Chapter 2: Beta's Hidden Son
1620 Words
The air in the church was thick with tension, heavy with the scent of sweat and fear. Viktor’s pulse hammered in his ears as he stood at the altar, trying to process the horror unfolding in front of him. His best friend, his brother in every sense but blood, had just been struck down before his very eyes. The bullet had pierced him straight in the chest, and for a split second, Viktor saw the agony flicker across his face before he crumpled to the ground, life fading from his eyes.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Today was meant to be a symbolic moment for their packs, a union that would resolve years of conflict and bloodshed. But now, everything was unraveling before him.
Viktor’s mind raced as he stood motionless, his eyes locked on the fallen body of his closest friend. The wedding, the alliances, the promises made—it all seemed so trivial now. The world around him exploded into chaos. Gunshots rang out, screams echoed through the stone walls. A woman, dressed in dark attire, stood at the back, her weapon raised high, her expression grim.
He barely had time to process the shock before the shots came faster.
One bullet zipped past his ear, grazing his skin by mere inches. Instincts honed from years of training kicked in, and Viktor dove to the side, seeking shelter behind the pews. His heart raced, but his mind sharpened. Survival. Protection. His focus snapped back into place as chaos reigned.
People screamed, some bolting for the exits, while others—lost in the panic—ran in the wrong direction. The church was quickly descending into madness. The weight of the situation pressed on Viktor, but his training surged forward. His hand moved instinctively to the holstered blade at his side, ready to fight.
But as his eyes swept over the altar once more, everything else faded as he spotted her______Lyra.
His breath hitched.
She stood at the back wall, clutching a child to her chest, her eyes darting in frantic search of escape. Her hands shook, the small form of the child—a boy no older than two—tightly wrapped in her arms. The protective instinct he had felt so many years ago rushed to the surface. He couldn’t lose her. Not again.
She’s in danger.
Without a second thought, Viktor surged forward, weaving through the panicked crowd, moving with the precision of a predator. He had to get to her before the attackers did.
As he neared, another shot rang out. The bullet missed them both by an inch, the heat from the blast tingling against his skin. Viktor didn’t hesitate. He lunged toward her, diving to the ground and shielding her with his body. The weight of the child pressed between them, but his sole focus was on keeping her safe.
“Lyra,” he whispered urgently, his breath shallow, adrenaline coursing through him. “We need to go. Now.”
She blinked up at him, pale as a ghost, her eyes wide with terror, but there was no time for questions. Her gaze flicked to the boy in her arms, and her protective instincts kicked in. She pulled him closer, instinctively sheltering him from the madness around them. Viktor’s heart clenched at the sight. She was a mother now. The child wasn’t hers alone—he was part of her world. That realization made everything sharper, more personal.
“I’ll protect you both,” he promised, his voice firm and low, despite the chaos.
She nodded, wordlessly, her tension palpable, but there was a flicker of trust in her eyes. Viktor lifted the boy without hesitation, cradling him securely in his arms, before pulling Lyra to her feet and guiding them toward the back exit.
Every movement was calculated. Time was running out, but Viktor didn’t falter. His mind was a whirlwind—who were these attackers? What did they want? The gunfire didn’t stop, but his sole focus was getting her out of this nightmare, getting this child to safety.
As they neared the door, more shots rang out, the sound of footsteps behind them growing louder. The attackers were close. Viktor’s stomach tightened with the primal urge to protect. His heart pounded in his chest, but he had no choice. He couldn’t afford to let them catch up. Not now. Not when Lyra and the boy needed him.
“Lyra, keep moving!” he urged, his voice strained with urgency.
She clutched his arm, her voice breaking. “Viktor, we can’t outrun them. They’ll catch us.”
He glanced back, his eyes narrowing. “We don’t have a choice.”
They burst through the back door and into the narrow alley. Viktor’s boots pounded against the cobblestones, the weight of the child still in his arms, but there was no time for doubt. The attackers were closing in.
“We need to move faster,” Viktor muttered under his breath, a flicker of movement catching his eye. They weren’t alone. Their pursuers were still there.
“Viktor, please,” Lyra whispered, her voice filled with panic. “We can’t outrun them.”
“We have to try,” he replied, his voice taut with determination, pushing them forward.
They wove through the labyrinthine alleyways, Viktor calculating every turn, every move. The sounds of pursuit grew louder—someone was gaining on them. He couldn’t let them catch up. He couldn’t lose them. Not again. He had already lost so much tonight. He wouldn’t let her and her son be taken from him.
They rounded a corner, and Viktor pressed himself against a tall wall, signaling for Lyra to stay low. He could hear the footsteps growing louder, but the attackers hadn’t rounded the corner yet. A tense moment passed. He held his breath.
The footsteps grew faint. They had passed.
Viktor exhaled slowly, the weight of the moment settling in. For now, they were safe.
“Let’s go,” he whispered.
The journey ahead wasn’t over, but Viktor knew something had shifted. There was gratitude in Lyra’s eyes, mixed with something else—an emotion he couldn’t place, but he knew it was more than just relief. She trusted him.
They continued moving swiftly, the city around them a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. Viktor’s mind spun—he had so many questions. How could Lyra not have told him about her son? What else was she hiding? But those questions would wait. They needed to get to safety first.
Finally, they reached the safe house, tucked in the heart of the city’s oldest district. Viktor ushered them inside, locking the door behind them. His breath was ragged, but he knew they were safe—for now.
Lyra sat on a couch, the boy settling in her arms as she whispered to him, trying to soothe him. Viktor stepped back, leaning against the wall as he caught his breath. His thoughts were a mess—too many questions, too much uncertainty, but one thing was clear: Lyra was alive. She and the boy were safe.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice filled with gratitude. “You didn’t have to do this. You didn’t have to come for us.”
Viktor didn’t respond immediately. He was still processing the chaos—the ambush, the revelations, the hidden truths. There were so many things left unsaid, but he couldn’t walk away now.
“You’re welcome,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”
She nodded, her eyes softening for a moment before shifting to the boy. Viktor couldn’t help but notice the pain in her gaze. She was trying to hide it, for the child’s sake, but it was there.
“Viktor,” she began, her voice faltering. “I have to tell you... why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you say anything about Luca?”
She met his gaze, her expression a mix of regret and sorrow. “I didn’t know how to tell you. When everything fell apart... I couldn’t just show up with a child and expect you to understand.”
Viktor’s heart twisted. She had been carrying this burden alone.
“I never meant to keep him from you,” she added softly. “But I couldn’t run from the past any longer. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Viktor stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. “I’m not angry with you. But you have to understand, I need to know what’s going on. I can’t help you if I don’t understand.”
She nodded, her gaze dropping to Luca. “There’s no one else, Viktor. Not anymore. He’s everything to me. Everything I’ve done—everything I’ve hidden from you—was to protect him. And if you’re asking if there’s anyone else in the picture, the answer is no.”
Viktor stood there, the weight of her words settling on him. There was so much left to uncover, but for now, he could see the truth in her eyes. And that truth was something he couldn’t walk away from.
He took a step closer, his voice low but determined. “Then I’m here. I’ll help you. I’ll protect both of you.”
The look Lyra gave him in return was full of gratitude, but also something else—something neither of them had expected. A beginning. A chance for something new. Something neither of them had ever thought possible.
For the first time in years, Viktor allowed himself to believe in the possibility of a future. A future with her. With them.
- Writer
