CHAPTER 4

Lyra (Mia)’s POV

The house was bustling with activity by the time I was done getting ready. The Servants moved around , ensuring everything was spotless, while my so-called parents barked orders left and right. There was an obvious tension in the air, and it was all because of him.

Damion Byers.

That name alone sent chills down my spine. The Alpha King of the Bloodhound Pack wasn’t just feared—he was legendary for his ruthlessness. Stories of his conquests and the blood he spilled were whispered in every corner of the werewolf realm. And now, he was coming here.

To marry me.

I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a soft blue gown that clung to my frame showing the shape of my body and the front which was revealing a bit of my cleavage.

My silver hair was styled up, and a hint of rouge brought color to my pale cheeks. I looked nothing like the Lyra who had once been rejected and cast aside.

But as much as I tried to brace myself, my hands trembled. I wasn't ready to meet him—or anyone, for that matter.

A knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts.

“Mia” Maria called softly. “He’s here.”

My stomach dropped as her heard those words.

“Alright, I’ll be down soon,” I replied, my voice surprisingly steady.

As soon as I stepped into the hall, I was met with the scent of power and dominance. It was unlike anything I’d ever encountered before. The room seemed to shrink around the man who stood at its center— Damion Byers.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that demanded attention. His dark hair was slicked backwards, and his piercing amber eyes swept the room with such intensity that no one was left untouched.

My father approached him with a bow, his earlier harshness toward me replaced with obsequiousness. “Alpha Byers, welcome to our home. It’s an honor to have you.”

Damion’s attention moved to my father, and for a moment,he said nothing for a moment. The silence was overwhelming.

“Let’s get started with it.” he replied with a voice as sharp as a blade.

Beta Simmons nodded quickly and gestured toward me. “This is my daughter, Mia.”

Damion's eyes were fixed on me, and the weight of his attention was so suffocating. I forced myself to meet his stare, my heart pounding against my chest.

He took a step closer, his movements deliberate and predatory. When he finally stopped in front of me, I tilted my chin upward, refusing to cower.

“Mia…..,” he said, his voice low and cold.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice firm despite the fear coursing through me.

He studied me for a moment, his amber eyes narrowing slightly. Then, without warning, he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

“Nice to meet you.” he murmured, his tone void of emotion.

The room swirled, but I held my ground. This wasn’t about love or affection. It was a business transaction, and I was the currency used in the transaction.

As he straightened, he turned to my father. “May we begin the discussion now.”

Beta Sinclair nodded eagerly. “Of course, Alpha.”

Before he could lead Damion away, the Alpha’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist. “Before that,She has to come with me, we need to talk.”

My father’s face fell for a split second before he recovered. “As you wish.”

Damion didn’t wait for a response. He pulled me along, his grip firm but not painful, until we were in a private sitting room. He closed the door behind us and turned to face me.

“You look terrified,” he said, leaning casually against the wall.

I crossed my arms, masking my fear with defiance. “Who Wouldn’t be?”

His lips twitched, but it wasn’t quite a smile. “Fair point.”

“What do you want from me?” I demanded, my voice sharper than intended.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my boldness. “I thought that was obvious. This is a contract marriage, nothing more.”

“And why me?”

He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. “Your father has something I need and he wants something from me in return.

“So I’m just a pawn,” I said bitterly.

His gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained cold. “We’re all pawns in someone else’s game and you just have to be my pawn just for two years Mia.”You’d do well to remember that.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process his words. “And after two years?”

“You’re free to go,” he said simply.

I hesitated, the weight of his proposition settling over me. This could be my chance—a way to rebuild, to plot my revenge against Nyla and Xander.

“Fine,” I said, lifting my chin. “I’ll do it.”

Dante’s eyes flickered with approval. “Good, you have no choice or say in this anyways”

But as he turned to leave, his parting words left me frozen.

“Just remember, Jane. Betray me, and I’ll make you wish you hadn’t survived that suicide attempt.”

The door clicked shut behind him, and I released a shaky breath.

The game had begun.

And I intended to win at all costs.

***********

The grand hall of the Bloodhound Pack’s estate was packed with members of the pack, their eyes fixed on Damion and me as we stood side by side at the altar.

The moment the vows were exchanged, and the cheers echoed through the hall, my new reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn’t Lyla anymore. I wasn’t even Mia.

I am the new Luna Queen of Bloodhound pack.

The wedding was a blur of rituals,vows and forced smiles.

After the ceremony, Damion led me to the far end of the room, where several high-ranking pack members gathered in a semi-circle. Their attention snapped to us the moment we approached, their expressions carefully neutral, though I could feel the tension rolling off them.

