Chapter 4

Lyra's POV

During the chaos, I could hear people murmured, but then a very loud growl came from beside me. It was so loud and scary that it made everyone stop talking. It felt like the ground was shaking. A chill ran down my spine and fear gripped me like cold and I could say my heart almost stopped beating. Then, the Lycan king jumped towards my father.

"You tried to trick me, Your King!" He exclaimed, his voice loud and angry. He took slow steps to the Alpha, his eyes fixed on him. The Alpha stumbled and fell, which made the Lycan king miss his target. Instead, his claws scratched my father's chest.

“You weak, incompetent wolf”. He continues in anger, “You’ll pay dearly for this deception. This means war.” He said, walking away with other Lycans in attendance.

I stood still on the altar, lost in confusion, not knowing what to think. ‘Has he rejected me? Is the allegiance still happening? Is the wedding cancelled?’ Those thoughts ran through my mind all at once whilestill in shock. I wasn’t aware when the crowd had dispersed.

I heard footsteps approaching, I turned to see a figure standing by the door, silhouetted by the moonlight, as the figure stepped forward into the light, I recognized the face, it was my father, I said to myself, ‘He’s probably here to disown and banish me from the Frostbite Pack.’

He was pale and shaking in anger. “You can never do anything right, can you?” He moved closer to me and landed a hot slap on my face that sent me tumbling to the floor, before I could wipe the tears on my cheeks, he gripped my chin tightly, his eyes burning with fury, as he forced me to look at him.

“You’re a disappointment, a disgrace to this pack,” he shouted in anger, hitting me with his words. "I knew you weren’t mine from the moment I laid eyes on you. How could a weak wolf be born to a strong Alpha like me? Huh?"

He continues to rant as if he has never spoken of it before. “And now you’re wolfless? A freaking omega.” He laughs hysterically, shaking his head till he stops laughing and snaps his voice cold and harsh, “I should have killed you when I had the chance, just like I killed your mother.”

My eyes widened in shock, I know father says things with frustration and anger, but I have never heard him speak of my mother or her death, even though I begged him to show me her pictures when I was a child, I believed it was a touchy subject to him since; he lost his fated mate because of me. I couldn’t believe my ears.

I was still on the ground, writhing in agony as I gripped my stomach tightly in pain, sobbing uncontrollably. He went on saying, “Now listen, I don’t care what methods you use. Convince him to complete the mating ritual or risk banishment.” He said as he stormed out, his fist clenched and face flushed with rage, leaving me huddled on the floor.

I waited till I was sure my father and everyone had left before I slowly forced myself to stand, I almost doubled over as my body ached all over from the beating, I dragged my battered body up the stairs, trembling with every step I took, I had to hold on to the handrails for support, as I walked up the stairs into my room.on getting there, I collapse in exhaustion weeping quietly till I fall asleep.

I was startled awake when I heard my door creaking open. I froze in fright, my heart pounding in my chest as I wondered who could be coming into my room. I sighed in relief when the person turned out to be Calantha the head omega, holding a bowl of clean water, towel and band-aid in her hands, she told me to sit up and began to wipe off the blood on my body with the wet towel.

“I’m so sorry, my dear,” Calantha said softly, her voice cracking with emotion. “He had no right to do that to you. He’s a monster! This has got to stop”. I stared at her emotionlessly, because I knew she was only bluffing, as no one dared to question an Alpha, not even the pack elders.

Not that they would ever try to help. Even the pack is blind to their Alpha’s faults and nothing can be done to change the situation of things.

She goes on, “You are not alone, my dear,” she said hugging me, I nodded slowly, still unable to speak, I was grateful for her support, but my father’s words kept ringing in my mind, Curiosity got the best of me, and I turned my swollen, red eyes to her. “Who killed my mother?” I asked her.

“Your mother died during childbirth,” she said as her eyes filled with tears. I shook my head, not believing her. “Did father kill my birth mother?” I asked her, pleading with my eyes to tell me the truth. She hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m not sure, but there were rumors that she didn’t die a natural death”. I nodded, because that was all I needed to know.

My eyes widened in shock, and I shook my head in disbelief as Calantha confirmed my fears. I could hear the tremble in her voice as she spoke about my birth mother’s rumored fate. The air in the room grew heavy, filled with an unspoken secret that threatened to shatter the fragile bond between us.

After a while Calantha stood up to leave, breaking the silence, and tucking me into the bed, “Rest dear,” she said walking out of my room, I could not help but feel like a part of me had been broken, and could never be fixed.

Now that I knew the truth, it was more horrific than I had ever imagined. I had no idea where the sudden strength came from, as I jumped from the bed.

I knew I had to leave the pack tonight and take my chances with the rogues, away from my father, fully aware that he wasn’t joking when he gave me an ultimatum to find the king or be banished, I was scared I would face a bigger punishment, worse end up dead.

Filled with determination, I packed my bag with the little cash have stashed for a while, clothes, and my most treasured possession–a sapphire necklace my grandmother had given me before she was banished from the pack. The necklace belonged to my mother, and I kept it hidden in my drawer to keep it safe.