Chapter Seven

LYRA'S POV

With a smile on his face, "It's a pleasure finally meeting you, Lyra," the first fellow said as he opened the limo's door, reaching out for my hand.

For a moment, I hesitated, but I had to be bold.

"It's a pleasure meeting you too, sir," I said as I placed my hand in his, stepping into the car.

"Sir? You can call me Ronan."

"Wait! Ronan?..." I exclaimed in shock.

Ronan’s brows lifted slightly, the easy smile fading from his lips. His eyes darted to his father for a brief second like he was trying to read his face before quickly masking his reaction.

I was really confused, I thought the fellows were just drivers. I didn't know they were Mr. Jerome's sons; this means the other fellow is Silas. This is really unexpected.

"You are the one they called Ronan? From the Elite Trend Magazine?...." I asked, trying to cover up.

"Elite Trend?… maybe you meant Elite Vogue," he said.

"Yeah maybe, actually I never paid much attention to its title," I said, in relief. "Well then nice to meet you Ronan."

"Meet my twin brother, Silas..."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lyra," Silas said with a gentle smile on his face.

"And I can see you already met my father, the alpha of this pack," he said.

Breathing became a struggle because of the unexpected welcome. And Silas—he just stared at me in such a way that I felt very uncomfortable.

But I could clearly see how his reaction made Ronan feel.

"Oh... c'mon, brother, snap out of it," Ronan said, shifting his eyes from his brother to the window.

*****

I was stunned when we reached the pack’s mansion. My eyes widened as I took it all in. The building rose like a fortress, tall and imposing, with smooth stone walls that gleamed under the sunlight. Towers jutted into the sky, and massive windows reflected the gardens below. The front doors alone were wider than my whole room back in Silver Claw Pack, the doors were carved with intricate patterns that showed wealth and power. Surrounding the mansion were perfectly trimmed hedges, fountains that glimmered in the sun, and a driveway so long it felt like it stretched forever. For a while, I asked myself what on earth would even make Silver Claw Pack start a war with such a pack?

"Home sweet home!" Mr. Jerome said, stepping out of the car.

Waiting outside were some of the pack's bodyguards and maidens.

Then one of the maids walked toward where I was.

"Good morning, Alpha," she said, her eyes staring at mine.

"Mrs. Mary here will show you around and to your room," Mr. Jerome said.

"Good morning, ma'am!" she said with a warm, welcoming smile.

"Good morning, Mary!" I replied politely.

"There's a lot I've got to show you," she said, smiling back at me.

“Follow me, please,” Mary said, gesturing toward the mansion. Her heels clicked softly on the polished stone floor as we entered through the massive front doors.

I couldn’t help my curiosity. “Wow… this place is massive,” I muttered.

Noticing a large room filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves and what looked like ancient tomes, I asked, "Is that a library?"

Mary shook her head gently. “No, Lyra. That is Alpha Jerome’s private study. Nobody is allowed in there without his permission.”

“And that hallway… where does it lead?”

“That leads to the training rooms and the inner courtyard. Certain areas like that are only for the pack’s soldiers,” she replied calmly.

I peered into another room. “Is that the kitchen? It smells amazing in here!”

Mary smiled politely. “Yes, that is the kitchen. But only the staff work there."

I walked a bit further. “And this one?” I pointed at two large doors along the corridor. “What's in there?" I asked.

“Those are the rooms and personal quarters for the alpha's sons. The Alpha’s private suites are next to those doors, but you will not be going in there,” she said carefully.

My eyes kept darting around. “What about that room with all the mirrors?”

“That is the Alpha’s dressing room. Nobody may enter without his permission,” she replied. It's like Alpha Jerome is the type that loves privacy a lot.

“And that big room with the chandeliers?” I asked, staring at it.

“That’s the main hall for gatherings, mating balls, and ceremonies," she said.

Each answer made my curiosity grow. The more she avoided telling me about certain places, the more I wanted to see them.

Finally, she stopped at the end of a long corridor. “And here is your room, Lyra. I think you’ll find it comfortable.”

In front of me was a huge door, almost twice my height. I stepped inside and froze. The room was vast, wider than I had imagined possible. Soft sunlight poured through tall windows, illuminating a four-poster bed draped with silky sheets. A large wardrobe and an elegant desk stood against the walls, and a sitting area with plush chairs overlooked the gardens below, as though they had prepared it for me long before I came.

“This… is incredible,” I whispered, stepping further in, running my fingers along the polished wood surfaces.

“I’ll leave you to settle in for now,” Mrs. Mary said, giving a small nod. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

As she closed the door behind her, I looked around once more, and I was amazed.

I gazed at the view from the large window, and lay down on the bed, trying to process what had just happened. I didn’t realize that I had already forgotten all I was here for; the welfare here was just too much.

For a moment, I found myself thinking about Ronan and Silas, how they both looked. But I remembered the words of their father, I didn’t want to get myself in a messy situation.

Mr. Jerome’s voice came from behind the door.

“Yes, in fact…” he said.

“Can I speak with her?” another voice asked quietly.

“Lyra? Someone wants to see you. Can we come in?” Mr. Jerome asked.

“Okay… you can come in,” I said, stepping back a little.

The door opened, and they both stepped inside.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Mr. Jerome said softly before walking out.

The man stayed by the door for a second, almost like he wasn’t sure if he should move closer. His eyes looked tired — like they carried years of things unsaid.

“Sorry to disturb you, Lyra. Could we… sit for a moment?” he asked, voice trembling slightly.

I nodded, still confused. “Is there any problem, sir?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Then suddenly, his eyes filled with tears.

“You’ve grown into a strong woman, Lyra,” he said, his voice breaking. “And I’m… so sorry. Sorry that you had to face everything alone. Sorry that I wasn’t there when you needed me… or your sister.”

I blinked, not understanding. “Wait, what do you mean?”

He swallowed hard, looking straight at me. His lips quivered as he whispered,

“Lyra… my Little Star.”

For a moment, my mind froze. Only my dad called me that… only he.