Luna Thalassa's Awakening

_Thalassa's POV_ "Thalassa!" Marina's voice cut through the air, sharp and angry. I looked up from the book I was reading, taken by surprise at the venom in her tone. "What did you do with my party dress?" I lowered the book, blinking at her in confusion. "I didn't do anything with your dress, Marina. Why would I?" Marina's eyes blazed with anger, her fair complexion flushed with irritation. "Don't lie, Thalassa! It was hanging in my closet, and now it's gone. It's my birthday, too, you know. Just admit it, you stole it to ruin my day." "I promise I didn't take your dress, Marina," I replied, my voice trembling. "I have no reason to do that." "You're lying, Thalassa," my twin sister accused, her voice dripping with anger. "You cannot do anything right. Mom and Dad say you're cursed, just like Aunt Katherine. You're going to bring the downfall of our pack, just like she did in the past." Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to understand why she was accusing me. We were twins, and today was our shared birthday party, yet she was determined to make it all about herself. I never had the privilege of enjoying my birthday without her shadow casting a dark cloud over it. Marina crossed her arms, her long, golden hair framing her face like a halo. She was the picture of grace and beauty, while I often felt like the shadow cast by her radiance. She glared at me with her icy blue eyes, her frustration palpable. "Mom and Dad are only inviting you to this party because they feel sorry for you. You're nothing but trouble, Thalassa. I wish you were never born." "Marina, please, I—" Before I could finish, the door to the bedroom swung open, and our mother entered, her face etched with impatience. She took one look at the scene and let out a heavy sigh. "Marina, what's going on here?" She glanced at me with a mixture of annoyance and disdain. "Thalassa, what did you do now?" I shook my head, trying to defend myself. "I didn't do anything, Mom. I swear." Marina didn't hesitate to spin her tale. "Thalassa stole my birthday dress, Mom! She ruined everything. She always does." Our mother's eyes narrowed at me, her disappointment evident. "Thalassa, it's her special day, and you've already managed to cause trouble. You know how important this celebration is to your sister." "But I—" I tried to explain again, but she wouldn't hear it. "No excuses, Thalassa," she said firmly. "You need to learn to be more considerate of your sister's feelings. You can't keep behaving this way." I felt a lump form in my throat as the injustice of it all washed over me. I was the cursed twin, the one blamed for everything, the one they all believed was capable of doing wrong. I watched as my mother comforted my sister, her anger at me etched deep into her expression. Marina's insistence seemed unshakable, and she turned to our mother with a determined look. "We need to search Thalassa's closet, Mom. I'm sure she has hidden the dress in there somewhere." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The accusations were piling up, and it was clear that nothing I said would convince them of my innocence. Our mother nodded, her gaze still filled with disappointment. "Very well, let's check. If the dress is there, Thalassa, you're going to be in big trouble." The three of us made our way to my closet, and I watched with a heavy heart as they began to rummage through my clothes. I had very little clothing compared to Marina's lavish collection. I knew the dress wasn't there, but I had nothing to hide. My heart was heavy, and I had almost given up on convincing them of the truth. As they reached the back of the closet, Marina's eyes widened, and she let out a delighted gasp. "Here it is! I knew she had taken it." I peered over her shoulder, and there, hidden among my things, was the dress Marina had been looking for. It was a breathtaking piece, a deep sapphire blue dress with intricate lace patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. The dress was elegant, fitting for a birthday celebration, and I couldn't help but admire its beauty, even as my heart ached. "I didn't put it there," I protested, my voice barely above a whisper. "I promise." Our mother sighed and fixed me with a stern look. "Thalassa, this is the last straw. I can't believe you would do something like this on your sister's special day. You've ruined it." The tears that had been building finally spilled over, and I turned away, not wanting to show them how much their words hurt. They had already made up their minds about me, and nothing I said could change that. My mother said in a soft voice, "Marina, I'm so sorry this has happened. Thalassa will be punished for her actions." "I didn't put the dress in my closet," I sobbed, my voice trembling. "I promise." Marina crossed her arms, a triumphant grin on her face as she basked in the attention she was receiving. "Thalassa is always trying to ruin things. Mom, she needs to be punished." Our mother nodded. "You're right, Marina. Thalassa, you will have to wash all the dishes for the entire pack house for one whole week, and you will not be allowed to attend the birthday party. This is your punishment." The weight of her words settled over me like a suffocating shroud. I had been looking forward to the party, the one time I might have been able to feel like I belonged, and now even that was taken away. The injustice of it all was unbearable. Marina smiled triumphantly, knowing that she had won. "Good. Maybe this will teach her a lesson." As they left the room, I was left alone, the tears continuing to flow as I faced the harsh reality of my life. Once again, I was