Chapter 104 Stealing you
~ Lyra's POV ~
Watching my father turn and walk away felt far heavier than I expected. My chest tightened painfully with every step he took farther from me. We had only spoken for a few minutes, yet something about him felt familiar in a way that defied logic. It felt as though a missing piece of my life had briefly been returned to me, only to be taken away again before I could fully grasp it.
I wanted him to stay. I wanted to ask him everything that had lived inside my mind for years. I wanted explanations about my mother, about the suppression ritual, about why he had been forced to remain a shadow in my life. I wanted to understand why he had to watch me from afar instead of standing beside me openly.
But it was not possible, not tonight at least. I had to wait and wait I would.
The drive back to the pack house was painfully quiet. Kael insisted that I ride with him instead of returning in the vehicle I had arrived in. I didn't argue. I was too emotionally drained to resist. As the car moved forward through the darkened path, I stared ahead while my thoughts swirled endlessly.
Despite the storm inside me, I could tell that Kael was not focused on my father’s departure.
He was thinking about the warning, the charm, and the betrayal hidden somewhere within his inner circle.
I wanted to ask him what he remembered and what he did not. I wanted to confront the possibility that someone close to him had manipulated him without his knowledge. But the rigid set of his jaw and the distant look in his eyes told me he was deep in thought, so I decided to wait until we reached the house, until we were alone in the privacy of my room.
However, Elder Rowan clearly did not share my patience.
The moment we arrived at the garage and stepped out of the vehicles, he wasted no time.
“I have been thinking,” he began, his voice already edged with fury. “And I cannot shake the feeling that what happened between you and Brenda days ago is exactly what that Alpha was referring to. I believe Brenda used that charm on you.”
“Take it easy with the accusations, Elder Rowan,” Dagan cut in immediately. “You can't point fingers without proof. Even the one who detected the residue admitted that the culprit cannot be identified without his involvement.”
“What other proof do we need?” Elder Rowan shot back. “Did you not witness the spectacle she created before leaving?”
“You call it a spectacle,” Dagan replied, his tone sharpening, “but you refuse to consider the possibility that she could also be a victim.”
At that point, my mind unwillingly dragged me back to that night. I remembered every word Brenda had spoken.
Those were not the words of someone who was a victim.
And now that I knew Kael was actually manipulated by a charm, I couldn't believe he had said any of those things to her. Brenda had known exactly what she was doing.
Still, I remained silent. The tension between Elder Rowan and Dagan was already escalating. I refused to add fuel to it. Yet deep down, if I had to stand beside one of them, my loyalty would fall firmly with Elder Rowan.
“Really?” Elder Rowan asked incredulously. “A victim? You seem to know Brenda quite well to defend her so passionately.”
“This is not a defense,” Dagan clarified quickly. “And I am not declaring her innocent. I am only saying we must consider every possibility. I researched this type of charm some time ago. From what I discovered, it cannot be stored beyond two days or it loses its potency. I am certain that for the entire duration Brenda stayed here, she never left the house.”
“Somebody could have gotten it for her,” Elder Rowan countered immediately, his tone sharp and unyielding.
“True,” Dagan conceded with a slight nod. “But are we certain of that? Or are we prepared to ignite tension with an allied Pack because we suspect their heir of a crime we cannot prove she committed? She could very well have been under the influence of the same charm or she could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The air in the garage seemed to thicken with every word.
Kael finally stepped in, his patience visibly thinning. “She remains a suspect,” he said firmly. “The investigation will continue, and I will not exclude anyone until they are proven innocent.”
There was a heaviness in his voice that betrayed exhaustion. The events of the night had taken their toll.
“I find it interesting,” Elder Rowan continued almost immediately, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on Dagan, “that you never raised this possibility during our previous deliberations. Considering how knowledgeable you seem to be about this particular charm.”
My gaze snapped to Dagan at once. Kaitlyn did the same. Even Kael turned toward him. It was as though we had all been silently anticipating that question.
“It is a charm originating from Shadow Pack,” Dagan replied smoothly, though there was an edge beneath his calm exterior. “How was I supposed to assume something like that could affect our Alpha?”
From the tightness in Elder Rowan’s expression, it was clear he was not satisfied.
“If you believed it could not affect our Alpha,” he pressed on, “then why were you researching it so thoroughly? And does Alpha know about these findings of yours?”
Dagan’s jaw tightened visibly. I could see the anger simmering beneath the surface.
“All these questions because I suggested we grant someone a fair trial before condemning her?” he scoffed. “Very well. Declare her guilty without evidence and see how that unfolds. Researching potential threats so we are not blindsided by our enemies is part of my duty.”
“That is enough,” Kael interrupted firmly, cutting through the rising tension. “As I have already stated, the investigation will proceed. We will uncover the truth. Whoever is responsible will face the consequences. I am exhausted and intend to rest. All of you should do the same. We will resume tomorrow.”
He turned to Kaitlyn. “Thank you for your assistance tonight.”
“It was my pleasure, Alpha,” she replied with a respectful bow. “Have a good night.” she said before walking toward the clinic.
“Good night, Alpha,” Elder Rowan and Dagan echoed almost in unison before turning and heading toward the house.
Kael exhaled deeply once they were gone.
“Come on,” he said quietly to me.
I followed him inside.
No words were exchanged between us. When we reached the first floor and stopped in front of his room, I assumed that was where we would part ways for the night. I prepared to continue toward my own room.
I was about to wish him good night when everything shifted.
His hand moved swiftly to my waist. Before I could react, he pulled me toward him and lifted me effortlessly off the ground. My breath caught as my feet left the floor. In one fluid motion, he carried me toward his door and pushed it open, stepping inside with me still secured in his arms.
“What are you doing?” I asked, startled and confused.
“Stealing you for the night,” he replied without hesitation.