Lie to Me, Bye to You

On the day of my marking ceremony, I don't receive flowers or a mate's embrace. Instead, I receive news that my boyfriend, Liam Hagerty, was caught in a snowstorm and his body was never found.

I lose the man I love, and the pup in my belly loses its father.

The grief nearly destroys me, but everyone keeps saying, "Aurora, stay strong—at least for the pup."

On the day of the funeral, Liam's twin brother, Jasper Hagerty, returns from the border patrol with his mate.

Every time I see Jasper's face—the exact same face as Liam's—my heart aches all over again.

Then one night, I accidentally overhear a conversation between my mother-in-law—the old Luna—and Jasper.

"Liam, you have to go through with this. Your brother died saving you, and your sister-in-law's been through so much. Let her give birth and have something to rely on. Then, you can host your marking ceremony with Aurora."

Silence follows. Then "Jasper" speaks. "But what about Aurora? She's carrying my pup..."

His mother sighs. "Aurora is strong and considerate. She'll understand."

Jasper says in resignation, "Alright, Mom. I'll do as you say."

That's when I realize Liam never died. The man I thought was my brother-in-law, Jasper, is just Liam putting on an act.

Heartbroken beyond words, I call my older brother, Axel Maddox. "Axel, I want to come home. Liam is already dead, so there's no reason for me to stay here anymore."

I broke down completely the moment the call connected, and I heard my brother Axel Maddox's voice. Tears poured down my face, and I pressed a hand over my mouth to stifle any noise.

He knew right away something was off.

"What's wrong, Aurora? Did something happen?" Axel asked, his voice tense.

I shook my head but couldn't force out a single word, letting the silence stretch as tears kept falling.

After a pause, Axel said quietly, "Don't be scared, Aurora. I'm here. Whatever it is, I'll fix it. Just hang on for two more days. I'll send a car for you the day after tomorrow and sort everything out."

His words sent a rush of warmth through me.

I nodded, steadied myself, and finally ended the call. That was when someone knocked at the door.

Liam Hagerty—or rather, the man pretending to be Jasper Hagerty—stood outside holding some milk, his voice tender. "Aurora, are you asleep? I warmed some milk for you. Drink it and get some rest."

I drew a deep breath and wiped my tears.

The instant the door opened, Liam stiffened. His gaze fixed on my puffy, red-rimmed eyes.

"Why are you sitting on the floor, Aurora? Are you feeling sick?" he asked, worried.

I kept my head down, saying nothing.

Liam sighed, placed the milk on the table, and reached to help me up. "I know you still miss Liam, but he's gone. You need to look after yourself for the pup you're carrying."

His hollow words filled me with pain and anger, and my hands balled into fists. I looked up and saw his face, and my chest hurt so bad I could barely catch my breath.

"I'm fine. It's just some mild stomach cramps," I said.

Liam paused, his expression softening with concern. "Do you want me to get a doctor?"

I shook my head, fighting back tears. "No, I just need to rest. I'll be okay."

He helped me to the bed, but his gesture was a little too affectionate for a "brother-in-law".

Once I was seated, his eyes drifted to my still-flat stomach, and he gave a quiet laugh. "This pup's already giving its mother trouble before it's even born. Just wait till it gets here. I'll set it straight as its uncle. Aurora, you've got to stay strong for the pup and Liam."

Liam's voice was full of concern, but every word cut deep. I bit my lip, my eyes welling up with tears I wouldn't let spill.

Finally, I looked up at him, my voice trembling. "Liam…"