True Luna

ALEXIS'S POV

The days that followed after Mandy’s arrival were a series of nightmares I couldn’t wake up from.

Mandy moved into the mansion the very next morning and within hours, the entire atmosphere changed. Helena and the sisters treated her like a precious jewel that had finally been delivered to them.

They laughed with her, hugged her, and showered her with compliments. Meanwhile, I became even more invisible.

The first thing Helena did that morning was lead Mandy into the dining room with a smile I had never once received from her in three years.

“Sit here, sweetheart,” she said warmly while pulling out a chair for Mandy herself. “You shouldn’t be stressing yourself in your condition.”

Clarissa immediately pushed the juice closer to Mandy. “Do you want oranges or cranberries? The baby might prefer one.”

“Oh my God,” Olivia gasped dramatically. “She’s literally glowing. Brother’s real mate is actually so pretty.”

Denise smirked at me over her cup. “Not everyone can relate.”

Mandy laughed softly. “You girls are too sweet.”

“You deserve it,” Helena replied immediately. “A woman carrying the true heir of this family should be pampered properly.”

Clarissa glanced at my stomach and scoffed. “Meanwhile some people have been here for years and still don’t look worthy of the Lecrae name.”

I finally looked up from my plate. “If insults are the only thing served at this table every morning, at least let me finish eating first.”

The room went quiet for a minute, then Olivia rolled her eyes dramatically. “See? Pregnancy made her mouth too bold.”

“Careful,” Helena said coldly. “An Omega should know her limits.”

I gave a small nod and continued eating quietly. “And respect should go both ways.”

Clarissa let out a dry laugh. “You really think you’re in a position to talk back?”

Before I could respond, Dyson walked in and immediately all their expressions changed.

“Brother,” Olivia chirped sweetly. “Good morning.”

Dyson barely noticed the tension as he took his seat beside Mandy, he didn’t even see where I sat. “Mandy, did you take the vitamins the doctor prescribed?” he asked while placing food onto her plate carefully.

“Yes,” she replied softly.

“And the nausea?”

“It’s better now.”

“Good.”

The gentle touch to his voice nearly sent me spiraling. Because once upon a time, it used to belong to me.

Later that afternoon, when I went to the living room to rest, I found Mandy already curled up on the couch that used to be my favorite spot, her head resting on Dyson’s shoulder while he worked on his laptop. She gave me a small smirk the moment Dyson looked away.

“Oh,” Mandy said innocently. “Were you coming here?”

I stayed quiet.

Dyson finally looked up briefly. “Alexis, can you ask the kitchen to make Mandy some tea? She’s been craving ginger lately.”

My lips parted slightly, he hadn’t asked me for once how I was feeling that day. Not once. “Sure,” I whispered.

Mandy’s smirk widened slightly as I turned away. Every corner I turned, she was there, taking over my life and replacing me slowly.

One evening, I was in the kitchen preparing a light snack when Mandy walked in. She leaned against the counter, rubbing her perfectly round baby bump.

“You know,” she said quietly, “it’s actually quite sad watching you waddle around like this. Dyson used to talk about how graceful you were. Now look at you… you’re just a bloated mess. How do you even stand looking at yourself in the mirror?”

My hands tightened around the glass I was holding, but I said nothing and she stepped closer. “Do you know what the funniest part is?”

I stayed silent.

“He comes to my room every night now.” Her lips curved slowly. “And trust me, he doesn’t look at me the way he looks at you.”

Mandy tilted her head. “Honestly Alexis, if I looked like you, I would hide from mirrors.”

I slowly set the glass down before it could break in my hand. “Good thing you don’t then.”

Her smile faded slightly.

“You really think he still wants you?” she asked mockingly. “Look at yourself properly. You’re swollen everywhere, constantly emotional, always tired. Dyson is an Alpha, did you seriously think he would stay satisfied with… this?”

I finally looked at her directly. “Funny,” I said quietly. “Because you seem more obsessed with my appearance than your own relationship.”

Her face changed instantly and she leaned in closer. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I’ll take good care of him. A real Luna should, after all.”

“And yet,” I replied softly, “you still keep trying to compete with his wife.”

For a second her smug expression faded completely. The moment footsteps sounded outside the kitchen, Mandy immediately stepped back and made her expression look gentle.

“Alexis,” she said sweetly as Dyson entered. “I was just telling her not to stress herself too much.”

Dyson nodded absentmindedly. “Good.”

That was it, he couldn’t even show a bit of concern.

I kept telling myself that Dyson would see what was happening. He would notice how they were treating me, he would remember that I was the one who stood by him for three years. That I helped build his company, that I loved him more than anything.

But he didn’t notice.

He was completely distracted by the mate bond and Mandy’s pregnancy. He came home earlier these days, but it was never for me. It was for her.

He would rub her belly, talk to the baby, and smile in a way he hadn’t smiled at me in months. Whenever I tried to get close to him, he seemed irritated.

One evening during dinner, Mandy suddenly frowned while touching her stomach. “The baby’s kicking a lot tonight,” she murmured.

Dyson’s entire expression became excited instantly. “Really?”

She nodded with a small smile. Without hesitation, he leaned down and pressed his hand against her stomach. “There you are, little one,” he murmured warmly.

His sisters practically melted at the sight. “Aww,” Olivia squealed. “They already look like a proper family.”

Clarissa smirked at me. “Unlike some people who always look miserable.”

I let out a quiet breath. “It’s hard to smile around people who enjoy hurting others.”

Clarissa laughed dryly. “Oh please, here she goes again.”

Denise rolled her eyes. “Maybe if you stopped acting pitiful all the time, people would tolerate you more.”

“Tolerate?” I repeated softly.

Helena dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Don’t start another scene during dinner.”

I looked at Dyson. “Am I the one starting scenes?”

He didn’t answer and didn’t bother correct them, not even once and his sisters kept making sure I never forgot how unwanted I was.

Still, I held on. Because I loved him. Because I kept hoping he would wake up one day and choose me again.