Chapter 4 Four

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My father, the alpha, was willing to sacrifice my freedom and happiness for the sake of the pack. "But what about what I want?" I asked, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. "Don't I get a say in this?"

My father sighed, looking away from me. "I'm sorry, Lyra. But this is for the good of the pack. You have to put the pack's needs before your own." I felt a wave of horror wash over me. My own father was willing to force me into a mate bond with some stranger, all for the sake of the pack. I was nothing more than a pawn to him, a means to an end.

I felt like my world was crashing down around me. My father, the one person I thought I could always count on, had betrayed me. He was willing to sacrifice my happiness and freedom for the sake of the pack. I looked at him, pleading with my eyes. "Father, please. You can't do this. I won't let you."

But he just shook his head, his expression unyielding. "I'm sorry, Lyra. My mind is made up."

I felt another wave of despair wash over me. I had never felt so alone, so abandoned. I thought of all the times my father had told me how proud he was of me, how much he believed in me but now, it seemed like it was all just a lie. I begged him, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Father. Don't do this. I'll do anything. Just don't make me go through with this."

In the end, he just turned away, his voice cold and detached. "It's for the good of the pack, Lyra. You have to understand that."

I felt like I was drowning in a sea of sadness. My heart was breaking, shattering into a million pieces. I couldn't believe that my own father would do this to me.

...he was supposed to be my rock, my protector. And now, he was the one destroying me.

I felt anger completely overwhelm me, mixed with the sadness. How could he do this to me? How could he betray me like this? I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my father's betrayal. He didn't leave, but instead tried to persuade me to agree to the ceremony. "Lyra, listen to me," he said, his voice softening slightly. "I know this isn't what you want, but it's for the best. You need a strong mate to help you lead the pack."

I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. "No, Father. I won't do it. I won't be forced into a mate bond with some stranger."

My father sighed, rubbing his temples. "Lyra, you're not thinking about the pack. You're thinking about yourself. And that's not what being an alpha is about."

I felt a surge of anger at his words. "How can you say that? You're the one who's always taught me to follow my heart, to do what's right for me. And now you're telling me to sacrifice my own happiness for the sake of the pack?"

My father's expression turned stern. "I'm telling you to do what's necessary, Lyra. And this is necessary. You need a mate to help you lead, and this ceremony is the best way to ensure that happens."

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "But what about love, Father? What about finding someone who truly cares for me? Like mother."

My father's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Love will come, Lyra. But first, you need to secure the pack's future. And this is the way to do it. The more time both of you spend together, you would learn to love each other."

I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, with no escape. My father, the one person I thought I could always count on, was now my jailer, forcing me into a life I didn't want. I was alone, with no one to turn to. My father had betrayed me, and I had no idea how to escape this fate that had been forced upon me.

I stormed out of my room, my heart racing with anger and betrayal. How could he do this to me? I made my way to the training grounds, my mind consumed by thoughts of revenge. I would show my father, I would show the entire pack, that I wouldn't go down without a fight.

As I approached the warrior wolves, I could feel their eyes on me. They knew what was happening, they knew about the ceremony and the mate bond. And they knew that I was not happy about it. I stood before them, my chest heaving with anger. "I challenge the winner of the ceremony to a life or death duel," I spat, my voice venomous.

The warriors looked at each other, surprised by my bold move. But I didn't care. I was beyond reason. "I don't care who wins," I continued, my eyes scanning the crowd. "But know this, I will not be forced into a mate bond with any of you. I will fight to the death before I submit to that fate."

The warriors nodded, their faces serious. They knew I wasn't bluffing. I glared at them, my eyes burning with intensity. They were all my enemies now, every single one of them. And I would fight them all if necessary.

"You may think you're strong," I sneered. "But I am the daughter of the alpha. And I will not be defeated." I turned and walked away, leaving the warriors to their training. But I knew this was far from over. This was just the beginning.

I would fight to the end, to my last breath. I would never surrender.

As I walked, I could feel the weight of my father's betrayal bearing down on me. How could he do this to me? Didn't he trust me to make my own decisions? I knew the answer. He didn't trust me. He didn't believe in me.