Chapter 2%
Sitting next to Damon who pulled me closer to him made me want to vanish right away. But come to think of it, why should I live the hard life?!
Why did Lilith always bask in the light of the Alpha family’s favor, while 1, her supposed sister was left in the shadows?!!
I could still recall the day we were brought into the Red Fang Pack as pups. The Alpha and Luna had lost their only daughter to a roque attack years ago. When they found Lilith and me wandering the wilderness, they decided to take us in !!
I thought I found home but I was wrong. Wrong from all angles. But was it my fault I have a different face and aura compared to
Lilith?
Lilith, with her golden hair and angelic smile, bore a striking resemblance to their late pup. To the pack, Lilith was introduced as their true–born daughter, while I was merely “the stray they took pity on.” And the council bought into it, Lilith grew into it and I was forced to play my role dutifully as the stray that was given shelter.
Over time, I grew numb to the whispers, the stares, and the cold indifference. My life was a pale, flickering shadow compared to Lilith’s blazing light. But even at that, the man I was loyal to still chased my sister relentlessly like I do not exist. How horrible could they be?%
“Lynal” Lilith’s voice came pulling me put of thoughts. I rolled my eyes in my head for the hundredth time, dreading the venom she was going to spit from that mouth yet again.
“Lyria, Father and Mother have treated you with love. Can’t you show a shred of respect to the family that raised you and let your mind be present?” her tone dripping with fake concern.
I kept my face blank, meeting her sharp gaze with icy detachment. “I am here. And for earlier, sorry for being late” I said curtly, not giving her the drama she craved.
you
Her lips curled in a victorious sneer. “You’ve always been like this–distant, ungrateful. It’s no wonder the pack hardly acknowledges
Before I could respond, Damon, my supposed fated mate, interjected. “Lilith don’t get upset. Lyria didn’t mean any harm. Let’s not nuin this feast over a misunderstanding.”
The first words out of his mouth weren’t to defend me, but to comfort her. Of course, I was not surprised, at least not anymore!
Right beside me he flashed a smile to her, something she returned immediately. The sight was nauseating, but it wasn’t even the least surprising. I had seen the messages–thousands of them–hidden in a secret compartment of his inner chamber. Each one was a love letter to “Dear Lilith, My Moonlight”
Every moment he shared with her was documented with care. Not a single word was about me. It was as if our entire courtship had been a farce, a performance to please the Alpha and Luna.
Winning the Alpha and Luna’s heart was easy, he was one of their best warriors, he had superseded every alliance made, gained new allies and brought terror on any pack that dared trespass. With his presence, almost every war was won and we expanded on our territory. To crown it all, he always knew what the Alpha’s thinking without him saying a word and with eye signals, he obeyed without complaining even if it would cost him more harm than good.
He was just the perfect mate to teach someone like me the ways of the pack like Lilith. And like that, we were to bond under a oath in few moon phases time.
I stood, tired of Lilith and Damon exchanging secret g
glances at each other
As if on cue, the Luna’s cold voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Lyria, sit down. You’re fortunate to have someone like Damon willing to take you as his mate.“2
I wanted to burst into laughter. Fortunate? I glanced at Damon, his face glowing with pride under their praise. His eyes were not as appealing as when I was blinded by his love.
As if exchanging glances was not enough, Lilith came over to our space and sat next to him, slightly pushing me over the edge. Under the table, his hand brushed against Lilith. My wolf, Ember, growled low in my mind. I bit down the urge to snarl, swallowing the lump rising in my throat
“Soon, I will disappear so you can continue your love story” I muttered, closing my eyes.
Lilith’s laughter rang out like a melody as she whispered something to Damon. Their closeness felt like a dagger twisting in my chest. But then, it was only a matter of few nights.
Damon, you are such a sweet wolf” Lilith giggled. Everyone carried on with their affairs like nothing was wrong.
I clenched my fists under the table, nails digging into my palms, and forced myself to eat in silence.
Silence
But I refused to break. This new Lyria doesn’t break.
Instead, I focused on the promise I’d made to myself. Soon, I would leave. Leave the Red Fang Pack, leave this suffocating home, and leave behind everyone who had made me feel like I was nothing.!!
I planned to disappear before the next full moon. The Black Sea bordered our territory, and I knew of a lone island for beyond its waves where no wolf would dare search and Jareth would make sure my trail are erased.
- me.
“Are you alright, Lynia?” Damon’s voice broke through my thoughts. His hand brushed my arm, but I jerked away before he could touch
“I’m fine,” I said sharply, rising from the table. Tve lost my appetite.”
Before anyone could stop me, I walked out into the cool night air, letting the silence settle over my thoughts.
The next morning. I awoke to find Damon standing in my chamber, his expression bright and eager. At once I felt like digging my
claws down his throat.
“Lyria, get up,” he said, grinning. “Today’s the day we meet the seamstress to prepare for the mating ceremony!”
“You sat with her during the embroidery right?”
I sat up abruptly, Ember growling in frustration. It was only a week until the ceremony.
Damon’s grin widened. “Finally, I can make you my mate and bring you home. I’ve waited so long for this.”
Home. The word felt foreign on his lips. Everything from him was just a calculated plan that I caught on a little bit late.!
“Lyria! you have been acting strange, are you OK?” Damon asked.
I forced a small smile, nodding as he pulled me from the bed. But my mind was already elsewhere.
Even the mating ceremony seemed orchestrated to put Lilith in the center of everything as always.
For years, she had overshadowed me–framing me for stolen supplies, whispering venomous lies to the pack elders. She thrived on making me look unworthy. And before questions asked, I was already found guilty!
Every time, Lilith would start her statement with ” I found Lyria at the border, this time what she did was different and worse than the last time..“!
And nobody would wait to listen to the next sentence, boom, I was already punished.
But this time, I had a plan.
My gaze hardened as I looked at Damon. He had no idea what was coming.
*Lyria, why are you staring at me?” He asked, confusion plastered on his face.
“Oh…, just stressed and looking at you gave me more hope Damon.”
“In few nights, you will be mine completely”
“That mating night, I will give you a special present, Damon” I smiled
“Really? What would that be?”
“Wait till then..” I smirked.
I would give them a surprise on the day of the mating ceremony. One they would never forget One that would change everything ”
