Ravenhood Pack.
It felt like a lie. The entire pack had been deceived by the tale of rivals attacking Arianna's chamber, killing her and trapping her in the fire. Lylah refused to believe it. She never would.
She knew Arianna to be a strong female, inheriting the traits of their late father. Even at a young age, Arianna had handled many official matters. Like their father, she was a perfect leader.
Yet, on her wedding night, a rival had killed her and trapped her in the fire? Lylah would swear that Kael and the elders were behind it.
Her sister had died because of them.
Lylah wiped her tears, stood, and grabbed the small dagger Arianna had gifted her. As she walked down the hall, she could hear the chatter and laughter of the elders and their so-called new Alpha.
It fueled her rage, confirming her suspicions that they were all behind Arianna's death.
She slammed the tall door open, her gaze locking onto the group seated around a table, food and drinks laid before them.
They were feasting? After murdering her sister?
She spotted Kael smiling with his companions. He certainly didn't look like a man who had just lost his mate.
"Murderer!" she screamed, freezing the room. Her eyes locked onto Kael, and she imagined plunging her dagger into his neck.
"Lylah?" one of the elders asked, standing with a calm expression. "Is everything alright?"
"Alright?" Lylah scoffed. "You all killed my sister and lied to the entire pack. You think I'll fall for your deception?"
"Lylah, your Alpha just lost his mate, and we're trying to cheer him up—"
"He is not my Alpha!" she cut in, her gaze fixed on Kael. "And he never will be. He doesn't even look like someone who just lost his mate."
"Lylah, show some respect!" another elder spat.
"Leave her," Kael spoke this time, his face calm as he stood. Sadness flashed across his features, but Lylah knew it was an act. "I understand your pain, Lylah. Truly, I do. You have no idea how much my heart aches. I nearly lost myself, going berserk, killing those responsible. I hate myself for not being able to save—"
"Oh, cut the crap," Lylah snapped. "Do you take me for a fool? You killed my sister in cold blood."
"I am your Alpha!" Kael roared, his eyes flashing with anger. "You will not speak to me that way. Be careful, young lady."
Lylah clenched her fists, refusing to show how his power affected her. She had no wolf yet to retaliate, to give her strength. But she was an Alpha's daughter, after all.
Her eyes remained cold, unyielding. "Watch me. Watch how I expose you—all of you who had a hand in my sister's death. You have no right to sit on my father's throne." With that, she spun and stormed out, slamming the door loud behind her.
Kael stared into space, his eyes cold, his aura menacing as anger surged through him.
"Alpha, what should we do with her?" one of the elders asked.
"We need to act fast. I've known Lylah long enough to tell you she's the most stubborn child I've ever seen. Besides, she's Alpha Thane's daughter. She could be a threat in the future," another elder added.
Kael had thought about what to do with Lylah after dealing with Arianna. He had considered exiling her, not wanting the blood of a child on his hands.
But tonight, she had crossed the line.
"We'll kill her," Kael replied glancing at, Ryder, the strong guard behind him. Understanding what the Alpha wanted, Ryder drew his sword.
"Give her a quick one, and make no mistake," Kael added watching as Ryder bowed and stalked out of the hall like a black panther.
Ryders's sword glittered under the dim light of the hallway leading to a particular room. He swung the door open, his dark eyes settling on Lylah's slender figure in the center of the room.
Her back was to him as she gazed outside her window.
Lylah sensed his presence and sighed. "He sent you to kill me, didn't he?"
Ryder stepped forward, his gaze sharp like the edge of a sword. Slowly, he bent one knee and bowed to her.
"My lady," his deep voice echoed in the room, laced with respect.
Lylah glanced over her shoulder, her gaze cold. "You didn't answer my question."
"Yes, he did," he replied. "I suggest you should leave the pack. He'll send another to hunt you."
"I'm not leaving. Not until I teach them a lesson. You have no right to speak to me, Ryder. Since you couldn't protect my sister, you could have at least defended her. You should have killed them all, yet you stood beside them."
"My lady," Ryder called, his voice steady. "I admit my failure in not protecting her, and I will carry the weight of your loss. But killing them will only make things worse..."
Lylah spun around, casting a cold glare at him. "Then you're saying I should sit and watch them celebrate? Those bastards."
"I heard a rumor," Ryder continued cautiously. "One of the guards assigned to Lady Arianna that night... there's talk that he suddenly came into a large fortune. Bought himself a large estate far outside the border."
Lylah's eyes narrowed, interest flashing across her features. "Which guard?"
"His name is Garren. One of the lower-ranked sentinels. A guard who could barely feed his family now owns an estate overnight."
Lylah's eyes narrowed further. "Take me to the guard. We'll be quiet."
The moonlight cast over the park's training ground as two guards sat around the corner drinking and talking. Their voices were hushed and filled with excitement.
"Fuck, I can't believe we made such a fortune and will be out of this shithole soon," Garren laughed lightly.
"Serves her right for being such a bitch," Rokan, the second guard, sneered with a smirk. "She acted bold, fierce, and cowardly just like her father. Who would have thought she was worth so much money?"
Garren let out a low laugh, the sound dark and careless. "I've never seen such an amount of money before. Cheers to the new Alpha. We're rich overnight."
Rokan sighed, leaning back in his chair. "What if she comes back, alive?"
Garren's movement halted, his brow shooting up. "We'd be long gone. Slaves barely survive these days. Now shut the fuck up before someone hears us. I haven't mounted a woman in a while. That'll be the first thing I do once I get out of here."
Their smiles faltered as a cold voice sounded behind them.
"I'm afraid that won't happen."
Their blood ran cold as they turned toward the voice, watching Lylah emerge from the shadows. Her eyes were cold and piercing, brimming with fury.
"So, it was you," her jaw clenched.
Garren and Rokan exchanged looks, both understanding each other's thoughts. The ground was empty, after all, and Lylah had yet to have a wolf. Bloodlust flashed in their gazes as they drew their daggers. But as they stepped forward, another shadow emerged behind Lylah.
Tall, imposing, and frightening. A pair of yellow eyes burning with rage. The strongest warrior, Ryder. They were no match for him.
His menacing presence made their daggers fall.
Ryder stepped forward, and like a vice, he grabbed Rokan's neck. His hideous claws flashed in the air, and in the next second, blood splattered across the walls and floor.
Rokan's head slipped, disconnecting from his body and hitting the floor. The sickening scene made Garren stumble in terror.
Lylah smirked. "You're next. Unless you lead me to where I can find my sister."