Chapter 03
945 Words
Chapter 3
Sora’s POV
His other hand grips my chin, forceful, refusing to let me turn away. Then his lips press down on mine.
"You will like this," he murmurs against my mouth.
But in the next second, his eyes go blank.
That empty look. Every wolfless Omega knows it too well. He is gone. Deep in a mind-link.
His gaze turns distant. The pack’s secret network is calling him. Words without sound. A world I will never enter.
I have been married to him for seven years, yet I am still an outsider.
He snaps back. His eyes turn cold again. He pulls his hand away like brushing off dust. He does not even notice my hand still hanging in the air.
“I’m on my way,” he says into the empty space.
"What happened?" I ask, my voice small and uncertain.
"Grandmother asks to see me," he says, already moving away from me. "I need to check on her."
Grandmother—the only person in this family who has ever shown me kindness. I sit up, adjusting my clothes. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No," he says firmly, already heading toward the door. "Stay here. I will handle it."
He leaves, and I am alone in his office, surrounded by the lingering scent of vanilla and lavender.
That afternoon, I take an hour off from the hospital to pick up Yuki.
It is her first day at Moonlit Kindergarten. I stand at the gate in my nurse scrubs. My bad leg is fully exposed. The limp is obvious.
Other pack members stare. Their eyes carry that familiar condescending judgment.
I lower my head and open my phone.
Lyra posted again.
Her perfect side profile smiles at the camera like a winner. A single photo: her own face, a three-quarter angle, the edge of a smile. Like she's just heard something that pleased her.
#Watch how fast your man runs when I call.
I force a bitter smile. No wonder he dropped my hand so quickly. No wonder he sounded so eager.
It's not Grandma, it's her.
“Hello, Luna.” A teacher walks over. There is no respect in her eyes. “Well, Yuki already has someone picking her up today. No one told you?”
My smile freezes. A bad feeling rises in my chest.
The bell rings. Little wolves rush out. Over the teacher’s shoulder, I see a scene that turns my blood to ice.
Yuki holds a woman’s hand. Her eyes shine with pure adoration I have never seen before.
The woman is Lyra.
They look perfect together. Sunlight falls on Lyra’s expensive coat. Pack members part for her like she is royalty.
I walk forward fast, forcing my bad leg to move, and stop in front of them.
“Sora, long time no see.” Lyra looks up. Her gentle smile makes my stomach turn.
Seven years. She is even more beautiful. Her voice still sounds soft, but it cuts exactly where it hurts.
“Yuki, come here.” My voice is hoarse. “We’re going home with Mommy.”
Yuki glances at me, then hides behind Lyra and grabs her coat. “I want to play with Lyra a little longer.”
“Yuki!” My voice rises. “I am your mother. Come here!”
She pouts and stays put.
Lyra bends down gracefully and rests a hand on Yuki’s shoulder. “My little pumpkin, your mommy looks like the Hulk today. If you don’t listen, she might explode. Let’s go comfort the poor woman, okay?”
Yuki giggles. They share a knowing look. Like they are the real family. Like I am the crazy outsider.
Something inside my chest shatters. If I had a wolf, it would be whimpering.
Lyra stands up and sighs. “Yuki is so adorable. Sometimes I think… if my child hadn’t had that accident, they would be around Yuki’s age now. They could have been good friends.”
The air freezes.
Parents around us give me pitying looks. Old rumors flood back. The ones that say the evil Omega caused Lyra to lose her child.
But I know the truth.
I step closer and lower my voice so only she can hear.
“Lyra. You know exactly what I said that day. You know better than anyone how that child really disappeared, don’t you?”
Lyra’s smile stiffens. Her pupils shrink. The hand holding Yuki’s tightens.
Yuki lets out a small “ouch.”
Lyra quickly lets go. Her lips tremble.
“Sora,” she whispers, voice losing its sweetness. “Not here…”
“Why not here?” I refuse to back down. “What difference does it make? That night seven years ago—”
“Sora.” She grabs my wrist. “Enough.”
“Not enough.”
A parent finally notices and turns around.
Yuki looks between us, confused.
Lyra’s hand shakes as she grips my wrist tighter, almost begging. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know.” I stare into her eyes. “I know more than anyone here. The night I went to find you—”
My phone rings loudly, cutting through the air.
Everyone turns to look.
I pull it out.
It is Ethan.
I answer. His voice is rough and shaking.
“Sora,” he says. “Grandma… she is dying…. she wants to see you one last time. Come home, right now.”
The phone line crackles with urgency.
And I realize, too late, that I am being played on every side by people far more skilled than I could ever be.
- Writer
