"It wasn’t me!" Mara yelped immediately, hiding the still dripping goblet behind her back like a five year old.
"Oh really?" Serra snapped, rising with an expression of comical outrage. "Then it must have been the wine fairy."
"Maybe it was!" Mara squealed, dodging to the side as Serra lunged.
Mara shrieked and bolted, wine sloshing from her glass as she darted behind the couch. Serra vaulted over it with surprising agility for someone in a formal gown." You are dead!" Serra growled, chasing Mara in circles around the low table.
"Niva! Protect me!" Mara yelped, ducking behind the Alpha’s eldest wife, who merely raised her hands and stepped aside.
"Oh no, darling. You dug this grave."
Mara yelped again as Serra caught her by the waist, tackling her onto a pile of cushions. The room erupted into cheers as Serra pinned her down...and then the tickling began.
"No...nooo! Stop!" Mara wheezed, thrashing as Serra’s fingers found her ribs. "I swe...swear...Aah!No...Serra! Mercy! Moon above, I will pee...!"
"You are paying for the dry cleaning!"
Everyone was laughing now. Even the older, more regal Lunas were chuckling into their glasses.Some were even raising a toast to the glorious mess unfolding before them.
But Autumn...Autumn had stilled.
Her laughter had faded into something quieter.
The scene was so familiar...the shrieking, the flailing limbs, the breathless laughter.
"Lyla used to do this to me."
The memory hit her like a stray ember...too bright...she winched.
They would roll straight into a mud puddle. Their mother would scold them for hours.
Autumn’s chest ached.
She didn’t realize she was still smiling until Lyla’s voice cut through the noise.
"Is there anything funny on my face?"
Autumn’s smile dropped as she realized what she was doing but before she had to reply, a sharp knock at the door silenced the room.
Niva clapped. "Ah! The special wine."
One of the maids stepped inside, holding a silver tray with six crystal decanters and two dark green bottles of deep ruby wine.
"Special reserve," the maid said with a small bow. "As requested."
Niva grinned. "Perfect timing!" She took it from the maid and quickly dismissed her... "To new friends," Niva said, raising her own. "And old secrets."
The wine flowed freely, the laughter grew louder, and Autumn found herself...against all odds...relaxing into the plush cushions of the couch again.
And then more servants entered with more silver platter carrying several snacks. But to Autumn’s horror, she saw them place the roasted peanuts, right in front of Lyla.
Autumn’s body moved before her mind could catch up.
In one swift motion, she lunged forward, snatched the plate, and hurled it across the room. It clattered against the far wall, nuts scattering like shrapnel.
Every Luna in the room froze, glasses halfway to lips, eyes wide.
Niva arched her brow. Serra’s mouth twitched. Mara let out a slow, impressed whistle.
Lyla, still holding on to the now empty space where the peanuts had been...blinked. Then, her lips curled into a cold smile. "Well. That was dramatic."
Autumn’s chest heaved. "You are allergic."
Serra snorted into her wine. "Oh, Moon Goddess, is that what this tension has been about? You were worried she would sneeze?"
Mara wiped imaginary tears from her eyes. "Darling, if you wanted to throw something at her, just say so. We have all been there...Ouch!!!" Niva had to step on her feet again!
"Excuse me?" But it was Lyla’s turn to speak... and react.
"You are... allergic. You are deathly allergic to peanuts." Autumn’s voice was quieter now, but no less urgent. "Even a small amount causes anaphylaxis."
The others exchanged glances.
Serra arched both her brows." You sure this is not what we are all thinking... "
"No," Autumn snapped, then flushed. "It is definitely not what you might be thinking.She..." She turned back to Lyla. "...you used to swell up. Your face would go red. Your lips would..." she trailed off.
Everyone was watching now.
"Funny," Lyla said coolly. "You speak like someone who knew me once."
Autumn dropped her gaze.
"I...umm..I..no...Just something I overheard... once. I think."
Lyla gave her a long, slow look. " Overhead...where? "
" I... ummm, my family has ties with the Curzons. I... I must have heard it there... you are the Beta’s daughter... aren’t you? "
" Yes! " Lyla glared at Autumn. " But I am not the only child. I have a sister! You sure you ’heard’ the rumour right? "
And then...deliberately...she picked up a peanut and tossed it into her mouth while holding Autumn’s gaze.
Autumn’s cheeks burned, but she did not back down. "Don’t...don’t do that...you will go into anaphylactic shock. Your throat closes up.You could die..."
Lyla’s smirk did not waver.
Slowly, she reached for another handful of nuts that had landed near her on the couch. Still held Autumn’s gaze. And popped them into her mouth.
Autumn’s stomach dropped.
The room held its breath.
One chew. Two. Three.
No gasping. No swelling. No panic.
Just a slow, mocking tilt of Lyla’s head. "Hm. Guess not."
Autumn slumped back against the cushions, her fingers digging into the fabric. ’She is not her. She is not the sister I remember.’ But instead she could only say... " Impossible!How are you..."
" Not dead? Would you rather have me dead? "
Niva suddenly cleared her throat. "Well...well. That was... enlightening."
"I..." Autumn’s voice cracked. She forced a dry laugh. "She is right. I must have confused her with someone else."
Lyla’s gaze sharpened. "Funny. You don’t seem the type to ’confuse’ things."
Serra’s gaze darted between the two. Sensing disaster, she clapped her hands. "Okay!Now that the wine is here...New game! Before the truth or dare...I mean...One sip and we spill a secret from our past!No passing allowed? Are we in? "
" Yeah! Yeah...sure sure..but I have a question..." Suddenly Miera raised her hand, out of nowhere.She had already downed an entire bottle. And was flushed deep red from head to neck. " Who here has not fantasized about smothering their mate with a pillow?"
Mara shot her hand up. "Oh! Me! Definitely me. Because I would definitely use a knife if I have to."
Niva groaned. "Mara, no."
"Mara, yes," she countered, refilling another Luna’s glass. "Relax, darling. We are all a little murderous sometimes."
Autumn exhaled, gripping the table like an anchor.
Lyla was still watching her, as she reached for another nut. Held it between her fingers like a challenge. "You know... it’s strange."
Autumn stiffened. "What is?"
"You." Lyla tilted her head. "You look... never mind... "
The room’s chatter dimmed. Even Mara paused mid sip.
Autumn’s pulse roared in her ears. ’Tell her.She is your little sister.’
But the words turned to ash on her tongue.