Chapter 3

Ronika

Lost, I felt wholly adrift in my new reality as the black SUV sped down the gravel roads, with a bunch of other vehicles following behind us. Images of my mother's lifeless eyes staring at me kept running through my mind. I had woken up minutes before being hauled into the vehicle like a sack of potatoes.

Every tyre crunch on the gravel triggered horrible memories of my mom's sliced throat. The numbness I initially felt had begun to ebb away, a whirlwind of emotions bombarding me in its place. The reality of the irreparable loss sank in bit by bit, forcing uncontrolled tears to flow from my open eyes.

I yearned for the real company of my loving mother. My shivering body wanted to be pulled by her cordial arms into an affectionate, assuring embrace.

But she was gone.

All because of the stupidity of my traitorous father. The name alone forced my insides to seethe, making bile juice rise up my throat all the way to my mouth.

He had caused this; his actions had led to everything that had openly transpired before my very own eyes. How could he have given me collateral before I was even conceived? What sort of raw malice was that, from my own flesh and blood? Without a mother, a hypocritical, treacherous father, and my pack members, my life had become nothing short of disastrous.

"I hate you." I spat in a croaky voice, referring to my father, Quinlan, and everyone who was involved in fucking up my life.

"Hate is such a strong word coming from such a pretty lost alpha's daughter, don't you think so?" Quinlan mocked, chuckling from the passenger seat in front of me.

"I wasn't talking to you." I hissed, my nostrils flaring incessantly. My blood boiled beneath my veins, running wildly in my body.

"I'd watch my fucking tone if I were you," he warned.

"Do your worst," I snapped, uncaring of the consequences at that moment. He didn't say another word, and a part of me was glad he kept quiet. I helplessly watched as trees zoomed past us, just like my old life in the pack. Everything I had known since my childhood was shattered in a matter of minutes. The things I believed in were all snatched away from me faster than a lightning bolt.

Yet again, for the hundredth time since I woke up, my insides tightened up and turned jagged. The heaviness in my chest weighed me down; the day was clearly the worst day of my life. I was also mad and furious at my dad and his amateur warriors. How had an entire pack of warriors invaded the packlands, especially in vehicles, without being noticed until the last minute?

"You seem quite occupied with thoughts." His voice invaded the interior of the vehicle, once again disturbing me. My mouth remained shut, ignoring the heartless man's statement. I had no intention of talking to him again after what his men had done to my entire family and pack members. What sort of man would invade and kill people all in the name of retrieving his possession?

"It had to be done," he continued, answering my unsaid thoughts.

More tears slipped past my eyelids, staining my cheeks more. He was talking as if the lives he had taken away didn't matter. That was not the right way to go about it at all. He had no right to do that—absolutely none.

"The warrior will be punished accordingly," he said yet again after a while. I sniffed, shaking my head. I just wanted him to shut up; his voice didn't appeal to my pounding temples.

"The pack warrior who killed your mother and luna, he will pay." God, he was infuriating. An anguished, loud laugh made its way past my lips the moment he uttered those words. Surely he must have been deranged to say such a thing, considering what had happened in his presence and under his orders.

"Unbelievable," I muttered, making him turn to look at me from the passenger seat. I could vaguely see him studying me in my peripheral vision. The driver, who had been quiet all the way, remained focused on the road. How I wished his alpha would just shut up and let me wallow in my own pity party.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I couldn't believe my ears. After everything he had caused, every single pain he had brought forth, he had the audacity to ask such a question.

Once again, my brain took me back to my pack grounds, where everything had changed totally for the worse. There, the organ forced me to relive the scene of war, chaos, and violence yet again. Every blood spatter, every cry of help and agony, my mother's helpless voice as the knife sliced her carotid artery. My brain recaptured it all again, forcing my eyes to shut and eat it all up.

"Why would you punish him?" I asked lowly.

