Chapter 24: Sister

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*Chapter 24: Sister*

The wedding was over.

Kieran and I had exactly 3 hours of peace.

3 hours of dancing, cake, and him calling me "Mrs. Blackwood" until I slapped him.

Then the doors to our room burst open.

Gamma.

Pale. Shaking.

“Luna. Alpha. You need to come. Now.”

Kieran was already pulling on his shirt. “What happened?”

“It’s Mae.”

My heart stopped.

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She was in the infirmary.

Bandaged. Bruised. One eye swollen shut.

And she was alone.

When she saw me, she tried to sit up. Winced.

“Don’t,” I said. Rushing to her side. “Don’t move.”

Kieran stood behind me. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.

Mae looked at him. Then at me. Then at the gold on my neck.

She laughed. Bitter. “Guess you won.”

“What happened to you?” I asked. Ignoring the jab.

Mae went quiet.

Finally: “Rafe.”

Kieran went still. “What about him?”

“He found out I didn’t kill you.” Mae’s voice broke. “He said I was disloyal. To the Shadow Moon Pack.” She pulled her sleeve up. 

Bruises. Bite marks. Burn marks.

I gasped.

“He said if I wanted to be a real Luna, I had to prove it.” Mae looked at me. Tears in her good eye. “By bringing him your head.”

The room went cold.

Kieran stepped forward. “Where is he?”

“Coming,” Mae whispered. “With 50 wolves. They’re 2 hours out.”

Silence.

Kieran looked at me. “We need to prep defenses.”

I wasn’t listening.

I was looking at my sister. 

My sister who hated me.

My sister who was beaten for me.

“Why did you come here?” I asked her. Quiet.

Mae scoffed. “Because I had nowhere else to go, okay? Because you’re the only family I have left!”

The word hit me in the chest.

Family.

I took her hand. The one without IVs.

“It’s okay,” I said.

Mae jerked back. “Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare pity me.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I’m forgiving you.”

Mae stared at me. “What?”

“For everything. For the bullying. For Rafe. For the texts.” I squeezed her hand. “I forgive you.”

Kieran made a sound behind me.

“You’re insane,” Mae whispered. “After everything I did—”

“You’re my sister.” I cut her off. “And you’re hurt. And you came to me.”

The gold on my neck pulsed.

Mae started crying. Ugly, messy crying. Like she hadn’t in years.

“I don’t deserve it,” she sobbed. “I tried to ruin you.”

“I know,” I said. Brushing hair from her face. “And I’m still here.”

Kieran came and knelt on her other side. 

Mae flinched.

“Don’t,” Kieran said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Mae looked at him, suspicious.

Kieran sighed. “Look. I was an ass to you too. Rejecting you. Ignoring you. I’m sorry.”

Mae blinked. Like she didn’t know what to do with that.

Outside, a howl went up.

Then another.

Gamma burst in. “They’re here. 20 minutes early.”

Kieran stood instantly. Alpha mode.

“Get her somewhere safe,” he told me. “I’ll handle this.”

“No.” I stood too. The gold on my neck shining. “We handle this. Together.”

Kieran looked at me. Proud. Scared. “You’re sure?”

I looked at Mae in the bed. Bruised. Broken.

Then at the door. Where Rafe was coming.

“Yes,” I said. “Because I’m not just a Luna. I’m a sister.”

Mae grabbed my hand. Tight.

“Don’t die for me,” she whispered.

“I won’t,” I said. “We’re not dying. Not anymore.”

The bond between Kieran and I flared gold.

Time to end this.

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*END OF CHAPTER 24*