Chapter 3

Nyra’s POV

‘Why do I feel like there were a whole lot of things that had happened and…’

“You have questions,” Serenyx’s voice echoed calmly in my mind, “and you will have your answers. But first… let’s give Silas a taste of what’s coming.”

Her words boosted my morale.

‘How?’ I asked.

She chuckled softly, “You’re stronger than you think, Nyra. A phoenix doesn’t need to be taught how to burn”

A phoenix?

She didn’t answer me anymore as the grand halls were opened.

The grand ceremonial hall was packed with all high profiled people from all over the region.

From council elders to pack nobles and allies representatives.

Every important set of eyes in Blood Moon territory and packs under us was present.

Perfect for a showdown but still I had no idea of what to do.

Slow entrance music began playing as we took steps towards where the devil himself stood.

Heads turned and gasps followed suit.

My eyes searched for Nessa’s and before she realized I had seen her, there was a frown on her face.

In my past life, I had struggled down this same hall wearing the crushing weight of the ridiculous gown Vanessa had insisted I wear…

The eyes on me then had been of mockery and disbelief but now…

No one was snickering or staring at me with so much pity.

Now they were staring in awe because the woman walking toward the altar now looked nothing like the gullible fool who had let herself be paraded as Silas Holt’s besotted bride.

Nessa had made me hate my figure so much and ended up convincing me that it attracted evil eyes…

Now that I thought of it?

What the fuck did that even mean?

Confusion first then irritation as her eyes went up and down my dress, as if she could not understand why the puppet strings she had tugged so hard were no longer working on me.

So ugly!

The corner of my mouth twitched.

There you are, sister.

Vanessa’s expression shifted instantly when she noticed my gaze lingering too long.

She flashed me a supporting smile to which I returned.

A bundle of smiles standing in her arms waved and my eyes trailed down to see Zac…

The sight of the little one so full of life but standing near the very people that would soon turn both his, my life and my dads life upside down made me nearly puke.

Unlike his parents, he hadn't done anything wrong to me.

“Do you really think your first line of thoughts should be saving him? What if…”

I interrupted Serenyx almost immediately, “I understand you are just looking out for me but I can't overlook the fact that everything he had gone through… I had and he didn't deserve it.”

I could feel her rolling her eyes, “And you didn't too, this would come back to bite you in the ass” she scoffed.

My eyes found Nessa again.

How did I even miss the fact that she was Zac’s mom though? Their resemblance was so uncanny.

Everyone knew for a fact that Silas was a single dad so when had Nessa ever been in the picture?

And Dad? How had they done it?

What were they thinking right now?

“All in due time,” my wolf whispered calmly.

I was about to ask her what she meant when Dad gently nudged my arm.

Only then did I realize we had already reached the altar.

The entire hall had their eyes on me.

And I…

I had just been standing there staring blankly.

A loud sneeze broke out in the hall taking everyone’s eyes from me.

But as I turned… just like others… my eyes stopped at the burning stare of two infuriating familiar men.

The Vale Brothers.

For a second, my breath caught.

Because it was glaring they had already been staring at me long before I looked their way…

What made it different from the look of awe in others' eyes was that there was nothing polite about the way they were staring at me.

It was heated with intent.

Rhys sat lounging lazily in his seat, with one arm thrown over the chair beside him… the second our eyes met, the amusement in his expression sharpened far more dangerous.

Dante was worse.

Unlike his brother, he sat perfectly still… watching me with an intensity that made heat slowly creep beneath my skin.

Dark… Possessive… Filled with longing… dragging over me slowly enough to feel like a touch.

I shivered.

Goddess… I had only glanced at them for only a second and the fire in their eyes had engulfed me whole.

Serenyx purred softly inside me, sounding far too amused.

Now this… is interesting.

Just before I looked away, I caught Rhys lips raise into a smirk… a very familiar one that had made my heart skip beats over and over again.

What we had between us was messy, humiliating, and unfinished history.

“But they will do,” I murmured.

Because the truth was impossible to ignore.

The Vale brothers wanted me.

I could see it burning openly in their eyes now, stripped of the arrogance they once used to hide behind.

And the worst part?

