The Hunted Wolf – Chapter 23

ADIRA

Alpha Lyna’s facial expression shifted from shock to anger as he processed what he was seeing. His fingers curled, and he seemed to grow taller. I found myself shrinking in his presence. Growing up, I wasn’t scared of him. He was a loving and caring father, but he could be extremely stern when he wanted to be. I hated getting on his bad side and getting scolded. I always felt bad for his enemies, too. There was a reason he was an extremely admired alpha, even though his pack size was relatively small compared to others.

Standing there, I knew I was the enemy he always feared, and that broke my heart more than anything my mother said. Luna Freya had always been colder to me, constantly telling me how I should act like a proper daughter so I would fit the image of the child of the alpha and Luna. It was always rules with her, where Alpha Lyna would play with me and read to me. He was more of a parent to me than my real parents, so as I stared into his eyes and saw the hatred for me in this, I almost lost it.

ce boomed, echoing through the front room.

and I couldn’t speak. I was terrified and heartbroken as I stare

Lyna. “We were here on official business with Luna Fr

him up and down, trying to decide how to act. “And who might you be?”

nding. He wasn’t as tall or as threatening as Alpha Lyna, but he held all of the command of an alpha.

e?”

about the situation based on his inflection alone.

pretty poor light after the coup, but many people knew his grandfather personally, and I hoped they would have made they own opinions about the situation, instead of listening to the rumors that were spread.

with him briefly when I was a child.

s here.”

es were cold and gave away no emotion. I stepped closer to Mark, wanting to feel just a little better in this awful situation.

“Reyland. You’re home.”

as Luna Freya walked into the room. “Darling, you didn’t tell me we were expecting guests. An alpha, no less.”

ha Mark. We have been out of touch with the ongoings in Ashville for some time now.” Alpha put his hands behind his back, as he waited for the answer.

reathe to get my head situated.

ng for the future,” Alpha Lyna said.

politeness was all a ruse.

re officially meeting you.”

His eyes never left me as we walked away.

. “You were a great father at one time. I’m sorry you found out the truth about me in the way you did. I can only imagine how upsetting that news was. It

en, but no words came out. He was shocked, and didn’t know what to s

the truth of why my parents kicked me out, but knowing the real reasoning and hearing it from the woman I once called “mother” was much worse than knowing.

away from my childhood home we got, the more my walls started breaking down. The tears spilled out of my eyes, silent at first.

sorry you had to go through that.”

ow I felt. How could my mother think of me like that?

me over her mate was going to make her hate me so much, then why pick me in the first place? I deserved to be loved, don’t I?”

led the car over when he saw the tears flowing freely now.

r, unbuckled me, and pulled me into his chest, holding me tightly.

s tried to be a good daughter. I know I wasn’t blood related to him, but I loved him. Didn’t he love me? How could he just abandon me like that because of what she did?” I was now sobbi

ould take away all of your pain.” Mark rubbed my back as I continued sobbing into his shirt. “We should get you into the car. Come

icked. My hands were glowing blue as the tears continued to stream down my face. I have never glowed like that before, and we couldn’t risk anyone seeing me like this.

ming down and then bursting into tears. The entire time, Mark held me in his lap, comforting me in every way he could think of.

I felt so lucky with him here with me, and no matter who came after me, I knew I would get through it as long as Mark was by my side.

’s arms. When I opened my eyes, I was in my familiar unconscious mind where I could talk to Moon and Shadow. There was running water in the distance, but something felt different. I didn’t feel safe here.

y were hiding. I continued on, walking towards the water. Eventually, I came across a stream of water where

still lingering in my head, even though I knew my body was asleep.

pproached the water, sitting n

owly. It felt like eyes were everywhere, but I couldn’t see anyone. “I feel i

ntention, though. He wants you for your magic. With you by his side, h

of the darkness, and it was the same darkness I had seen before. There was something else about it that felt familiar, and I couldn’t quite figure it out.

k.”

,” Moon said. “I don’t know if Mark will be able to protect us from

ning? I’m not skilled enough or strong enough.”

et, quickly running away.

d up, unsure of what was happening.

re you coming?”

feeling confused.

ve always had inside of you.”y