“So, when are we going to let your father know that I am alive?” I asked cautiously, my voice carrying a mix of anxiety and curiosity.
Lyles’ gaze turned solemn as he looked at me, his piercing eyes evaluating my sincerity. “When you promise me that you won’t try anything stupid when he learns the truth.”
I quirked an eyebrow, my heart sinking slightly at his condition. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep, Lyles. You should know me by now.”
He exhaled heavily, his expression a blend of frustration and understanding. “It’s important I know, Crinka. My father being alpha would surely make him stronger than you.”
I scowled at the reminder, well aware of the hierarchical implications. “Don’t I know it? Fine, I promise. But this doesn’t mean I won’t defend myself if it comes to that.”
His eyes held a mixture of relief and caution. “Now that we have agreed, follow me.”
With heavy reluctance, I trailed behind Lyles as he led the way out of the sterile recovery room. The corridors of the territory felt unfamiliar, a stark contrast to the pack I had grown up in.
“I am at a loss at what to do with our newest omega. Any suggestions, Nidea?” Lyles’s mother’s voice echoed down the hallway.
The urge to hit her with my fist surged through me like an electric shock. I clenched my fists, the memory of my promise to Sia serving as a leash to control my anger. I couldn’t afford to break it, no matter how strong the temptation.
Despite my efforts, I harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Lyles’s mother, even now that she was the Alpha Female. As far as I knew, she was the reason my mother had met a tragic end. When Joe goes down, I’ll make sure his wife goes down with him.
“I don’t know about you, but I truly believe that she would be a great mother,” Nidea’s voice held a touch of optimism.
Before Lyles could intervene, I couldn’t help but respond to that statement, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “If you think I’m going to be a babymaking machine for the pack, think again. I don’t even like kids.”
“Nobody cares about your likes and dislikes, Mara,” a voice interjected, dripping with disdain. “Another word and I’ll remind you of your place. You only speak when you’re spoken to. Now where was I? Oh yes. Murderers shouldn’t be mothers, Nidea. Why do you think her mother abandoned her?”
Heat surged through my veins at the mention of my mother. “If you don’t shut up your mouth, I’ll shut it up with my fist.”
“The same fist that made you omega?” Sleepy Joe chimed in, a mocking tone evident in his voice. “Try not to make empty threats, Mara. It doesn’t suit you.”
For Lyles’ sake, I struggled to rein in my anger. Of course, there were always those who were eager to challenge my efforts.
“Now that the raging temptress has shut up, what do you intend to do with her, honey?” Nidea’s words oozed with condescension.
His comment sent a surge of thoughts racing through my mind, each one darker and more suggestive than the last.
“A lot of things,” his words caused a lot of things to run through my head. “I don’t want her in my pack Nidea.”
The sharpness of his statement cut through the air, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. My heart raced, the anxiety of an uncertain future gnawing at me.
“Why, are you afraid of being challenged?”
“Crinka, you really should stop talking. He’s alpha now. The least you can do is respect that,” Lyles said and his words had me rolling my eyes.
“What Mara needs is help. What I am saying is, Crinka needs someone who can take that wild arse of hers,” Sleepy Joe says.
“How do you know my arse is wild, if you have never felt it before?”
Lyles choked on his spit and I shot him a small smile. Joe s sorts and his wife, not mate, look at me with pure disgust.
“Father, you will be greatly queried if Crinka becomes a rogue. Why don’t you let the pack members decide if they want her around or not?”
“There won’t be a need for that”, Joe says, and my shoulders sink. He shoots me a sly smile. “She will stay under my watch until I decide what I am going to do with her.”
“And where will she stay?”, Lyles asks. I hate that they are discussing me like I am not here.
“In the packhouse,” Nidea says.
“He wasn’t talking to you bitch,” I say annoyed.
Joe narrowed his eyes at me. “Watch your tongue. She is your Luna!”
