Oneй
I tried everything–everything–to make my mate, Thorne Blackthorn, love me. But in the end, he loved my sister, Monica.
On our wedding day, he never showed. I stood there alone, humiliated, while the Blackthorn Pack and even my own, the Nightshade Pack, laughed at me. Of course they did. Everyone knew Thorne loved Monica. No one believed he’d actually go through with marrying me.” But what shattered me–what tore my soul apart–was that he married her instead. He didn’t just choose her. He marked her. My wolf howled in agony, the bond snapping like glass, cutting through us both.
Everyone adored Monica. My mate included. I was always second place–even to my own family. I was the eldest, sure, but I had a weak wolf, and to them, that made me less. My parents never missed a chance to remind me. Meanwhile, Monica? She had it all–their love, their praise, a powerful wolf, the affection of both packs… and my mate.
My hands trembled, heart in shards, tears threatening to spill as I stood there, drowning in humiliation. Elder Thomas Blackthorn, Thorne’s father, was furious–at them, not me. He silenced the crowd, comforted me, promised he’d deal with his son. He urged me to leave, to escape this mess and let him handle it.
But just as I turned to go, Thorne’s older brother–Alpha Lucas Blackthorn–stepped toward me.”
He was dressed in a beige suit, tall, handsome, those ocean–blue eyes piercing right through me. He looked like a prince from a dream. I froze as he reached out his hand, my breath catching.
“I won’t let you be shamed like this, Elira,” he said. “Marry me.”
Gasps echoed all around us. My eyes widened, stunned.§
“I’ve loved you in secret, Eli,” he confessed. “And I swear–I’ll take care of you and love you for the rest of my life.”
That day, I became his Luna.
And for five years, Lucas kept his word. He cherished me. Protected me. He healed me. I thought I’d never love again after Thorne, but slowly… I fell hard. Lucas became my everything.
Until the day I lost him.
He was killed in a rogue ambush on his way to the allies‘ pack to settle a conflict. The news wrecked me. I didn’t even know how to breathe anymore. On the day of his funeral, I wasn’t feeling well. I went to the pack doctor–and learned I was two months pregnant.”
With his pup.
Still in disbelief, I returned to the cemetery. That’s when I saw him–Thorne. Or rather, his back. He leaned against a car, smoking and talking to his cousin, unaware of my presence.
Then I heard it.
“This is crazy, Lucas. What if someone finds out you’re the one alive? That it was Thorne who died in the attack? What if Luna Monica or Luna Elira realize you’re pretending to be Thorne?”
I froze.”
That voice–Lucas.
He was alive.
And pretending to be his dead brother.
I couldn’t breathe. My knees nearly gave out. Tears blurred my vision. He lied to me. Betrayed me. Used me. All for.
Because they both loved her.}
I was nothing but a pawn in their twisted game.
1
I couldn’t bear it. I decided to terminate the pregnancy. It broke me, but I couldn’t bring his children into a world where they’d only remind me of the betrayal.}
After the procedure, I was weak, barely able to stand. That’s when he found me–Lucas, alive, still playing Thorne. He grabbed me, dragging me to the medical wing. Monica had lost too much blood due to miscarriage. She needed a transfusion.
And even though I was in pain, broken and bleeding, they force me to take my blood. Just to save her.
That was the last time.
The last time I’d ever let them use me, lie to me, treat me like I was nothing.
I was done.%
I went straight to Elder Thomas. He was in the library, reading a scroll. He looked up, surprised to see me, then rushed to embrace me. “Elder Thomas,” I whispered, voice shaking, “I’m leaving the pack. I don’t want to be Luna anymore.”
