LUNA CLARA
That night, sleep eluded me as my thoughts spiraled back to Odette—knowing she was close by, lurking just around the corner. The fear that she could repeat what she had done before—or worse, surpass it—gnawed at me.
A shiver ran down my spine as memories of her past cruelty resurfaced vividly.
— — —
Even as children, our parents noticed something unsettling about Odette. She carried an innate streak of jealousy and vengeance.
If I had something she desired, she would demand it for herself, throwing tantrums or resorting to threats if denied.
At first, our parents dismissed it as childish behavior. But as the years passed, her actions turned darker…
I still remember the time she poisoned my food with magic after I was recognized as the best student at our magic university.
On Valentine's Day, when I received more flowers and admiration than she did, Odette crept into my room while I was asleep and cut my hair short.
There were countless times she ruined my clothes, stole my jewelry, or even hurt me physically. I let it all slide, convincing myself it was just who she was. Over time, I became numb to her cruelty.
But everything changed when our parents died. They left me a larger share of the inheritance, trusting me more than her. When Odette learned about this—and that I was Alpha Landon's mate, destined to become the Luna of our pack—her jealousy transformed into something darker.
She tried to end my life more times than I can count. And once… she almost succeeded.
That night remains etched into my memory. She dragged me into the dark woods, her face a mask of evilness. From her pocket, she pulled out a sword, its steel glinting under the moonlight.
I felt its cold edge bite into my skin, again and again, as I screamed for help. But my cries dissolved into the night, swallowed by the silence, and by her merciless laughter.
As she raised the sword for what was meant to be the final blow—aimed straight at my chest—Landon appeared, just in time to save me.
That night, he didn't hesitate. He ordered Odette's immediate exile.
— — —
The next day, Alpha Landon barged into the room. "Get ready. Dress decently, fix yourself—whatever it takes. You need to meet and officially welcome someone back," he said in a briskly tone.
I shot him a sharp glare as I slowly rose, refusing to break eye contact. "Odette Sawyer, isn't it? My sister." My voice was steady. "Landon, you know what she's done to me. Why would you—"
He cut me off before I could finish. "Where did you hear this?" His eyes narrowed.
Tears spilled down my cheeks as I shook my head. "That doesn't matter! I'm asking you why you'd let someone like her return!" My voice cracked under the weight of disbelief and betrayal.
Landon's hand struck my cheek with a sharp slap, the sting spreading instantly as my skin flushed red. Just as quickly, he slipped back into his composed demeanor, as though his outburst had never happened.
Taking a deliberate step closer, his cold gaze bore into mine. "You have no right to question my decisions, Clara. And I certainly don't owe you any explanations. If anything, you owe me—your life. Or have you forgotten how I saved you from Odette?" His tone was filled with menace.
"If I'd known you'd become like this, I would've wished you'd never saved me—"
"Silence!" He roared.
Tears streamed silently down my face, but I bit back any retort. I didn't want to fan the flames of this chaos further.
In an unsettling twist, Landon's hand shifted to a gentle caress on my cheek. "Go fix yourself, my Luna," he murmured. "You'll be seeing your sister again soon. When that happens, I want you to act normal—no, more than normal. You'll show her respect, make her feel that, as Alpha and Luna, we're gracious enough to welcome her back. To forgive her for her past mistakes." His lips curled into a wicked smile.
I still couldn't make sense of this charade, but defiance wasn't an option. I had no choice but to obey.
So, after many years, the moment I never thought would come arrived.
I stood face to face with Odette once more.
I hadn't expected to see her again, yet here we were…
Odette approached me with an unexpected gentleness, her bright smile lighting up her face as she stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight hug. The gesture caught me off guard, but the sharp glare from Landon reminded me to play along. Hesitantly, I returned the hug.
"Years have passed, my sister," she murmured, her voice soft and warm. "I hope time has healed your heart. I hope you've forgiven me. I've regretted my actions for so long. All I'm asking for is a second chance."
Her words hung in the air, but something about them felt insincere. Slowly, I disentangled myself from the embrace, forcing a polite smile to mask my unease. "Of course… You're still my sister, after all."
Landon's approving smile flickered into view. "It's good to see you two reconciling. I'll leave you alone now so you can catch up in private."
The moment Landon left the room, Odette's demeanor shifted abruptly. The gentle facade vanished, replaced by aggression. Her gaze sharpened into a burning glare as her hand shot out, gripping my arm with force. Her nails dug into my skin sharply.
"You're a fool if you think I'm truly being kind to you," she sneered.
I met her glare with as much strength as I could muster. "Don't worry," I replied coldly. "I've already sensed that. Besides, I never expected someone as evil as you to change."
Her dark chuckle filled the air. "Oh, how clever!" She pressed her nails deeper into my skin, making me flinch. "Then I hope you've also sensed that my desire to get rid of you has never faded. And this time, my dearest sister, I'm more determined to pull it off!"
