Switched Luna

Chapter 6: Meeting Place

|Carmella|

The car stops.

Just like how the engine died, I find myself holding my breath, my heart racing faster than usual. The thought of leaving my comfort zone, of stepping into the unknown, sends a shiver down my spine. When was the last time I felt such... unease? A memory flashes—a time when I first journeyed alone from the western lands to the southern, cold and uncertain.

Yes, it was like that.

The unease that gripped me now was all too familiar, the same fear of the unknown that had stalked me eight years ago when I first fled from home.

“We’ve arrived, Alpha,” Hans’ voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, grounding me in the present moment. I registered the sound of the car door opening on my left, catching a glimpse of Hans’ stepping out. I took a deep breath, allowing myself a moment to stretch before finally following his lead and emerging from the vehicle.

A chill in the spring air greeted me, accompanied by the soft rustle of leaves, the hoot of an owl hidden in the darkness, and the distant chirping of crickets. The moonlight coming from the first quarter struggled to pierce the thick canopy of the forest, casting an eerie glow that made the shadows seem more alive.

“Here, take this,” Hans said, offering me a phone. I accepted it without a word, fully aware that this would be our only means of contact. Sensing my silence, Hans seized the moment to go over the details of my mission once more, reminding me of everything I needed to accomplish during my time away.

For a brief moment, the anxiety that churned within me subsided as I concentrated on his instructions, hoping to steady myself. But even as his words faded, the tension in my gut remained stubbornly present, refusing to be dismissed.

“Do you really have to go through with this?” Hans’ voice was soft yet laced with concern, his worry evident as he watched me prepare to leave. His eyes, filled with a mix of frustration and desperation, begged me to reconsider this reckless plan. We had known each other for eight years—long enough for him to understand that once I made up my mind, there was no turning back.

“I know you’re worried, Hans,” I said, my voice steady as I met his gaze. “But I have to do this… for my sister.” I held his stare, letting him see the resolve in my eyes. He exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping as he accepted the inevitable.

“Just… be careful, Carmella,” he murmured, the absence of my title a rare and telling slip, one I couldn’t bring myself to tease him about this time.

“Don’t worry, I’m not planning to die on this mission,” I responded with a small, reassuring smile.

“You better not,” he retorted, narrowing his eyes in a mock scowl.

I rolled my eyes, a chuckle bubbling up as I turned away from him. There was no need for a dramatic farewell—we had already moved past that point. As I walked towards my meeting place with Janina, the sound of the car’s engine roared to life behind me, the tires screeching as Hans sped off into the night.

Janina and I had devised a careful plan. She would depart first, returning to the vacation house where my twin sister, Camilla, had been staying. Her task was to discreetly prepare and pack my sister’s belongings for the journey back home. Of course, she was not alone—I had entrusted her safety to a group of my most loyal warriors, ensuring she would reach the Northern territory unharmed. Our rendezvous was set for three days later, in a remote forest at the border between the south and north.

It took me about half an hour of traversing the dense forest before I finally approached the designated meeting point. Even from a distance, I could make out Janina’s figure, pacing anxiously in her dark cloak, her silhouette almost blending with the shadows of the trees. As I drew closer, she must have sensed my presence, for she abruptly turned and her face brightened upon seeing me. With quick, determined steps, she closed the distance between us.

“You’re finally here, my lady,” she said, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and urgency.

“Shall we go? We need to leave before dawn breaks.”

“Of course, my lady,” Janina responded, a wide smile spreading across her face. I mirrored her smile, and together, we began our trek out of the forest, our footsteps muffled by the thick undergrowth.

As we walked, Janina informed me that a car would be waiting in a nearby town to transport us to the Gilmore estate. Along the way, she quizzed me on the details I needed to convincingly portray Camilla. I answered each question with precision and confidence—I had no intention of walking into this charade unprepared. Over the past three days, I had meticulously committed to memory the names and faces of the key figures at the estate, studied the layout of the mansion, and almost perfected the soft-spoken, submissive mannerisms of my twin. But I knew all too well that if anyone dared to cross me, that façade would quickly slip.

I hope that I can control my temper though.

Janina's meticulous briefing had left me with a quiet confidence, convinced that my performance would be flawless. The only task left was to reach the mansion and start unraveling the truth. If my suspicions about Theodore were right, I wouldn’t rest until I saw justice served.

It took Janina and me nearly half an hour to finally emerge from the forest, and another half-hour before we reached the small town where the car was waiting for us.

“From now on, you must address me as Luna, Janina,” I instructed, catching her gaze in the reflection of the mirror as we made a brief stop at the vacation house.

“That won’t be an issue, my lady,” she replied with a sweet smile.

I sighed, turning my attention back to the mirror. Janina had mentioned that Camilla was meticulous about her appearance, often wearing makeup, something I only indulged in when absolutely necessary. But now, makeup was essential before we could leave.

“The resemblance between the two of you is truly uncanny, Luna,” Janina observed, watching me intently in the mirror. I reflexively rolled my eyes.

“All the better to carry out my plans seamlessly, Janina,” I responded with a smirk. Her smile widened.

“You’ll need to break the habit of rolling your eyes, Luna. Lady Camilla never does that,” Janina reminded me.

I bit my lower lip, studying my reflection once more. Some habits, it seemed, were hard to shake.

“Noted,” I replied simply.

We lingered at the vacation house for another hour before finally setting out. The journey from the house near the southern borders to Gilmore’s estate was a grueling six-hour ride.

Everyone at the estate expects me to return home tomorrow morning after my customary two-week vacation that I take every mid-spring. But I've made the decision to come back earlier than expected. No one will question my early return, will they?

I inhaled deeply, feeling the sharpness of the cool morning air as I leaned back against the seat. The entire drive, my mind buzzed with anxious thoughts about whether I could truly pull this off. I hadn't managed even a brief rest during the journey; my thoughts were too restless, my nerves too taut. The sky was beginning to lighten, a sign that sunrise was only minutes away. By then, we would be arriving at Gilmore's estate.

I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to control the rising tide of anxiety. But the closer we got to our destination, the more my uneasiness took root, crawling under my skin with every passing mile.

What will I do if I run into Camilla's husband? Should I confront him about his infidelities, as we had planned? That way, he won't suspect I'm not really Camilla. Or should I simply ignore him?

Ignoring him could work. If he notices any sudden changes, I can always claim that I've changed, that Camilla has changed. He must already know how much she has changed since she decided to give up on him.

I pondered this for a few minutes, weighing my options. In the end, I resolved to stick to the plan. It’s the safest route, the one that keeps Theodore Gilmore from discovering my true identity.

The car came to a stop, and a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. As the engine quieted, I slowly opened my eyes. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound almost deafening in the stillness. The thought of leaving this temporary sanctuary filled me with a shiver of fear, fear of the unknown that lay ahead.

But there was no turning back now. I would face whatever awaited me, just as I had faced and survived everything thrown my way over the past eight years.

Pretending to be Camilla would be easy. Playing the role of Luna of the Gilmore pack? A simple task. Facing Theodore? A trivial matter. Or so I tried to convince myself.