Oops Alpha, Wrong Luna-Chapter 29

Aria’s POV.

A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts, my heart jumping in my chest. I was already dressed, a simple blue dress clinging to me, my silver hair pulled back, but my mind was a mess, spinning with questions after the poison scare.

Who wanted me dead? Was it Celeste? Thanos? Someone else? I was still pretending to be Celeste, my twin sister, hiding my real name, Aria, and the weight of that lie pressed heavy on my shoulders.

My hands trembled as I smoothed my dress, my wolf Kyra growling low, uneasy.

"Luna," Beta Brian’s voice came through the door, steady but urgent. "Alpha Kael and his guests are waiting for you in the dining room."

I froze, my stomach twisting. Guests? Who were they? Why did Kael want me to meet them now, after everything? My heart raced, Kyra’s warning sharp in my mind: Be careful. Something’s off.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and nodded, even though Brian couldn’t see. "I’m coming," I said, my voice shaky but firm.

I opened the door, my steps slow, following Brian through the packhouse halls, the stone floors cold under my shoes, the air thick with the scent of pine and tension.

As we reached the dining room, I stopped, my hand on the door, my chest tight. Who was waiting? More enemies? More lies? I took another deep breath, my hands clenching, and pushed the door open.

The room was bright, the chandelier glowing, the long table set with plates of steaming food. My eyes landed on Kael first, sitting at the head, his black shirt tight across his chest, his onyx eyes sharp but soft as they met mine.

Relief hit me, but it faded fast when I saw the others; Seraphina, his foster sister, her blonde hair shining, her smile mean, and a family of four, their eyes fixed on me, judging, cold.

I froze, my heart pounding, their stares like knives.

Kael stood, his chair scraping, and walked to me, pulling out a chair with a small nod. "Sit, Luna," he said, his voice calm but firm, his hand brushing mine.

I sat, my legs shaky, my hands twisting in my lap, the family’s eyes still on me, sharp and heavy.

Kael sat back down, his presence strong, grounding, but my chest stayed tight, Kyra growling low, sensing trouble.

"These are my relatives," Kael said, his voice steady, his eyes flicking to the family.

"Aunt Clara, my father’s younger sister. Her children, Jeffery, Lila, Mara." He pointed to each one, their faces cold, their smiles fake.

Jeffery, the cousin, gave me a warm smile, his blue eyes soft, but I shoved the feeling away, my suspicion high. Clara’s glare was the worst, her gray eyes cutting through me, her lips tight.

We started eating, the clink of forks loud in the quiet room, the food tasteless in my mouth. Clara’s stare never left me, her eyes narrowing, making my skin crawl.

I tried to focus on my plate, my hands trembling, but her voice broke the silence, sharp and cold.

"How did you know Kael was your mate?" she asked, her tone mocking, her smile thin.

I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth, my heart stopping. The question hit like a slap, my mind racing.

I was Aria, not Celeste, pretending to be the Luna they expected, and her words felt like a trap.

I opened my mouth, my voice catching, but before I could answer, Clara cut in, her voice sharper.

"How sure are we you’re not fake?" she said, leaning forward, her eyes glinting. "From the stories about you and your twin sister, Aria, you’re the flashy one. You love riches, power." Her words were venom, her smile cruel, and my chest stung, pain twisting deep.

I wasn’t Celeste, but her words hurt anyway, slicing into the fear I carried every day; that I’d be found out, that I didn’t belong.

My hands shook, my eyes burning with tears I wouldn’t let fall. Kyra growled, angry, urging me to fight back, but I couldn’t find my voice.

Seraphina laughed, her voice high, mean. "I know, right?" she said, her green eyes flashing.

"She acts all high and mighty, but she’s low-born, just like her sister!" Her words cut deeper, my heart aching, my breath short.

She knew I wasn’t Celeste, or at least suspected, and she was using it to tear me down.

Kael’s fist slammed on the table, the sound booming, the plates rattling. "Enough!" he roared, his voice shaking the room, his eyes burning with anger.

"Shut up, all of you." His glare swept over Clara, Seraphina, his cousins, his wolf close, his fists clenched tight.

The room went silent, their faces pale, their eyes dropping. My heart raced, gratitude mixing with pain. He was protecting me, but their words still stung, echoing my own fears.

I couldn’t stay. My chest was too tight, my eyes burning. "I need air," I said, my voice small, shaking, as I stood, my chair scraping.

I didn’t look at Kael, didn’t wait for permission, just hurried out, my steps quick, my dress swishing.

The hall was cool, the balcony just outside, and I pushed through the door, the morning air hitting my face.

I leaned on the railing, my hands gripping the wood, my heart racing, my mind a mess. Clara’s words, Seraphina’s laugh; they burned, reminding me of Celeste, of my mother’s plan to make me her replacement.

I’d agreed to be Luna, to take Celeste’s place, but now I regretted it, the weight of the lie crushing me. Was it worth it? Should I have said no?

A voice broke my thoughts, soft but close. "Need some company?" I jumped, my heart lurching, and turned to see Jeffery, Kael’s cousin, standing there, his blue eyes warm, his smile friendly.

I blinked fast, my hands clenching, Kyra growling low, wary. I bowed slightly, my voice tight. "I should go," I said, stepping back, ready to flee.

He held up a hand, his smile soft. "I’m not here to mock you like my mother did," he said, his voice gentle.

"Come on, let’s talk." His eyes were kind, but I didn’t trust him, not after Clara, not after everything.

Still, I was tired, lonely, needing someone to listen. I nodded, my shoulders tense, and stayed.

Jeffery leaned on the railing, his voice light, his jokes small but funny. He talked about the pack, silly stories, and slowly, my lips curved, a small smile breaking through.

His warmth felt real, and for a moment, I forgot the pain, the lies. But then heavy footsteps sounded, and I turned, my heart jumping. Kael stood there, his face hard, his eyes dark, glaring at Jeffery.

His cousin who made me smile.

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