Chapter 10 Tonight, I will know the truth
Zoe's POV
She pulled herself together. Straightened her shoulders. But I could see her hands still shaking.
"The Dylans are... complicated," she said carefully. "That family has a dark history. But that's not what matters now."
"Not what matters?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You clearly know something! About me! About Olivia! About why I have her face!"
"What matters," she said firmly ignoring whatever I'd said, walking back to the bed, "is that you need to keep pretending to be Olivia."
My mouth fell open. "What?"
"Ryan is barely holding on," she said. Her voice softer now. Almost pleading. "Before ... before Olivia disappeared, he was strong. A good Alpha. But after she was gone, he could barely function. And Marcus..." Her voice cracked. "Marcus has nightmares every night. Wakes up screaming for his mother. Crying until he can't breathe."
Guilt twisted in my stomach.
"This pack needs their Luna," Scarlett continued. "Even if..."
She stopped.
"Even if it's a fake version?" I finished. The words tasted bitter.
Scarlett looked at me. Really looked at me. "Even if she's not the one they think she is."
I stared at her. My mind was spinning. "You're hiding something. Something big. Something about Olivia. About me. About why you reacted to my name like you'd seen a ghost."
"This conversation is over." She moved toward the door.
"No!" I tried to get up. Pain exploded in my chest. I fell back with a gasp.
Scarlett stopped. Her hand on the door handle.
"Where is she?" I asked. Tears burned in my eyes. From pain. From frustration. "Where is the real Olivia? And why does my name scare you so much?"
Scarlett's shoulders tensed.
For a long moment, she didn't move. Didn't speak.
Then, quietly, almost too quiet to hear: "If I knew where Olivia was, child, do you think I'd be asking you to pretend?"
She unlocked the door. Opened it.
Stopped in the doorway without turning around.
"Be careful, Zoe," she whispered. "Some secrets are buried for a reason. And some names... some names should stay forgotten."
Then she walked out.
The door closed softly behind her.
I lay there in the bed. Staring at the ceiling. My chest heaving. My mind racing.
What was Scarlett hiding?
Why did my name make her look like she'd seen death itself?
And what did she mean... some names should stay forgotten?
Who was I really?
_______________
I didn’t see Scarlett for the next two days.
I feel much better now. My wound has healed completely, thanks to my wolf.
Even though I promised myself to stay low-key until I find a way out of this place, tonight I need to go outside with Ryan.
The pack is celebrating.
Music filled the great hall. Tables overflowed with food. People laughed and danced. Children ran around screaming with joy.
All for me.
All for the Luna who came back from the dead.
I sat in a chair they'd brought for me. Soft cushions supporting my back. My chest still hurt a bit and Ryan doesn't want me to stand for long.
Ryan stood beside me. His hand resting gently on my shoulder. Marcus sat on my lap. His small body warm against mine.
"Luna! Welcome home!"
"We missed you so much!"
"Thank the Moon Goddess you returned!"
Pack members kept coming. One by one. Touching my hand. Kissing my forehead. Some cried. Some just stared at me like I was a miracle.
And I sat there smiling. Nodding. Pretending.
Pretending to be someone I wasn't.
The guilt sat heavy in my chest. Heavier than the bullet wound.
Ryan leaned down. His breath warm against my ear. "Are you okay? Do you need to rest?"
"I'm fine," I lied.
Marcus turned in my lap. His little hands cupped my face. "Mommy, are you happy?"
I looked into his innocent eyes. "Yes, baby. I'm happy."
Another lie.
He smiled and kissed my cheek. Then jump off my lap to play with the other children.
I watched him run off. My heart aching.
Then I saw her.
Scarlett.
She stood at the back of the hall. Far from the celebration. Away from the noise and joy.
Just standing there.
Staring at me.
Tears running down her face.
Our eyes met across the crowded room.
She didn't smile. Didn't wave. Just stared with such pain in her eyes. Such guilt.
Like she was looking at a ghost.
Then she wiped her tears. Turned. And slipped out of the hall.
No one else noticed. Everyone was too busy celebrating.
But I noticed.
"Ryan," I said. "I need to use the bathroom."
He looked concerned. "Do you want me to help you?"
"No. I can manage." I stood slowly. Pain shot through my chest but I pushed through it. "I'll be right back."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
I made my way through the crowd. People reached out to touch me as I passed. I smiled at them. Nodded. Kept moving.
Out of the hall.
Into the quiet corridor.
I looked both ways. Saw a figure going up the stairs.
Scarlett.
It's tonight.
Tonight, I will find out everything she’s hiding.