my twin, but I killed you, so why won't you do the same?" I yelled. His smirk only grew wider while I tried to catch my breath.
Breathing has now suddenly become a hard task for me, as has blinking. It was only after tears started to leave my eyes that I realized that I had not been blinking and that my eyes were begging for me to go easy on them.
"I am not you," he replied.
"I lived for centuries planning to make you suffer for what you did to me. I planned to make you go through something worse than death and get rid of your entire generation." He paused. The sound of him threatening my unborn child triggered both me and my beast, but I tried to compose myself. It would be foolish to throw the first blow, knowing full well that he could kill me in only a second.
I have no idea where Lenora could be right now, and I have no idea whether or not Anselm has gotten to her or if she is still unaware of what is going on in the pack house. I can't help but plead and pray to the moon goddess to prevent her from coming into the pack house. She should be running away from this place and anywhere near here.
"I thought it through, and I decided to pardon you for what you did to us. Of course you weren't thinking about us when you betrayed me despite my attempt to save us both from Adolph's grasp, but I must be sure you're selfless enough to give up the throne right here and right now." He added. His face wasn't holding a smirk anymore, nor was he as composed as he was when he arrived.
"How could you have let the thought of killing me cross your mind? Why did you have to fucking do that?" He yelled. The crack of his voice mid-sentence gave away his pain.
"I loved you, I cared for you, I sacrificed my life for you, and even after it was clear that you betrayed me, I still wanted to save you. Why didn't you take my hand and leave with me? Why did you betray me? Why did you put that knife to my throat? Answer me, you coward!" He yelled, his breath was shaky, his hands were shaking, and the only part of him that was still were the piercing blue eyes that locked with mine without moving.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted off my chest. This was something I've always wanted to say to him for centuries.
"I never asked for an apology; I need answers," he pressed.
"I was a coward," I answered. A loud scoff left his lips as he burst out into laughter.
"Diane, can you hear that? He said he was a coward." He laughed while Diane stood still, her eyes moving from Anselm to me. Anselm has always been her favourite child because he was the only one who possessed her powers, so it was no news that she would surely take his side.
"You are still funny," he added, taking a step backward and tucking his hands back into his trousers.
"It's been quite a long time since I last saw that beautiful face of your mate; where could she be?" He asked, but I chose to remain quiet. I don't want Lenora to be caught up in the middle of this chaos that she had nothing to do with. Moreover, I now know that he doesn't have Lenora.
"Where are you hiding her?" He asked again, but I remained silent.
"Don't you think I have the means to bring her here right now?"
"I promise you can have the throne; you can have everything. I know I have wronged you, and I must atone for what I did to you. Please take the throne."
"I want everything you have," he said.
"You can have it all."
"...and your mate," he said. The moment he mentioned my mate, my beast became enraged, and I was ready to fight with him. I was ready to fight in a battle that I know I can't win, but I don't mind losing this fight as long as he never lays his hands on Lenora.
"Won't it be fair to have your mate since I can't have mine? I mean, I'm no longer tied to the moon goddess after my resurrection, and it's your fault, isn't it?"
"You can have everything I have, but Lenora isn't a thing; she's a part of me."
"Not anymore," he cooed. My hands balled into a fist by my side as I tried my best to control my beast. I can't afford to act irrationally.
"I want her for myself; I want her to bear a child for me," he said, and in no time, my entire body and mind forgot about acting rationally as I threw a punch to his face.
He wasn't expecting it, and it had taken him off guard, but by the time I wanted to strike my next punch, he had recovered and was swift to dodge it, but I didn't see his attack coming as he somehow managed to fling me across the passageway.
"Your highness!" Josh panicked, jumping right in front of me and attempting to attack Anselm, but before he could throw a punch at Anselm, everything turned white. Suddenly, everything around me had disappeared, and I was alone in what I couldn't interpret.
It all felt like a dream, but before I could realize what was happening, I found myself crashing on the floor, unable to move a vein in my body. Am I paralyzed?
"You should have never hit me," he said. I could now see him standing tall above me, and slowly everything around me became clear once again.
"Don't you dare touch her," I groaned.
"Take them both to the courtroom," he ordered. I assumed he must have brought someone along, but what I didn't expect to see was Simon walking towards us.
"Yes, master," he bowed to Anselm.
"Simon?" I whispered, but like the wind, he brushed past me without paying any mind to whatever I had to say as he lifted Josh above the ground. Josh had also been paralyzed.
*************************
"Where did you hide her?" Anselm asked once again, sitting right in front of me with my body being used as his foot stool.
"You can't touch her," I protested, earning a groan from him.
"Find her, but don't harm her. I prefer my she-wolves without scars." He commanded Simon, and like an animal being controlled by a parasite, Simon obeyed.
"Yes, master," he answered. Causing my blood to boil, I want to try everything in my power to prevent him from walking out of this place, but no matter how hard I tried to lift my hands, my body wouldn't move.
"You're here," Lenora said, her gaze fixed on Anselm without moving.
Why does she have to return to the pack house at a time like this?
"We were just about to fetch you," Anselm replied with a grin.
"What have you done to him, you monster?" She yelled, her anger was rising, and I could sense that she was about to release her wolf any moment from now, but I can't let that happen. She'll only end up in the same condition as I am.
"Monster? Don't you think you're being a hypocrite?"
"What have you done to him?" She asked again with her little hands balled into a fist by the side of her heavy stomach.
"You should be happy; I don't want to hurt you," Anselm replied.
"You can't hurt me," she replied.
"Lenora, please leave. I promise I'll come back for you, but leave!" I yelled with every ounce of strength in me. Even though I know very well that she would never obey me, I can only wish she would listen to me.
"Bring her here," Anselm ordered his puppet, and Simon reached out for Lenora without hesitation. She was stunned, in disbelief, and unable to process what was happening with her friend.
"Why are you listening to him?" She asked, staring innocently into his eyes in search of her friend, but he's gone.
"Simon," she called for him, but his ears no longer function to hear the voices of anyone else aside from Anselm as he grabbed Lenora by the arm.
She didn't fight him; she couldn't fight him; she was still in shock and disbelief. She's in search of Simon, knowing full well that he's no longer the friend she used to know.