The Forgotten Twin Chapter 01
My twin sister suffered from a condition called Sibling Rivalry Disorder.
Whenever I outperformed her in physical assessments or academic exams, she would stay awake all night and cut her arms with razor blades.
The pack doctor’s treatment plan was beyond absurd. He wanted me to get worse so my twin sister could get better.
My whole family, however, carried it out with astonishing determination.
Mom secretly turned my alarm clock back. As she watched me rush out the door, she turned to Clara and smiled, “Now your sister will be late. She won’t make it to her exam.”
My brother, William, who was also the Alpha of our pack, offered to drive me. Five minutes after we left, the car “broke down.” When I got out and started running toward the testing center, I caught him grinning in the rearview mirror.
My Alpha mate wrapped an arm around me and coaxed me like I was a child.
“Just do badly this once. You’re so smart. What’s wrong with repeating a year? It’s only one extra year before you become a warrior.”
Clara’s scores improved little by little, and everyone believed their plan was working.
On the day of the ranking examination, I hesitated for a moment when that bottle of water was handed to me.
Then I drank it anyway.
Ten minutes later, clutching my stomach, I ran out of the examination arena.
They all turned to look at me.
Their eyes were filled with relief, as though their plan had succeeded.
At that moment, the last shred of hope I still held onto died completely.
By the time the diarrhea finally stopped, I was so weak I could barely stand. My legs trembled as I leaned against the wall and slowly walked out of the restroom.
They immediately surrounded me, pretending to care.
Mom looked at me apologetically.
“Madeline, don’t blame us. If Clara fails to get into Royal Fang because of you, she’ll make another scene tonight. Just give in to your sister.”
Royal Fang was a prestigious academy located in the territory of the Royal Pack, where the Alpha King resided. Alongside Lunarcrest Academy and Silverhowl Academy, it was regarded as one of the three most elite academies in the werewolf realm.
Every year, countless aspiring wolves dreamed of earning admission through the ranking examination. The three academies trained elite warriors and pack doctors for packs across the realm, while many graduates were selected for royal projects that could completely change their lives.
William shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“Madeline, if you don’t get into a good academy, you can stay in the pack. I’ll support you.”
Thomas spoke gently, trying to comfort me.
“Exactly. Your grades are excellent. You can repeat the year and apply again next time. At worst, you’ll become a warrior one year later than you planned.”
I had worked toward this for eighteen years. Yet because of Clara’s so-called illness, they had done everything they could to make me fail.
I didn’t want to argue anymore.
I turned to leave, but Mom grabbed my arm, “Wait. Clara isn’t out yet. Stay here and wait with us.”
They couldn’t see how pale my lips had become, or how tightly I was pressing a hand against my cramping stomach.
All they could see was Clara.
When the bell signaling the end of the exam rang, Clara walked out with a disappointed expression.
“Madeline, you came out so early. You must have handed in your paper ahead of time, didn’t you? I knew I’d never be able to beat you.”
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the lake nearby, “If that’s true, I might as well jump into the lake and drown myself. At least I won’t have to embarrass myself when the exam results come out.”
Mom immediately pulled Clara into a hug, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
William laughed, “Come on. Madeline couldn’t possibly beat you.”
“Who knows what she ate this morning? She ran out just ten minutes after the exam started and spent an entire hour in the restroom.”
Clara looked at them cautiously, “You’re not lying to me?”
Thomas dramatically raised his hand, “I swear we’re not. She violated the exam rules. She isn’t even allowed to go back in and finish the test.”
I watched them use the destruction of my ranking examination to comfort Clara.
Even though my heart had already died, it still ached.
Only after a long while did they remember I was standing there.
“Madeline,” Mom said expectantly, “tell Clara yourself. Isn’t that right?”
Under their hopeful gazes, I answered quietly, “Yes. I didn’t write a single word.”
Delight flashed across Clara’s eyes.
I continued, “I failed my written exam. Even if I finish the physical assessment, my overall score won’t be high. I’m not taking the rest of the physical assessment.”
“Madeline, are you serious?”
I nodded solemnly, “I am.”