After My Mate Defended Me, Secrets Unraveled in Silver Moon

The world came back to me in fragments—the scent of healing herbs, the soft rustle of leaves outside the window, and the dull throb of pain radiating from my temple. I kept my eyes closed, clinging to the darkness as Ethan's words echoed in my mind.

"My wolf recognizes you as my true mate."

Not me. Lily.

My sister. My replacement.

The betrayal cut deeper than the injuries from the crash. All this time, while I'd been dutifully preparing to bind myself to a man I didn't love for the sake of our packs, he'd been secretly pining for her. And she—the orphan my family had taken in, the girl who had stolen my place—had been plotting behind my back.

And Brandon knew. My own brother.

*They think we're weak,* Nova growled again within me. *We'll show them how wrong they are.*

I heard footsteps approaching—the light, measured steps of Healer Maeve. Making my decision in an instant, I parted my lips and let out a soft, confused moan.

"Autumn?" Maeve's voice was gentle as she approached the bed. "Can you hear me?"

I fluttered my eyelids, deliberately unfocused, letting fear seep into my expression. "Where..." I whispered, my voice cracking. "Who am I?"

Maeve's eyes widened, her hand freezing midair where she'd been reaching to check my bandages. "Autumn? Do you not remember?"

I let my gaze wander the room in feigned confusion, allowing tears to well in my eyes. "I don't—I don't know this place. I don't know you."

"Goddess above," Maeve whispered, her professional composure slipping for just a moment. She quickly recovered, taking my hand in hers. "You're Autumn Hayes, daughter of Alpha Hayes of the Silver Moon Pack. You were in an accident last night."

I stared at her blankly, letting her words wash over me as if they meant nothing.

"I need to inform your family," she said, rising quickly. "And..." She hesitated, concern etching deeper lines around her eyes. "This changes things."

As she hurried from the room, I allowed myself a brief moment of grim satisfaction. Yes, this changed everything indeed.

---

The next few hours passed in a blur of concerned faces and hushed conversations just outside my door. I maintained my vacant stare, responding with confusion to every question. When Brandon entered, his face tight with worry that didn't quite reach his eyes, I felt Nova bristling beneath my skin.

"She needs stability," Maeve was explaining to him. "The ceremony must be postponed, of course. But more than that, she needs someone to ground her, to help her remember."

"What are you suggesting?" Brandon asked, his voice carrying the authoritative edge he'd practiced since childhood.

"Her mate," Maeve said simply. "Or rather, the one her wolf recognizes."

I kept my expression neutral, though inside, Nova howled with rage. *We have no mate! They're trying to force their plan on us!*

*Wait,* I cautioned her. *Let's see what game they're playing.*

"Jackson Rivers," Brandon declared after a moment of consideration. "He's been... close to Autumn. My Beta-in-training. He'll help her through this."

Jackson Rivers? I'd barely exchanged more than formal greetings with the stoic wolf who shadowed my brother. What new deception was this?

"Very well," Maeve nodded. "I'll release her to his care at dawn. Her physical injuries are healing well, but her mind..." She shook her head. "Only time will tell."

---

Dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and gold when Jackson arrived at my den. I sat on the edge of my bed, dressed in loose clothing Maeve had provided, staring out the window with deliberate emptiness in my gaze.

He entered without knocking, his tall frame filling the doorway. "Autumn," he said, his voice deep and steady.

I turned slowly, studying him as if seeing him for the first time. He was handsome in a rugged way—dark hair falling across his forehead, strong jaw set in determination, eyes a piercing blue that seemed to look straight through my charade.

"They tell me you're Jackson," I said softly. "That you're... important to me."

Something flickered across his face—too quick to identify. "Yes," he replied simply, moving into the room with careful steps. "I'm here to help you remember."

He began unpacking a small bag, placing items around the room with practiced efficiency. I watched him through lowered lashes, noting how he moved with purpose, how his eyes constantly returned to me as if checking I was still there.

"The pack is talking," he said after a while, his back to me as he arranged some clothes in a drawer. "They're curious about us."

"What are they saying?" I asked, genuinely curious despite myself.

"They wonder if I'm really your mate," he replied, turning to face me. "If I'm worthy of the Alpha's daughter."

I tilted my head, studying him. "And are you?"

His lips curved in a small, enigmatic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's not for me to decide."

---

Three days later, I found myself seated at a formal pack dinner, Jackson at my side. My father had insisted on the gathering—"to show the pack that Autumn is recovering well," he'd said, though I knew it was more about damage control than concern for my wellbeing.

Lily sat across from me, radiant in a pale blue dress that complemented her golden hair. Her smile was sympathetic, her eyes watchful. Beside her, Ethan maintained a respectful distance, though I caught the way his gaze lingered on her when he thought no one was looking.

"More wine, sister?" Lily asked, reaching for the crystal decanter.

Before I could respond, her hand "slipped," sending the deep red liquid cascading across the table and onto my cream-colored dress.

"Oh!" she gasped, eyes wide with false horror. "I'm so clumsy! Your beautiful dress!"

The table erupted in movement—servants rushing with cloths, pack members murmuring in concern. I remained still, staring down at the spreading stain with the blank confusion I'd perfected.

Then I felt Jackson's hand on my arm, steady and warm. "Come," he said quietly. "I have something for you."

He led me from the dining hall, ignoring the curious stares that followed us. In the corridor, he produced a package from a nearby alcove.

"I thought something might happen," he explained, offering me the parcel. "Lily has always been... predictable in her cruelty."

I froze, my fingers hovering over the package. Had he just admitted he knew about Lily's true nature? I searched his face, but his expression revealed nothing.

Slowly, I unwrapped the package to find a simple but elegant dress in deep forest green.

"How did you know?" I asked, genuinely surprised by his foresight.

Jackson's eyes met mine, something unreadable in their depths. "There's much I know about you, Autumn Hayes," he said softly. "Perhaps more than you realize."

As he turned to give me privacy to change, I felt a strange flutter in my chest—not quite trust, but something dangerously close to curiosity. What game was Jackson Rivers playing? And whose side was he really on?