Lyra threw the metal cup against the cell door, where it crashed with a pleasing clang.
"Let me out!" she yelled, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "I've done nothing wrong!"
No answer came. The guards had ignored her for hours. She slumped down on the hard bench, tiredness finally catching up to her. Sleep had been impossible after Narek's visit and his shocking news about Elara's skills.
Sunlight streamed through the tiny window. Morning had come, but no one had brought her food or water. Her stomach growled painfully.
The sound of footsteps made her sit up straight. The door swung open, and a young woman stepped inside, bringing a tray.
"Breakfast," the woman said, putting the tray on the bench. She glanced nervously at Lyra. "The Alpha said you need to eat."
"How kind of him," Lyra whispered, eyeing the bread and water. "Where is he? Where's Elara?"
The woman backed toward the door. "They're meeting with the elders. I'm not supposed to talk to you."
"Wait!" Lyra called, but the woman slipped out, locking the door behind her.
Lyra picked at the bread, her mind running. Meeting with the leaders without her? They were probably choosing her fate right now, and she wasn't even allowed to speak for herself.
Hours crawled by. Lyra paced the small cell, counting steps to keep her mind busy. Ten steps from wall to wall. Six steps from bench to door. Over and over until she thought she might scream.
Finally, the lock clicked again. Lyra whirled around, expecting another helper with food. Instead, Sera, the pack healer, enters.
"Come with me," the older woman said kindly. "The Alpha has requested your presence."
"Now he wants to see me?" Lyra asked bitterly, but she followed Sera out of the cell.
Two guards fell into step behind them as they climbed the stairs. Sera led her through the pack house to a large room where several older wolves sat in a circle with Narek standing in the center. Elara was nowhere to be seen.
"Lyra," Narek said, his voice flat. "The elders have questions for you."
An elderly woman with sharp eyes motioned for Lyra to step forward. "Show us your mark, child."
Lyra held out her wrist, revealing the crescent moon with three stars and a crown.
The elders murmured among themselves. One of them, an old man with a white beard, shook his head.
"It is identical," he said. "The Moon Goddess has marked them both."
"Impossible," another elder countered. "There can only be one true Luna."
"What does this mean?" Lyra asked, looking at Narek.
His face stayed cold. "It means the prophecy is coming true. I must choose."
"Choose what?" Lyra asked.
"Which one of you will be Luna," Narek answered.
The old woman stood up, leaning on a wooden staff. "We have consulted the ancient texts. This has happened only once before, centuries ago. Twin sisters, both marked as mate to the Alpha."
"What happened then?" Lyra asked, a feeling of dread filling her.
The elder's eyes darkened. "War. The pack was torn apart by those who supported one sister and those who supported the other. In the end, both sisters died, and the pack was destroyed."
Silence fell over the room. Lyra felt cold all over.
"We cannot allow that to happen to the Silver Moon Pack," Narek said strongly. "Which is why I've already made my decision."
The elders looked shocked. "Without the traditional testing?" one asked.
"I've known Elara my whole life," Narek said. "She is my choice. She will be my Luna in truth."
Lyra shouldn't have felt hurt by his words. She didn't even want to be his Luna. But the tie between them throbbed painfully at his rejection.
"And what about me?" she asked, raising her head. "Am I to be locked up forever?"
Narek met her eyes for the first time. "No. You will be released from the cell."
Relief rushed through her until he continued.
"You will be given a room in the pack house. You will attend official functions as my second mate. You will be Luna in name only." His voice dropped, low and cold. "Don't expect anything else from me."
Anger burned through Lyra's blood. "And if I refuse? If I choose to leave?"
"You can't leave," Narek said simply. "The mate bond won't allow it. You'd die before you reached the territory borders."
Lyra knew he was right. Even now, standing this close to him made her wolf settle despite her human anger. The thought of leaving made her physically ill.
"This is kidnapping," she said through clenched teeth.
"This is fate," he amended. "The Moon Goddess has bound us together, whether we like it or not."
The elders stood, seemingly satisfied with Narek's decision. They filed out of the room until only Sera remained with Narek and Lyra.
"Alpha," Sera said softly, "perhaps the girl should rest before tonight's ceremony."
"Ceremony?" Lyra asked.
"The official presentation of the Luna to the pack," Narek stated. "Both of you will be presented, though only Elara will wear the Luna's crown."
Humiliation burned Lyra's cheeks. She would be presented in front of the entire pack as the rejected mate.
"Follow me," Sera said, touching Lyra's arm. "I'll show you to your room."
Numb with anger and hurt, Lyra let herself be led through the pack house to a small room on the second floor. It was simple but comfortable, with a bed, a desk, and a window facing the forest.
"It's not a cell," Sera said, trying to sound optimistic.
"It's still a prison," Lyra answered.
When Sera left, Lyra sank onto the bed, finally alone with her thoughts. How had her life changed so totally in just two days? First the mate mark, then finding Elara living, and now this—forced to live as Narek's second, unwanted mate.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thinking. Expecting Sera again, Lyra called, "Come in."
The door opened, and Elara stepped inside. She looked beautiful in a flowing blue dress, her silver-blonde hair arranged correctly.
"Sister," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I wanted to see how you were settling in."
Lyra stood up, instantly on guard. "What do you want, Elara?"
"To talk." Elara closed the door behind her. "We have so much to catch up on."
"Like how you let me believe you were dead for ten years?" Lyra asked angrily. "How you let Father blame me for your death?"
Elara's smile faltered. "That wasn't my choice, Lyra. Father took me away to protect me. He told me you'd forgotten about me."
"I never forgot," Lyra said, her voice breaking. "I blamed myself every day."
Something that might have been guilt flashed across Elara's face. "I'm sorry for that. But we can start fresh now, can't we? As sisters?"
Lyra wanted to believe her, but something felt wrong. "Why are you really here, Elara?"
Elara sighed, dropping her friendly act. "To warn you. Don't fight this, Lyra. Accept your place as second Luna. If you try to come between Narek and me..."
"You'll what?" Lyra asked.
Elara's eyes turned cold. "You don't want to find out. Narek said you may have powers like mine, but you don't know how to use them yet. I've had years to master mine."
"Are you threatening me?" Lyra asked in amazement.
"Just giving sisterly advice." Elara turned to leave, then stopped at the door. "Oh, and wear the green dress in the closet for tonight's ceremony. It will make your eyes look duller next to mine."
After Elara left, Lyra's legs gave out. She slid to the floor, shaking with anger and hurt. Her twin sister was living but clearly saw her as competition, not family.
A tiny movement at the window caught her eye. A small piece of paper had been slipped under the frame. Cautiously, Lyra recovered it and unfolded it.
The message was short but made her heart race:
Not all in the pack support Elara. Meet me at midnight by the old oak. I can help you leave before the ceremony. Trust no one, especially your sister. She isn't what she seems.
Lyra stared at the note, hope and fear fighting within her. Who was D? Could she trust them? Or was this another trap?
One thing was certain: she couldn't stay here, presented as Narek's rejected mate while Elara gloated. But escape meant rejecting the mate bond—a pain that might kill her.
The choice was impossible. Yet as the sun began to set, sending long shadows across her new prison, Lyra knew what she had to do.
She would rather risk death than live without honor.