Fate of the Lost Moon

Chapter 13

Cassandra’s POV

The light in the pack archives was dim, filtered through small, narrow windows high up on the stone walls. Shadows cast over the shelves of ancient texts and yellowed scrolls that lined the walls, some so old they seemed ready to turn to dust at a single touch. But I couldn’t turn back now. Not when I was finally piecing together what had always felt… wrong.

I’d combed through every family tree, every record on the Lunaris line, studying names, dates, even birthplaces. The birth records were clear, but something gnawed at me, whispering that Stephanie didn’t belong here. Or at least, not as my twin sister.

Cassandra, enough. Lilith, my wolf, echoed within me, her voice soothing but firm. Stephanie is your sister. Our blood is hers.

“No,” I whispered under my breath, clenching my fists. “She’s… something else. Something that doesn't fit. And if she’s not truly my sister, then I need to know why.”

My gaze fell back to the scrolls, flipping through accounts of births, marriages, pack alliances, and long-forgotten feuds. I traced each line of our family tree carefully, almost obsessively. A few generations back, there had been marriages with members of other packs, alliances with wolves outside our bloodline. But none of it explained Stephanie. It didn’t explain why I had always felt this divide between us, as if she were somehow... separate.

Lilith sighed in my mind, frustration flickering through her voice. Do you really believe this? Stephanie has stood by your side through everything. She’s been here all along, like you.

“Then why does she feel like a stranger?” I muttered back. Lilith’s silence in response didn’t surprise me; she had no answer for it, just as I didn’t.

I paused on a record from two decades ago, a brief mention of my parents’ relationship with the neighboring Silverpine pack. My uncle was Alpha there—a bond that had always been treated with respect but kept at a distance. I’d never known why, only that my father rarely spoke about the Silverpine wolves beyond the necessities.

But if she… if Stephanie were meant to be with the Silverpine wolves, perhaps it explained the differences. The feeling that she didn’t quite belong here. And if she wasn’t a true Lunaris, could she bear the Lunaris name without weakening us?

This is a dangerous path, Lilith warned, her voice softening. Don’t forget, Steph is still family.

“Family doesn’t mean anything if it holds us back,” I replied quietly, a chill settling over my words.

I returned to the ancient scrolls, determined to uncover something—anything—that would explain why Stephanie felt like a shadow drifting behind me instead of a sister standing at my side. The weight of expectation pressed heavily on my shoulders, especially with the future of our pack hanging in the balance. I couldn't help but feel the implications of being the future Luna, expected to lead alongside Remus, yet constantly haunted by the presence of a sister who lacked the wolf that would elevate her status in our world.

I pulled a particularly worn scroll from the shelf, the ink faded but the letters still legible. It detailed the legacy of the Lunaris family, emphasizing our strong connection to the moon goddess and the sacred duty we carried as her descendants. The words danced before my eyes, forming a tapestry of history that seemed to exclude Stephanie entirely. The more I read, the more convinced I became that she wasn’t meant to be part of this legacy.

You need to let this go, Lilith urged gently. You’re wasting your energy chasing shadows.

“Am I?” I snapped, frustration bubbling up. “What if those shadows hide something real? What if she’s a danger to our family, to our pack?”

The thought chilled me to my core. The consequences of having a sister without a wolf, who was just a human girl, were immense. What if her presence jeopardized our lineage? What if it weakened the bonds we had spent generations forging?

Lilith fell silent, her warmth fading as I wrestled with my own doubts. I could hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing from the hallway outside the archives, but they were distant, swallowed by the thick stone walls. I didn’t care who might come in; I had more pressing matters to attend to.

You’re overthinking this, Lilith finally said, her tone returning to its usual calm. Stephanie loves you. She’s stood by your side through every challenge. Don’t push her away for something that might not even be true.

“But what if it is true?” I murmured, grappling with the reality of my thoughts. “What if I’m the one who’s been blind all this time? If she can’t shift if she isn’t one of us… What does that mean for the pack?”

I stood abruptly, pacing the small space within the archives. My fingers grazed the spines of various tomes, my mind racing through scenarios—what would happen when Remus and I officially took our places as the future leaders of the pack? Would everyone question my authority because of her? Would they see me as weak for allowing a wolfless sister to remain within our ranks?

The footsteps grew louder, now echoing through the hall as someone approached. I forced myself to calm down, trying to push the tumult of emotions aside. Whatever was brewing in my mind could wait until I had clarity, until I had proof of my suspicions.

“Cassandra?” a voice called from outside. It was my father, Viktor. “Are you in there? I need to speak with you.”

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to confront him just yet. In truth, I was terrified of what he might say. His unwavering belief in Stephanie and the family bonds we shared clashed violently with my mounting doubts.

“I’ll be right out!” I called back, taking a moment to gather myself before I opened the heavy wooden door and stepped into the brighter corridor.

Viktor stood there, looking concerned. “You’ve been in here for a while. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just… looking into our family history.” I forced a smile, hoping to mask the turmoil within. “It’s fascinating how our lineage is tied to the moon goddess. I didn’t realize how deeply rooted our traditions are.”

His eyes sparkled with pride, but there was a flicker of something else—doubt, perhaps? “I’m glad you’re taking an interest. It’s important for you to understand our legacy, especially with your sister’s future coming into play.”

I swallowed hard. “Right. The future.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip reassuring but his eyes searching. “You’re going to be a wonderful Luna, Cassandra. I believe that with all my heart. And I know Stephanie will stand beside you.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, unsure of how to voice my thoughts without sparking a confrontation. “What if she can’t?” I said quietly, my voice almost a whisper. “What if she’s not meant to be here? What if her being here only weakens our pack?”

Viktor’s expression shifted, a hint of surprise crossing his face. “Where is this coming from?”

“I’ve been looking into our family records,” I said, forcing the words out. “I just… I can’t shake this feeling that she doesn’t belong to us in the same way we do.”

He sighed, his expression softening. “Cassandra, I understand your worries, but Stephanie is your sister. She was born a Lunaris, just like you. I don’t want you to doubt her or yourself.”

His words echoed in my mind, but the doubts still lingered. Am I just imagining this? I wondered, my heart racing with conflicting emotions. What if I was wrong? What if I was just letting my insecurities take over?

“I’m worried about the future,” I confessed. “What will happen when we assume our roles? How will the pack react?”

“Your role as Luna will bring unity,” he reassured me. “And Stephanie is your support. You have to trust that she will rise to the occasion. Our family will always protect one another.”

“But what if she doesn’t have the strength?” I pressed, feeling the walls close in around me. “What if she can’t handle the weight of being a Lunaris?”

“Cassandra.” His voice was firm now, piercing through my fears. “You need to have faith. This is the family we’ve built, and Stephanie is a part of it, just as you are.”

I nodded slowly, but the worry still gnawed at me. I watched as he turned away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. As he disappeared from view, I found myself alone once more, the archives looming behind me like a fortress of secrets.

The air felt heavy with unresolved tension, and I returned to my scrolls, hoping to find some clarity. But deep down, I knew I was not finished unraveling this mystery. I needed answers, not just for me, but for Stephanie’s future too.

And as I resumed my search, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever truth I uncovered would change everything.