91 days

Mia POV

"Due to the severity of the accident, Miss Maya has been placed in a coma to allow her body recover. Please know that we're doing everything possible to support her recovery"

The doctor's words cut through me like a knife as I stared at the hospital bed, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

 My twin sister, Maya, laid unmoving on the bed, her fragile body swallowed by the sterile white sheets. The beeping of the machines surrounding her bed was the only sound that broke the silence, a constant reminder of her fragile state.

No, this can't be happening.

"Maya"

I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

I turned to mom and her eyes were also red.

"There has to be something"

She pleaded, turning towards the doctor.

"We've done everything Mrs Moonstone. It's up to Maya now"

He whispered, his sympathetic gaze only deepening her agony and more tears fell from Mom's eyes.

"Maya"

She whispered as she grasped Maya's limp hand.

"Maya"

Her voice cracked.

She turned towards dad who hasn't uttered a word since the doctor delivered the devasting news and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she continued sobbing.

"Shhh, we'll get through this"

He whispered. But his voice trembled, revealing his own fear.

Dad's eyes met mine and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of something else. Disdain, guilt or maybe even resignation.

But it was quickly replaced by desperation.

Mom’s sobs slowly subsided and she looked at dad with tears in her eyes. “We have to do something, Elijah”

Her voice came out in shaky whispers.

“We can’t just sit her and wait”

Dad’s face twisted in anguish and he pulled mom closer. “We’ll do everything we can, Sarah. I promise”

I felt a lump form in my throat as I watched my parents cling to each other. They were trying to be strong but I could see the fear and uncertainty etched on their faces.

 The machines surrounding Maya’s bed beeped steadily, a reminder that time was running out.

I slowly took a step forward, my heart heavy with emotion.

“Maya” I whispered, my voice cracking.

“Please come back to us”

As I stood there, a sense of helplessness washed over me. I felt like I was loosing my sister, my twin and the thought was unbearable.

Suddenly, mom’s voice cut through the silence.

“Oh my God, Elijah. The wedding… Maya’s wedding…”

She gasped, more tears falling from her face.

“Her wedding’s tomorrow, what are we going to do?”

Dad’s face went pale and he looked like he’d been punched in the gut.

“I’ll take care of it”

He replied, his voice low and rough but I knew that wasn’t possible. The wedding was tomorrow and Maya was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life.

Dad’s words were empty and we all knew it.

The wedding was a crucial alliance between our pack and Alpha Logan’s pack. It was a marriage that would secure our pack’s future, provide us with the protection and resources we desperately needed.

Without the wedding, our pack would be left vulnerable, open to attacks from bigger packs and without the support of Alpha Logan’s powerful pack.

 I could see the weight of that responsibility bearing down on Dad’s shoulders, I knew how important this marriage was to him.

“We can’t just cancel the wedding”

Mom said, her voice shaking. “Alpha Logan will never agree to do that. He needs this alliance as much as we do”

Dad’s eyes met mine and I saw a flash of desperation in them. He knew that the wedding was crucial, not just for our  pack’s future but for our very survival.

“We’ll find a way to make it work”

He muttered, his voice firm. “ we can’t afford to cancel the wedding”

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized what dad was implying. He was looking at me, his eyes pleading with me to understand.

“No”

Mom whispered, her eyes wide with horror. “You can’t be thinking of… of Mia taking Maya’s place”

Dad face twisted in anguish but he nodded.

“It’s the only way Sarah” he whispered, turning to me.

“Mia, you have to understand… this is the only way to save our pack”

Tears fell from my eyes as I shook my head, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut

Me, take Maya’s place? Marry Alpha Logan? The thought was unbearable.

“No”

My voice came out in whispers as I took some steps back.

The thought of marrying Alpha Logan, of taking Maya’s place was too much to bear.

“No”

I repeated.

“Mia please”

Dad’s eyes were pleading with me, begging me to understand.

“This is the only way Mia, the only way to save the pack”

He reminded, making more tears fell from my eyes.

Why did I have to carry such a burden?

I felt like I was being torn apart. On one hand, I couldn’t beat the thought of Marrying Alpha Logan and on the other hand, I knew I had to do it. It was the only way to save our pack.

I looked at mom, hoping she would say something, anything, to make this all go away but she just shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

Dad’s eyes never left mine.

“Mia please” he whispered. “You’re our only hope”

I felt a wave of despair wash over me. Why did it have to be me? Why did I have to be the one to sacrifice my happiness, my freedom?

A lump formed in my throat as I looked at dad and his face softened as he reached out to take my hand.

“The doctors said she’ll be in a coma for about three months, but after that, she should make a full recovery”

He revealed and I felt a glimmer of hope hearing his words. Maybe I could just pretend to be Maya for a little while, until she woke up and took her rightful place.

“All you have to do Mia, is to marry Alpha Logan and pretend to be Maya for 91 days. That’s it. Just 91 days and then Maya will wake up and everything will go back to normal “

He explained and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

91 days. I could do that.

I could pretend to be Maya for 91 days, if it meant saving our pack.

I took a deep breath and nodded, trying to prepare myself for what was to come.

“I’ll do it”

I whispered, my voice firm.

“I’ll marry Alpha Logan and pretend to be Maya for 91 days”