The Luna's Lie

Chapter 2

Kayla

My heart raced even as panic from the realization pierced my foggy mind.

A wave of dizziness washed over me as I sat up, making me unsteady before quickly fading.

The room was unfamiliar, and the bed massive, but I could easily recognise it as being inside the pack house. As the lethargy slipped away, the panic intensified in my chest.

A fresh soreness filled my body, making my blood turn cold. It wasn't hard to piece it together, especially paired with the blood-stained sheets.

I'd lost my virginity. To Marcel.

A feeling of despair wracked up my mind.

What happened? How did I get here?

‘How the hell could this happen?!’

Clutching my head, I tried to remember, but my memories were hazy. The last thing I recalled was being in my room… Zara and then...nothing.

‘Zara.’

It hit me like a ton of bricks. The drink she gave me, the instant dizziness and her words.

I'd been drugged. Zara slipped something into the drink she gave me. But it didn't explain why?

Why was I here?!

I could clearly recall how much Devon and Winter had gushed about it. Marcel had come to see Zara, claiming for an alliance specifically with her. It was why he had travelled here, why they were so ecstatic. It was all for Zara.

But now, I was the one in his bed.

What had Zara done!?

Zara had set me up, putting me in a compromising position once again.

But this time, I didn't know how to escape.

A slight shift made my heart sink. I had been so focused on getting my head straight that I'd ignored the other person next to me.

Marcel…he was waking up.

My heart skipped a beat as he turned to face me. I was stricken, unable to avoid his eyes.

Yet as his gaze met mine a new feeling coursed through me, like lightning sparking up my veins.

‘Mate,’

His eyes seemed to widen at the realisation, but

Mates. We were mates.

Everything was still for a moment, every second seemingly lasting an eternity as I stared at him, my heart racing for a completely different reason.

Suddenly, his gaze narrowed, breaking the serene stillness. Marcel's gaze pierced through me, and I knew he'd deciphered everything.

“You're not my wife.” he said, breaking the silence,

I swallowed thickly, my lips trembling.

“No.” I said instinctively, the truth a pinprick in my chest. He already saw Zara as his Luna and everyone around me celebrated and praised in anticipation of their union. Calling them soulmates.

Apparently not.

“But I am your mate,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marcel's laughter was cruel, striking me like a slap to the face.

“I have no need for a mate like you.” he sneered,

Tears bit into my eyes at his words. Blinking frantically I remained stuck in place as his mocking look transformed into a sneer.

“You deceived me.” he said, and his implications were clear. Panic reignited. He thought I had orchestrated this?

I frantically shook my head. I didn't know about this. I had to explain…

“No. I -”

“Leave my room. Now. Before I kill you.” he growled, cutting me off. Fear gripped me. It was clear he wasn't going to listen to me.

No matter who it was, it was always the same.

A hollow ache filled my chest at the blatant rejection, but I fought it back. No matter how this started, it would be forgotten once I had my freedom. What I needed to do was leave.

Slipping out of the bed despite my soreness I gathered my clothes, still in tears and shock, and made my way to the door.

Only to find Devon on the other side.

My heart sank, at the sight of my brother. There was no doubt what he was going to assume. This time, I had to explain to him.

“Alpha Devon, i-”

“I see…” he nodded, eyes following the door behind me,

“It seems that Alpha Marcel has ruined your honour. As a result, the betrothal to Zara will be canceled and given to you instead.”

I stood stunned, as Devon's words hung in the air. Betrothal?

“Betrothal…what?”

As the door shut behind me, suddenly all veneers of calmness faded away. Devon's expression turned cold as he pulled me away from the door.

“You're coming with me,” he growled, leading me out of Marcel's chambers.

“You selfish, reckless girl,” he spat. “You've ruined everything. Zara and Marcel were betrothed last night, and now thanks to your actions, he has no choice but to marry you instead.”

It clicked into place. Zara was supposed to marry Marcel.

“No. I didn't intend for this to happen. I don't even know what happened. I…Zara-”

“Enough! Shut up, Kayla. Not. Another. Word." he warned, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Keep your name out of your mouth. Zara has been nothing but Kind and a blessed member of this family. And you? You're nothing but a curse.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut, and he sneered,

“Now go and change. I have to fix the mess you caused.”

With that, he turned and left me standing there, feeling stunned. Sorrow wracked me.

“Oh dear Kayla,”

I tensed the moment I heard her voice, spinning around to see her. Zara moved towards me on the other end of the hallway, her expression innocently sad as she took my arm.

“Let's get you cleaned up and changed, hm?” she said softly.

I felt a surge of apprehension as I followed Zara, but with Devon's praise for her still ringing in my ears, I had no choice but to go along.

As soon as we were alone in my room, Zara's expression changed. She was smiling, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“My gosh. That was spectacular!” She giggled falling onto my bed. Disbelief filled me. Just like all the other times, she looked far from remorseful.

Unlike the other times, this was truly the last straw.

‘A blessed member of this family?’

“Zara, what's going on?!” I demanded. “You drugged me and did this. Why?”

Zara looked far from affected. Instead, her grin grew wider.

"Oh, Kayla,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You have no idea what's been going on. You saved me.”

“Marcel and I were betrothed to marry today,” she explained. “But I can't marry him. Leaving him would mean leaving Mason.”

I flinched at that name. Mason had been Zara's boyfriend for years ever since she was 15 years old. Even back then, I never felt comfortable with him but she stayed with him.

I would have thought that she had broken up with him in anticipation of Marcel's coming. I was so sure she did when he stopped coming.

But apparently not.

“I love him so much, I can't bear the thought of spending my life with someone else.” She smirked,

“So I told Devon and he came up with a plan. He would make sure that Marcel and I didn't get married, and I would be free to be with Mason.”