Chapter 5

Lyssa

As soon as I was done bathing, with a towel wrapped around my body, I stood in front of a mirror, gazing at my reflection. My damp hair touched down my back in loose waves as my mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of Alpha Garrett.

I blushed as I could now clearly remember our encounter on that fateful night. I couldn't deny the fact that I was falling for him, and the mate bond between us was undeniable.

But as quickly as the thought entered my mind, I dismissed it just as fast. Garrett was the fated mate of my sister, Isabella. It was wrong of me to even entertain the idea of being with him. I shook my head, trying to push the images out of my mind.

But was it possible for me to fall for such an icy man? I wondered . Was it possible to love a man that is so cold, so cold that my poor harmless heart would tremble by his sight? At this point, I didn't want to tell myself to be careful because there was no need for it. I will die soon from my incurable illness which I hid from everyone for a long time. At the thought of it, I held my tears from dropping.

Letting out a sigh, I quickly dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt before making my way downstairs to join the rest of the maids for breakfast.

Hours later, the king sat upon his imposing throne, flanked by his queen on his right and their daughter, Isabella, on his left. The chamber was filled with pack members and servants, including myself as the king prepared to address them.

"It is not my wish that Alpha Garrett rejected my daughter, Isabella," the king began, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "But we have no choice but to do as Garrett has pleased by giving out Lyssa, whom Garrett has chosen, to avoid Garrett's Roth."

At that exact moment, the grand doors of the hall swung open, and four of Garrett's men strode forward. The tension in the room grew as one of the men explained their presence, declaring that they had come to take Garret's chosen mate to him and that a car is waiting outside.

However, before one of the men could finish their statement, Isabella rose from her seat, her loud voice cutting through the heavy air of the chamber. "Lyssa earlier told me she doesn't want to be with Garrett," she announced firmly.

"The dress and jewellery that Alpha Garrett bought for her earlier today, she had already destroyed them," Isabella revealed, her voice carrying to every corner of the hall. With a commanding gesture, she signalled to her personal maid, who swiftly brought the destroyed outfit.

As the maid presented the ruined garments, a hushed murmur of fear rippled through the court, even myself was surprised to see the outfit destroyed. The implication weighed heavily on everyone's minds, a refusal to Garrett's claim could lead to severe consequences, and no one was eager to incur Garrett's Roth, the price of denying a dangerous werewolf-like Garett his fated mate.

All eyes turned to the king, waiting for his response. On the other hand, words were far from my mouth. I didn't know what to say and how to prove my innocence that I didn't destroy the garment.

Shortly, the king cleared his throat as he spoke. “Lyssa." His voice echoed through the grand hall as I answered, stepping forward with my head bowed. “Yes father."

“Refusing Alpha Garrett would bring Doom to this pack and that, I won't accept.” He stated firmly, his words hanging in the air. I felt a lump form in my throat, realising the weight of my father's proclamation. His decision was final.

“You can take her.” He added with a sigh, standing from his throne. As he walked away, every pack member's eyes followed his departure.

Garrett's men, clad in their powerful aura, approached me, their faces stoic and eyes focused, as they led me towards the awaiting car. I cast a last glance at Isabella, my sister, who was now standing in a corner, her tear-stained face showing her frustration. She suddenly ran out, heading towards her room perhaps to cry her eyes out.

As the car pulled to a halt

in front of a massive mansion, my jaw dropped at the sight. The scale of the place left me nearly speechless.

"House" didn't quite capture it. This

was beyond a mere house. It was so

huge that I speculated my entire pack could fit inside. With measured steps, I approached the mansion while taking in my surroundings. The garden that sprawled across the capacious front yard was not an explosion of colours; rather, it exudes a subdued simplicity. And when I was closer, I noticed the exquisite white marble steps to the front door, which made me look short. Now seeing that everything, from the walls to the window to the glass, all looked like a magnificent work of art.

What on Earth would the inside look like? After pressing the bell, I held my breath as I stood by the bronze and a glass double door. The door creaked open and an old woman in a butler suit stood before me with a smile.

"Good evening, Miss. Are you Miss Lyssa?" She greeted and I nodded."Please follow me" she then said and the moment I stepped inside, I was awestruck. I never thoughtthat the interior would actually look like this. Beneath my feet, the expanse of white marble floor seemed to stretch for miles. The hallway boasted sizable, beautifully crafted moulded panels that exudes luxury, yet remained tastefully elegant. As I walked through, I also saw small receiving rooms that must have been rooms where people waited when they came to visit. I could even bet that this house might be built in the 1700's or possibly even earlier than. The hallway opened up to a larger space, with a large staircase in the centre of it. This place was built with money and prestige and the fact that everything was still in a magnificent

state, despite its age, was testimony to how rich Alpha Garrett was. I couldn't even imagine the cost of the maintenance. "Please wait here, Miss. I'll tell the master that you're here." The butler led me to a sofa and I quietly sat there. I was still looking around with great curiosity. A few minutes passed and I finally heard some noise coming from the grand staircase. And then, Garrett appeared. He was wearing red toned trousers and a simple black shirt. His dark hair was tousled and he obviously looked like he just woke up and had rushed down to see me. My heart raced wildly the instant I saw him. He wasn't wearing a suit or dressing so special but he was still so breathtaking as always, so breathtaking that I would believe him if he told me he was a god from another world. As soon as he got closer, I quickly stood as I ranted. “Look, whatever happened between us was a mistake. You are fated to my sister and not me. Everyone might be afraid of you but I am not. I, Lyssa, reject you, Alpha Garrett!”

Standing in front of me and staring at me, he took a seat without saying a word to me. He acted as if I was speaking to myself.