The Luna's Lie

Chapter 1

Kayla

The loud cracking sound of the plate breaking coincided with the hot stinging sensation against my cheek. Tears instinctively erupted from the sudden hit, forcing me to clench my jaw.

‘Don't make a sound.’

"What the hell is wrong with you?” Winter sneered, her voice dripping with venom right before she huffed,

“Can't even clean the dishes right."

I bowed my head in silence, despite the stinging sensation burning. I knew better than to respond. Nothing I ever said would satisfy her anyways. It would only make things worse.

I fought the urge to react to the other penetrating stares. None of them held any pity for me either. To them I was far worse off.

“What's going on here?”

I stiffened at the sound of that voice, looking up. Winter did the same.

It was none other than Alpha Devon, my older brother and Winter's mate.

As he entered the kitchen, his eyes scanned the room before landing on me. It took everything to not shrink away from him.

“Winter? What's wrong?” He asked, his voice firm.

My heart sank. I already knew what was coming next.

“My love,” Winter began, pointing at me whilst trembling with rage.

“I came here to find that she was only doing half the work assigned to her. She made me scold her so harshly I even had to slap her. On top of that, she broke another plate. Can you believe it.”

I fought the urge to shrink as Devon's expression turned icy cold as he looked at me.

“Always causing trouble, aren't you Kayla. Can't you do anything right?”

It took everything in me to not flinch. It was nothing new. I was used to being blamed and criticized. I had grown numb to their criticisms over time, but his always still managed to prick into me.

Plenty of people had brothers who would annoy them, but all of it was still cherished.

But Devon, he was the one who hated me the most.

I kept my head bowed, my eyes fixed on the floor as they continued to berate me. It felt like it would last forever until finally, Winter spoke up,

“Devon, we should leave. We need to prepare for the Alpha of Kingston pack's visit." She said, her voice softer.

I didn't need to see it to know that Devon's expression had immediately brightened at the mention of it.

“Yes, of course.” He said, “We need to make a good impression. Zara’s future counts on us. Maybe she will find him suitable for an alliance.”

I watched from the floor as both turned to leave. But right as their footsteps reached the entrance before Devon’s voice rang out.

“I don't want to see any servants in this kitchen. Whatever work needs to be done, Kayla will handle it herself. It's the least she could do.” He said, his voice holding that bitter tinge,

“Kayla, this is an important day for your sister. If you even have a sliver of morality, don't show your face today. We don't want you embarrassing us.”

His words hit harshly. It took everything in me to not crumble at his blatant rejection but somehow I still remained standing. I nodded silently, still looking down at the floor.

As soon as they left, several other footsteps followed from the servants and eventually, deafening silence.

I was alone.

Looking down at the recently broken plate, I felt numb to it all. With a sigh, I turned away and began to silently wash the rest of the plates.

Here, I was nothing.

It was always Zara.

Despite being Alpha Devon's little sister, he hated me with a passion. His mate, Winter, was also cruel to me and bullied me constantly.

But it was always Zara, my twin sister, who they loved.

Unlike me, Zara was close to Devon, treasured and cared for by him ever since we were young. It wasn't by accident either. To him, she was the sweet one, the peaceful one and I? I was nothing but trouble. The problem child.

But he didn't know the truth until now. The reality was that everything I was blamed and criticised for was actually done by her. She always had me take the blame for everything since we were young, using our sisterhood and I was always willing to accept it to the point that it had become the default.

It was bearable when we were kids when it was a small incident. Devon could complain and dislike me, but it was never hatred.

Until everything changed two years ago, on Zara and my 16th birthday.

The day our father was killed by Rogues.

As I finished washing the plates, my mind wandered back to that fateful day. Zara had asked him to get a particular fruit she had spotted in the forest as a birthday gift and my father, all too willing to please us, went…and never came back.

When the news came and Devon was restlessly searching for the cause, Zara was distraught. In the privacy of her room, she had begged me to take the blame,

"Kayla, please, you have to take the blame," Zara had pleaded.tears streaming down her face.

“In the name of our bond. I'll do anything. If…if Devon finds out that I was the reason for father's death…”

I had hesitated, but Zara's desperation and fear had won me over. In the end, I took the blame, and ever since then, I truly felt hatred from Devon and Winter.

I finished right as the cool night air caught up to me. Leaving the kitchen, I made my way to my room. Throughout, anyone in sight shifted their gaze away from me,

never saying a word, not even a greeting. It was as if I was invisible.

Devon’s had intensified over the past two years, neglect and barbs had turned into doing chores and getting slapped. Now, I was to be treated as nothing more than a ghost, ignored by maids and guards alike on his orders.

As I entered my room, I couldn't help but feel a hollow sensation. Two years of suffering in this pack felt never ending.

But now I had reason to hope.

Staring at the moonlight , I counted the hours. Tomorrow was my 18th birthday, and I would finally become a full wolf. Nobody would celebrate me, but it didn't matter.

Around this time by tomorrow, I would run away and start anew, living my life freely. It was the only thing that kept me going and now, it was closer than ever.

Just as I was about to collapse onto my bed, a knock rang at the door. My brows furrowed. Nobody would be here, especially at this time, unless…

I moved to open the door and my thoughts were confirmed.

Zara was standing at my doorway, a drink in her hand.

“What do you want?” I asked, guardedly.

The only person I knew that would ever approach me personally was Zara, meaning that she had ulterior motives.

But instead of saying them, she only smiled

“I brought you something from the table,” Zara said, “Devon wouldn't let you come to the dining table, so I thought I'd bring it to you.”

I glanced warily. Her smile was deceitfully sweet and innocent but I knew better.

“Be serious Zara. You aren't even supposed to be here. You're supposed to be meeting with Alpha Marcel-”

“Exactly and I left all the way to see you. Don't be so ungrateful Kayla.” She said, pushing the glass to my hand.

“Come on, drink up. Don't let my hard work go to waste.”

I hesitated, but eventually gave in.

Passing the glass back to her I waited for her to leave, but she simply stood there. It was as if she was…waiting for something.

“What are you-” before I could finish a wave of dizziness smaller into me. Suddenly my eyes felt heavy in a way I couldn't control.

What had she…given me?

In the blurry haze I saw her smile widen. Her voice, fragmented, rang in my ears.

“Goodnight, sister.”

That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

…

When I came to, I found myself blinking against the sunlight. I looked around, trying to get my bearings when I halted.

His face…I recognised that face.

It hit me with a start. I was in bed, naked.

And the man beside me was none other than the Alpha of the Kingston Pack, Marcel.