The Luna's Lie

Chapter 3

Kayla

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I stood in stunned silence,

“Devon was involved in this?” I asked, my eyes fixed on Zara's smug face,

It made sense now, why he was so strikingly calm when he saw me at first. How instead of getting angry, he'd easily changed his decision to make me marry Marcel.

The reminder of his scolding and anger was still fresh in my mind. He looked so angry and disappointed. He'd blamed me.

And all along he knew the truth. He'd helped Zara and threw me to the wolves for her sake. My own brother, involved in a plot to ruin my life?

It was too much to bear.

A surge of anger filled me.

"And what about me?" I demanded. "What was I supposed to be, some kind of pawn in your game?”

Her face fell slightly as if realising that I wasn't at all amused, but I wasn't done.

“I'm not going to do this,” I said, shaking my head, “I won't marry him,”

Only a night ago, my plan was clear and my path to freedom was closer than ever. Now it was blocked, because of Zara's actions.

I couldn't let this happen. There was only one way to resolve this and that was by telling the truth.

Without a word I turned away.

“Kayla, where are you going?” Kayla, wait!”

Before I knew it her hand pulled me back, halting me right as I reached the door. I was forced to turn back.

Zara's expression had in an instant, her eyes welling up with tears.

“Don't leave. You can't reveal the truth.” she says, shaking her head.

“And what? Let this betrothal happen? No.” I tried to struggle but she still pulled me back.

“Kayla, please,” she begged, her voice now trembling. “You have to understand. I had no choice.”

"No choice?" I repeated, a surge of bitterness filling me, “You always have a choice, Zara."

‘And you took mine.’

But Zara just shook her head.

“Kayla, I'm sorry,” she said, her voice pleading. “But you have to let this happen. You have to take my place. After all, unlike me, you have nobody in this pack who cares about you. Your absence won't be a loss. Nobody would miss you if you were gone.”

I felt a pang of hurt at her words, but I knew she was right. I felt a wave of despair wash over me. I had no friends, no allies. I was alone.

Zara's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the sister I used to know.

“I'm sorry, Kayla,” she said, her voice cracking, “I’ve caused you so much trouble, used our sisterly bond so many times, but I swear on the Goddess that this is the last time. I won't ask you for anything else. I swear. You're already in this mess, you might as well see it through. You once promised you'll help me through everything. Twins through thick and thin. You don't want to see me suffer in a loveless marriage do you?”

Her cries stung my heart. I clenched my jaw, trying to hold onto my anger, yet as she cried onto my arm, I couldn't take it.

I should have torn my hand away and left, spilled the truth. After the betrayal she had done, drugging and locking me up in this without my consent, that was the only way to get my freedom.

But I didn't move. Because deep down, she was right.

I couldn't stand to see her suffer.

My freedom, my life, was slipping away from me. And I had no choice but to accept.

I could see the moment Zara realised it as well, relief washing over her face. In spite of her tears, she smiled, standing up to hug me,

“Thank you, Kayla,” she sniffed, hugging me tightly.

As she pulled away, she didn't hesitate to leave, joy in her time again.

“You have to prepare quickly for the mating ceremony. Devon must be talking to Marcel by now. I have to go.”

With that, she left happily, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

My door slammed shut and I finally broke down.

Sobs wracked me uncontrollably, my body shaking with grief. I cried for my lost freedom, for my shattered dreams.

I cried for the man who was my mate, who had rejected me in an instant.

What would become of my life now? How was I going to get through this? Was there even a sliver of a chance for happiness?

The questions swirled in my mind, but I had no answers. All I could do was cry, and wonder what the future held.

…

The mating ceremony was a blur of activity, rushed due to the circumstances. By the time I came out, everything was ready.

I stood beside Marcel, his coldness towards me palpable. Only Devon, Winter and the Pack Priest were present and for a moment I wondered where Zara was.

‘Probably staying happily with her boyfriend.’ bitter thoughts crossed my mind.

After roping me into this it wasn't surprising that she would leave.

I didn't expect her to appear during the ceremony. Yet, just as the ceremony was about to start, Zara appeared, gaining everyone's attention with a brief sound.

“Excuse me,” she says, stepping forward. Her expression was different . She looked...sad. Visibly sad, in a way that made my stomach twist with unease. It was a complete contrast to her happiness earlier.

What was she doing?

To my- and everyone else's - surprise, she approached Marcel, her eyes downcast.

“May I have an audience with you, Alpha Marcel? It won't be long.” she asked, her voice trembling. The silence felt even more suffocating. I couldn't help but turn to him.

Marcel's expression was unreadable, but he nodded silently, moving away from me instantly to leave the hall. I clenched my jaw,

Zara followed him, leaving me standing alone on the pulpit.

As Marcel and Zara disappeared into a private chamber, Devon’s attention instantly fell to me, his eyes narrowing.

“Be grateful that Marcel agreed to this after the mess you caused. This alliance is important for our pack. Don't ruin it, Kayla,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. Those words pierced me harshly, especially now that I knew the truth.

“But Devon, when doesn't she ruin anything,” Winter sneered, sidling up to Devon while looking over me with a mix of disdain and anger,

“I don't know how you managed to take Zara's place,” she said, “Or how shameless you truly are, but be grateful. You're not even worthy of being a pack member, let alone the Alpha's mate. If you know what's best for you, keep quiet.”

I kept calm despite the sinking despair. Closing my eyes, I forced myself to remain impassive to their words.

‘Perhaps if I ignored it hard enough, it wouldn't hurt,’

After what felt like an eternity, Zara and Marcel returned. Zara was smiling, her eyes sparkling like she had gone even lighter.

Marcel's gaze on the other hand…

I shivered as he looked at me for a moment. For some reason it felt even more frosty.

What happened between them?

My thoughts were chased away in an instant as Marcel looked away, soon positioning himself by my side.

“We can commence the Mating ceremony,” the pack priest said.

The ceremony was a blur of words and rituals, but by the end, it was concrete.

There was no escaping now. I was bound to Marcel.

As the ceremony ended, it was time for me to leave with Marcel, travelling back to his pack. I excused myself to pack my things. I didn't expect Marcel to follow me, but he did, his presence making my heart skip a beat.

The walk back was silent , yet with every second, a sense of dread washed over me.

I had a bad feeling but for what? I didn't know.

As I entered my room, the door slammed shut behind me loudly startling me, I turned instantly to find Marcel, his eyes blazing with anger.

Before I could react, he grabbed me by the neck, choking me against the wall.

I struggled against him, but he was too strong.

“You tricked me,” he snarled, his breath hot against my ear. "You deceived me, and now you're my mate.”

A mix of tears and dots blurred my vision. I tried to speak, to explain, but Marcel's grip was too tight. I couldn't breathe.

“I'll make your life hell,” I heard him say, blood running cold as I realised how certain it sounded,

“You'll regret ever crossing me.”

With that, he released me, and I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Footsteps rang and Marcel stormed out of the room, leaving with a loud bang.

I checked, trying to recover, yet the choking devolved into sobbing. The pain and violence crashed down on me.

‘What had I done to deserve this?’

I lay there, sobbing uncontrollably, wondering how my life had fallen apart so completely.

I was trapped, bound to a man who hated me, and I had no idea how to escape.