Luna's Return: Mated Twice By His Stepbrother

LYRAEN

“I'm late to the ceremony already.” I screeched at the top of my voice as my dad applied the acceleration engine and it felt like our car was speeding onto the highway.

“Calm down love, your Alpha would be there waiting for you. I'm sure he's losing patience but we're almost done.” I tried to keep my cool, staring at my wrist watch at every minute that passed by and I felt elated when our car pulled up outside of the mating hall.

I gathered my gown in my hands as I took a deep breath in and walked inside of the hall. But just stepping foot inside of the hall, I saw Luna, my mate's mother, sitting at the extreme facing the wall and I let out a little sigh.

Our ceremony was to be held in the inner room so that should probably be where everyone was gathered.

“Luna, I'm so sorry I'm late.” I said with a big smile on my face as I approached her but she didn't respond still staring out the window.

“Luna.” I called out and she finally turned before flashing me a bright smile and began walking in my direction.

“It's alright. You're not that late, the time for the ceremony is still a little far so I guess you're early.” I let out a deep sigh, I really thought I was already too late and I was literally cussing myself out in my heart.

Today I get mated to the man of my dreams, who knew that a lowly family like mine would ever come in conjunction with the royal family just because of me.

I was over the moon if that's even a phrase when I had found out I was mated to Alpha Talon and today, I was going to crowned acting Luna and fully become Luna when the current Luna which is Talon's mother steps down.

“Oh that's a relief.” I uttered. My mom walked towards us and exchanged pleasantries before walking into the main inner hall.

I remained outside with Luna because as per tradition, she was the one to lead me in as I was basically filling her space.

“Sweetheart, would you be so gracious to get me a glass of water and lime juice if you can? The kitchen is down that way.” She gestured towards the hallway and I nodded, swirling in my dress as I went to get her drinks.

I wasn't sure if she was supposed to be asking me to get her a drink since there were maids for that but this could be a test.

“Water and lime juice for the Luna?” I demanded as I walked into the kitchen as they began showering me with compliments on how beautiful I looked and my heart felt so elated.

“Here you go, my lady. I was about to serve her.” A maid said, pushing a tray into my hands and I raised an eyebrow on her behaviour before nodding and turning to go serve the drinks to the Luna.

I stared at the wrist watch again and wondered when the Luna would tell me it's time to go in and fully get mated to Talon. Every single minute wasted felt like I was been robbed of something and the feeling was just unsettling.

“Bless your soul, my dear.” The Luna said as she took the lime juice from the little tray I had it in and sipped from it.

Her eyes widened in horror while the glass of juice fell from her hands almost immediately and I stepped back instinctively in shock.

“Is there a problem, Luna?” I questioned, hastily dropping the tray on a nearby table as I made to serve her table but she gestured for me not to come closer.

“What was in that juice?” She asked, holding her neck tightly while tears formed and slipped out of her eyes.

“What….I don't understand what you're talking about.” I answered in confusion when I felt loads of footsteps walking in my direction. At the time I turned, Talon was standing there staring at me with a lot of emotions in his eyes while the maid who had given me the juice pointed at me.

“I saw her slip something in the Luna's drink, acting all subtle and suspicious so I thought to tell you but I guess she already started perpetrating her plans.” She pointed to the Luna and I shook my head immediately in disagreement as I turned to and fro, from Talon back to his mother who was laying on the floor, struggling for breath or pretending to.

I didn't know what to believe but what I knew for a fact was that, someone here was trying to frame me and worse of all? Talon believed it.

“Talon, you can't believe that. I didn't do any of that, I would never do anything that would harm your mother. She's lying.” The words were escaping my brain as I tried to defend myself because those eyes Talon was giving me was breaking me from the inside out.

“Lyraen, how could you?” Talon finally queried and my lips quivered as tears slid down my eyes while turning to my family for help.

“I didn't do this. Tell him, tell him you gave me that drink. The maids would confirm it, you said you wanted to serve the Luna anyways.” I pointed at the girl and she shrugged.

“I don't know what you're talking about. I've been in the inner room all these while.” I scoffed, chuckling dryly as I stared at her in shock.

“But we can ask the maids to be sure.” She said and I turned to the corner as I watched the maids who were complimenting me shake their head in negativity.

They were lying! Why would they do that to me?

“Please, one of you tell me this is a prank. Why are you guys doing this? What would you stand to gain in framing me like this?” My voice cracked as I watched my dad, typically struggling within himself on what to do.

Any wrong move he made right now could be really devastating and incure serious wraths on our family so when our eyes locked, I shook my head in negativity.

I could handle this, Talon would believe me. He loves me.

“Talon, please. You can't listen to them, you know I love you and—” He raised his hands immediately, stopping me from furthering my statement.

“You tried to kill my mother. You posioned her! And you're lying to my face, Lyraen. It almost seems like I don't know you anymore.” My heart skipped a few beats as he spoke while tears blurred my vision.

“Talon.” I yelled, my voice cracking on the edge.

“Fine, you can deny that. How about this?” He threw an envelope to my feet and I picked it up, ruffling through the contents and they dropped out of my hands immediately as it seemed like my world was spiralling.

“I don't know what that is. I swear to you, Talon. I don't, that must have been fabricated.” I cried out, biting my lower lips as I tried to walk towards Talon but he just stepped back.

“It's in your writing, Lyraen and that's definitely you in the picture! Not only did you plan to poison my mother, you're also meeting up with rivals and leaking pack secrets.” My mouth fell open but words couldn't be formed.

“She's a traitor. And I loved you like my own soul, Lyraen. How could you be so evil? Talon, it's left for you to decide what would be done about her. Do what's best.” His mother who was supposed to be choking or dying or whatever, coughed out and I turned to stare at her sharply.

“You know the rules, Lyraen. Alpha Talon Voss rejects you Lyraen Dreya as my mate and banishes you never to step foot into this pack.” It felt like strings attached to my heart were being pulled in different directions as I gasped, bending to my knees as my wolf howled inside of my head while I placed my hands instinctively over my stomach.

“Talon.” I yelled as the pain hit me. It didn't seem to be affecting him anyways, probably because he was an Alpha.

“The guards would escort you to the borders and from there on, you are on your own.” Talon concluded, gritting his teeth.

“Shouldn't an investigation first be made before judgement dear brother?”