004: The Severance

Lyra’s POV

The sound of shattering glass cut through the chaos like a gunshot.

My father had thrown his glass against the wall, and everyone froze. Alpha command radiated from him in waves so thick I could barely breathe. His eyes were fully gold now, his wolf surfacing with a fury I’d never seen before.

Adrian lost control then. His wolf surfaced, eyes blazing amber, claws extending as he lunged toward Killian.

“How dare you try to take what belongs to me! My mate!” Adrian snarled, murder written across his face.

Killian didn’t even flinch.

Instead, he released Alpha dominance so powerful it dropped Adrian to his knees. The sound of Adrian hitting the floor echoed through the silent hall.

“Know your place,” Killian said coldly, keeping me behind him protectively.

“Enough!” My father’s voice boomed as he stormed down from his seat.

He grabbed me roughly by the arm, yanking me away from Killian with such force I stumbled. His grip was bruising, fingers digging into my skin.

“How dare you disgrace this pack?” His voice shook with rage. “How dare you disgrace me?”

I chuckled, a bitter, hollow sound that surprised even me.

“Which is more important to you, Father?” I asked, meeting his furious gaze. “Your daughter or this mating ceremony?”

He didn’t answer.

The silence was more painful than any words could have been.

I turned to look at Adrian, burning rage flooding through me. “I won’t mate with a man who doesn’t love me.”

I could see the shift in Adrian’s expression, confusion, then calculation. He was probably wondering if I’d caught on to his games, if I knew about him and Elina.

The slap came so fast I didn’t see it coming.

My father’s hand connected with my face, the impact so heavy it snapped my head to the side. The crowd gasped. My cheek burned, tears stinging my eyes.

A low, dangerous growl rumbled from Killian’s chest.

He stepped forward, eyes blazing gold. “Touch her again, Alpha or not, and you’ll answer to me.”

My father’s jaw clenched. “What a shame you’ve brought upon this pack, upon me.” His voice dropped, deadly quiet. “You have one chance to stop this madness and complete the mating ceremony. Or else…”

“Or else what?” I cut him off, my voice steadier than I felt. “I’d rather die than mate with Adrian.”

For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

Then my father’s expression went cold, empty.

“You are no longer a member of the Dominic pack.”

The words hit me like physical blows.

He reached forward and ripped the pack crest from my dress, the fabric tearing with a harsh sound that seemed to echo forever.

“You want to whore yourself to the Northern Pack?” His voice was ice. “Then you are theirs. You are dead to me now.”

I nearly broke.

Tears threatened to spill, but I forced them back, biting the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. My wolf whimpered inside me, feeling cast out, and abandoned. I’d known my father could be harsh, but I never thought he’d actually go through with it. What if I was wrong? What if he really meant it this time?

My eyes found Mirabel in the crowd. She looked torn, her hand covering her mouth, but she said nothing. She didn’t defend me.

No one did.

Killian pulled me to his side then, wrapping an arm around my waist in a way that was both possessive and strangely comforting.

“Then Lyra is under Northern Pack protection now,” he announced.

Adrian snarled, struggling to his feet. “She’s pregnant with your bastard! You think I’ll let that…”

“Careful,” Killian cut him off with a deadly smile. “That’s my mate you’re talking about.”

The word “mate” sent a ripple through the crowd.

Killian addressed the entire hall, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. “Lyra is mine now. Any wolf who touches her, challenges her, or threatens her will answer to the Northern Pack.”

His Alpha command filled the room, undeniable and absolute.

Even my father couldn’t challenge it. I could see the struggle in his eyes, but the Northern Pack was too powerful. Going against Killian would mean war, a war he couldn’t win.

Adrian tried to protest, but his own pack members grabbed his arms, holding him back.

“This isn’t over, Castillo,” Adrian spat.

Killian’s smile widened. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

A slow, mocking clap echoed through the hall.

My stepmother stood, her face twisted in false sympathy. “I always knew Lyra would bring disgrace to this pack, but I didn’t know she’d do it in such a shameless way.”

I managed to chuckle, pulling my tears back. “Just as you raised your daughter to reap where she didn’t sow.”

I looked directly at Elina. She looked away, trying to appear nonchalant, but I saw the flicker of fear in her eyes.

Adrian’s control snapped.

He flipped the table with such force it flew through the air, straight toward me.

I barely had time to register the danger before Killian moved. He blocked it, the heavy wood slamming against his shoulder instead of my head.

Within seconds, he was on Adrian. His hand closed around Adrian’s throat, slamming him against the wall. His claws extended, pressing against Adrian’s skin just enough to draw blood. The rage radiating from Killian filled the entire hall, suffocating in its intensity.

“If you dare try that again,” Killian said, voice deadly quiet, “I will send you to your grave.”

He released his grip, and Adrian crumpled to the floor, gasping.

Killian turned back to me, his hand firm on my lower back as he guided me toward the exit.

I was in shock, barely processing what had just happened. Everything felt surreal, like I was watching someone else’s life fall apart.

Pack members parted for us. Some looked sympathetic. Most looked scandalized.

“You’re going to regret this!” Elina’s voice cut through the murmurs, mocking and sharp. “You have no idea what you’ve just done!”

I stopped.

Something inside me snapped.

I turned back, pulling away from Killian’s protective hold. I walked straight toward where Elina sat, her smug expression faltering as I approached.

I picked up a glass of red wine from the table.

And emptied the entire contents on her head.

The wine flew down her perfectly styled hair, soaking her dress, dripping onto the white tablecloth.

She shrieked, jumping to her feet.

I smiled… a real smile this time.

“We shall see who regret will pay a visit.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​