Chapter 4

Lyra

My hand trembles as memories resurface. It's him, the ruthless Alpha who killed my father. The revelation hangs heavy in the air, like a dark shadow over the room.

The pack doctor and Beta Zach leave the room, sensing the fizz of tension that now fills the space. I can't tear my gaze away from him. Anger stirs within me, and I feel it building.

Sasha whimpers, sensing the agony that grips me, as the Alpha king's gaze bores into mine. His presence feels like a threat, and I struggle to contain the emotions that threaten to burst forth.

Then I finally found my voice. "You?" I utter, my question hanging in the air. His face remains locked onto mine, emotionless, as I sense him moving.

Instinctively, I push myself back into the bed, creating physical distance, but the emotional turmoil remains, along with the harsh truth.

I don't want to believe it's anything other than a dream, but when he moves closer to me, the wave of disbelief shatters. It's all real; he's here, a reality that sends chills down my spine.

He reaches out to my hand, which is placed over the bed. My heart races with conflicted emotions sparking within me.

Anger seeps through, and I scream, "Don't you dare touch me!"

He pauses, cold eyes locking onto mine, amusement playing in his dark gaze. His lips curl up at the corner, a sinister expression that sends a shiver down my spine.

"Mate," Sasha's voice echoes in my head, a whisper escaping my lips as my strength drains away. "Please let me go," I plead, desperate for an escape from this chilling reality.

He tilts his head as his hand reaches out to my cheek and says, "Not on my watch, mate."

I feel a magnetic pull as my stomach twists in tight knots, a connection that defies reason as I wrestle to pull away.

"You are fucking beautiful," he mutters as he pulls his hand away.

Finding one's mate should be a blessing, but I feel disappointed. The moon goddess seems to have made a mistake pairing me with my father’s killer.

"How can he be my mate? I thought he had a mate. I don't seem to know much about him, but all I know is that he was mated to a beautiful she-wolf.”

Then I find my voice and stutter, "Y...you k...killed my father. Moon goddess has to be kidding with me."

"You sound disappointed," he says as he arches his brows with no show of emotions. After all, he is the ruthless Alpha of the Moonpeak Pack.

His name alone invokes fear; the tales of his fierce actions in battle spread like wildfire. He strikes terror into the hearts of those who dare cross his path, and people fear at the mere mention of his name.

Tears flow from my eyes freely without control. "I don't want to be here," I whine.

He cups my cheek. I'm taken aback as my breath hitches in my throat, sparks hitting me at full force. I feel disgusted as I hurriedly shake my head and pry his hand off my face.

I sense him stiffen at my touch, with a slight hint of some emotion in his eyes. Immediately, as it comes, it goes away, the coldness returning.

He gets up, gives me a long stare, and walks out the door.

The moon goddess has so much hate for me to give me a mate like Kessler. I can't bear it as pain squeezes my heart. I can't accept him as my mate. No, I can't, as a surge of emotions overwhelms me.

I am numb, helpless, and drained of emotions as I grab my hair with anger and let out a loud cry.

"Fuck my life. I can't be like this, crying like a lady in distress. I've been broken before and won't allow it to repeat itself," I mutter, taking a look at the door as a smile rises to my lips.

Hastily, I push myself up from the bed, my heart pounding with each beat as I move to the door. With determined steps, I walk out of the room, looking around; there is no one in sight.

I make my way and see two guys talking, feeling relieved when they don't glance my way.

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding as I found myself breathing in the fresh air.

"Where are we going?" Sasha asks in my head.

"Anywhere but not here," I reply defiantly.

"But he is our mate," she says as I roll my eyes.

There is a sort of celebration going on. I hide in a corner until the coast is clear, then tiptoe and go out the gate of the Moonpeak Pack.

Overwhelmed with joy, I run into the woods and pause for a while to catch my breath. I take off my clothes, shift to my wolf form, and carry my clothes in my mouth as I run, not looking back once.

With each step, I contemplate where to go. I can't go back to Tristan; I know he wants me dead. I don't have a plan. It is stupid to stay with someone who killed my father.

"I can't accept him as my fated mate. If I had the chance, I'd reject him," Sasha groans in my head at the thought of rejecting my mate.

Tired, I stop at a tree. I shift back into my human form, wear my dress, and lean on a tree trunk. Within minutes, I fell asleep.

I sense something is off as I notice footsteps around me. I open my eyes, look around, and realize I am surrounded by wolves. They aren't familiar.

I panic and hurriedly stand up, trying to shift into my wolf. Then, a man steps out and says, "Don't bother."

My eyes widen like saucers as I realize who he is. His voice sends chills down my spine as memories flood my mind.