the cursed twin, the one who brought trouble and misery to my family. I was just as much a part of this pack as Marina, yet I was always treated like an outsider. I stared at the four walls of my room, the tears slowly subsiding, replaced by a deep ache in my heart. The seer's prophecy had hung over me like a dark cloud, casting me as the cursed twin. But I wasn't jealous of Marina, and I certainly didn't wish any harm upon her. I only wanted to be treated with respect and kindness, to be acknowledged as a valuable member of our pack. The labels they placed on me, the expectations that came with them, had been a heavy burden to bear. While I wasn't responsible for the actions of my aunt in the past, the world seemed determined to make me pay for her mistakes. It was a cruel twist of fate, one I couldn't escape, no matter how much I tried to prove myself. I longed for a day when they would see me for who I truly was, not the cursed one they believed me to be. I wished for understanding, for a chance to show them that I was not like my aunt, that I could bring something positive to our pack. I was sure that Marina had been the one to put her dress in my closet. She must have done it deliberately because she didn't want me to attend the birthday party. Today, we were both turning eighteen, the day we would finally get our wolves. It was a momentous occasion for any young wolf, as it also meant we would find out if we had a mate within our pack. Marina was convinced that her boyfriend, Killian, was her mate, and she would know for certain as soon as her wolf emerged. She didn't want me at the party, afraid that my presence might somehow overshadow her moment of revelation. In her eyes, it was her day, and she wanted everything to be perfect, especially the moment she discovered whether Killian was her destined mate. Killian was three years older than Marina and me, and he held a significant position within our pack. He was the Alpha's son, destined to lead the pack one day. This was a fact that had always fascinated Marina. She had always dreamt of becoming a Luna one day, and her dream would only come true if Killian and she were true mates. The entire pack had high expectations for them, believing that they would lead our pack to greatness together. Killian had been convinced that they were mates for a while, and Marina shared his belief. However, there was one critical moment to confirm their bond – when her wolf would emerge. It was only then that they could be absolutely sure if they were destined for each other. For Marina, this day held immense importance, and she couldn't bear the thought of anything going wrong, especially something that I might do that could interfere with their bond. As I sat alone in my room, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the divide between us, the unfairness of it all. I was her twin, and I should have been able to share in her joy, not become an obstacle to her happiness. The coming of our wolves was a significant event, and I had been looking forward to it as much as she had. I wished things could be different, that she could see I wasn't her enemy but her sister. I hoped for a day when our bond as twins would be stronger than any perceived curse. Lost in my thoughts, I wasn't sure how much time had passed. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Marina stood there, an impatient look on her face. "Mom ordered you to serve snacks and drinks to the guests," she said, her voice devoid of any sympathy. I nodded, understanding that they needed help during the party. "I'll change and come down," I replied, hoping to at least present myself as neatly as possible. Marina shook her head. "There's no need for you to change. We're running out of time." Without waiting for my response, she grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out of my room. As I was pulled into the midst of the party, I felt a wave of shame wash over me. My clothes were far from presentable, old and worn with several patches. I looked like a servant, not the daughter of the Beta of the pack.The guests at the party stared at me with a mix of curiosity and surprise, their eyes reflecting a range of emotions from pity to disdain. It was evident that my appearance did nothing to improve my already tarnished image within the pack. I kept my head down, unable to meet anyone's gaze, feeling like a pariah amidst the celebration. As I moved toward a tray of snacks, my heart sank further when I heard a male voice behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know that it was Killian. He had always been a thorn in my side, ready to take any opportunity to make me feel small, and today was no different. Killian's voice dripped with condescension as he spoke. "Well, well, well, look who we have here. Thalassa, the cursed one, playing servant at her own birthday party. What a fitting role for you." His words were like a knife to my already wounded pride. I clenched my fists, trying to push down the rising anger, but it was hard to ignore the humiliation. It was moments like these when I wished I could stand up for myself, but Killian was the Alpha's son, and I had no power to retaliate. Slowly, I turned to face him, my jaw clenched, my eyes meeting his with a mixture of anger and hurt. "Killian, why do you always have to be so cruel? Can't you let me be for once?" His green eyes widened, and his face contorted into a shocked expression. He even took a step back, as if I had just revealed some shocking secret. "Mate," he uttered in a breathless whisper, and my heart sank. It couldn't be. This was not possible. How could the moon goddess make such a big mistake?