Chapter 3

ADIRA'S POV 

I stormed out of the hall, leaving behind the chaos I had caused. 

The news was already spreading. As I walked past, even persons who hadn't been in the hall looked at me with shock in their eyes.

My heart was thumping hard in my chest, and my head was spinning. I moved fast with only one place in mind. 

My safe haven, the one place I hid myself whenever I didn't want anyone to find me. The one place I always went in my past life to seek solitude. A little cave covered with bushes; I had discovered it when I came to live with them.

As soon as I entered, I dropped Lumina. My breath came out in rasps, my eyes burnt and my heart pounded against my rib cage.

I held my pounding heart, my mouth open as I forced air into my lungs.

“Calm down, Lucy… 

You are alive…

Lumina is alive…

This time we will change the narrative.” My wolf said to me.

I paused, shocked at the voice in my head. “You are here?” I asked.

“Yes…we went back in time, so I am here.” 

“Oh my gosh… I missed you so much.” I cried.

I had truly missed hearing her voice in my head. In my past life I had gone through so much while in this pack that I lost contact with her.

Woke up one day, and my connection with her was severed. I never figured out why or how.” 

“This time we will live differently. We won't succumb to pressure, and we won't beg for love.” I said to her,

“We won't. I was so proud of you back there in the hall. You finally stood up to them! The look on Mrs Willow’s face had me tumbling with laughter.” She whizzed.

Lumina was already busy playing around. As I looked at her, the image of her burning body flashed into my mind. I closed my eyes, pushing away the memory.

Just then my phone rang, startling me. 

I took out the phone, and it was my dad. “Dad…” I cried into the phone.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” He asked. His voice filled with concern and care.

The tears came down freely as I heard his voice. 

He is alive… He is really alive.

“What about Mum?” I asked.

“I am here, sweetie.” Her voice entered.

I choked on my tears as I covered my mouth and bawled my eyes out from the happiness I felt.

“I heard what happened. Are you okay? So you want us to come over?” He asked.

I breathed in deeply and steadied my voice. “I am okay, Dad. I promise. I have everything under control. I am done living like I am not loved at home. From now on, I will be bold and fearless.” I said to him,

But I was saying it more to myself.

“That's good, baby. I am really happy to hear that. If anything happens, make sure you call us. We will always have your back.” Mum’s sweet and soothing voice filtered in.

“Okay, Mum. I love you both.” I said, my voice cracking, but I tried my best to hide it.

“Are you sure you are okay, sweetheart?” Dad asked again.

How do I tell them that they had died and left me all alone? That I just want to cherish this moment because I know when they will die?

“I am okay. I promise. You don't need to worry.” I said again. Trying to convince them.

“Okay. Take care of yourself, okay?” 

“Okay. Bye.” 

The call ended.

After sitting in the cave for a while, I finally left and returned back to the house. Lumina was already sleeping, so I laid her on the bed and covered her properly.

My eyes scanned around the room that had been my dungeon. The place I shed so many tears. 

A knock startled me out of my thoughts. I snapped around to find an omega at the door.

I glared at her. The audacity she had to push open my door without my permission. I had tolerated that in the past but not anymore.

“How dare you!” I growled, my eyes narrowing down on her in fury.

Her eyes were wide, and the smirk fell off her face. She scrambled back, and she immediately bowed to me.

“I am sorry, Adira.” She said in a shaky voice.

“Adira?” I snapped, my voice thundering down fiercely.

“Luna Adira…” she immediately corrected herself.

I breathed out, steadying myself. “Now deliver your message and leave.” I ordered, in a calm yet strong voice, 

“Grandpa… Grandpa Alan wants your audience at his office.” Her voice trembled.

I waved my hand at her, and she immediately ran away. 

Just then my eyes caught my reflection in the mirror. I was dressed in an ugly purple gown with weird patterns in the neck and hand. Something I was certain was worn in centuries past. But Mrs Willow had made me wear them, claiming that it is what is befitting for me.

… But not anymore…

I pulled out my box from under the bed. It had the clothes I had arrived with from my pack. I needed something that would make a statement. Something that would tell them that I didn't give a fuck about them but also something I would be comfortable in.

So I picked out blue faded jean trousers and a bodycon top with a plunging v-neck that accentuated my cleavage. Looking in the mirror, I looked exactly how I wanted. Then I was off.

I knocked on the office door and entered. The office was even larger than I remembered. I always wondered why the office was this big. 

They were all in there, just as I thought…. Grandpa Alan, Ryder, and Mrs Willow.

I saw their eyes go wide as I entered. Ryder's eyes lingered, following me a bit before he finally looked away.

“Grandpa Alan”. I bowed slightly and sat down, crossing my legs.

“What are you wearing? I thought I already burnt them all?” Mrs Willow yelled.

I smirked, loving how furious I made her. But I didn't bother engaging her. I turned to Grandpa Willow.

“I heard you wanted to see me.” I said to him,

“What was that you did out there today? Were you trying to embarrass us or something?” He asked. His voice was calm and levelled, but I could sense the anger underneath it.

“No, I only gave an answer to the question that was asked.” I replied, nonchalantly picking on my nails.

His eyes narrowed. “Well, that was the wrong answer! We talked about this; you told me you were going to say yes just yesterday. Why the sudden change of mind?” He asked.

“It took me over a year to finally realise that I am not wanted here. Lumina is currently a year and a few months old. I started living here when I was almost at my due date, but even after spending all that time here, nothing changed. 

Ryder hates me, or maybe he is still stuck on his first love.” I said.

His eyes slightly widened, but he maintained his natural look, showing no emotions. 

“Interesting… So that part of everything was a secret?” I thought to myself.

“And Mrs Willow hates me too. Everyone in his pack dislikes me. So I made a decision to not marry him. I am done begging for crumbs.” I said firmly.

“You must marry him!” Grandpa Willow's voice thundered.

I snapped my head to him, shocked. 

His desire for me to marry his son in this life was stronger than in my previous life. In my previous life he had sounded more like he was doing it for my sake, but now…

“I won’t!” I replied again firmly. “If that is all, I will take my leave.” I said and got up.

Mrs Willow stepped into my way. “You seem to have suddenly grown winds! You think changing your dressing and saying 'no' here and there will make you strong?” She spat at me.

Flashes of everything she did to me rushed into my mind. 

I closed my eyes as I felt my anger rising. “Get out!” I gritted out in a low, menacing tone.

Her eyes widened, and I saw the fear in them. But she needed to show her authority. Her hand flew into the air, but I grabbed it just before it landed on my face.

“I will no longer allow you to treat me like your punching bag!” I threw her hand back, but she stumbled and fell into the chair. 

“You are going to need to find yourself another punching bag because the next time you try this, you will regret it!” I snapped, my fists clenched at my side.

Ryder was too stunned to speak… He only watched me in shock.

His mother, on the other hand, I could sense the fear and embarrassment radiating off her.

I spun around and stormed towards the door. 

“You must marry him! Lumina belongs to this pack, and so do you!” I heard Grandpa Alan yell after me, but I didn't bother to stop.

“If you must leave, you will have to leave Lumina behind! She is the first child of the Alpha of this pack. She can't grow elsewhere.”

His words had me stopping abruptly, my hand grabbing the doorknob tightly. 

I took a deep breath, opened the door and stormed out.

"No way would I leave Lumina here with them." I muttered to myself.