The Hidden Twin.
1269 Words
Aurora’s POV
I knelt on the cold wooden floor beside Luna’s bed. The hut was quiet, too quiet, like the forest itself was holding its breath.
The fire in the corner was low, its light shaking on the walls. I dipped a cloth into the bowl of water and pressed it gently to Luna’s forehead.
Her skin was hot.
“I was afraid this would happen,” I whispered, more to myself than to her.
Luna’s eyes were half open. She looked weak, but her grip was strong when her hand suddenly caught my wrist.
“Aurora,” she said, her voice rough. “Don’t lie to me again.”
I swallowed hard. My heart started to beat fast. I had known this moment would come, but I had prayed it would not be today.
“Tell me the truth,” Luna said. “Please. I can feel it. Something is wrong. Who is the other child?”
I froze.
The cloth slipped from my fingers and dropped into the bowl. The sound felt too loud. I looked at Luna’s face. Her eyes were on me, sharp now, full of fear and pain.
“Luna…” I started, then stopped.
“Say it,” she begged. “I need to know.”
I stood up slowly and moved away from the bed. My legs felt weak. I wrapped my arms around myself and turned my back to her. The memories rushed in, heavy and cruel.
That night.
The blood.
The fire.
The screams.
“Aurora,” Luna called again. “Please.”
I closed my eyes.
“One of the children was never mine,” I said at last, my voice shaking.
The room went silent.
I heard Luna gasp.
“What do you mean?” she asked slowly. “Aurora, what do you mean by that?”
I turned back to face her. Tears filled my eyes, but I did not wipe them away.
“The second child,” I said. “The boy. He was placed in my arms the night I lost everything.”
Luna pushed herself up on the bed, ignoring the pain. “Placed in your arms?” she repeated. “By who?”
I shook my head. “I never saw the face. It was dark. There was fire everywhere. I was running. I was screaming. I thought I was going to die.”
My voice broke, but I forced myself to continue.
“I had already lost so much that night. My mate. My pack. My home. Then suddenly, someone pushed a baby into my arms and shouted, ‘Protect him!’ before disappearing into the smoke.”
Luna stared at me like she could not believe what she was hearing.
“So… so the boy…” she whispered. “He is not yours?”
I shook my head again.
“No,” I said. “He is not.”
“Then whose child is he?” Luna asked. Her voice was barely a sound now.
I opened my mouth to answer.
But before I could say a word—
A loud howl cut through the night.
The sound was strong. Angry. Powerful.
The walls of the hut shook. Birds flew from the trees outside. The fire flared up like it was afraid.
Luna screamed.
I rushed to her side. “It’s okay,” I said quickly. “Stay calm.”
But my own heart was pounding hard. I knew that howl.
I had heard it before.
Years ago.
“No,” I whispered. “It can’t be.”
The door of the hut flew open with a loud crash.
Cold air rushed in.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, his shadow filling the room. His eyes were glowing gold. His chest rose and fell like he had run a long way.
Ethan.
He stepped inside, his gaze sharp and wild. He looked at Luna, then at me, then his eyes locked on the sleeping boy beside the bed.
His face changed.
Pain.
Anger.
Shock.
“Luna,” he said, his voice deep and shaking. “That boy is mine.”
The world stopped.
Luna screamed his name. “Ethan?!”
I stepped in front of the child without thinking. “You stay away from him!”
Ethan’s eyes snapped to me. “Move, Aurora.”
“No,” I said firmly. “Not until you explain yourself.”
Luna struggled to sit up. “Ethan,” she cried. “What are you saying? How can that be your child?”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. He looked torn, like a man standing between truth and fear.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “I swear I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?” Luna demanded.
“That he lived,” Ethan said. “That you lived. That my son lived.”
My breath caught. “Your… son?”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Yes.”
Luna shook her head again and again. “No. No. This is not possible.”
I turned to Ethan. “Then start talking,” I said. “Because this secret has already destroyed enough lives.”
Ethan looked at the floor for a moment, then back at us.
“That night,” he began, “the night the Blood Moon Pack fell… I was there.”
My hands clenched into fists.
“You?” I said. “You were there and you said nothing all these years?”
“I was injured,” he said quickly. “I was left for dead. When I woke up, everything was gone.”
Luna’s eyes filled with tears. “And the baby?”
“I saw him,” Ethan said softly. “I saw someone take him. I tried to follow, but I collapsed.”
He looked at the boy again. “I never thought I would see him again.”
The child stirred in his sleep and made a small sound. My heart tightened. I looked down at him. I had raised him. I had loved him like my own.
“You can’t just come here and claim him,” I said. “You don’t know what we went through.”
Ethan met my gaze. “I know pain, Aurora. But he is my blood.”
Luna cried out in frustration. “Enough! Both of you!”
We both turned to her.
She was crying openly now. “My whole life has been built on lies,” she said. “First the pack, then the children, and now this?”
I moved to her side and held her hand. “I wanted to tell you,” I said softly. “I was just afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” she asked.
“Of losing you,” I replied.
Ethan looked between us. “Aurora… I never meant to hurt anyone.”
I laughed bitterly. “But you did.”
The boy suddenly woke up and sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Mama?” he said softly.
My chest hurts.
I pulled him into my arms. “I’m here,” I said quickly.
His eyes moved to Ethan. “Who is he?”
No one answered.
The silence was heavy.
Luna whispered, “Aurora… what happens now?”
I looked at Ethan. He looked back at me, his face full of need and fear.
I looked down at the boy in my arms.
Then I looked at Luna.
I did not have an answer.
And the only question in my mind was—
If Ethan takes the boy… will I lose everything all over again?
- Writer
