The Exalted Luna

Vanessa's pov.

I rushed home, clutching the basket occupied with the requested things, and the knot of pain in my chest tightened. The fact that I was rejected and in a few days the news would spread, got me greatly distressed.

I stepped into the house and placed the basket by the door side. I knew what was expected of me the instant I strode through that front door. My family's demands weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't bring myself to face them just yet. With a sigh of relief, I fled into my room, making it a point to lock the door behind me.

Tears welled up in my eyes , and I cried, feeling shattered and overwhelmed. My room, once a sanctuary, had become my emotional prison. The arguments with my mother were inevitable, and they began when she knocked on my door.

"Venessa," she turned the doorknob again, "Are you in there?"

I sniffed and wiped my tears, opening the door a little, I goaded my head outside, holding onto the door.

"What are you doing? Let me in." She attempted to push the door, but I held onto it firmly. I didn't want her to see the used tissues laying on the floor.

"What do you want?" I sighed. The day had already taken a harsh toll on me. The least she could do was try to add to my troubles.

She finally gave up on trying to open the door, leaning back instead. "I need you to pick out a dress for your sister."

I felt like I had been punched in the guts. Didn't she see how red my eyes were? And she couldn't even ask me what was wrong?

"No I can't, I am tired." I tried to shut the door but she still pushed forth.

"Don't tell me you are jealous of your sister because of this marriage." She scoffed in disbelief.

I skimmed at her. it wasn't her fault that she couldn't see the internal battle going on in me. But she should try to be considerate.

"Bye mum." I said and shut the door, not interested to hear anything she had to say.

I laid on my bed wide awake, staring at the ceiling. Everyone was probably sleeping by this time of the night, but I was anything but sleepy.

The creak of the window caught my attention, I looked towards my window, getting up to get a better view. A figure which looked exactly like my sister jumped outside through her window. She was heading towards a tree. Curiosity got the better of me and I ventured out into the dimly lit hallway careful not to alert anyone.

I got closer to the tree and what was before me was nothing short of shocking. There, bathed in the faint light of the moon, was my sister locked in an intimate embrace with the Alpha prince. I couldn't stifle my gasp of surprise, and in that moment, I made a small sound, catching their attention.

"Wha- - what do you think you are doing?" I looked from my sister to the Alpha bathing under the moonlight.

"What does it look like?" He asked cockily.

Rushing to me, Evenlyn took my hands. "I swear to you, it isn't what it looks like.” She looked back at him one last time before running into the house, leaving me standing alone with Alpha Kilan who wore a sly grin.

"You definitely wish you were her.”

My face grew hot at his close proximity, "No way."

"Really?"He leaned down, his face away from mine with an inch. "But it is written all over your face.” He laughed

"Looks like you cried a lot today." He commented, leaving me to myself.

His teasing words about the previous night, when I had made a clumsy attempt to kiss him, only deepened my confusion and embarrassment. I was left under the tree, my heart racing, struggling to process what I had just witnessed.

After I retreated into my room, my sister was pacing around and stood still when she sighted me.

"Please don't tell our parents what you just saw." Her voice trembled as she begged me not to say anything. It was a strange and confusing situation, and my initial shock began to give way to concern for her.

"Why were you with him?" I folded my arms across my chest. I wanted to shriek at her for messing around with my mate, but I chose to keep that information to myself.

She hesitated but finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "That was... that is, my boyfriend. I'm breaking up with him." Her words left me stunned, struggling to comprehend the fact they were together.

I nodded slowly, still bewildered, and watched her as she walked out of the room, not before asking me to promise that I wouldn't say a word.

The room felt heavy with tacit words and unresolved emotions, leaving me wondering how I got so unlucky.

~~~~

The door to my room burst open, waking me up from the little sleep I was able to get.

"What's happening now?"I sat up grogrily. Staring at my mum worriedly looking at me.

"We can't find your sister," she began, crying.

"What?" like a time ticking bomb, the information started settling in. They couldn't find my sister, and panic began to set in.

"Have you searched everywhere?" I got up from my bed in a hurry and went outside.

We searched every corner of the house, calling out her name in growing desperation. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving us frantic and worried.

As the day wore on, my father spoke into the phone, pleading with the Lycan prince for more time.

He threw his phone against the wall, running his fingers through his messed up hair.

"Can you see what you have caused?" he spat angrily at me.

"What did he say?" My mother asked with worry.

"He threatened to tear this village apart if shame is brought to him, he said he would stand alone on the altar without a bride." He muttered in a frustrated tone.

The realization that my sister had run away hit me like a ton of bricks. And I wondered the reason, could it be because of Alpha Kilan?

"This won't do." my father announced after a lot of silence, his eyes focused on me. "You will have to stand in for her."

I think I froze at that moment. What did I just hear him say? Was he really going to force me into the role of a substitute bride for my sister?