My Stepsister

Under the bright moonlight, I found myself standing, gazing at the assembled crowd, bracing myself for the imminent ordeal. Cosmos’s eyes scanned the faces around him until they finally settled upon me. His voice echoed through the air as he spoke, declaring it a momentous day for justice as they prepared to pass judgment on me, Katie.

Our eyes met, and a chill ran down my spine. Those piercing blue eyes haunted me, filled with judgment and condemnation. Cosmos directed his attention towards me and asked the question that hung in the air, “Are you aware of the accusations against you, regarding the disruption you allegedly caused during the marriage of your ex-husband and step-sister?”

“Yes,” I replied, projecting my voice with confidence.

“And how do you plead?” Cosmos inquired.

I took a deep breath, scanning the crowd before making my plea. “Not guilty.”

The crowd gasped, whispers rippling through their midst. Cosmos nodded, gesturing for me to step away from the stage. “Let the prosecution present their case,” he announced, moving aside to allow the prosecution attorney to step forward.

“The prosecution calls Jonathan Mayor to the stand,” the attorney proclaimed.

A man of average stature, shackled in handcuffs and leg restraints, was escorted to the witness stand. Confusion marked his expression as he glanced around, but when his eyes locked onto mine, they brimmed with resentment.

As Jonathan settled into the witness stand, the attorney commenced his questioning, rifling through some papers. “Please state your full name.”

“Jonathan Mayor.”

“And what is your occupation?”

“I work as a mechanic at an auto shop.”

“Have you ever worked for Katie Ford?”

“Yes, I have.”

The attorney delved deeper, scrutinizing the documents in his possession. “When did you first encounter her?”

“I met her when she brought her car to the auto shop. I repaired it for her.”

“What occurred between you and Miss Ford?”

“She manipulated me. I assisted her in getting rid of her unfaithful husband. She instructed me to fix his car and orchestrate an accident. I followed her orders, but when I informed her that the job was done, she refused to pay me. Instead, she resorted to threats.”

The attorney frowned, turning to face me. “Miss Ford, can you confirm or deny these allegations?”

Scowling at the man, I crossed my arms defiantly. “I deny everything he has claimed.”

“And what is your reasoning for denying it?”

“Because it is a lie. Jonathan Mayor repaired my car, and when I tried to compensate him, he refused to accept payment.”

The attorney shifted his gaze toward Jonathan, a perplexed expression etched on his face. “What explanation do you have for this, Mr. Mayor?”

Jonathan shook his head, sporting a snide smirk. “I don’t owe you an explanation. She is the one responsible for the failed accident involving Mr. Stean and Miss Deborah.”

“You will answer my questions or face the consequences,” the attorney asserted, brandishing a file before the judge. “My client has provided evidence to prove Mr. Mayor’s falsehoods. Therefore, I request the dismissal of these proceedings.”

The judge perused the contents of the file, his frown deepening with each passing moment. Jonathan’s position weakened visibly. Letting out a sigh, the judge placed the papers back on his desk, directing his gaze toward the crowd.

“The jury will now deliberate,” he declared.

Relief washed over me as the crowd began to disperse from the stands. However, my relief was short-lived.

“The verdict has been reached, and Katie Ford is hereby pronounced guilty,” declared the judge solemnly. My heart sank as the words echoed through the courtroom. Without granting me a chance to defend myself, he swiftly passed the sentence of death by hanging. My disbelief and shock rendered me speechless, my mouth agape in utter astonishment.

Before I could comprehend the gravity of the situation, strong hands seized me from behind and forcibly escorted me towards the courtroom’s exit. Helpless and overwhelmed, I was thrust into a waiting police car and driven away to a secure facility. Upon arrival, I was led inside a prison building, my wrists promptly bound by cold, unforgiving handcuffs. Led down a dimly lit corridor, I found myself in a room teeming with cells, a stark reminder of the confinement that awaited me.

With a forceful push, I was thrust into one of the cells, the door clanging shut behind me. The jailer’s voice echoed in my ears as he informed me that I would be escorted to the prison cafeteria for breakfast the following morning. Abruptly, the guards departed, leaving me alone in my desolate enclosure. As tears welled up in my eyes, I stood there, grappling with the harsh reality that had befallen me. It was unfathomable to believe that my own ex-husband and step-sister would allow me to face such a gruesome fate.

***

[Two Months Earlier]

Dan delivered a shocking revelation that left me reeling. His voice was devoid of emotion as he dropped the bombshell, “She’s pregnant.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The person I cherished above all others, my soulmate, had betrayed our love by impregnating another woman. And to make matters worse, that woman was my step-sister.

It felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath me. The weight of his words crushed my spirit, and the pain I felt mirrored the anguished cries of my wolf. I had given everything to Dan, endured countless hardships for him. And now, he stood before me, delivering this devastating news with callous indifference.

“Why?” I managed to choke out, tears welling up in my eyes.

Dan’s response was sharp and cutting. “I don’t owe you an explanation,” he snapped. “You failed to fulfill your duties as my mate, as a Luna. Don’t act surprised now. The pack needs an Alpha heir, something you’re incapable of, Katie.”

His words pierced me like a dagger, striking deep into my core. We had been officially bonded as mates for six years, and it was true—I had been unable to conceive a child for him. It wasn’t for lack of trying, though. In the months following our bond, I had done everything in my power to be close to him. But it became clear that his interest in me was lacking. I knew he was only with me because I held the title of Luna. Yet, there was a painful truth I bore as a mate—knowledge of his affair with Deborah.

Dan and Deborah had a history that predated our official bond, and it was painfully obvious that he loved her more than me. He showered her with the affection that should have been mine, treating her as the center of his universe. Despite it all, my love for him endured, even if it remained unrequited. I foolishly clung to the hope that once I gave him a child, his feelings would change. After all, I was his rightful Luna and chosen mate.

A year passed, filled with failed attempts to conceive, and I sought guidance from the pack doctor. It was there that my worst fears were confirmed—I was unable to bear children. I was lost, unsure how to move forward. This was the one thing I had pinned my hopes on, the one thing I believed could change my fate and Dan’s feelings towards me. Only the highest-ranking members of the pack knew of my infertility, but the disappointment in my father’s eyes, the Beta, was enough to shatter my spirit.

Despite the heartbreak, I made desperate attempts to regain Dan’s attention. I embarked on extreme weight loss, striving to enhance my physical appearance, and dedicated myself wholeheartedly to my duties as Luna. Our pack was renowned as the most prosperous in the country, and a significant part of that success was attributed to my efforts. I convinced myself that if I could make him thrive, he would reciprocate and shower me with the love I longed for. But as time wore on, he grew colder and more distant.

Our once intimate encounters, devoid of passion and warmth, became mere obligations once Dan discovered my infertility. Eventually, they ceased altogether. Those fleeting moments of connection meant the world to me. They were the only instances where he touched me with tenderness, igniting sparks that coursed through my veins, and his scent enveloped me like an intoxicating fragrance.

It was the cruel reality of the mate bond.

“...But I love you, Dan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I couldn’t bring myself to meet his cold, green eyes as my legs trembled beneath me. The pain I felt was amplified by the crushing despair emanating from my wolf.

“It’s pitiful for you to say that,” he scoffed. “Consider yourself lucky that I haven’t stripped you of your Luna title in favor of Deborah. The Goddess may have chosen you to be Luna, albeit mistakenly.”

His words pierced through me, causing me to flinch.

“However,” he continued, “I must inform you that I will declare Deborah’s child as my rightful heir. The elders have deemed it appropriate, given the circumstances. They understand the vital role this baby plays in the survival of our pack.”

I lowered my head in submission, tears silently streaming down my face. Every fiber of my being longed to escape from him, to distance myself. Yet, his presence held me in place. Despite everything he had put me through, even a simple conversation with him still stirred something within me. The bond between Luna and Alpha was unbreakable, compelling me to continue loving him, despite the pain. Although every part of me yearned to scream, to strike him, to claw at his eyes for the anguish he had caused me.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Dan said, his voice cold and indifferent. “I have some business to attend to. And you should go home. Your parents are no doubt worried about you.”

With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd. I stood there, numb with shock, for what felt like an eternity. When I regained control over my legs, I stumbled out of the gazebo. The journey back home was a blur, and before I knew it, I had collapsed on the doorstep.

I stayed there, motionless, for a while. When I finally found the strength to move, it was to seek solace in my room.

My eyes scanned the room, taking in the scattered books, the paintings, and photos on the wall. It felt like a stranger’s room, and the loneliness that consumed me was more excruciating than anything I had ever experienced. This had been my room, shared with my sisters, yet I felt utterly alone.

As I glanced down at the handbag on the bed, my thoughts turned to its hidden contents. The engagement ring, carefully chosen for him. My gaze then settled on the letter I had left on the bed, composed just moments before his arrival. I picked up the letter, unfolding it with care.

Skimming over the words, my heart pounded as I realized how naive I had been. It was now clear that Dan didn’t care about me. And who was I to him, after all? Just a Luna, destined to carry the pack’s legacy? Or a barren woman bound to bring misery to his life?