CALANTHAI was sitting on the edge of my bed while the elder physician ran his usual checks—taking my temperature, inspecting my eyes, drawing a little blood. It was the third day in a row he was doing this, always performing the same set of tests like he was trying to confirm something over and over again.I watched him as he began packing up his tools into his leather case. “What’s going on?” I asked, curiosity rising in my chest. “Is there something wrong with me?”He paused slightly, then gave a soft chuckle. “Oh, nothing to worry about, My Luna,” he said, glancing up at me while still tucking things into his bag. His eyes were sparkling with what looked like joy. A faint smile curled at the corners of his lips. “If anything, it’s good news.”“Good news?” I leaned forward a little, my heart thumping. I moved to the very edge of the bed so I could hear him better. For some reason, I felt nervous.He finally stopped packing, straightened a little, and looked directly into my eyes.
CROSSI stood there, watching helplessly as Nyx stuffed her things into her bag, barely able to see through the tears streaming down her face. She was crying so hard her body trembled with each sob, and yet she kept packing, as if finishing this one act could make all the pain disappear.I wanted to help her. Wanted to hold her. But my hands felt useless. My voice had already tried—again and again—but she wouldn’t listen. She wouldn’t even look at me.Just a few hours ago, before we had picked up her things from her aunt’s place, we made promises to each other and made plans. Now all of that was in ruins, lying somewhere in the ashes of the truth we never saw coming.The truth that Nyx’s mother… was also mine.So that was it. We were half-siblings.The gods really didn’t have a better way to punish me, did they?I stood still, aching all over, as Nyx zipped up her bag and dragged it toward the door. She didn’t say a word. Just brushed past me like she was leaving my apartment—and my l
LYSANDRA“Wh-Who are you?” I asked, still gasping for air as the maid crouched beside me, her arms reaching out to help.“My name is Rose. I work here, Miss,” she said softly, slipping one hand behind my neck for support while the other steadied me by the waist.My gaze flicked to Hera’s unconscious body on the floor. She had been so unnaturally strong, yet a tray had knocked her out cold? That was quite strange.I turned back to Rose, who was now guiding me away. My confusion shifted into suspicion.“I’ve never seen you here before.” I said carefully, studying her. Her skin was smooth, her hands delicate, her scent like wildflowers in bloom. Maids didn’t smell like summer. They smelled like bleach or kitchen smoke.“Maybe because I’m new.” She answered with a light chuckle. But I stopped walking, and planted my feet to the ground. So did she.She looked into my eyes, waiting.“You’re not a maid,” I said, swallowing deeply. “So how about you tell me who the hell you really are before
LYSANDRAI hadn’t been able to sleep properly since my conversation with Calantha at the packhouse. No matter how hard I tried to push her words out of my mind, no matter how many times I told myself she was just lying to bring my mother down, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.What if she was telling the truth?Even the tiniest possibility was enough to keep my mind racing. What if, just what if, there was some truth to her story?But none of it made sense. The idea that the Moon Goddess was my real mother? That the woman who raised me had stolen me from her? That Calantha was my twin sister? It all sounded like something out of a fantasy book. Still… I couldn’t ignore the unease growing in my chest. So today, I came up with a plan. A small one. Something that would help me find the truth and finally put my heart at rest. I was sure Calantha was lying, but I needed to be certain.I sat alone in the living room, waiting. I already knew Mother had gone out to visit someone, so I stay
CROSS“I don’t think Aunt Diane’s even around.” Nyx said, glancing around as we stepped into the mansion. I followed behind her, my eyes sweeping the place. As much as I hated her aunt, I couldn’t deny she had good taste in art. Bold paintings, classy sculptures… That was probably the only decent thing about that woman.“I’ll just go grab my stuff from my room.” Nyx said, pausing to press a quick kiss to my lips. I caught the faint scent of her perfume before she turned and jogged up the stairs.Left alone in the living room, I slowly paced the floor, taking in the place. Expensive rugs, polished floors, and gold-framed photos lined the walls—most of them just her aunt, smiling like the narcissist that she was.Then, the main doors creaked open. I turned, and saw that it was Aunt Diane herself, stepping in with her usual confident strut. Following right behind her was another woman.The second woman looked... off. Disheveled hair, baggy clothes, and skin that looked a bit dry and wor
CROSSChief Priestess Tara’s cremation was held tonight in front of the grand hall at the town square. Almost everyone in the pack had shown up to pay their final respects. I stood quietly beside Nyx as Hera performed the last rites and lit the log coffin. My gaze drifted to Kaiden, who stood at the very front with Queen Adeline. Though he held his posture tall and proud like always, I saw the pain in his eyes—the same deep, familiar pain he’d once carried when he lost his sister. A pain he thought he could hide, but one I could always recognize.My heart ached for him. Tara was more than just a priestess. She was like a mother to him. Loyal, wise, and protective. Second only to Beta Bradley and Queen Adeline. I couldn’t begin to imagine how much her loss was hurting him now.As Kaiden stepped forward to scatter flowers over the flames, I caught the faint glint of tears in his eyes. Tears that no one else seemed to notice. The anger I carried for my father, for Ryker, for Hera, for t