The Ghost Luna

Chapter Three

Skye-

"Sky, wake up. Wake up, sleepyhead," a gentle voice interrupted my slumber.

I groaned, not wanting to leave the comfort of sleep, even though where I was sleeping was slightly uncomfortable. Slowly, I opened my eyes and was surprised to see my beautiful sister Elizabeth standing above me with her eyes staring at me in concern.

"How did you know about this place?" I wondered aloud, still groggy and disoriented.

She smiled gently, sitting down beside me. "I've always known about it, Sky. I used to come here too when I needed to escape."

Her words cleared my sleepiness, and I stared at her in disbelief, struggling to reconcile my feelings of envy and resentment with the genuine affection in her eyes. Her life was literally perfect, so why would she feel the need to run away? Unlike me, she had both our parents genuine love and that of the pack, and let's not forget she would be getting married to the alpha's son, whom she had also been dating for a while.

She reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. "I know you think I don't understand," she said softly, "but I do. I know what it's like to feel alone, even when surrounded by people who love you."

I felt a lump in my throat as her words sank in. Maybe I had misjudged her all along. Maybe she understood more than I gave her credit for.

We sat there in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts, and for the first time, my heart skipped a beat, thinking maybe, just maybe, things could be different between Elizabeth and me.

Maybe I could find a way to let go of my envy and learn to accept the love she has always offered me, but I have always had doubt that eats me up from the inside, screaming that all her love for me is nothing but fake.

Elizabeth, compared to me, was on a much higher and unattainable level, just like the reality of our situations, where I was forced to marry an old man, a union arranged for convenience and alliances, while my sister was engaged to a young, handsome man she loved and would be becoming the Luna.

The unfairness of it all ignited a burning rage within me.

My breath quickened, and I felt the anger surge up, overtaking any momentary peace I had found. I shot to my feet, glaring down at my sister, who looked up at me with startled eyes.

"You can never understand what it feels like!" I screamed, the words bursting out of me like a dam breaking. "You're marrying someone you love—someone young and full of life. I'm being forced to marry an old man for the sake of the family because I am nothing but an ugly disgrace!"

My sister’s eyes widened, and she stood up slowly, reaching out to me. "Sky, I had no idea—"

"Of course you didn’t!" I cut her off as I tried to control my emotions and stop myself from crying. "How could you? You’ve always had everything: beauty, love, and acceptance. You’ve never known what it's like to feel unwanted, unloved, and ugly."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt a sob catch in my throat. "You’ve never had to live in my shadow, constantly compared to you, never measuring up."

My sister’s face softened with understanding, and she stepped closer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Sky, I’m so sorry. I never wanted you to feel this way. I love you, and I want you to be happy. We can find a way out of this, together."

I shook my head, taking a step back. The pain and anger were too overwhelming, and I couldn’t see a way out.

"It’s too late," I whispered, my voice breaking. "It’s always been too late."

I turned away from her and hurriedly climbed down the creaky leader, my sorrow pressing down on me, and started walking back through the woods, hoping to get as far away from her as possible.

I could hear her calling after me, but I couldn't stop. I needed to be alone to grapple with the bitterness and despair that had taken root deep inside me.

A part of me couldn't help but resent her more for the fact that she had ruined my peace and also intruded on the only place that gave me joy.

I didn't know how long I walked through the darkness of the forest, which seemed to mirror the turmoil in my heart, but I stopped when I heard the sound of my sister's footsteps approaching, catching up to me quickly thanks to her advanced werewolf speed.

She grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. I turned to face her, my face still contorted with anger and pain."Sky, please listen to me," she pleaded, her voice breaking.

"I have some money saved up. I’ve been saving it for a long time. You can take it and run away. Start a new life somewhere else, far away from mom and dad and also the whole pack. Far away from anybody that caused you pain."

I stared at her, stunned by her offer. "Why would you do that?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion. "Why would you help me?"

She took a deep breath as she gazed at me softly, and my heart tugged in guilt. "I should have done this since but I was nothing but a coward. I should have stood up for you and stopped everyone from causing you pain, but I didn't. I'm so sorry, and I love you. I don’t want you to keep suffering." She gazed at me softly with her beautiful eyes, which seemed to stare deeply into my soul.

"And there’s something else you need to know. The only reason I’m marrying Arthur is because he’s my mate."

Her words left me feeling confused and disoriented. I had assumed she was marrying for power, but the truth was different. I could see the pain in her eyes and the sacrifice she was making.

"I didn’t choose this any more than you did," she continued, her voice trembling. "But I can’t turn my back on my mate. Just like you can’t keep living a life that makes you miserable, take the money, Sky. Leave this place and find your own happiness."

I felt my anger begin to melt away, replaced by a deep, aching sadness. I could see the sincerity in her eyes and her genuine desire to help me. For the first time, I realised that she understood my pain in a way I hadn’t given her credit for.

"I don’t know what to say," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.

"You don’t have to say anything," she said softly, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small envelope. "Just take this. Use it to find a new path. You deserve to be happy, Sky. We both do."

I took the envelope from her, feeling the weight of the money inside. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at my sister, finally seeing her for who she really was: not a rival or an enemy, but someone who loved me deeply and wanted the best for me.

"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice breaking. "I’ll never forget this." She pulled me into a tight hug, and for a moment, all the bitterness and resentment fell away. We were just two sisters, united by love and the desire to help each other.

"If it isn't the ugly pack monster," I heard the voice of Jenna, one of my sister's close friends, abruptly interrupting our moment. She scrunched her nose in disgust as she glared at me. I quickly hid the envelope under my dress, my heart pounding with fear of discovery.

She was one of my biggest bullies, and if she knew that I was about to escape, she would definitely make sure it was impossible. I felt a familiar surge of anger and hurt, but this time, something was different. I glanced at my sister, who stood by my side, her eyes blazing with protectiveness.

"That's enough, Jenna," my sister snapped, stepping between us. "You have no right to talk to her that way."

Jenna's eyes widened in surprise. "What’s gotten into you? Why are you defending her?"

"Because she’s my sister," my sister replied firmly. "And she deserves respect just as much as anyone else in this pack."

I stood there, stunned by her words. For so long, I had felt alone and unloved, but in this moment, I realised that I wasn’t alone. My sister was standing up for me, and it gave me a strength I hadn’t known I possessed.

Jenna huffed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just keep her out of my sight." She sneered at me before turning away while I stood there, feeling the warmth of my sister’s support. Jenny turned back with a forced smile on her face.

“Congratulations, Elizabeth,” she said in a tone that was anything but sincere. “You’re going to be the Luna of the pack.” She paused for a moment before muttering under her breath, “Even though you don’t deserve it.”

I saw her clench her fists in jealousy before she turned and left, her shoulders stiff with barely suppressed anger. Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head slightly. “Don’t let her get to you, Sky,” she said, turning back to me.

“People like Jenny will always find something to be bitter about.”

“I know,” I said softly, nodding. “Thank you for standing up for me.”

Elizabeth smiled and hugged me tightly. “Always. Now go, Sky. Find your happiness.”

I looked at my sister, my eyes filled with gratitude. "I will never forget this," I whispered.

She smiled softly, squeezing my hand.

"We’re in this together, Sky. Don’t ever forget that."

I hugged her tightly one last time and turned and walked away, clutching the envelope tightly. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had the support and love of my sister, and I was tired of living a life full of pain.