Maya

My body froze at Maximus's words, my heartbeats quickening, and my palms becoming sweaty.

What should I do?

I've never lied, not once—it's a choice I had made because that's what my father taught me.

If I lied now, it wouldn't just break a part of me, but it would also bind me to these monsters for as long as they planned to torment me. On the other hand, if I told the truth, there might be a slim chance to escape this living nightmare, right?

Or maybe not. My mother would likely intervene and override Alaric's decision. No matter what, I'd remain trapped in this pack, and as long as I stayed here, the Sterling Twins would always have power over me.

My sole hope had rested on finding my mate, but last night, I lost that too.

So…

What would I gain by telling the truth? Practically nothing, and possibly something worse, because my mother might marry me off to one of the widowed Alphas out there. They could turn out to be far more brutal than the Alphas the moon goddess had cursed me with—mates who seemed determined to show me the worst of hell.

God... what should I do? Lie or tell the truth? 

The truth could eventually be my downfall, but a lie might offer a slim chance to take some action, even if it meant enduring all the tortures my mates had in store for me. There seemed to be no way out of this pack either way. Maximus and Leonardo were the unrelenting shadows in my life, and they would never allow me to escape, ever.

 "Maya, Maximus has asked you something," my mother's voice broke through my chain of thoughts, redirecting my attention to her. I could sense her unspoken command in her gaze, warning me not to screw this up. Her eyes, they said she knew, given how Maximus and Leonardo had always treated me, I had the least say in this entire mating and marking arrangement. 

Hell, she didn’t care even a little bit about me.

"Tell Alpha Alaric the truth, Maya," Leonardo said, maintaining his smile while his grip on me tightened. His nails threatened to tear through the fabric and into my fragile skin, hidden from prying eyes as he settled his hand on my lower back.

The support in the room was overwhelmingly in favor of the twins. There was no debate. 

Their power and influence reached every corner of this pack. The truth would be worthless; it might even result in further losses, perhaps even my life.

"I-I..." I attempted to say something, but my dry throat and racing heart made it impossible to form coherent words.

"You don't need to be afraid, Maya," Alaric reassured me, "Every member of this pack has the same rights and faces the same consequences for any transgression. All you need to do is tell me the truth."

Punishment may not matter, Alaric. They are your sons. Ultimately, you might fall weak. 

I couldn’t just risk everything over a small reassurance from him…. 

What if he changed his mind and soon started speaking in the favour of his sons? After all, my mother’s deeds had already fallen heavy on me.

"What's troubling you, Maya?" Maximus reached out and brushed his fingers against my cheek, his voice taking on a sweet, melodious tone. I would have recoiled from his touch had they not held me so tightly. "Is something bothering you? Are you afraid that no one will accept you?"

"You are our mate, Maya. It doesn't matter whose daughter you are, what’s your background or meaningless stuff like that; everyone in this pack is obligated to show you the respect befitting a Luna," Leonardo said, planting a kiss on my shoulder, his words laden with veiled threats that sent shivers down my spine, “None can separate us. Ever.”

Shit! I had no way out of it.

"All of this happened with my consent, Alpha," I finally managed to blurt out, my hands clenched at my sides as I lied, "They didn't do anything against my will. Nothing."

"Great!" My mother clapped her hands together. "I knew it. Leo and Max, they could never do anything like that. They are very responsible Alphas, after all."

Fucking shady woman, she was! 

For fuck’s sake! She had been scheming just days ago to prevent the twins from becoming the next Alphas. Now, she was all too willing to embrace them, simply because she saw a way to access power through me. 

How could anyone not despise her? She was a master of deceit and manipulation.

Alaric paid no heed to my mother's words. He maintained a long, contemplative silence while he stared at me. I wondered if he could see through the facade in my eyes, the truth I tried so hard to conceal. It was as if he knew, but knowing him, he wouldn't interfere.

There was already enough bad blood between him and his sons.

"Okay then," Alaric stood up, straightening his suit. "It's good news that the pack has found its next Luna. Congratulations, Leonardo and Maximus. This marks a new chapter in your journey, and I hope that you'll excel in this role, just as you have in every other aspect of your life."

"You can trust us; we have no intention of history repeating itself," Maximus spoke with a chuckle, his smile unwavering. His expression could easily deceive anyone into thinking he was making a joke, but not those who knew the dark history—the people in this room were all too aware of it, “We'll take care of our mate; no need to worry, Father."

Alaric's body stiffened at Maximus's words, and his stern gaze bore into them. Yet, the twins remained composed and indifferent. How could they be so heartless all the fucking time?

"Yes, and we know how to take care of our mate," Leonardo added, placing a kiss on my cheek. He smiled at me, and with my hands tied, I mustered a forced smile in return. That was the act we had to play—pretending we were deeply in love and that they were the charming princes who had brought blessings into my life, even though, in reality, they were the curses they had always been. "We'd like to request that you arrange the mating ritual as soon as possible."

No, absolutely not!

That ceremony would make it officially binding, and then I'd have no escape, particularly no chance of seeking refuge in another pack.

I could not let this happen!

“Okay then, kindly meet me in my office; we have something important to discuss," Alaric announced calmly before he left the room. Everyone in the room rose to pay their respects, and as he walked out, pack members started approaching us, offering their congratulations. For the first time ever, they were smiling at me, the outcast they had always despised.

Damn it. I didn't want the ceremony.

No! No! No!

"So, we'll meet our father now. I expect you to behave as normally as possible," Maximus leaned in, whispering into my ear. "And if I hear that you've caused any trouble, you can be sure you're finished...got it?"

I swallowed hard, struggling to maintain the forced smile on my face.

When Leonardo noticed that I hadn't responded, he locked eyes with me. I hastily nodded, meeting their challenging gaze.

"Good. Let's go, Max," Leonardo said, leading the way as they walked out, Maximus’s smile carrying a veiled warning as he shot me one last glance.

Just as they left, my mother emerged from the crowd and approached me. She grabbed my wrist, her eyes filled with delight, “Come with me. We need to talk."

She dragged me away, excusing me from the well-wishing crowd-- a pack suddenl eager to accept me into their lives.