Chapter 9
Aaliyah’s POV
“Opal,” I’murmured aloud. “Is that a type of wolf?” My own wolf, Hestia, stirred inside. “Wow, that’s cool,” she purred.
“Shut up,” I muttered, though I was smiling.
Just as I was about to lose myself in the pages, a voice interrupted. It was Avery, standing near the door. Her presence always brought a smile to my face.
“What’s up, Avery?”
“Sister Aali, Luna wants you at the mansion,” she said breathlessly.
“Mom?” I asked, surprised. Mom didn’t usually summon me like this. “Why?”
Avery shrugged, wide–eyed. “I heard there are
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visitors. I don’t know more than that.”
I sighed, putting the book back on the shelf. I had planned to spend my afternoon in the library. Why did something always have to come up?
“I’ll find out what’s happening,” I said, ruffling her hair. “Go have fun with the others, okay?”
With a nod, she dashed off, leaving me to make my way to the pack mansion.
As I approached the entrance, the sounds from within grew louder. Something felt off, and the moment I stepped inside, Mom called out.
“Aaliyah!”
I turned, intending to greet her, but the sight of familiar, unwanted faces stopped me cold.
Anger flared within me. How dare these people show up here?
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“Irina?” Helena sobbed theatrically, pretending shock at seeing me. “I didn’t believe Jenika at first, but seeing you now, it feels…real.”
Their audacity was astounding. I had once mistaken their crocodile tears for sincerity, but now I saw the deceit plainly.
Kayden, standing beside Helena, spoke with surprising boldness.
“We’re glad we found you, Irina. You left so suddenly. We searched for you all these years, worried sick. We’re happy now.”
Hestia growled within me, infuriated by his words, desperate for vengeance.
“It’s not the right time,” I reminded her silently, keeping my face emotionless.
“Irina, as your mother-
“Adoptive,” I corrected Helena coldly. “Let’s not
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forget that part.”
Kayden’s voice rose in anger, “What tone is this towards your mother?”
Kieran, my supportive brother, was ready to defend me. “Who do you think you are, raising your voice at my sister?”
He glared, only restrained by Kiya, preventing a likely brawl.
Dad’s voice cut through the room like ice.
“Mr. Kayden, mind your place. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. Remember who you’re addressing. We’ve kept silent for peace’s sake, but don’t push our limits.”
Kayden recoiled, silenced by Dad’s firm stance.
I couldn’t fathom how I ever considered him a father figure, a man who couldn’t even protect his supposed daughter.
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Helena tried again, feigning remorse.
“Irina, I know you’re upset, but we loved you as our own. Why are you treating us like this? Don’t you have any feelings?”
I laughed; the irony was too rich.
“Feelings? You mean like how you felt when scolding me for things Jenika did? Or when you wanted her to take my place as Kyle’s mate? When you turned a blind eye to Jenika and Kyle’s betrayal? Or when you beat me because I refused your sick plans?”
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With each accusation, my voice grew louder, until Hestia’s growls mirrored my anger.
Mom squeezed my arm, grounding me.
“Irina,” Helena began, but Mom interrupted sharply.
“That’s enough!” she snapped. “I’ve heard enough
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lies. This ends now.”
“But Irina is ou-”
“One more word, and I dare you,” Mom’s voice was steel. “She’s mine. I birthed her, suffered for her! You took her from us, made her hurt, caused
us pain. How dare you come into my territory and scold my daughter? Who do you think you are?”
For the first time, I saw a fierce, protective fire in Mom’s eyes.
Her grip on me tightened, as though shielding me from their darkness. Dad joined us, his presence a comforting wall.
“Don’t stress over them, darling,” he whispered, eyes never leaving the trespassers. “It’s not good for you.”
Mom glared at Helena and Kayden.
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“This place isn’t for you,” she told me softly.
“Honey, change all the furniture in this room. Call the priest for cleansing.”
Dad nodded, understanding clearly.
“Let’s go, darling,” Mom said, pulling me away.
As we neared the door, she threw one last warning over her shoulder.
“Don’t show your face here again. Next time you won’t be so lucky.”
With that, we left, not sparing them another glance.
4
Kyle’s POV
The meeting room was quiet. Too quiet. The dim lighting didn’t help. Every face in the room was
tense.
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We had one job. Just one.
Bring Irina back.
We tracked the Winter Moon Pack for weeks
across that damn forest maze.
We finally found them. Sent Kayden and Helena to talk to them.
”
To explain everything, reason with them, and convince them to let Irina–Aaliyah–return.
But they ruined it.
Dad sat at the head of the table, his eyes blazing with suppressed rage. He slammed his hand down on the table.
The sound echoed through the room.
“That was our chance!” Dad growled, glaring at Kayden and Helena. “All you had to do was talk. Just talk! But no–you couldn’t even do that
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Chey
right.”
Kayden flinched, lowering his head.
“Alpha,” he said, voice low and respectful, “we did try. But the Winter Moon Alpha wouldn’t listen. And when Helena approached Irina, the Luna-”
“Luna what?” Dad interrupted, his voice sharper than before. “What did you say to the Luna?”
Helena stayed silent, her jaw clenched.
Dad let out a frustrated groan.
“Do you even know how that pack works? You’ve insulted their Luna. You might as well have slapped the Alpha in the face. In the Winter
Moon Pack, the Luna holds just as much power. Sometimes more.”
Mom gasped softly beside me. I already knew— but hearing it again stung.
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“That pack isn’t some backwoods tribe,” Dad
went on. “It’s ancient. It’s powerful. Their customs are not like ours. Disrespect the Luna, and you’re not offending just one person–you’re insulting the whole pack.
Helena shifted uncomfortably in her seat, finally understanding the depth of their mistake.
Too little, too late.
“They almost didn’t let you return,” Dad added, his tone grim. “Thank the Moon Goddess the confrontation happened behind closed doors. Otherwise, I doubt you two would’ve made it back alive.”
That shut both of them up.
Silence fell again.
“Are they really that serious?” Mom finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
