Chapter 4 My Enemies

Chloe, what the hell? Are you crazy? Why did you want to harm her?" Chase demanded. "You don't even know her!"

"Father will be furious right now," he added, shaking his head.

Chloe scoffed and shoved him against the wall, covering his mouth with her hand. "This doesn't get to Father's ears."

Her voice dropped into a whisper. "She's an abomination and doesn't deserve to live."

"Says who?" Chase asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Grandfather. The laws of our kind," she sneered. Then she straightened her gown, patted him on the head mockingly, and walked away.

Chase exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. How on earth did we become siblings?

Meanwhile...

Richard stood in his private room, pacing with a glass in his hand, lost in thought.

What ever happened to you, Lyra? he wondered. Why were you at the pack border? What were you running from?

Guilt twisted in his chest. "I shouldn't have abandoned you and your mother," he murmured.

His whole body filled with frustration, he threw the glass at the wall and It shattered into tiny shards, the sharp sound echoing through the room.

The commotion made Linda rush in. She took one look at the mess and sighed.

"Richard, what a disaster," she said, crossing her arms. "I can't believe you're losing your mind over that thing upstairs."

"Leave, Linda," he said, rubbing his temples. "I want to be alone."

Linda scoffed. "I'm here, trying to be a good mate and Luna to you, and you're sending me off?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Fine." And, she turned on her heel and stormed out.

Two Weeks Later...

A pair of gray eyes flickered open. I sat up abruptly, my heart pounding.

"Where am I?" I murmured, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

I turned around, taking in the elegant interior. "This isn't the woods... How on earth did I get here?"

Akira, do you know how we ended up here? I asked my wolf.

No, Lyra, she replied. It seems we've both been in a deep sleep. I'm surprised.

I stood up, determined, and set in. "Let's try leaving the room. Maybe we can figure out who brought us here." My jaw clenched. "I just hope it isn't Gunnar again," I muttered.

As soon as I stepped out, my ears perked up, my heightened senses going on high alert. I heard voices-heated, in an argument.

I followed the sound, taking in more of the unfamiliar place. The grand hallways and rich decor told me this was no ordinary house.

Then, the voices became clear.

"Richard, I've had enough," a man spat. "That girl you brought here has to go."

"The news of a dirty blood living among us is spreading everywhere," he continued, his tone dripping with contempt. "Even the council called me about it!"

"She wasn't supposed to live in the first place," the voice added. "Why didn't you just kill her the moment she stepped into this world?"

"Your father is right, Richard," a woman chimed in. "You need to take that abomination of yours away from this pack before she ruins our image."

"This house already feels tainted," she scoffed. "We were fine without her. So why now?"

I stepped into the room, with my presence cutting through their conversation like a blade.

Silence Richard yelled.

I cleared my throat and their heads turned toward me, and I finally got a good look at them all.

And then, I saw him.

My so-called father.

I had memorized his face from the pictures my mother had shown me. That same sharp jaw, those same cold eyes. I would never forget those despicable features.

I cleared my throat, making sure they knew I was there.

"Lyra, you're awake!" Richard said, his voice filled with corncern. A wide smile stretched across his face, but I saw through it.

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. "Who are you?" Pretending not to know who he was.

An older woman spoke this time. She looked less irritating than the others-gray hair, gray eyes, just like mine.

"I am your grandmother, Lyra," she said softly. Then, she gestured to the boy beside her. "That boy over there is your little brother, Chase. And her," she said, pointing at Chloe, "she's your little sister."

Her tone softened. "That man," she gestured to an older, stiff-looking figure, "is your grandfather. The former Alpha of this pack."

Fabian scoffed. His expression twisted with disgust. "She's no granddaughter of mine," he said coldly before turning on his heel and walking away.

Ruth sighed but kept her composure.

Before she could continue, a younger woman stepped forward, her eyes burning with hostility.

"You don't need to introduce me to her, Ruth," she snapped, her lips curling in disdain.

She stepped closer, her posture was challenging, and trying to intimidate me.

I stood my ground.

"I am your father's wife. His mate. Luna of this pack," she declared.

"Just stay out of my way, and we won't have any problems," Linda sneered. "For now, I need to get far away from you before you infect me with your contaminated self."

"Linda-" Richard tried to caution her, but as usual, she walked out on him without another word.

I barely spared her a glance. Instead, my eyes landed on the girl who was supposed to be my sister. But instead of a welcome, all I got were dagger-like stares.

Richard stepped closer. "Are you fine now, my child? Do you need anything?"

I took a step back, avoiding his touch.

Then, a dry laugh escaped my lips. Anger bubbled inside me, sharp and unforgiving.

"Why did you bring me here?" My voice was filled with venom. "Why not leave me in the woods to die, Richard?"

I watched his face as I said his name-not Father. His expression darkened, and the room fell silent.

The tension thickened. None of them looked pleased.

"Were you expecting me to call you Father?" I scoffed. "No father of mine would abandon me and my mother to ruin."

I could feel my nails digging into my palms, my wolf pushing against me to stay in control.

"You abandoned me for eighteen years," I spat, my voice filled with fury. "Eighteen years, enjoying your life with the family you always wanted. While I-" My breath hitched. "Because of you, I lost my mother."

The words erupted from me in a scream, raw and unfiltered, as the memory of that day stabbed through me like a blade.

Richard's eyes widened in shock. "Elisa is dead?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Don't act like you care," I snapped at him. "It's because of you that she died! Your enemies targeted us and killed her. They captured the wrong people-when it should have been your wife and kids!"

A muscle in his jaw twitched, but I wasn't done.

"For six years, I was in the enemies' den," I said coldly, my voice steady now. "And you stand there, pretending to care?" I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please."

My wolf stirred inside me. Don't get too angry, Lyra, she whispered. You don't want to expose me just yet.

I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to calm down.

Then, I met Richard's gaze-empty, and detached. "I will never accept you as my father. Not in this life, and certainly not in the next."

A stillness settled over the room.

Then, my eyes shifted to the boy beside him. Unlike the others, he seemed calm. Quiet and observant .

I took a step toward him. "Can you take me somewhere I can get something to eat?"

His lips twitched into a small smile. "Oh-yes, yes, I can." He nodded eagerly before leading me toward the kitchen.

The moment we were out of sight, I heard Chloe's voice ring out.

"I can't believe she spoke to you like that, Father," she huffed. "She should be grateful you saved her from dying. What a disgusting, ungrateful brat."

"Chloe, that's enough," Ruth's voice interrupted. "She's going through a lot right now. And let's be honest-your father wasn't exactly a good father. None of us were. I can understand her frustration and anger."

"Whatever, Grandma. I'm out of here." Chloe stormed off.

Ruth walked over to Richard and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "She'll come around," she murmured. "I'm sure of it."