CHAPTER 4
1015 Words
*CHAPTER 4*
*Sanctuary*
*LYRA*
The bus finally reached Crescent Bay at night.
I came down from the bus, my legs felt weak. I looked around.
It was a small quiet town,
And there he was.
Uncle Marcus stood beside an old truck, waiting for me.
I walked toward his direction.
He pulled me into a tight hug when he saw me,
I fell into his arms and let myself break.
Just for a moment.
He didn't ask questions. He just held me until I pulled away.
"Let's get you home," he said gently.
I nodded and climbed into the truck.
Uncle Marcus's house was small but warm. With wooden floors. With fireplace pictures on the walls.
It felt like a home.
He asked me to sit. I'll make tea.
I sat down, holding onto my bag, and stared at the ceiling.
A few minutes later, uncle Marcus returned with two mugs. He handed me one and sat close to me.
"Now," he said gently. "Tell me what happened."
I took a deep breath. "Kael... he was with someone else. Not just anyone but my cousin, Mira. I walked in on them."
Uncle Marcus's expression changed. Mira Hale.
And then what?
"He asked me to leave. So I did."
"You ran."
"I had no choice." My voice cracked. "I couldn't stay there."
Uncle Marcus was silent for a moment.
Then he kept his mug down and leaned forward.
"Lyra," he said calmly. "There's something you need to know. Something I should have told you a long time ago."
My heart skipped a beat. What?
He took a deep breath. "Your parents didn't die by accident."
I was a little bit confused.
"What?"
"Your mother," Uncle Marcus said, his voice calm but pained. "The cancer wasn't natural. She was poisoned slowly over the years."
I stared at him, my hands starting to shake.
No. That's not true
She died when you were twelve, Uncle Marcus continued. "But what you didn't know was that your father suspected something was wrong. He started investigating."
I was in shock. I was twelve when my mother died.
Twelve years old, watching her pass away, thinking it was just bad luck.
But it wasn't.
"And then your father died three years later," Uncle Marcus said quietly. "When you were fifteen. They said it was rogue, but it wasn't. He was murdered."
The mug slipped from my hands and hit the floor, spilling the tea everywhere.
I couldn't breathe.
"Why?" I choked out.
"Because they knew something," Uncle Marcus said. "Something dangerous. Your father suspected someone in a powerful pack was involved."
My mind raced.
Powerful pack.
Stormfang.
"No," I whispered. Kael wouldn't.
"Not Kael," uncle Marcus said quickly. "He was young back then. But his mother? Rowena Storm-fang has always been ruthless."
I pressed my hands over my face. Trying to process what I just heard.
I'd been an orphan since I was fifteen.
Alone felt like a burden.
And it was all because someone murdered my parents.
"Lyra." Uncle Marcus's voice was gentle. "I'm sorry.
I lowered my head, tears streaming down my face.
"What do I do?" I whispered.
"You stay here," Marcus said firmly. "You build a new life. And you protect that baby."
He knew?
How did you know I was pregnant?
"I can smell it," Uncle Marcus said gently.
More tears came rolling down.
"I don't know how to do this alone."
"You're not alone," Uncle Marcus said. "You have me. But you need to meet the Alpha here. Declan Grey. If you're staying, you need his protection."
My heart skipped a beat. "Another Alpha?"
"He's different," Uncle Marcus promised. Trust me.
Twenty minutes ride, and we stood outside a large house on the outskirts of town.
Uncle Marcus knocked, and the door opened immediately.
A man stood there.
Tall, broad shouldered, brown hair and sharp green eyes.
Alpha.
His eyes moved from Uncle Marcus to me.
"Marcus," he said, his voice deep. "What's wrong?"
"This is my niece, Lyra," Uncle Marcus said. "She needs sanctuary."
Declan looked at me carefully. Come in, he said, stepping aside.
We followed him into a sitting room. He asked us to sit, but remained standing.
"Why do you need sanctuary?" Declan asked,
I paused for a moment... "I'm running from the Storm-fang Pack. From Alpha Kael Storm-fang."
"Why?"
"He betrayed me," I said quietly. "And I'm pregnant with his child. If he finds out..." I couldn't finish.
Declan crossed his arms, his eyes staring at me.
"If I give you sanctuary," he said slowly, "you'll be under my protection. That means no one, not even another Alpha, can take you without going through me first."
Felt a light of hope in my chest. "You'll protect me?"
"I protect everyone in my pack," Declan said firmly. "And if you're here, you're packed."
I felt relieved, I nearly sobbed.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Declan's expression softened slightly. "Don't thank me yet. If Storm-fang comes looking, this could get messy."
"I know."
He nodded. Alright. You can stay. Marcus, help her get settled. I'll make sure the pack knows she's under my protection.
Marcus stood. "Thank you, Declan."
Declan's eyes returned to me. "You're safe here, Lyra. I promise."
And for the first time in days, I believed someone.
We left Declan's house, and Uncle Marcus drove me back to his place.
As we pulled into the driveway, I stared out the window at the dark ocean.
I closed my eyes and old memories came flashing back.
My parents were murdered when I was just a child.
And I was made an orphan when I was fifteen.
Kael had betrayed me and there's a possibility of Kael's mother being the cause of my parents' death.
I was carrying a child no one could know about.
Lyra, Uncle Marcus said gently. I know this is a lot. But you're safe now. Declan's word means something. No one will touch you here.
I placed my hand on my stomach and whispered, "We're going to be okay. I promise."
Even if I didn't know how yet.
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