*****Lyra’s POV*****
“Lyra, you traitor!”
I woke up groggy only to see my mate Orion yell at me. His voice was cold and accusing.
What happened?
I remembered it was a special night—my coming-of-age ceremony, a night when young wolves also discover their fated mates.
I remembered the warm tingling sensation coursing through my veins as I stared at Orion, who stood a few meters away, confidently with his friends while giving me a small smile in return.
His good looks blinded me so much that I couldn't notice the thing hidden behind his smile. I just felt it was like a blessing from the moon goddess. Having my boyfriend right to be my destined mate was great luck. That meant we didn't have to separate and we were meant to be together.
My heart was pounding with bliss. I wanted to jump into Orion's arms, to tell him how happy I was, and he would give me the most beautiful kiss, and we may be mated under the bright moonlight. The wonderful marks on our necks would tell others whom we belonged to.
But now, I knew I had to wait patiently for the ceremony to close first.
I am an Alpha's daughter, the next Alpha of the Sunfire pack. I should behave myself, not to disgrace my pack and my name.
With pride in my heart, I looked up at my father, Alpha Greywood, stepping into the center of the circle. His calm presence commanded respect as the pack fell silent in reverence. He spoke of tradition, bonds that made our pack strong, and lastly, honor.
I listened intently, feeling a swell of pride for my lineage, my father’s legacy, and my leadership.
As the ceremony progressed, the other young wolves, just like me, stepped forward as they received the blessings of the moon. I watched as my friends and peers discovered their mates, joy lighting up their faces.
It was a moment of joy for everyone in the Sunfire Pack. I was determined to grow into a reliable leader, just like my father, to guard their happiness.
With my father and Orion by my side, I was sure I could make it happen in the future.
When the ceremony was concluded, I didn't inform my father about Orion being my mate but decided to share some sweet moments with Orion first.
I searched around the gathering, but he was nowhere to be found. A frown settled on my face when I couldn’t find him amongst the other pack members, including his friends.
I wanted to ask them, but his scent wafted into my nostrils. Without hesitation, I followed the scent, heading towards the direction it came from.
It led me to a secluded area in the pack, a place where no one often trespassed.
My new wolf wasn’t yet on the surface, or strong enough to have a one-on-one conversation with me.
So there was no one to ask why exactly Orion would come here.
Just then, I found him. He stood at the center of the same place my mother named, “Love Garden”.
The frown on my face disappeared at the thought that he might have come here to wait for me. Maybe he knew I would eventually come to find him here.
A small smile replaced the earlier frown as I took a step forward towards him.
But before I could reach out to him, a rustling noise caught my attention. I turned to see Freya, my best friend, approaching Orion with a predatory smile.
The next scene that unfolded before me, shattered my entire existence. Freya’s hands were all over Orion the next minute, and he wasn’t resisting. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying it.
Under the bright moonlight, they kissed together passionately as if they had done this a thousand times. His hand skillfully reached under her skirt and she shamelessly ripped off her straps, sending her breasts toward his mouth. He greedily devoured her plumpness, causing her to let out lustful moans.
"Fck me, Orion! Fck me hard like we always do!" Freya shamelessly rubbed her ass against his body.
Orion laughed and made her on all fours, sending his length into her hole, "You're so damn tight and juicy, Freya. I bet Lyra can never do this for me."
Tears blurred my eyes and my heart shattered into a million pieces.
How could Orion do this to me? How could Freya do this to me?
They were my mate and my best friend! I trusted them and loved them with my whole heart.
With the anger and betrayal filling my heart, I moved to confront them, but before I could take a step forward, a sharp pain exploded at the back of my head. It felt like a sledgehammer had struck my skull, sending pains and a shockwave of agony through me.
For a split second, I didn’t move a muscle. The world seemed to stop, and all I could focus on was the searing pain radiating from the point of impact. My vision went hazy, and dizziness overwhelmed me. I wanted to scream in pain, but my voice seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
Also, I tried to turn and see who had attacked me, but my body failed me as it refused to obey.
My legs buckled, and I felt myself falling. Darkness began to creep into the edges of my vision.
A few hours later, when I opened my eyes again, the scent of blood filled the air. I blinked, trying to clear my blurry vision. I tried to move my limbs, and that was when I realized something.
I was bound to a chair.
I panicked at once and tried to free my arms from the bounds.
At the same time, the scent of blood grew thicker and I had to find the source of such a poignant smell. The panic I felt intensified as I took in the horrifying sight before me; my father’s lifeless body lay a few meters away from where I was tied up, soaked in his blood. The entire pack was also in ruins for some reason.
“Fa_Father?” I called out, my voice cracking at the sight of my father’s pale skin.
“You’re finally awake?” I heard Orion’s voice coming from my right-hand side and I hurriedly turned to look at him.
He stood with Freya, a triumphant look in their eyes as they watched me.
"Remember this day, Lyra. It's the end of your happy life."
Orion’s expression hardened. “Lyra, you traitor!”
Before I could speak, people poured in and Orion continued his nonsense.
“Lyra, you’re the traitor behind this massacre!” He declared in a tone of false pain.
“You wanted to take over as Alpha so fast that you couldn’t even wait till your father stepped down! And then you chose to get it the hard way after coming of age!”
My eyes widened in shock and disbelief at the accusation.
“No! That’s not true. I don’t know what happened. Please believe me.”
How could they even think of such a thing?
I had just come of age and wasn’t even strong enough yet to destroy anything. So how would they think I killed her father just for the Alpha position that would fall on my shoulders one day?
The pack members standing behind Orion cried out for my execution, clearly believing Orion’s words.
The last thing I remembered before I collapsed was the smiles on Orion and Freya’s faces. I was knocked down after the ceremony, so when would I have the time to even think of rebelling against my father?
“Traitor! Execute her!” The Sunfire pack members screamed in unison as they pointed accusing fingers at me.
Orion turned to me again, a satisfied look in his eyes as he said. “With what you did, you aren’t fit to become the leader of this pack. Your father wanted me to expand the pack, and I would do just that.” He said, his gaze boring into mine.
“I, Orion Greywood, hereby reject you, Lyra Greywood as my mate.” He spat out, clearly knowing that we were both fated mates already.
In the Sunfire pack, rejection was one of the most painful things for anyone who recently got their wolf. So, the moment Orion made the rejection declaration, another intense pain tore through me, making me shut my eyes and cry in agony.
It was like a piece of my soul had been ripped apart.
Orion then turned to the pack members who watched on in satisfaction. “As the norms of this pack demand, we will execute her for the murder of our late Alpha, and for attempting to destroy this great pack.” He declared before everyone, earning an approving nod from them all. “Tomorrow, her execution will take place. Today, I declare Freya as the new Luna. Her pack joined the Sunfire pack as reinforcements, saving us from complete doom and destruction. And our packs will merge with hers and become one strong family!”
Freya smiled widely as the crowd cheered excitedly for her. My heart sank realizing I was helpless, bound, and betrayed with no one to turn to. I trusted them too much and today, I was bitten by the same set of people I trusted with my life. My voice got stuck in my throat, as I made a silent vow to find a way to clear my name and avenge my father’s death.
No matter what it took.
