Two

Chapter Two

Liora’s POV

My eyes widened. “Mate?”

Alpha Alaric nods solemnly, digging into his pocket to pull out an envelope. I hesitantly took it from him, and I was stunned to see that in it was a photo of what seemed like a younger version of my mom in the arms of a man who I guessed was a younger version of him.

I blinked once, then twice, unable to believe my eyes. But I couldn’t deny that the woman in the photo was my mother.

Her hair fell over her shoulder in loose waves, her cheeks tinted pink, and her smile wide as she was caught mid-laughter. It made my chest throb with longing.

She looked so happy and free.

“We were mates in the past, but then she disappeared without a trace. I never stopped looking for her, and when I found her, it was at this hospital.” He goes on to explain.

I looked up at him, my brows furrowed in confusion. “So does that mean….you’re my dad?”

Mom never mentioned my father, and I never thought to ask because she was all I needed, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t curious.

Alpha Alaric shook his head, his lips curving into a bittersweet smile. “I’m not your biological father, but you can be my daughter.”

“Your daughter?” I blurted out, taking a cautious step back. “What do you mean?”

The Alpha glanced at my mom once again, his eyes softening. “When I first reunited with your mom, she told me she didn’t have much time left. I offered to fly her abroad for better treatment, but she refused. She only asked me for one thing, and that was to take you in after she….” He trailed off, heaving out a sigh.

Just then, the nurse came back. They wanted to move my mom’s body. This time, I let them, and we were ushered to a private lobby.

I sat stiff in my seat, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. The weight of my mother’s death weighed heavily on me, coupled with the revelation of her past.

The Alpha sat a few feet beside me, his expression a mix of empathy and kindness, “If you’ll allow it, I’d like to honor your mother’s wish. Come live with me, Liora. You’ll be a part of a pack. A home.”

I swallowed hard, unable to find the right words. I never thought I would be part of a pack, but fate is a tricky game. Honestly, the idea scared me. I was an omega with nothing to offer, and in a pack of powerful wolves, it only spelled trouble.

But…if it was my mother’s wish, then I had no choice but to go along with it.

So I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what’s to come.

“Alright.”

*****

The car ride to my new home is quiet. I absentmindedly stared out the window, clutching my bag close to my chest. It contained the only things I owned: my uniforms, a few clothes, and a few textbooks.

As my finger traced the crescent pendant of my mom’s necklace, I recalled her final moments, but then Alpha Alaric’s voice pulled me from my train of thought.

“We’ll hold a proper service for your mother,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about anything; I’ve already covered the outstanding medical bills.”

My heart swelled with gratitude. “Thank you.”

He offered me an easy smile, “No need to thank me, I’m only doing what I should have done a long time ago.”

Soon, we arrived at our destination, and my eyes widened as the tall iron gates gave way to reveal a majestic mansion.

My lips parted in awe. This was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and you’re telling me this was my new home?

I’m sure most people would be excited, but I felt bone-racking anxiety as we stepped out of the car.

“Come on.” Alpha Alaric offered me his hand.

I hesitated before taking it, trailing behind him with careful steps. The front doors open before we reach them.

The inside was even more impressive. My grip on my bag tightened as my worn shoes sank slightly into the velvet of a crimson carpet that stretched endlessly ahead, my shot upward, to the intricate carvings on the ceiling.

But then, as I face forward, I spot three figures standing in the middle of a grand hallway, half-shadowed by the chandelier’s light.

My breath hitched in my throat, and every fiber of my being went rigid.

What…..What are they doing here?

“Liora, these are my sons.” Alpha Alaric said, gesturing towards them.

I hoped I misheard him. I wanted to believe that everything was a mere illusion. Or maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Anything. Anything but this.

Alpha Alaric smiled, oblivious to the tension rising in the room. “Kael, Ronan, Elias. Meet your new sister.”

For a second. No one moves.

In sync, their eyes widened.

Kael’s resting smirk falters, Ronan’s gaze sharpens, and even Elias looks like he’d seen a ghost.

I stood frozen, my lips slightly parted as I realized that my worst nightmare had just opened its doors to welcome me home.

My bullies just became my stepbrothers.

“From today onward, you are one of us,” He continued, pride thick in his tone. “The newest member of the Durban Pack.”

Alpha Alaric turned to one of the maids standing by the door. “Celine,” he ordered softly. “Take Laura to her room, and make sure she’s comfortable.”

The maid bowed her head. “Yes, Alpha.”

I glanced at the Alpha uneasily before following her, but he smiled, reassuring me.

Oh, if only he knew.

I felt their eyes on me as I walked. The hair on the back of my neck stood erect, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. Not when I knew they were watching.

*****

The room was beautiful. Too beautiful in fact.

White silk curtains draped over tall windows, soft blue bedding, and a balcony overlooking the woods that stretched endlessly behind the mansion.

Celine offered me a warm smile. Her dark hair was pulled into a high bun, and her scent was kind, almost floral. Yet it wasn’t enough to put me at ease.

“If you need anything,” she started gently, “don’t hesitate to call me. I can also take you on a tour around the mansion if you want.”

I shook my head, “No, it’s fine. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” With a bow of her head, she excused herself, closing the door quietly behind her.

Finally alone, I heaved out a sigh. I looked through the balcony, still trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened.

For a long time, I just sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands. I still couldn't believe it. The boys who made my life a living hell were now my brothers; we would stay under the same roof and bear the same name.

My body still ached from the wounds they inflicted on me, where I’d been grabbed, pushed, and burned.

I thought of my mom, and my eyes stung with tears. Her voice echoed in my head, and I envisioned her on the bed beside me, holding my hand through it all.

Now she was gone, and I was left in a world that made no sense.

“Mom…” I sobbed, looking up at the ceiling. “I don’t know what to do.”

A knock broke my thoughts.

“Miss Liora, dinner is ready,” I heard Celine call through the door.

I wiped my tears with the sleeves of my shirt, realizing that the sun had already set. When I stepped out, Celine shook her head and ushered me back into the room, demanding I take a quick bath and change my clothes.

I was too tired to refuse, so she helped me get dressed. Now wearing a simple pink knee-length dress, I descend the stairs to the dining room.

The dining table looked like something from a royal palace, adorned with silver and gold cutlery. The food smelled too rich to touch, carefully crafted by the best chefs.

At first glance, it seemed more like a feast than a family dinner.

Alpha Alaric sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding yet warm. The brothers flanked him, sitting across from each other. Unlike when I first arrived, they stared at me in perfect composure, not a flicker of recognition crossing their faces.

Elias’s expression was unreadable, maintaining his aloof demeanor. Kael had a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes were heavy with contempt. Ronan returned his attention to his food, his fingers tapping against the table like he couldn’t care less.

“Come, Liora,” Alpha Alaric began, gesturing to the empty seat beside Elias. “You’re family now. Eat.”

I managed a stiff nod, feeling Elias’s cold aura before I sat down.

Alpha Darius began talking about my transfer from the academy dorms to the mansion. He asked if I needed a tutor, new uniforms, and other things.

I tried my best to focus on his words, giving a few nods, but with each second that passed, the tension at the table stretched out like an elastic spring.

Alpha Alaric turned to his sons. “Make sure you look after her. She’s not my responsibility alone, but yours too.” He said firmly.

“Yes, Father,” they all chorused, and I would have laughed at the irony if it were funny.

Just then, the Alpha’s phone buzzed, and he stepped out of the room to take the call.

That was the moment their obedient mask dropped.