The Luna's Ugly Disguise

Losing a parent as a child is one of the world’s most painful things. You hold every last word they said to you close to your heart. Clinging to every memory that you can. And, for me, some of my mother’s had been filled with caution. Warning me of the world surrounding me. And reminding me of the care and protection I had lost when she had left my side… “Evelyn, the world is a dangerous place, especially when you have things that people crave. Hold your beauty within. The gifts that come forth keep them well concealed. Both must stay unseen until you are able to protect yourself.” And those words were words that I had lived by. Remaining plain. Invisible. Fading to the background, just as my mother begged me. Her words were all I had left of her, and they were what she left to keep me safe. But, as I sat at the worn stool in front of my vanity table, running my comb through my hair one more time. I could not lie, following those words was not always easy. I hated the way my hair looked. Or at least I hated the way it looked once the herbs had taken effect. All sense of sheen, and its natural honey blond gleam had gone. Instead, there was a dreary, almost dullness to it. As my eyes grazed over my reflection, I saw the image that looked back at me each day. One that every person believed was me. Only I knew the truth. I took a deep breath. I had to do what I had to do. I had to do as I had promised to my Mum as she lay dying. I had to hide my beauty. Boom. Boom. Boom. There was a banging on my closed bedroom door, causing me to sigh heavily. I never seemed to get a moment. Always being harassed for one thing or another. Sadly, today, the one thing I had hoped to be harassed for, not one person had mentioned. My birthday. Today I turned eighteen. And not a person appeared to have remembered. My heart ached at the very thought… The day had been like every other so far, with people passing me by like I was a piece of the furniture adorning our packhouse. And not one person glanced in my direction. It made me sick. I was important to this pack. Or I should be. Yet not one person seemed to care. My father was their Alpha. My mother had been their Luna. But me? I seemed to be nothing. Boom. Boom. Boom. The banging was more insistent this time. “Don’t ignore me, Evelyn!” Celeste hissed from the other side of the heavy wooden door. “I have things to do! People to see. Handsome Alphas to marry...” My shoulders instantly sagged at the sound of my half-sister’s voice. I stood to move to open the door to her, knowing she would not allow me to leave her there. The girl was a year older than me, but acted like a petulant child. We may share the same father, but we have never been close. The moment I opened my bedroom door, Celeste stalked into the room without waiting for an invitation, near knocking me off my feet as she did so. Giving me a dirty glance with her big brown eyes, a sneer appeared upon her delicate features. My half-sister was every bit a combination of her father and her mother. Darkness in every form. “I came to check how you were coming along…” Her words faltered for a moment as she edged a little closer to me, running her freshly manicured fingernail along my cheek. I stepped back sharply before she dug them any deeper and marked my skin. The skin of my face was already looking dull and worn thanks to the ointment I was using. I did not need an unsightly wound nor scar to make it any worse. “I will be ready, do not worry.” I said gently, not wishing to cause further issues with the girl I had the displeasure of calling my half-sister. There was a deep chuckle. “Well, it is not like anyone would notice anyway. Everyone will be looking at me.” She said with venom dripping from her tone. I had no doubt that they would. Celeste had a way to ensure that she was the center of attention, and today was already a day for her. Her and the man she was due to marry. In truth, I believed he should be the focus. He, after all, was an important man. An Alpha. He was the important one, and Celeste merely his accessory. But I did not question for a moment that Celeste would find a way to make this about her. Make her new husband near irrelevant to the day. Today would be the first time Celeste had even met her new husband. The Alpha of Sun Wolf Pack. But I had heard nothing but news of him since she had learned of the arranged marriage. My half-sister resented my position within pack. She may be older than me, but this pack once belonged to my mother’s family, and my father only inherited the title through marriage. So, to many, I was the true heir. Not that it had ever stopped Celeste being a true nightmare as we grew up. But, this marriage gave my sister the leverage she needed to make recent weeks a living hell. She believed this man was going to make her one of the most powerful women there ever had been. I just hoped the poor, unknowing Alpha realized what he was letting himself into. Agreeing to the marriage before meeting Celeste had certainly been a mistake, and I had no doubt the man would soon realize that! Arrangements for the wedding had been undertaken by my stepmother, and they were vast. Over the top. Guests from all across our nation were invited. I would have been happy with a quiet wedding if it had been me. Just our pack, but, my father, as always, being over-the-top in a bid to outdo other packs, had gone all out. And, my sister, wanted only the best, desperate to be the focus of