“The goddess forbids,” I spat. “She will never be my Luna!”
Joe’s smile sent shivers down my spine and not in a good way. “That’s fine because you won’t be with us for long. I won’t have a disrespectful omega in my pack.”
“What does that mean?” Lyles asks, and I can smell the dread in his voice.
“I invited a few superiors. I call them lycans. You call them Icelanders. Whatever your choice.”
My blood froze. Icelanders. What could he possibly want with them? From what I have gathered. Icelanders don’t visit a pack lest it’s important.
“What for? I thought we had the situation under control!” Lyles yelled.
“Don’t tell your father son,” Nidea warned.
“Said it before and I am saying it again. He wasn’t talking to you bitch,” I said in a low voice. Of course, she heard, and I scoffed when she sneered. It’s going to take you more than a sneer to make me feel bad bitch.
“Take a look at your cousin, Lyles. She can not be controlled. It’s in her blood. You know it, I know it,” Joe snapped
Can not be controlled? I’m starting to feel like a chick. Ruffle my feathers suckers.
“And so you settled for a higher power. Because you knew they were the only ones who could tame her.” Lyles whispered.
Joe smiled. “Exactly. You’ve become smarter son. I like that.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You didn’t need to. Crinka was perfectly fine being here.”
“No, I was not.”
Both men yelled, “Shut up!”
“I don’t get your anger son. She can’t stay here. Her presence in this pack is quite unhealthy,” Nidea said.
“So is yours,” I say.
Joe glares at me. “She will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. That’s the way they’ve agreed to settle things.”
So he was going to sell me. I knew this was going to happen, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.
“When is the auction?” I asked, my voice wavering. “Two weeks from now,” Joe responded.
Lyles shook his head. “No, there’s got to be another way. There has to be!”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Lyles, it’s going to be okay. I will be okay.” I was on the verge of crying.
Lyles shook his head. “No Crinka. It’s not. If you are sold, I’ll probably never see you again. You’re the only family I have left. I don’t want to lose you.”
Joe placed a hand on his chest, gasping dramatically. “I feel betrayed.”
“You should,” I whisper.
“Back to what I was saying,” Lyles said. “You can’t sell her.”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter son. I’m in charge here.”
“But, but…”
I shushed him. “Lyles, stop. I’m going to be fine. And I will see you again. Maybe not today, but someday. I know that,” I whisper.
“Yes listen to your cousin, son. It’s the first time she’s making sense.”
I glare. Lyles shoulders shook with anger.
“I need a run,” he said and ran out, leaving me alone with his parents.
Joe stood from his chair and walked towards me. “Now now Mara what do I do with you?” he asks, he grasps my chin, and I feel queasy. I don’t like him touching me.
“You’re going to sell me.”
“Before that. I have to make you suffer at some point Mara. What do you suggest darling?”
Nidea smiled. “I’ve got just the perfect thing in mind. Leave her to me.”
#
“Break the bond.”
My voice is hollow as I speak and Sia stops in his tracks. I am now a rogue, all thanks to this bastard. A lot of things had happened before we left the pack. One of them being Bradley’s death. Turns out Bradley had betrayed me. He provided the poison that sleepy Joe injected into my system. He claims that he didn’t have a choice given his mate’s life was threatened, so I agreed to spare him and kill his mate, but Lyles refused and severed his head from his neck in one strike. Following that, Anita left the pack. And my suspicions were correct. She and Lyles are indeed mates after all. She left a letter apologizing for lying about the pregnancy, and saying how she didn’t want to be Lyles mate. Lyles was furious and went to look for her. Days after that, the Icelanders visited the pack, and I was auctioned off to the highest bidder which happened to be Sia. Shocking since he said he didn’t think anyone would buy me. And now here we are, on foreign lands, with me telling the idiot to break the bond.
“That’s impossible.”
“I don’t care, Please Sia, I am begging you.”
His hard resolve softens. “Okay then. Let’s go.”