My Twin Sister Became His Second Luna Chapter 02

My Twin Sister Became His Second Luna Chapter 02

Kaelen walked in with Nerys.

His arm was wrapped protectively around her waist, the way a wolf held his mate. I knew that gesture better than anyone.

Nerys deliberately pressed closer to him.

“Sister, don’t blame Kaelen. It’s all my fault.”

Kaelen helped her onto the sofa beside the fireplace. His ice-blue eyes swept over my face.

“Nerissa, don’t make a scene. Nerys has a weak heart. She can’t handle your anger. I meant to explain after the ceremony. When I met her, I realized who I truly loved. I’ve already filed with the Crestwood council to establish a second Luna seat. The elders didn’t object.”

“What are you talking about?”

My voice sounded so calm I barely recognized it.

“Three years ago at the ball, you were the one who crossed the room and came to me. For the past six months, I’ve been planning the mate ceremony. You told me you loved me.”

“You misunderstood.” Nerys leaned against his shoulder, a smug smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “The ceremony the day after tomorrow was for me. Mom and Dad saw how happy you were planning everything and couldn’t bear to ruin it for you, so they let you keep going. Who knew you’d take it so seriously?”

I looked at my parents, then at Kaelen.

Not one of them denied it.

“So for the past six months, I’ve been reviewing the ceremony plans, arranging guest accommodations, and decorating the venue for you?”

“Yep.” Nerys blinked. “You’re the one who’s good at this stuff, anyway.”

“You made this decision six months ago, and not one of you told me?”

My voice finally shook.

“Nerissa, calm down.” Mother stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. “We were doing it for your sake. You’d already put so much effort into everything. If we’d suddenly told you the truth, you’d have fallen apart. And Nerys isn’t well. Someone had to handle all these complicated preparations.”

Her voice was as gentle as it had been whenever she’d coaxed me into signing a declaration, but her words crushed six months of hope in an instant.

I looked at Kaelen.

“Why didn’t you tell me yourself?”

He finally met my eyes. A trace of helplessness flickered across his face.

“I gave you plenty of hints.”

Halfway through his answer, I suddenly remembered.

I’d asked whether Wolf Hall should be decorated with silver birch branches or white roses. He’d said, “Ask Nerys what she likes.”

I’d asked whether the ceremonial gown should be satin or chiffon. He’d said, “Leave extra room around your sister’s measurements.”

I’d asked whose wolf crest should be carved into the Moon Goddess’s altar. He’d said, “Nerys has better taste. Let her decide.”

I’d thought he was simply trying to make his future sister-in-law happy. All along, he’d been perfectly content to let me plan their mate ceremony for them.

“I told you plenty of times.” Kaelen frowned as though I were the one being unreasonable.

My father impatiently pushed the papers closer.

“It’s clear now. Sign it. If you hadn’t kept assuming you’d be the only Luna, we wouldn’t have wasted all this time explaining it to you.”

So in my father’s eyes, falling in love with Kaelen, taking on Luna duties early, and looking forward to my future had all been nothing but a waste of time.

Nerys pouted.

“If you feel cheated, I can pay you. We’ll settle what I owe you for planning the ceremony at a professional event planner’s rate. Happy now?”

She tightened her hold on Kaelen’s arm and looked up at him. “You’ll always take care of me, right?”

Kaelen looked down at her, his gaze softening.

“Of course. I’ll never let you suffer.”

Three years ago, he’d held my hand and said those exact same words.

My throat tightened, and I instinctively reached for the tea on the table.

Before my fingers touched the rim, Kaelen caught my wrist.

“Don’t drink that.”

Chamomile floated in the cup. I was severely allergic to it. At best, it left me covered in hives. At worst, it triggered breathing spasms in my wolf.

“Who made it?” I asked.

Nerys answered lazily, “Me. If you don’t like it, don’t drink it. Nobody’s forcing you.”

Father frowned. “She hardly ever makes tea for everyone. Do you have to criticize that, too?”

All my life, Mother had made elderberry syrup for Nerys before every change of season, and whenever Father traveled to another Pack for negotiations, he’d bring her limited-edition snow globes.

They knew her favorite colors, her preferred scents, even what kind of meat her wolf would eat before the full moon.

I used to think they simply didn’t know how to show they cared.

Now I understood. They simply didn’t want to care about me.

“You all seem to have forgotten that I’m allergic to chamomile.”

The air went still.

Nerys was the first to roll her eyes.

“Then don’t drink it. It’s not a big deal. Do you really have to announce it just to get attention?”

Mother immediately cut in. “Nerissa, don’t ruin the mood. Your sister finally came home. We should be able to talk like a family.”

Kaelen’s tone was gentle, as if he were soothing a difficult stranger.

“If you’re worried you won’t find a suitable political match later, I can vet the other party for you. You don’t have to get attention this way.”

I looked at the happy family in front of me and suddenly felt exhausted.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll sign.”

The pen scratched across the parchment. I had just agreed to let Nerys take my place as Luna. With my own hand, I ended the last of my hope for them.