everyone’s attention. Inviting people I don’t even think they spoke to. Today was going to be hellish… The special guest would be arriving any moment. Arriving to a moment, I believed he would regret forever. Alpha Lucael of Sun Wolf Pack. The man my half-sister would soon be marrying. A marriage, from what I understood, arranged politically to stabilize relationships between our two packs. Hardly the type of marriage I would wish for. But Celeste was acting like it was a marriage made in heaven. And had been acting even more horrendously since she had learned of the marriage. My half-sister had always believed she was above me, or above most, in truth, but knowing she was marrying such a powerful man had given her a further level of arrogance that was sickening. But I pitied her. This was not the type of marriage I would want. A marriage arranged to simply stabilize things. That was not a marriage. It was an agreement. There was no indication the man wanted her. He had not even met her! Celeste gave me her darkened, haughty glance before she shoved my shoulder. “Well, my hair and make-up staff are waiting for me. I just wanted to ensure it would be me shining out there, and not you. My groom will not know where to look.” She sneered as she spoke, before turning on her heel and walking toward the door. “Your dress is being brought to your room.” She added before closing the door behind her. My heart dropped. I had dreaded today. Hoping to be able to avoid even being a part of the ceremony at all. But my father was insistent. Adamant we were portrayed as a united family, despite us being anything but. A united family meant being on display. And, while the attention understandably would be upon Celeste and her new husband, it meant me attempting to be some source of focus, and I struggled with that. I was always the one that disappeared within a crowd. Always forgotten about. Everything had been carefully arranged. Our family home, the packhouse, a hive of activity as the pack prepared for the event ahead. A stunning wedding. An evening ceremony, as was chosen by my family. And, despite it being upon my birthday, on the day that I had come of age, a date I was sure was intentionally chosen by my sister, or her mother, sadly my birthday had gone by, seemingly forgotten. I returned to the mirror in a bid to finish adjusting my hair and made myself look somewhere close to half-presentable. There had been no hair and make-up artists arranged for me. There never were when special events were arranged at our pack. And events outside of our pack I was rarely allowed to attend. I was the daughter of an Alpha that blended into the background. The daughter he opted to try to forget. There was another knock at the door, this time more gentle. I stepped up and returned to the door, to find one of our housemaids holding up a dress bag for me. My heart raced with excitement at the possibility that my stepmother may have arranged for a beautiful gown for me for the event. Something she always did for Celeste, but had yet to do for me. I imagined, with so many people attending, she wanted today to be perfect, so maybe that would be why she went this extra mile? “Luna asked that you dress immediately and meet them downstairs.” The housemaid spoke before rushing away, and I did not hesitate in returning to my room to unzip the bag. But the anticipation that had been building within me soon fell away to disappointment, as my eyes settled upon the dress before me. A drab gown in a dull shade of lavender. The fabric so tattered you would not be surprised to discover it had been sitting within a cupboard for decades upon end. The dress was a mess. Hardly the gown of a member of the Alpha family. Least of all, one who would be standing alongside the bride as she walked down the aisle. Tears prickled in my eyes. My eyes drifted to my closet. There was nothing suitable in there for me to wear in its place. ‘Where are you?’ My step-mother, Celine’s voice came through the mindlink sharply. ‘Do not try to show us up by being late. Your sister's man will be waiting for her, and I do not want him thinking she has changed her mind.’ ‘The dress you sent is damaged.’ I said emotionlessly. ‘Just like you.’ Was the cold response. ‘Put it on and be downstairs in five minutes.’ And in that instance, I knew I would have no choice. Celine was going to ensure that I was hidden and humiliated on a day that she wanted to ensure was all about her daughter. She wanted to ensure my position within the pack was made clear. Who my mother was had always been irrelevant to her, and that hurt. She planned to make a fool of me, and it appeared our father was going to allow her. I slipped the dress on, and while the worn fabric was tattered, it clung to my body like it had been made for me. Enhancing every curve of my petite frame, before it flowed down to the floor in a frayed train. It looked like I had been attacked by a pack of rabid dogs… I slipped my shoes on. A delicate heeled sandal in the same lavender shade as my dress. And without bothering to look at my reflection, I walked out of the door. What I looked like clearly did not matter. Today, I hoped, would be about gaining respect for my strength for simply being here. Blending in in the best way I knew how. As I walked along the long sweeping corridor of our landing toward the staircase, Celeste came from her room, shortly followed by two housemaids who had clearly been assisting her. She was adorned in the