Chapter 102 Not my daughter
~ Lyra's POV ~
I had begun to notice a troubling pattern within myself. Each time I was told no, especially when the matter concerned me directly, something sharp and restless stirred beneath my skin. It felt like being caged all over again. My instincts pushed against restraint, demanding movement.
However, this time I forced myself to swallow the irritation before it could rise to the surface. I held my peace deliberately. Kael was right about one thing. Whoever stood at the border was a stranger to both of us. I could not allow my emotions to push me into recklessness. I was not prepared to endanger myself or anyone else simply because anxiety was clawing at my chest.
Still, staying calm did not mean staying still.
I paced the length of my room, each turn sharper than the last. Worry pressed heavily against my ribs. Anticipation made every passing second feel stretched and unnatural. My thoughts circled endlessly around the same question. Who was out there claiming to be my father?
The sound of approaching footsteps broke through the silence.
My heart leaped. For a brief, hopeful second, I was certain Kael had returned with answers.
Before the knock could even land against my door, I had already crossed the room and pulled it open.
The sight that greeted me halted me mid breath.
It was not Kael.
My eyes met those of Elder Rowan and Kaitlyn standing just outside. Confusion immediately flooded me. Why were they here together at this hour?
“Good evening, Lyra,” they greeted.
“Good evening,” I replied automatically, my gaze shifting between them.
“May we come in?” Elder Rowan asked politely.
“Of course,” I said at once, stepping aside and opening the door wider to allow them entry.
Thankfully, he did not prolong the suspense.
“We apologize for disturbing you at this time,” he began calmly. “Alpha sent a message a few minutes ago. He instructed that I bring you and Kaitlyn to the border. He also specified that Kaitlyn should be dressed in one of your clothes, preferably something that has not yet been taken to the laundry.”
The request was so specific and so unusual that it caught me completely off guard.
“Why?” That was the only word I managed to form. I turned toward Kaitlyn, but she looked just as bewildered as I felt.
“I am not certain of the reason,” Elder Rowan admitted. “However, I trust there is a good one. I guess we will understand once we arrive. He emphasized that we should make haste.”
I exhaled softly, the sound barely audible, and nodded.
“I will wait outside,” he said before stepping out and closing the door behind him.
I turned to Kaitlyn, glancing down at myself. “I don't think there are any clothes left that have not gone to the laundry except the ones I’m wearing. Will this do?” I asked.
“I suppose it will,” she replied with a small, uncertain smile.
Without hesitation, I removed the shirt and pants I had on and handed them to her before quickly changing into a fresh set.
Once we were ready, we stepped out and made our way to the garage. Elder Rowan unlocked the most intimidating vehicle parked there. It was massive, built like a fortress on wheels, its windows darkly tinted and impossible to see through.
“Why are we taking the beast?” Kaitlyn asked, voicing the exact question forming in my mind.
“Alpha instructed that we use it,” Elder Rowan answered simply.
And with that, we climbed inside.
The journey to the border lasted no more than five minutes, yet it felt longer. Every passing second inside that massive vehicle seemed stretched thin by anticipation. My thoughts refused to settle, and my pulse beat in a steady rhythm that echoed in my ears.
When we finally arrived, my eyes immediately searched for him.
I spotted Kael standing a short distance away, his posture rigid and commanding. Dagan stood close by his side. Several guards were positioned strategically around them, their presence forming a protective perimeter. Not far from Kael stood a group of five unfamiliar figures. They were arranged closely together, united in stance and silence. I assumed they were the visitors.
At first glance, I could not determine which of them had dared to claim he was my father.
Then my gaze landed on one man in particular.
There was something about him that pulled my attention without permission.
When I looked closer, I realized it was his eyes. They were the same color as mine.
His hair, however, was black. I had always imagined that if I ever met my father, he would have hair closer to mine in shade. Perhaps silver. Perhaps a muted gray. Maybe even a pale blond. The darkness of his hair nearly made me dismiss the possibility altogether.
But those eyes.
The similarity was unsettling. The shape, the depth, the intensity behind them. They mirrored mine in a way that made my chest tighten.
“Lyra, Alpha said you should not leave the car,” Elder Rowan whispered to me. “Remain seated until he comes for you.”
I nodded faintly, my gaze still fixed ahead.
He then turned to Kaitlyn, giving her a subtle nod. Both of them stepped out of the vehicle, leaving me alone inside.
Elder Rowan remained positioned beside the car like a silent guardian, while Kaitlyn began walking toward Kael.
The unfamiliar group watched her approach without a single change in expression. Their faces were unreadable.
I strained my hearing, focusing every ounce of concentration on their voices.
“This is Lyra, Alpha Dylan,” I heard Kael say the moment Kaitlyn stopped beside him. “If you have something to say to her, then say it. After that, she will decide whether I let you in or not.”
My mind raced at his words. So many questions registered in my mind at that statement, even as I wondered which one among the guests was being referred to.
The man with the black hair and gray eyes lifted his brows as he studied Kaitlyn carefully. A slow smirk curved his lips before he turned his gaze back to Kael.
“What is the meaning of this, Alpha Kael?” he asked coolly. “Are you attempting to make a fool out of me?”
“No,” Kael replied evenly. “I brought the person you asked for.”
“This is not my daughter,” Alpha Dylan stated without hesitation.
“What if I say this is the only Lyra I have in my custody?” Kael countered.
There was no smile on Dylan’s face now.
“I would tell you that you are lying,” he said firmly. “Aside from my previous findings, I now have concrete proof that you have her.”
“Which is?” Kael asked.
“This young lady is wearing my daughter’s clothes.”
“Why would you assume that?” Kael questioned.
“Because apart from knowing what my daughter looks like,” Dylan replied steadily, “I know her scent. I would recognize it anywhere.”