Chapter 3 She's My Daughter

Two days later, the trainees gathered at the training ground with their instructor, Fredrick, Beta of the Lupari pack.

Today's lesson was about balancing their abilities.

Fredrick screamed at the top of his lungs, "Students, get in position and arrange yourselves! We don't have all day!"

As he looked around, he noticed two notable absences-his best students. Where was his son? And the Alpha's daughter?

"Hey, you!" Fredrick pointed at one of the students. "Have you seen my son and Chloe?"

Elvin, the student he had called on, sighed inwardly. I'm sure they're up to no good as usual. I wonder how they're still the best in combat skills.

"Sire, I saw them heading deeper into the woods."

*****

"Chloe, be careful, please!" Lucas pleaded. "We're too far from the training grounds. We shouldn't be here-we're almost at the borders. You know how my father can be."

"Stop being such a child, whining up and down," Chloe scoffed. "My wolf is in the mood to go hunting. You know how thrilling danger is for me. And no one would dare attack us here-this is the Lupari pack."

"But Chloe-" Lucas tried to argue.

"Be quiet, Lucas," Chloe shushed him suddenly. "Do you smell that?" Her nose twitched as she tried to locate the source of the horrible stench.

"Yes, I do," Lucas said, his expression uneasy. "What could that smell be?"

"Uhmm... Lucas, go check it out."

"Me?! What-why me? Let's just go back. Maybe it's a dead animal."

"You see why I called you a child?" Chloe rolled her eyes. Without giving him a chance to argue further, she grabbed Lucas by the arm and dragged him toward the source of the smell, all the while covering her nose.

As they approached, they saw a mound of leaves piled up like a small hill, concealing whatever was causing the stench.

Chloe kicked the pile of leaves. But instead of soft foliage, her foot hit something hard.

"Ouch!" she yelped, wincing in pain. "There's definitely something here. Help me, Lucas!"

But the moment she let go of his arm, Lucas turned on his heel, ready to run.

"Oh no, you don't!" Chloe grabbed him again, pulling him closer to the pile as they pushed away the thick layers of leaves.

As soon as the heavy bunch of leaves was cleared, a lifeless body was revealed.

Lucas wasted no time-he turned and ran. Chloe, on the other hand, screamed at the top of her lungs, stumbling backward in shock.

****

"Did you hear that?" Fredrick asked, his senses on high alert.

"Yes!" all the trainees responded in unison.

Without wasting another second, Fredrick and the rest of the students sprinted toward the direction of the scream.

"Chloe! What the hell? Why did you scream so loudly? And where is my son?!"

Chloe sat frozen on the ground, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open. She couldn't speak-all she could do was lift a trembling hand and point in the direction of the body.

Was the beast finally here? Chase, Chloe's brother, thought nervously, feeling his heart pound against his ribs.

Now that they were all standing there, the stench hit their noses, making them instinctively cover their noses.

Fredrick followed Chloe's pointing finger and stepped forward to inspect the body. But as soon as he turned it over, his breath seized. His eyes widened in shock.

It was just a fragile little girl.

"She could be a threat, Uncle," Chase said, his voice firm. "Let's burn her and be done with it." He glanced at the body with disdain. "I don't think she's still alive."

Fredrick squinted as he took a closer look. Then, his eyes landed on something familiar-a necklace resting on the girl's neck.

His heart clenched. "No way," he whispered.

His grip on the girl tightened slightly before he turned back to Chloe.

"No one is killing or burning anyone," he ordered, his words were final. "Chloe, call your father. He needs to come here immediately."

"But why, Uncle? Can't you handle this?"

Fredrick exhaled sharply. "Just do it, Chloe, and stop questioning me." He turned to the other trainees. "You're all dismissed. Training is postponed until next week."

He glanced at Chase. "You can go as well. Your sister will stay back."

"Wait-what?!" Chloe exclaimed, her eyes darting to Fredrick in disbelief.

Fredrick looked around and shook his head, disappointed that his son had run away.

"What a shame," he muttered.

*** Finally, Richard arrived, his expression filled with concern. "I came as soon as my daughter called. What seems to be the problem?"

Fredrick pointed at the lifeless body on the ground. "Look."

Richard frowned. "Who is that?"

"Go see for yourself," Fredrick said.

Richard hesitated before stepping forward. As he examined the body, shock coursed through him. His breath hitched.

"No!" he exclaimed, his voice barely audible.

His hands trembled as he crouched down, brushing a strand of hair away from the girl's face. "Lyra," he whispered. But how did she end up here?

His mind reeled, unable to process the sudden appearance of his daughter. Without wasting another second, he scooped her up into his arms and rushed to the car.