I was almost certain they wouldn’t mind being used.

The thought alone sent dangerous heat spiraling through me.

Dante Vale was the quieter storm, he rarely smiled nor showed any emotions while Rhys Vale, on the other hand, smiled too easily, which somehow made him worse; there was something deeply unsettling about a man who looked excited by the thought of bloodshed.

No one challenged them nor could anyone correct them.

Because the Vale Brothers did not merely win fights… they consciously ruined lives.

Men twice their size folded under them.

So did kings, my father included.

“That makes them perfect, You need men that aren’t afraid of a little scuffle.” Serenyx whispered in delight.

This was going to be a mistake?

“No one else in this hall is ruthless enough to stand beside you. They are all so weak, and shallow-minded.”

Years had passed, yet all it had taken was one from them to ignite that lost flame.

The same two brothers who had spent my teenage years tormenting me at the academy.

Mocking my wolflessness… baiting me at every Alpha gathering and acting as though I was some spoiled Alpha princess they found endlessly entertaining to provoke.

And yet after all that show… we had shared more.

From sneaking out late at night to stolen kisses.

Back then what we shared had been reckless and so consuming… but it had all been a game to them.

A bet.

The humiliation had nearly destroyed me.

I hated them for it but standing here now at a crossroads… desperate to make the man I had loved pay for his crimes while trapped beneath the weight of their burning stares…

I could no longer deny that beneath all that hate… something still burned between us.

I hated them.

But I was sure they hated Silas more.

And right now?

They were perfect for my plan even though dealing with them meant destruction… I didn’t think I had anything to lose again.

I had already died once!

By the time father placed my hand into Silas’s, the idea had already rooted itself to the back of my mind.

“You look breathtaking sweetheart.” Silas whispered and my face scrunched as he smiled down at me.

All I could see while staring at him was his stinky betrayal.

“Smile, you are beginning to frighten him.” Serenyx teased me and I managed to give one… I really doubt if I could wait anymore.

My smile must have looked so terrifying because the smile on his face fell..

The officiant began the vows.

I heard none of it…

My pulse was too loud as my rage only grew louder.

Finally he turned to me.

“Do you, Nyra Celestine Thorne of Blood Moon, take Silas Holt to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Do I?

I wanted him dead!

Gravelling at my feet pleading for mercy… I longed so much to tear their mind open so I could see all the evil they had committed against me…

I yanked my hand free from his.

A murmur swept around the hall.

Silas frowned. “Nyra baby?”

I took a step back then another.

“Sis, what's going on?” I heard Nessa say before her hands slowly found mine…

Then I turned away from the altar entirely, shrugging off her hands.

Causing more gasps to resound around the room.

Silas’s voice sharpened. “Nyra, what are you fu.. What are you doing baby?”

I ignored him.

My heels clicked against the marble as I walked straight down the guest row.

Straight toward where the Vale twins stood.

Dante had his brows arched… finally an expression on his stone cold face while Rhys’s lips curled in amusement.

I stopped directly in front of Dante.

For half a second, no one breathed in the hall.

Then I grabbed the front of his suit, and pulled Dante down to meet my lips.

The hall erupted into chaos but no one stopped us.

They wouldn’t dare not when his arms had slowly wrapped around my waist and held me there.

A collective scream tore through most of the female guests.

I could understand why… this only happened in movies and I had just taken the most eligible bachelors in the wereworld.

When I pulled back, Rhys let out a low, dark chuckle.

“Well, sweetheart,” he murmured, leaning back lazily, “if my brother gets a kiss, I refuse to be cheated.”

I turned to him and before sanity could intervene, I caught Rhys by the jaw too and crashed my lips on his.

Unlike Dante, Rhys kissed back immediately.

Hungry.

Shameless.

His fingers slid into my hair pulling me closer while whistles, shrieks, and horrified cries exploded around us.

I could barely contain myself nor could I stand properly when my lips left his… Rhys didn't let me take a step away from him as I slowly turned to where Silas stood at the altar, his face now drained of color.

“What the hell is going on here?” He screamed.

A slow smile made its way to my face, “Why don’t you tell us all of your affairs with my sister first?”