REJECTED... THEN CLAIMED BY THREE ALPHAS

Chapter 7

Lyra

The phone kept buzzing, getting on my nerves, so I had to pick it up even though I knew my mom would just say the same stuff—siding with them instead of me, like always.

I took a deep breath and hit the answer button. Right away, she asked where I'd run off to. Then she went on, "You think running will keep you from the punishment you earned? Come back right now, face what you did for messing up the pack with your actions, and say sorry to Kaelen and everyone for acting like a kid, or deal with the fallout from your crime." She said it like an order.

"Mom, I'm not going back to that pack. I didn't do anything wrong—I just rejected Kaelen, and they all decided to judge me harshly. Kaelen's the one who should apologize for what he and his family did, how they treated me so unfairly. That's why I'm staying away." I said it strongly.

"Then don't expect me to call again about the mess you've made by disrespecting him and his family. No one's gonna show mercy if you keep being stubborn, since all you've done is cause trouble for yourself—I doubt anyone will help you."

"I'm innocent of everything they say," I shot back quickly before ending the call.

I felt low and resentful as my mind went back to all the pain and suffering from Kaelen's parents, and thinking about the damage I'd done to Kaelen before I escaped for my life. Just that told me the Obsidian Pack wouldn't let it go easy—they'd keep coming until I paid for hurting Kaelen, and that was trouble I couldn't drag the Moonveil Pack into.

I stayed quiet for a bit, wrestling with how to tell them I was leaving. Seeing how much they really cared was a lot, but I couldn't let my safety ruin them—the Obsidian Pack would chase me no matter where I went.

The only way to keep this pack out of my mess is to go, I decided, letting out a sigh at last.

"Was that your pack?" Thorian asked. I nodded, still thinking about whether to say it.

"I don't know what went down with you and your pack—we won't push until you're ready to share—but I want you to know no one will hurt you here. We'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, and that's our promise." Thorian said it with real resolve.

"It's not about me getting hurt—it's that I couldn't live with it if something happened to this pack because I'm here. I think leaving is best; that's how I can make sure everyone's safe, and no fights between the packs have to happen." I wouldn't budge.

"You think we couldn't hold them off if a war started?" Vaelin asked.

"No war's gonna happen—that's why I've decided to slip out at midnight so no one sees." I answered.

"Lyra, you can't mean that. We just learned you're our mate, and we're trying hard to earn your trust for your safety—and you think we'd let you head out alone? I get that you don't know us yet, and this mate thing is new. So why not trust that we'll keep you safe and protect the pack like we said?" Soren said, trying to make me believe it'd be okay.

"Come on, Lyra, think it over—we can't let you leave just 'cause you're scared for the pack. We're positive we can shield you and everyone from the Obsidian Pack." Vaelin threw in.

"I know you're all trying to get me to see it your way, and I don't doubt this pack can fight and stand together, but try seeing it from my side. I know the Obsidian Pack—one war won't make them quit; they'll keep going until they get what they want, and I won't start an endless fight."

"I promise you... We promise your safety comes first, and anyone who tries to mess with that will regret it forever. So please stay—let us be there, watch over you, protect you, and then you'll see if we can defend ourselves. You won't know 'til you give it a shot." Thorian said.

Their constant promises about keeping me safe hit me hard, and I felt thankful. No one's ever wanted to stand by me my whole life, no one's fought for me. But here they were, ready to do it after just meeting—they were willing to risk it all. Then thinking about risking everything, about innocent people going to war over me, that was something I couldn't take. I couldn't let anyone get hurt or die because of me.