Chapter Six

Lyra’s POV

Though I felt a bit frightened, I wasn’t leaving to make new friends; my core reason was to get what—or who—I needed to make Eamon’s life a living hell.

Passing the pack's border, I reminded myself that I wouldn’t let anyone remind me of my past with Eamon, and I wasn’t going to let anyone know my past either.

I heard steps coming from behind me. Staring back, it was the air hostess.

“Do you need anything to drink, Lyra? We have a lot of different choices: red and white wine, champagne, fruit juice, and freshly brewed coffee,” she said warmly.

I became silent for a moment, trying to question how she could have known my name since we had just met for the first time.

“Any… anything,” I said, stammering.

“Moët Champagne coming up!” she said before walking back to the galley.

“But Mr. Jerome, how does she know I’m Lyra?” I said, staring at him in disbelief.

“Oh c’mon, Lyra, everyone in the Moonshadow Pack knows you already,” he scoffed, shaking his head.

“Wait, what? What do you mean everyone knows me? From where?” I spluttered.

“Oh, Lyra, there’s much you don’t even know about yourself, but you’ll find out soon… soon enough,” he said.

I started getting confused. I had a lot of questions to ask.

“But Mr. Jerome, don’t you think maybe you’re a bit... just a little bit too old to still remain the Alpha?” I asked.

“Are you calling me old, Lyra? How many people of my age do you think can still do the things I’m doing?” He laughed.

“Actually, I’m not going to remain the Alpha for that much longer. I’ve got two sons—the ones I told you to be careful about…”

“Wait… Ronan and Silas?” I asked.

“Yes, but the issue is they are twins, and they didn't come out as normal twins do, to both my surprise and the doctor's, they came out together, killing my Evelyn, my bonded mate and the Luna of this our pack, and only one of them can be the Alpha, not both of them,” he said as the smile on his face dropped.

“I know that even if they are twins, the stronger one should be the Alpha, but… Silas is wise, has understanding, compassionate, but isn’t as strong as Ronan, who’s just ruthless, foolish, disrespectful… Sometimes I wish we only had Silas, and my Evelyn was still alive,” he sighed.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Jerome. Sometimes, there might just be a good to hold on to in a bad situation, like Silas.”

“The issue Silas has is he’s too fragile and afraid when it comes to relationships, like... Silas is... and both of them are 23, but Silas hasn’t been mated yet. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Ronan has been mated and unmated three times in five years. It’s like he has no feelings. I can’t watch him lead the pack, or he will lead like his grandfather did,” he said, looking at the floor disappointedly.

“Ronan has always been requesting he and Silas fight to see who will be the victor and rule the pack. But I’ve always tried to avoid it, even if I know that it will eventually come to that soon,” he said.

“But Silas seems like a nice person, only that he's not comfortable with a relationship,” I remarked.

“Oh Lyra, his fear is getting obsessive. And you hope he doesn’t get obsessed with anyone, because he’ll do anything to satisfy his obsession. Anything!” he snarled. “That’s why you should avoid both of them.”

“Okay, Mr. Jerome. I understand now.”

Then the air hostess came up from the galley. “Second most rare champagne coming up! And here’s your drink, knock yourself out,” she teased.

“Thanks…?” I hesitated, unsure of her name.

“Monica!” she replied with a warm smile.

“Oh! Thanks a lot, Monica!” I said, returning her smile.

*****

I pressed my forehead against the plane window, watching the clouds drift by. From afar, I could already see a huge city. I was very surprised, I mean, a city this huge could even be found on Earth? Even from the height the plane was at, I couldn’t catch a glimpse of the end of the city.

“We’re here, Lyra!” Mr. Jerome said as the plane tires hit the airport runway.

All I could see after the airport were skyscrapers and all manner of luxury buildings. From this, I knew everyone here was rich, like really rich.

The plane door slid down into a stair. Mr. Jerome came down first. For a while, I hesitated.

I stood at the top of the stairs, my feet frozen. The city was... I felt my heart was going to explode. My heart raced from the weight of everything I had yet to face.

“Lyra,” Mr. Jerome called softly from below, reassuring. “Take it slow. You’re safe.”

I swallowed hard and held the railing tight. Different feelings rushed through me, but safety didn’t feel real anymore. My mind ran through every danger that could be waiting, but I reminded myself why I came. I wasn’t here to relax. I was here to get what I wanted and to make Eamon pay.

Slowly, I took one step then another. The sounds of the city grew louder, and new scents filled the air. The world suddenly felt so big, so alive. I gazed everywhere, still amazed at how magnificent it was.

"Wow! I never knew there could be any pack as magnificent as this," I said, my eyes wide open.

"I know, right! This is our humble hive," he said.

"Humble? This is nowhere near humble, Mr. Jerome..." I muttered.

"What do you mean?" He laughed.

*****

A dark black limousine waited at the airport, its polished side doors facing us like an invitation. Two men stood in front of the doors, perfectly poised. One was closer to the first door, as if ready to open it for me, while the other lingered near the second, prepared for Mr. Jerome. Their presence was bold and commanding.

The first was tall and fair, blue eyes, his short brown hair brushed neatly to the side. He wore a dark blue suit that looked expensive but not flashy, and his shoes were so clean they almost reflected the ground beneath him. His expression was calm and collected, the kind of man you could trust to handle anything.

The second man stood beside him, almost the same height, with broad shoulders that made him look imposing. His skin was a warm tan, and his black hair was slicked back sharply, precise but with a hint of edge. His green eyes were piercing, alert, and dangerous, the kind that seemed to see through everything. He wore a charcoal suit with a black tie, perfectly tailored, each fold in place, but there was a quiet menace about him, a sharpness that made it clear he wasn’t someone to cross.

Together, they looked like two sides of the same coin. But their strong gaze towards me left me unsure of how to feel.