Wrong Bride, True Luna

I knew that sleeping with my sister’s mate was the worst mistake of my life the moment I woke up next to Alpha Logan. But now, a year later, it’s even worse. Pregnant—I’m pregnant.

“Congratulations, Luna Katherine,” Dr. Morris says and the warm smile she flashes me makes me feel more anxious than ever. “You’re three months along and the pregnancy is progressing beautifully from what I can see. You and Alpha Logan must be thrilled.” 

All this time, I assumed the dizziness, fatigue and nausea were nothing but signs of a minor disease, perhaps a food poisoning that dragged out too long, or an allergic reaction to something I ate, but not this.

My violet eyes, hidden by the green contact lenses I’ve worn for a year now, burn with unshed tears. For the doctor, I probably look like an overwhelmed woman, savoring the happy news, but in reality, I’m dreading what comes next. 

With trembling hands, I grip the papers she handed me and my nails break through the page, sinking into the flesh of my palm to stop myself from screaming. 

The description of the test result blurs before my eyes, the words twist into new shapes and things I’m unable to read before they align again into that single, devastating truth: positive. 

I’m pregnant. Not a twisted joke of fate, but actual, real pregnancy. There’s a life growing within me, beating heart and all. 

“Luna Katherine? Are you okay?” Dr. Morris asks, a hint of panic lacing her soft voice and I want nothing but to laugh at her worry because she has no idea what I’m going through. 

“I feel great,” I force the lie over my lips along with a fake smile. “Thank you, Doctor.”

The words leave bitter aftertaste in my mouth, but I’ve become so used to the taste, it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve learned how to lie so convincingly that sometimes, I struggle to tell the truth from the lie myself. 

Getting up and heading for the door, I stop as I grip the door handle, then look at the Doctor over my shoulder. “Dr. Morris? Could you do me a favor and keep this as our secret? I would like to surprise Alpha Logan with the exciting news myself, but I need time to prepare and make it a special experience for him. It’s our first pup, after all.” 

The Doctor beams at me like I just handed her over something precious, not asked her to keep her mouth shut. “Of course, Luna Katherine, my lips are sealed.” 

I nod and leave the doctor’s office, reminding myself the truth before I can forget who I am. 

I’m not Katherine Bennet, the elder sister and the apple of the eyes of my parents and my husband. I’m not the bold, beautiful, talented and envied daughter of Ronan Bennett, the head warrior of Ravencrest Pack.

I am nothing but a cheap copy of Kathrine. I’m Amelia Bennet, her twin sister, who learned a long time ago that remaining unseen and unheard is safer. 

Stepping out of the hospital building, I crumple the piece of paper in my hand, then force it into the pocket of my coat. This stays a secret until I figure out what to do about this pregnancy before the news spreads. 

I feel completely lost and hopeless. My life is a mess as it is, adding an innocent baby to the mix is absolutely cruel from fate. I wonder if the Moon Goddess truly exists and if she does, if my suffering grants her some weird sense of satisfaction. 

Dwelling on these questions won’t bring me anywhere, so I pull myself back together and head back home before Logan notices my absence and loses his temper again. 

When I return, I breathe out a sigh of relief once I see that he hasn’t returned yet. Only the maid, Maria, is around, already preparing for the dinner. 

As always, I plaster on a gentle smile and enter the kitchen, placing a hand on her shoulder. “That’s enough for today, Maria. Head home, rest, I’ll finish cooking for the Alpha myself.”

“Luna Katherine, you are an angel,” Maria beams and the way she says my sister’s name stings way more than it usually does. 

The moment the door closes behind Maria, I want to collapse and cry my heart out, but a disgrace like me has no right to give into her emotions, so I return to the kitchen and start cooking. 

“Should I tell Logan about it?” I whisper to myself, thinking back to how this nightmare began.

That night, Katherine had forced me to pretend to be her for a date with Logan. She’d met a hot guy from a neighboring pack earlier and decided she’d rather spend her evening with him, not Logan.

I’d hated how easily she discarded him, as if he meant nothing, especially when I’d secretly loved him for years. But afraid she’d make good on her threats, lie to everyone, and get me punished by our parents — or worse, banished from the pack when she becomes Luna, I agreed.

“He won’t notice a thing,” she told me as she adjusted her breasts in the top, then met my eyes in the mirror. “Don’t forget the contacts and don’t screw this up,” she snarled and left. 

Just like Katherine predicted, Logan didn’t suspect anything. We talked, laughed and drank way too much... and then, he kissed me. One thing led to another, and the next morning, I woke up with his mark. One drunken mistake was what turned my world upside down. 

Logan blamed me, my family despised me, and Katherine left the pack in fury. With their engagement already public, I had no choice—I became his substitute bride.

“He’s been so distant since our marriage. What if the news about him becoming a father changes everything and Logan learns to see me in a different light? Maybe this is the answer to my prayers—the change that’s needed to separate me from the shadow of my sister?” 

I cling to that fragile spark as I plate the dinner, just then, the front door bursts open with such strength, the plate slips from my hand and shatters at my feet. 

“Katherine’s mother,” Logan growls, glaring at me like he wishes he could set me on fire with his eyes alone. And of course, again, it’s Katherine’s mother, nobody cares that she’s my mom too. “She’s in the hospital, critical condition. Grab your shit and follow me if you want to see her again, her heart is failing and it’s your fucking fault!”