Chapter 6 INSTINCTS
AURORA
Trisha led me to what was no doubt Hera's room. There, every image of her glared back at me,I felt slightly more uncomfortable than I was in Nathan's room.
“Please, relax, Luna. I will draw a bath for you.” She offered, already scurrying towards the bathroom. I didn't argue, I saw no reason to. I was used to these kinds of treatment, only the scenario had changed.
With Trisha away, I moved around the room, taking in the polished and elegant gaze of the room. I stopped before a dresser, my attention pulled by the frame placed next to the mirror, it was a wedding picture.
In the wedding picture, Hera had the biggest smile on her face, but Nathan seemed dazed, as if his mind was somewhere else.
A week earlier I would have thought it was an odd take for a wedding picture, but now, I knew it didn't matter.
My heart tightened with the memory of my wedding picture with Carl. I had the biggest smile just like Hera, but unlike Nathan, Carl looked equally excited.
Thinking back at it, he must have been smiling at John who had taken the picture for us.
I heaved a breath, wincing at the pain of my foolishness. How I never saw it, never saw the way they looked at each other, and chose to always spend time together, go on so-called business trips together, politics, and crap.
Meanwhile, Carl was literally fucking my own brother. A married man on his own end, and Lisa…
“Fuck,” I cursed, realizing Lisa is still very much stuck in her marriage with my brother. Oblivious of what's going on behind her back.
My fist clenched as tears burned my eyes,I wanted to let it all out, to scream and trash everything until I felt a little bit better.
“Luna, your bath is ready…”
I straightened at Trisha's voice, blinking back my tears before turning to face her.
“Thank you.” I smiled, walking away from the dresser.
Trisha moved to the closet, picking out a simple white dress and bringing it over t o the bed.
“Would you like to have dinner here? Or downstairs?”
“Here would be fine,” I replied, and Trisha's eyes widened. “A–Are you sure?” She asked, staring at me with a concern that left me confused.
Then, it hit me. I wasn't Aurora here, but Hera, who died of poisoning, according to the doctor.
“Urm…downstairs will be fine,” I said, countering my last words.
Trisha sighed and reached for my hand, a watery glaze suddenly appearing in her eyes.
“I am so sorry I couldn't protect you.” She sniffed, a tear slipping down her cheek. “If I had known Laura was up to no good, I would never have let her come close to you.”
“S–She killed me?” I stuttered out, Trisha nodded, “She poisoned you, and when she tried to escape, the Alpha got to her. However, while she was in the dungeon, she mysteriously died. Ever since, the Alpha has been trying to find out who the mastermind was.”
Trisha squeezed my hand softly, “I am happy you managed to survive this.” She smiled through her tears and proceeded to hug me, sobbing on my shoulder.
Unfortunately, I couldn't reciprocate her emotions, even though it saddened my heart that Hera had died this way, and now everyone is thinking she is back.
“It wasn't your fault,” I whispered, patting her back to soothe her. “You couldn't have known.”
She slowly pulled back and wiped her face clean, "Forgive me Luna, your water is getting cold. You should freshen up, while I personally prepare your dinner.” Trisha said, before excusing herself, leaving me to my thoughts.
I went into the bathroom and got into the tub filled with warm milky water. Lying in it, I let my thoughts wander.
Just a few hours in this new body and I already feel restless. So many things seem to be going sideways, and right now I am the only one who can fix it.
But that is impossible, I need help. Someone I can trust with the truth, someone like Trisha.
She seemed to have been close to Hera, so close that they could share a hug.
Right now, I need to follow my instincts, and that is trusting Trisha with the truth.
An hour later, I stepped out of the bathroom and changed into the dress Trisha had picked out.
On cue, the door opened, revealing her with a warm smile on her face. “Dinner is ready Luna. The Alpha is waiting in the dining room.” She stopped before me, stretching out her hand, “I will take you there.”
“Not yet,” I said, stopping her. “Could you lock the door, there's something important I need to tell you.”
The warm look Trisha had on her face instantly vanished, switching into a sober one. She slowly nodded and strolled towards the door, shutting it with one click.
As soon as she stopped before me, I grabbed her hand, bracing myself for the reveal with a racing heart.
“Luna, what is wrong? What do you need me to do?”
“I am not Hera,” I revealed.
Trisha froze, and for one terrifying second, the entire room went silent.
Color drained from her face as she stared at me, her lips parting slightly.
“Luna…” she whispered carefully, almost as though mentioning the title would invoke something forbidden, “What are you talking about?”
My grip on her hand tightened. “Please, just listen to me first before you panic.”
Her brows furrowed deeply, confusion and fear battling in her eyes.
“I know this sounds insane,” I continued quickly, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. “But I woke up in this body without knowing where I was. I thought I had died, but instead I woke up in this body.”
Trisha slowly pulled her hand from mine. A small sting of fear hit my chest at the action.
“But how? You remember…” she trailed off, her lips moved, but no words came out.
“No.” I shook my head immediately. “That's the problem. I don't remember Hera's life because I'm not her.”
Her breathing became uneven,I could see the war happening inside her head.
“You're lying,” she muttered, “You have to be lying, right? Maybe the poison affected your memories…”
“My name is Aurora Colton.” I cut her short and watched her stagger back a step, her eyes widening in horror.
“I was murdered by my husband and my brother.” My throat tightened painfully around the confession. “Alpha Carl Lionel and Alpha John Colton, they killed me.”
Trisha covered her mouth with trembling fingers. “Luna Aurora? I saw the headline of your death. It was announced as an unfortunate accident.” she whispered, almost as though she didn't believe the words leaving her own mouth.
“It wasn't an Accident. It was murder.” I gritted out and the room fell dead silent.
“I need your help to get revenge on my husband and brother. I need Hera's body to achieve this, that's why I am asking Trisha. Will you help me?”
