Chapter 7
Aaliyah’s POV
I stared at the woman on the floor, surprised by the power in my slap. Jenika looked equally shocked.
“Learn to use your words wisely,” I warned, turning to Jenika. “Stop pretending we’re family. You know the truth. Stay out of my business.”
Jenika stared at me, stunned, as Kyle stepped in
beside her.
“Irina, what happened to you?” he asked. “Why are you so different?”
A smile crept over my lips. “Hearing that from you, Mr. Kyle, is amusing.”
He opened his mouth, but another voice interrupted.
“What’s happening here?” Kieran’s voice cut through the tension. He was instantly at my side, glaring at Kyle.
“Mr. Becker, why is your pack insulting my sister?” Kieran’s voice was full of authority.
Kyle was taken aback but quickly recovered. “I didn’t know Irina was your sister, Mr. Becker.”
“You don’t need to know her,” Kieran retorted. “Stay away from her. Don’t use fake names.”
“It’s not fake. She’s Irina, a member of our pack,” Kyle insisted.
Kieran smirked. “Since when is Shadow Blades qualified to claim my sister?”
Kyle’s expression hardened, his eyes darkening. But Kieran stood his ground, unfazed.
Remember, Mr. Becker, this is a major event. You want a fight, invite me. Know the right time and
place,” Kieran warned before taking my hand.
“Let’s go; Dad wants to introduce you to some
friends.”
I nodded, casting a look at Kyle, still simmering with anger.
Smirking, I left with Kieran and Kiya, grateful to step away from the tension.
If I’d known they were here, I would have stayed with Mom’s gossip.
Later, Dad introduced me to various influential figures in the werewolf society.
I was overwhelmed by his extensive connections and was glad when I could excuse myself for a drink away from the crowd.
Kiya stayed, tightly held by Kieran. I rolled my eyes, feeling envious of their bond.
Betrayed by my First
As I took a sip, the announcer introduced
another pack, their members dressed uniquely in black with fur coats.
They seemed mysterious, but I returned to my drink.
Glancing at my family, I was struck by a burning sensation in my chest.
It surprised me, recalling Mom’s words about my birthmark during an eclipse.
Was there an eclipse today?
The burn worsened, making breathing difficult. Speechless, I tried to signal my brother or parents but couldn’t.
Stumbling from the crowd, I found some relief outside but the burning persisted. I rubbed my
chest in vain.
Feeling faint, I began to fall. Expecting to hit the
*
ground, I was instead caught mid–air–a strong arm around my waist, my front pressed against a firm chest.
The scent of masculinity filled my senses. Peering up with blurry eyes, I saw a silhouette.
“Purple girl,” he murmured in a deep voice.
I tried to speak, but no words came out. Through my haze, he leaned down to whisper, “Can’t wait to fall into my arms…
My vision faded completely, though before consciousness slipped away entirely, I heard him say one last word.
“Mine.”
I awoke to an unsettling silence, enveloped by
endless darkness.
“Where am I?” I thought, as only hissing sounds pierced the quiet. I tried to call out.
“Mom… Dad…” but my voice vanished into the void, leaving only silence in its wake.
Wasn’t I just at the party with my family? How did I end up here?
Panic coursed through me, and I attempted to move, only to feel an invisible force holding me down.
What kind of power kept me trapped like this? It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
My mind spiraled in confusion; a headache pulsed at my temples.
119년
“I must find them. I need to find my family,” I urged myself, desperately hoping they’d hear
- me.
“Mo… where are you? Dad, Kieran, Kiya, can you
Chapter 7
hear me? Please, help me!”
My voice choked, swallowed by the darkness.
The hissing grew louder. If only I could find a single speck of light, I might escape.
Then, warmth spread through my body, and I felt as if I were glowing.
Suddenly, a flap echoed around me, and a brilliant beam of light pierced the dark, filling the
space.
My heart skipped–what was this?
A vast red–orange bird with sprawling wings appeared, its light shining brilliantly.
I blinked, hardly daring to believe my eyes.
Was it real? Just as I tried to rise, its wings flapped powerfully, blinding me with its glow.
B
Someone called my name, “Aaliyah.”
“Aaliyah, wake up, sweetheart.”
I opened my eyes slowly to see my mother’s face, blurry but familiar.
“Mom,” I gasped, reaching out to her.
“Yes, it’s me, sweetheart,” she said softly, brushing the hair from my forehead. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, still confused.
My forehead was clammy with sweat–was it all just a dream?
But that creature seemed so real.
“Where am I?” I asked, glancing around.
“In your room,” Mom reassured me gently. “We were worried when we couldn’t find you at the party. When we did, you were asleep in the
Chapter 7
garden.”
“When did you get back? Is the party over?” I asked, frowning.
Mom chuckled, “Darling, that was two days ago.”
Two days? My eyes widened in shock.
As Mom was about to continue, the door swung open, and Kiya entered, smiling warmly.
“Hey, you finally woke up,” she said, placing a food tray on the table.
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“It’s a good thing you’re up now; otherwise, your brother might have given the pack doctors a hard time.”
I laughed softly, Kieran was indeed
overprotective and prone to overreact. When would he learn to loosen up?
“Oh, that man,” Mom sighed. “He seems to need
to cause trouble daily just to get by.”
We all laughed. Kieran always made a fuss, even
over the smallest issues.
No amount of reassurance ever satisfied him until his endless inquiries were wrapped up to his satisfaction.
“Look, I brought you breakfast,” Kiya chimed in. “You’ve missed eating for two days. Aren’t you hungry now?”
I nodded eagerly, the rumbling of my stomach agreeing with her.
When had I last eaten? My thoughts turned to mush as hunger took over.
“Come on,” Kiya continued with a grin. “I made chicken soup, mushroom pasta, and pancakes. Let’s dig in!”
She served the food generously onto our plates, Chapter 7
and just one bite of the soup felt like heaven.
Kiya was an excellent cook, and Kieran never missed an opportunity to praise her culinary skills.
The meal was truly satisfying.