most unique and elaborate gown that I think I had ever seen. Delicate yet decorated. Fancy and flowing. A beautiful silver and white, no doubt designed to symbolize our moon goddess. A fit cut to enhance Celeste’s tall and beautiful figure. Her long waves of brown hair were pinned around her head in delicate curls decorated with white flowers. As much as I had grown to dislike her, I could not deny she was shining brightly tonight, just as they had planned. She looked beautiful. And, me against her, was every bit the ugly sister. The one who blended into the background… I could see by looking at her that every effort had been made to make my sibling the focus once more. A bride to capture everybody’s attention. I took a deep breath, reminding myself I only had to endure her for the day, and then she would be leaving to be with the Alpha she was being paired with. A man meant to be so ruthless he would no doubt bring her into line. She deserved all that she got. Celeste’s eyes met mine with what I was sure was a momentary hint of nerves hidden within them. But the instant she saw me, that was soon replaced with malice. “Wow.” Her eyes drifted slowly over me and the tattered dress covering my body, a sly smirk upon her face, only confirming my earlier thoughts that all of this was set up by her and my stepmother. “That dress is unique. But I do think I prefer mine. All eyes will be upon me, while I make Alpha Lucael a happy, happy man.” Irritation flickered through my veins. But I was not going to let her get to me. She would be leaving with the Alpha soon enough, I reminded myself, as I gave her a soft smile, replying calmly. “You do look beautiful, Celeste.” I said softly. “And while I have no doubt any man would consider himself lucky to call you his, I think I would prefer a marriage of love. And, of course, what we all crave: fate. And today, I shall stand by your side as you do your duty to pack.” I said sharply, leaving Celeste seemingly tongue-tied. And with that, we were quickly ushered by the housemaid toward the staircase toward the awaiting ceremony. “About time.” Celine greeted me the moment I reached the bottom step. “You can walk into the ceremony behind your sister. Show a united family front. Everyone will be expecting you there as her sister, so we cannot hide you away, sadly.” She gave me a disgusted look to imply that was exactly what she wished she could do. Truth be told, I wished she could too. “Her soon-to-be new husband will be awaiting her too. So do not get in the way. The moment he sets eyes upon Celeste, he will be breathtaken.” I found myself frowning, she was implying we were the same. Equal. When they had never treated me as such. Her brown eyes, a mirror of her daughter’s gazed at me with disdain, before they moved to the staircase at the sound of a throat clearing. Instantly her eyes brightened. A look of love and tenderness filled them as she turned to take in the view of Celeste in the gown she was dressed within. “Oh, sweetheart, you look beautiful.” She whispered in a tone so soft it made me sad. Not once had she spoken to me that way. “The Alpha will not be able to resist you.” Celine reached for Celeste’s hand, and they began to walk, along the sweeping hallway of our packhouse. A beautiful building filled with so many heirlooms and so much history. A building belonging to the family of my own mother. A family my father married into all those years ago. How I wish she was still here. Things could be so different, I found myself thinking longingly, like I so often did… “Ah there she is…” My father’s deep voice disturbed my reminiscing, as he strode over to where we were walking. “Come, my little girl, let us go and build your future.” My heart raced, believing momentarily he had to be talking to me. But those hopes crashed around me, as he gave Celeste a loving smile, offering her his hand. I had no reason to think he was talking to me other than the brief glance in my direction, but my heart still clung to that hope. Still ached at the disappointment. That familiar sense of overwhelming loneliness took over me, but as it did, so I shuddered and an odd warmth rushed through me. A presence suddenly seemed to linger within me, I suppose you could describe it as. A presence that had not been there before. A sensation so odd, yet I felt I stood taller. Prouder. ‘You will never be alone.’ A voice whispered from within my mind as I followed closely alongside my father and Celeste as we walked through the doorways to our large ballroom, all so delicately decorated with fairy lights. I near jumped in shock at the voice. Was this my wolf? But I did not have a moment to consider that idea further nor question her, because as we walked along the aisle that had been set out, my senses were hit with the most overwhelming scent of cinnamon and spiced apple. My head felt like it was spinning while that presence within my mind appeared to be all unsettled. Excited. My eyes darted anxiously around the room, before settling upon the tall, muscular man standing at the end of the aisle. All eyes were upon Celeste, just as they had planned. Gasps of how beautiful she was. But my eyes were upon one person, and one person only... And this man’s eyes were not upon Celeste as I would expect. His soon-to-be-Luna. No. They were upon me. Eyes of icy blue, intensely staring at me like I was his prey, while that same voice within my mind now gasped the word that would forever turn my world upside down… ‘Mate!’