Lyra's heart stopped beating for a second when she saw her.
Elara stood in the doorway, living and breathing, looking exactly as she had ten years ago—only grown up. The same silver-blonde hair that Lyra had watched disappear under dark water. The same pale blue eyes that had stared lifelessly at the sky. But now those eyes sparkled with life and something else. Something cold.
"This isn't possible," Lyra whispered, backing away until she hit Narek's desk.
Elara stepped into the room, her moves graceful and controlled. "Little sister," she said, her voice sweet but her smile sharp. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"You drowned," Lyra said. "I saw you sink. I tried to save you, but—"
"But you failed," Elara finished. "Or so everyone thought."
Narek stood frozen between them, his eyes moving from one sister to the other. "Elara," he finally said, his voice rough with emotion. "You were supposed to stay hidden with your father. It's not safe for you here."
Elara's smile faded. "I couldn't stay away when I felt our bond changing." She reached for his hand, turning her wrist to show a mark identical to the one on Lyra's skin.
Lyra gasped. "That's impossible. He can't have two mates."
"He doesn't," Elara said coldly. "He has one. Me."
The tension in the room increased. Lyra felt like she couldn't breathe as Narek stared at the two identical marks, his face getting darker by the second.
"Sera!" he called suddenly. The door opened and an older woman entered, her gray hair pulled back in a clip. "You're the pack healer. Explain this."
Sera's eyes opened as she looked from Elara to Lyra. "Twins," she breathed. "Moon Goddess, they're twins."
"We're not twins," Lyra argued. "She's a year older than me."
"No," Elara said quietly. "That was a lie. We were born on the same day, Lyra. Father separated us at birth because of the prophecy."
"What prophecy?" Lyra asked.
Narek cut in, his voice tight with anger. "Enough! This is a trick." He grabbed Lyra's arm, his grip painful. "Who sent you? Was it the River Moon Pack?"
"No one sent me!" Lyra tried to pull away, but his hold was too strong. "I didn't even know you existed until my mark appeared!"
"Liar," he growled. The blue in his eyes glowed, his wolf rising to the surface. "First River Moon attacks our borders, and now this? A fake mate with Elara's face?"
"I'm not fake," Lyra said, fighting back tears of anger. "And I'm not Elara!"
"Stop." Elara's words cut through the tension. She stepped forward, putting a hand on Narek's arm. "She's telling the truth, Narek. She is my sister—my twin. And somehow, she's been marked as your mate too."
"That's not possible," Narek said, but his grip on Lyra relaxed slightly.
"The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes," Sera said quietly.
Narek released Lyra suddenly, as if her skin burned. "Lock her up," he demanded, turning away. "Until we figure out what's happening, she stays in the containment cell."
"Narek," Elara protested, but he cut her off with a look.
"She could be dangerous, Elara. You said yourself the River Moon Pack would try anything to get to you. What if she's one of them?"
"I'm not!" Lyra cried, but two guards were already taking her arms. "I don't even know what the River Moon Pack is!"
Narek wouldn't look at her. "Take her away."
The guards dragged Lyra from the room. She caught one last look of Elara's face—not sad or worried, but smiling slightly as the door closed between them.
The guards led her down a stone stairs, deep under the pack house. The air grew cold and damp. They stopped at a heavy metal door, opened it, and pushed Lyra inside.
"The Alpha will deal with you later," one guard said before slamming the door shut.
Lyra heard the lock click into place. The cell was small with just a bench along one wall and a tiny window set high in the stone. Too small to escape through, just big enough to show that night had fallen.
She sank onto the bench, her mind racing. Elara was living. Her sister, who she had thought dead for ten years, was alive and claiming to be Narek's true mate. But Lyra had his mark too. How was that possible?
And twins? They couldn't be brothers. Her father had always celebrated their birthdays a year apart. Why would he lie about something like that?
The forecast. Elara had mentioned a prophecy. What promise could be so important that her father would separate twin daughters?
Hours passed. Lyra paced the small cell, her frustration rising with each passing minute. The partner bond pulled at her, a constant ache in her chest. Even though Narek clearly hated her, her wolf wanted to be near him.
She hated the feeling.
A noise at the door made her turn. The lock clicked, and the door swung open to show Narek. Alone.
He stepped inside, closed the door behind him. In the dim light, his face was all shadows and sharp edges.
"Where's Elara?" Lyra asked.
"Asleep." He leaned against the door, arms crossed. "We need to talk."
"About what? You've already decided I'm your enemy."
"I've decided nothing." His eyes flashed in the darkness. "But you have my mark, and you have Elara's face. I need to know why."
Lyra crossed her arms, mimicking his stance. "I don't know why. I thought Elara was dead until today. I thought I killed her."
Narek's eyes rose. "Is that what your father told you?"
"He never said it directly. But after the accident, he couldn't even look at me. Everyone blamed me for taking her to the river."
"Your father is a master of manipulation," Narek said angrily. "He faked Elara's death to hide her from me."
"Why would he do that?" Lyra asked.
Narek stepped closer, his eyes intense. "Because of the prophecy. 'When twin moons rise, the Alpha will choose, and his choice will decide the fate of all wolves.'"
Lyra's breath caught. "Twin moons? You mean us? Elara and me?"
"Yes." His voice was low, almost a growl. "Your father knew we were mates from the day we were born. But when he learned you were twins, he panicked. The prophecy meant one of his daughters would rule, and one would not."
"So he hid Elara and let me think she was dead?" Lyra's voice cracked with hurt. "Why not hide me instead?"
Something flashed in Narek's eyes. For a moment, he looked almost sympathetic. "Elara was always the favorite, wasn't she?"
Lyra looked away, the truth of his words stinging.
Narek sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I don't know why you both have my mark. It shouldn't be possible."
"So what now?" Lyra asked. "You keep me locked up forever?"
"No." Narek moved toward the door. "Tomorrow, you'll meet the pack elders. They'll examine both marks and help us understand what's happening."
"And if they can't?"
Narek paused, his hand on the door. "Then I'll have to choose, as the prophecy says." His eyes met hers, and for the first time, Lyra saw doubt there. "But know this—Elara has been my mate for years. I've loved her since we were children. The bond we share is real."
The words cut deeper than they should have. Lyra lifted her chin. "I never asked to be your mate. I was perfectly happy on my own."
"We'll see." Narek opened the door. "Try to rest. Tomorrow will be difficult for both of you."
As he turned to leave, Lyra called out, "Wait! One more question. What's the River Moon Pack? Why does everyone keep mentioning them?"
Narek stiffened. "The River Moon Pack was your father's pack before he disappeared. They want Elara back because of her power."
"Power? What power?"
A small smile crossed his face. "You really don't know anything, do you?" He stepped through the opening. "Elara can control minds, Lyra. And if you're truly her twin, you might have power too. Power that could destroy us all if it falls into the wrong hands."
The door closed, the lock clicking into place. Lyra stood frozen, her mind spinning with this new information.
Power? Mind control? She had never shown any special skills. But if Elara could control thoughts...
A chill ran down Lyra's spine as she remembered Elara's smile as the guards had pulled Lyra away. That hadn't been the smile of a sister happy to be reunited.
That had been the smile of someone whose plan was working perfectly.