Chloe watched her father from behind, unease settling in her chest. I don't like where this is going, she thought.

****

Once they arrived home, Richard wasted no time. He carried Lyra upstairs, pushing open the door to an empty room.

"You!" He called a passing servant. "Follow me and clean her up."

"Yes, sir," the maid replied.

Richard gently placed Lyra on the bed, then stepped out, giving the maid some privacy while he pulled out his phone to call the doctor.

Dr. Harold arrived immediately, his medical bag in hand as he was led upstairs to examine his patient.

Just then, a soft hum filled the house as a woman entered.

"I'm home," Linda announced, stepping inside.

"Mother!" Chloe rushed toward her.

"What is it?" Linda asked, taking in her daughter's anxious expression.

"Father brought a stranger into the house," Chloe said quickly.

"What? Where is he?"

"In one of the empty rooms upstairs."

Linda was about to storm off when she spotted Richard and the doctor coming down the stairs.

"Hello, Dr. Harold," she greeted before turning to Richard, her eyes sharp. "What happened? Why is he here, Richard?"

Richard met her gaze. "Wait for me downstairs. I'll be with you shortly."

Linda narrowed her eyes but said nothing as she turned away.

****

Once the doctor had left, the family gathered in the living room. Richard stood before them, his expression unreadable as he summoned them all.

"Son, why did you call for me and your mother on such short notice?" Fabian asked, his tone impatient. "We were heading out for an important meeting."

Chloe crossed her arms. "Father, who is that girl?" Confusion on her face.

Richard took a deep breath, looking at each of them in turn-his father, mother, mate and daughter.

"The girl upstairs..." He hesitated before continuing, his voice low and husky. "She is my daughter."

Silence fell over the room.

"Lyra?" Richard's mother gasped.

"But how?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Richard exhaled heavily. "I don't know, Mother. She was found lying lifeless at the pack's borders this morning."

Fabian's face darkened with rage. "Wait-you mean that abomination of yours is here?" He scoffed. "Why didn't you just kill her? Or better yet, burn her body? You could have taken her somewhere else instead of bringing her here."

Richard clenched his jaw.

"You know what people will say," Fabian continued. "What will the council think when they hear you brought a dirty blood into this house?"

"Seriously, Father?" Richard snapped. "At a time like this, all you care about is your reputation and not your grandchild?"

Fabian's expression hardened. "That thing will never be my grandchild. I have two grandchildren-Chloe and Chase. That's it."

Richard's gaze was unwavering. "Well, Father, your opinion doesn't matter anymore. I am Alpha now. I decide who stays and who goes. And I don't care what anyone has to say-my daughter is staying."

Linda, who had remained silent until now, shook her head in disbelief.

"Never!" she hissed.

Richard turned to her, his patience on thin ice. "Linda-"

"I am Luna of this pack, Richard," she cut him off, her voice firm. "And you cannot bring someone into this house without informing me first! You keep deciding things as if I don't exist!"

"I am not ready for your tantrums today, Linda. My mind is made up-the girl will stay," Richard said firmly.

He cast a warning glance around the room. "Just in case anyone tries to harm her, her room is heavily guarded, and I have my eyes everywhere."

Without another word, he turned on his heel. "I'll be in my study," he added as he walked away.

Tension thickened the air. Fabian clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.

"How did this human find its way into our lives again?" he muttered in disgust before storming off.

Just then, Chase walked into the house. The heavy silence and the scowls on their faces told him something big had just happened.

"What did I miss?" he asked, his gaze shifting between them.

Chloe rolled her eyes and headed for her room, while their mother walked away without a word.

Ruth stepped toward her grandson. "Don't mind your mother and sister. Your father brought his daughter home, and now everyone is riled up about it."

Chase blinked. Wait... that girl is his child? How?

"Excuse me, Grandmother," he said hastily before heading upstairs, following after his sister.

****

Chloe strode toward the room where the girl was resting, but a guard immediately stepped in front of the door.

"Your father has given strict instructions not to let anyone in," the guard stated firmly.

Chloe smirked. "Hmm. You can't stop me from seeing my own sister. Just give me a minute, and I'll be out. I already asked my dad for permission."

The guard hesitated before stepping aside, allowing her inside.

Once inside, Chloe's gaze landed on the girl still in a deep sleep. Her expression darkened, a deep frown settling on her face.

"I don't like you at all," she whispered coldly. "Coming to this pack was your biggest mistake."

Her claws out, gleaming under the dim light.

"Slicing your throat would go unnoticed," she murmured. "You won't be missed by anyone."