“Mia, meet my inner circle,” Damion said, his voice devoid of emotion.

“This is my lovely mother,” Damion said curtly. “Luna Byers.”

“Former Luna,” she corrected, her tone sharp.

The woman who stepped forward was regal and commanding, her presence instantly overshadowing everyone else.

Her neutral brunette hair, styled in an elegant chignon, gleamed under the chandelier’s light. She wore a dark gown that accentuated her sharp features, and her amber eyes—so much like Dante’s—glanced through me with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

“Congratulations on your marriage,Mia Sinclair. “ Your father must be so proud of you.” she said, her voice calm but icy. Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

I stiffened at the obvious sarcasm. “It’s an honor to meet you,” I said, keeping my voice steady,holding out my hand instinctively.

She looked at my hand as if it were a foreign object before clasping her own behind her back. “You’re… younger than I expected,” she said, Her words carried a tiny touch of disgust.

“Thank you, Luna Byers,” I said, quickly dropping my hand to my side.

Her smile faltered slightly. “Former Luna,” she corrected again. “The honor is all yours, I suppose.”

A slight chill prickled my skin as her gaze swept over me, taking in every detail—from the modestly embroidered gown to the awkward way I moved my body.

“My son has always been practical about his choices,so I can only assume this arrangement should serve a good purpose,” she said, her tone edged with condescension. “Though I admit I’m struggling to see what you bring to the table.”

“Mother,” Damion interjected, his tone sharp but calm. “This is neither the time nor place for this.”

She ignored him, her eyes never leaving mine. “Do you know what it means to be Luna, Mia? Do you truly understand what will be expected of you?” Just know this—you may wear the title, but you’ll never be worthy of it.”

I straightened my back, summoning every ounce of resolve I had. “I understand that I’ll need to earn your respect,” I said, my voice steady despite the anxiety building in my chest. “And I intend to do so.”

Her expression didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—amusement, perhaps, or maybe disbelief.

“We’ll see,” she said, stepping back slightly. Then, turning to Damion, she added, “You’ve made your decision. I only hope it doesn’t cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

“She will do just fine mom, she can learn from you.” Damion said quietly, though his tone suggested he didn’t entirely believe it himself.

With that, she walked away from us, her presence leaving a void in the room.

I glanced up at him, the weight of his words sinking in. If his mother didn’t accept me, my place in this pack—and by Damion’s side, would be even more precarious than it already was.

For now, I had to play my part perfectly. There was no room for mistakes. Not with eyes like hers watching my every move.

********

Later that night, as the festivities died down, I wandered through the dimly lit halls of the Bloodhound estate, hoping to clear my mind. The day had been overwhelming, and the weight of my new reality pressed heavily on my shoulders.

As I approached the study, muffled voices stopped me in my tracks. Recognizing Damion’s low, commanding tone and his mother’s sharp, biting words, I hesitated.

“She’s weak,” Luna Byers hissed, her voice carrying through the partially open door. “You’ve brought a traitor’s daughter into this house, Damion. Her bloodline is poison, Don’t you see it?”

Damion ’s reply was calm, almost dismissive. “You think I don’t know who her father is? And What he has done to this family? This isn’t about the past, Mother—it’s about strategy.”

“Strategy?” she snapped, her voice rising. “Her father’s betrayal cost us your father’s life! Do you think I’ll stand by and watch his daughter waltz in here as if that blood isn’t on her hands too?”

A tense silence followed her words, the weight of them hanging thick in the air.

“I know what happened to Father,” Damion said, his tone icy. “But blaming her for her father’s actions is crazy. Mia is nothing more than a pawn in this game, a means to an end. Her presence ensures her father’s cooperation, and that’s all that matters.”

Luna Byers let out a harsh laugh. “You think you can control her? That she won’t bring ruin to everything your father built? You’re blind, Damion. She carries the same blood as the man who betrayed your father. She’ll destroy you if you let her.”

“She won’t have the chance,” Damion replied coldly. “She dare not try to because if she does, I’ll make sure I destroy her and her entire family.”

My breath caught in my throat as the words struck me like a blow. I took a step back, my heart racing.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” his mother warned. “One your father would never have approved of.”

Damion’s voice hardened. “Father is dead because he let his guard down. I won’t make the same mistake.”

Unable to listen any longer, I slipped away, the sound of their voices fading behind me.

My blood ran cold, and the reality of my situation crashed over me like a tidal wave. The game had begun, and I wasn’t just a player—I was the sacrifice.

Now I have more problems to face than getting my revenge as Lyra, I have to face Mia’s family’s problems I knew nothing about too.

One misstep, and it wouldn’t just be my life on the line—it would be my soul.