"I can see how her death is affecting you." He shifted on his side entirely and turned to look at me fully. I refused to look back and instead opted to close my eyes.

"Was he the one who orchestrated the attack?" I chuckled bitterly.

"He was merely following your orders, wasn't he?" My voice box produced my broken voice, which sounded even foreign to my own ears.

"I am warning you." His voice took on a low, threatening, incensed tone; it looked like I had just hit a nerve.

"Your punishment is as purposeless as a chocolate tea, alpha." I drawled his title in mockery, wanting to irritate him even more.

"It will not alter your actions, and neither will it bring my mother back to life or the rest of the dead pack members." My voice ascended with every word I uttered. I needed to let it all out; I was burning to speak my mind, and I did not care for one second that this man could end me. In fact, death was the best option at that moment.

"Watch your mouth," he warned yet again, and this time my eyes blinked open. I refused to look at his face at all—the pathetic face that had been my undoing, his evil face that had turned my life upside down in one single click.

"Alpha, we are only a few turns away from the pack; do you need anything from the town before I make the turn?" The driver questioned, probably stopping me from making a crude remark towards his killer of an alpha.

"No Luca, we are covered in blood." Of course, that is why it smelled so stuffed and coppery in here. The blood of the people I once called my friends and family.

Shameful. How would the remaining pack members cope after the deaths of their mates, parents, and friends? I couldn't help but wish I had remained with them to mourn together and encourage one another. I hoped that someone would step up to my cruel father and challenge him for the alpha title. He didn't deserve to rule, let alone be respected or even live.

"You know, you are in this position because of your own father." Damn! Why wouldn't he just let me be in my own emotional turmoil?

"His signature brought all these to you and your entire pack. That makes me wonder, did he really love you and your mother?" His words pierced my heart in one quick thrust.

I knew the answer to his question, and the mere thought of it being the truth gnawed at my insides without mercy.

"Blow your stuffy nose; that man isn't worth crying for. Also, I can't stand your hypo-nasal voice." I couldn't help but agree with the fact that my father deserved no tears whatsoever, but he wasn't the reason why I couldn't keep my tears at bay.

Because of him, I was headed to a new pack as an orphan against my will. Because of him, I had become the possession of a man I knew nothing about. Because of him, I had become a prisoner.

We stayed in silence after that, getting lost in my thoughts and the memories of my mama once again. I didn't know how long it took, but soon the tyres screeched to a halt. As soon as we stopped, the driver was out, and in seconds, he opened the door for me, signalling me to alight.

The rest of the cars were packed on both sides, in front of a circular driveway with a cascading fountain. I barely registered as a hand clasped my elbow and began to drag me away towards the hushed old 3-story house.

I didn't have time to look at its existence and rocky walls; instead, I struggled to keep up pace with the angry alpha as he dragged me into its glorious interior. Yet again, I tried matching his strides as he ascended the stairs, taking different turns in the hallways until we came to a halt.

His large palms pushed the door open and ushered me in. A petite elderly woman was busy making the bed, seeming unaware of our intrusion.

"Nana." His voice somehow sounded soft and courteous as he called to her. Her head snapped up very fast, and in short yet fast strides, she approached him.

"You are back sooner than expected, my child." She pulled him down for a warm hug, making him bend in an awkward position. I scoffed, because clearly she also knew he was carrying out a ruthless attack. I only looked at her, though, watching him in side vision. I had no desire whatsoever to look at him.

She then turned to me, and I found myself being pulled by something I couldn't control as she approached. "It's you; it really is you." Her voice was melodious as she whispered the words to me, making my puffy eyes squint. Her presence was so compelling that I found myself looking deep into her warm eyes.

"Rid your heart of all the sorrow, young one." Her voice echoed in the room, her eyes twinkling as she spoke.

"For everything happens for a reason. Consequences must follow after any action," she paused, her lips etching into her smile.

"There are things beyond what you see, my child. Things best left untouched."