Chapter 6

“You look like you saw a ghost.” Maya said as she smiled at me.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It was really Maya.

My heart slowed down, my mind struggling to understand what was happening.

She was supposed to be gone.

I thought she ran away with Harrison or whatever his name was because she didn’t want to be with callum.

So why was she here, standing outside the door to Callum's mansion?

She looked as beautiful as ever and her makeup, it was a little too excessive, it looked like she was being wedded.

“Maya?” I repeated, my voice reducing to a weak whisper.

Just then, I pushed the door a little wider only to see my parents standing behind her.

My mother looked up at me with an ‘I told you so.’ look.

She was also overdressed, just like Maya.

My father was standing beside them, looking like he was forced to be here, while holding a purple present.

“Mom.. dad.. you didn’t tell me you were coming.” I whispered, looking at them in surprise.

My mother rolled her eyes as she pushed Maya forward gently.

“Keira, don’t just stand there,” She snapped, as she walked past me into the mansion.

“We’re here to see Alpha Callum.” She said smiling as she looked around.

“Why?” I asked, still looking surprised.

“We have much to discuss.” She replied, without looking at me.

I stumbled back, my heart racing.

“Discuss? What’s going on?” I asked, my eyes moved to Maya, who followed my mother in.

She was wearing a silky purple gown, in the pack laws, women were only allowed to wear purple and silk when they were going to their suitor’s home, my heart sank.

My mother didn’t bother to look at me as she pulled Maya into the house, her eyes were fixed on the staircase that led to the pack house’s upper levels.

My father cleared his throat, and gently patted me.

“You’ve done well, Keira.” He said, avoiding my eyes.

“Done well?” I repeated, confused.

He nodded.

“You’ve done well keeping the Lycan King company. But your sister is here now. The ‘right’ daughter.” He said.

Those words felt like the final dagger in my confusion.

“The right daughter?” I whispered, looking at them, my eyes a little teary.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t Maya run…”

“Enough!” My mother shouted as she slapped me across my cheek.

The sound echoed through the room.

I gasped, as I held my cheek in shock, my eyes were immediately filled with tears.

She looked at me with anger and disgust.

“Do you want Alpha Callum to hear that Maya missed the wedding because she ran off with someone else? Do you want to ruin us all?” She hissed, as she used her finger to push my forehead.

I stood silently, tears in my eyes while I did my best to hold them back.

Everything finally made sense.

They were covering for Maya, they were rewriting her betrayal to save face.

My eyes moved to my sister, who was looking at me with a sly smile.

“Maya, what about your boyfriend?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“You said you were going to get married to him, the both of you already mated…”

Maya frowned, and looked at my mother for help. My mother raised her hand again to slap and silence me when a soft cough interrupted.

A maid wearing a plain blue uniform walked in from the hallway, with her head bowed.

“Master Callum will be with you shortly,” she said politely.

She slowly looked up at me, her eyes filled with pity, I could tell she had been eavesdropping.

My parents both looked at each other and quickly adjusted their clothes.

My father gently dusted the presents in his hands, and my mother brought out a mirror, adjusting her makeup and adjusting my sister’s mask up too.

I stood silently by the door, my cheek still hurt from where she slapped me, different questions filled my mind.

Why was Maya back?

What did they plan on telling Callum?

What would Callum say when he saw them?

I froze as I smelled his perfume, he was already close.

I was right, the door slowly opened and Callum wheeled himself into the room.

His dark eyes looked around the room, stopping on me for a few seconds before he looked away and looked at my parents.

“Alpha Callum,” my father said, as he quickly rushed forward with a bow.

“We come with gifts and our deepest apologies.” He said as he held out the present, nervously unwrapping it to present a silver dagger that had been designed with moonstones, it was a ceremonial weapon, the kind that was given out at weddings.

“We beg your forgiveness for the deception at the wedding.” My father continued.

My mother nodded, and took a step forward standing beside my father.

“Maya was gravely ill, you see.” She said.

“We had no choice but to send Keira in her place, to honor the agreement.” She continued.

“But Maya is recovered now, ready to take her rightful place as your bride.” She added.

My stomach sank as I listened to them talk.

Ill?

They were lying through their teeth, and the way they did it made my stomach hurt.

I looked over at Callum, he didn’t look surprised or anything, his face looked blank.

Maya took a step forward, and smiled as seductively as she could.

She was so beautiful, I felt my heart drop, as I wondered if I could ever be that seductive.

“Alpha Callum,” she said softly.

“I’m here to fulfill my duty, I hope you’ll accept me.” She said as she bowed her had a little, her low cut silk dress revealed a huge portion of her breasts.

The whole room was silent as everyone waited for Callum’s response.

My heart was racing.

I couldn’t understand what I was feeling, whether it was fear or jealousy or both.

I silently waited for Callum to speak, to acknowledge Maya, to dismiss me as the mistake I had always been.

That was how it had been since we were little, any boy that liked me only liked me until he saw Maya and then it was over.

She couldn’t steal any man’s heart with just a smile.

But Callum didn’t look moved, he looked unimpressed, bored and even angry.

He looked at me silently for a second, then he turned back to my family.

“Your apology is noted,” he said coldly.

“I forgive the deception, but let me be clear: I have no interest in your daughter Maya.” He added.

My parents gasped in shock, and Maya’s smile faded away.

My mother looked shocked.

“But, Alpha, she’s the one you chose….”

Callum raised his hand, silencing her.

“I chose a bride from your family,” Callum interrupted.

“And I have her. Keira is my mate, my Luna, and I love her.”

He said as he looked at them coldly.

“You will leave my pack house and never show your faces here again. Am I understood?” He said.

My heart exploded.

My lips were wide open, but I wasn’t breathing as I looked at him.

‘He loves me?’

The words sounded impossible and unreal.

Our eyes met, and I saw something in his eyes, something beneath that cold exterior, something that made my heart beat faster.

My parents still looked shocked.

But before anyone could speak, Callum pressed a button on his wheelchair, turning it toward the hallway.

“Escort them out,” he said to one of the guards standing by the hallway.

The guard nodded and rushed to escort my family out.

I stood by the door silently, my heart beating.

I couldn’t believe it.

Callum loved me.

Me, the wolfless Keira.

No matter how true I was, I couldn’t understand why.