Chapter 24 FORCED MATE
TWENTY FOUR | FORCED MATE
LYRA
Confused, I looked around, only to see that everyone's gaze was on me, and they were clapping, ushering me forward.
I didn't move until one of the guests rushed over, took my hands, and led me to the stage, leaving me only when we stopped close to Orion.
It had completely skipped my mind that he would also be at the party.
He took the microphone, ready to repeat his announcement since I obviously hadn't heard him. “Everyone, this is my mate and the Luna of the Crescent Pack, Lyra Onyxvale.”
Applause rang across the ball while I just stood there, tongue-tied. What did Orion think he was doing?
“She is also pregnant with my heir, and for that reason, we would be leaving the ball early. Thank you.”
He held my waist, ready to lead me outside. Knowing that I wouldn't go with him, he moved closer to me and whispered for my ears only. “Behave or you'll regret it.”
“Get your hands off my woman,” Damien growled suddenly, and the crowd fell silent immediately.
I didn't know what to make of whatever Orion had planned, but I knew that whatever it was, it wasn't going to end well.
I swatted his hands off me like filth, turning around and trying to storm out of the place, but he held me back.
“Where do you think you're going?” He pulled me impossibly closer to him, whispering in my ear.
Damien was running over to us already, his eyes flashing as his wolf threatened to take over. I couldn't see Damian anywhere, but I knew he would show up soon after he heard my name.
When Damien reached the stage, he practically ripped me off Orion's arms, wrapping his hands around mine and charging at him, but I held him back, not wanting him to lose control in front of all these people. There was no point in doing that when he could just prove his point by claiming me.
He growled, pointing an accusing finger at Orion. “Touch her one more time, and see what I’ll do to you.”
Orion gasped, turning to the crowd in shock. He hadn't even spoken before I knew he was stirring up trouble.
“Everyone here is a witness to what just happened. The Lycan King used his power and authority to snatch my pregnant mate from me.”
The moment the words fell from his mouth, I knew what his aim was. He wanted the whole pack to witness my alleged kidnapping by them, so that when he takes the case to the werewolf council, it would be easier to win there by making the people testify and also making them sign a petition.
“She is not your mate,” Damian hissed, showing up from the side. I never even knew he was there. “She is our mate.”
Orion laughed, his intention to aggravate the duo and get a reaction from them as clear as day. “She isn't your mate. You're only forcing her to play along with you and bribing her.”
Everyone stared as Damien took hold of my hand, lifted it, and announced, “This is Aspen Morgan, my brother and I’s mate and your Luna.”
But no one clapped or welcomed me. They all just stared, convinced by Orion's words. I knew I couldn't just continue to stay still, so I tried to clear the air.
I stepped forward to speak, but Damien dragged me back. “What do you think you're doing?”
“I'm trying to explain my side to them.”
“Leave the explanation to me and Damian,” he ordered.
But his words fell on deaf ears. They have been looking out for me for a long time now, and I wanted to return the favor and look out for them too. If I spoke, the air would be cleared. If I remained silent, everyone would believe that they were misusing their power and authority to bully their subjects.
Damien could get dethroned for it if the truth wasn't revealed.
“The Valentino brothers are my mates. Orion is just a lying psychopath who wouldn't leave me alone. He is my sister's fiancé, and I'm sure she must be disappointed that he is shamelessly pursuing me.” My voice rose above the shocked silence of the crowd as I announced.
Gasps rang through, followed by murmurs of accusation. I thought it was going to be resolved after, but I should have known that Orion would be one step ahead.
“I have a video of her confessing that I am her mate and the father of her child. That should be enough to vindicate me,” he declared, holding the remote to a projector and turning it on. “I know they're forcing you to act as their mate, Lyra, but I'm going to save you,” he added.
And he surely did have the video of the day I went wild at the pack ground. The same day he ordered my death. He only played the part where I said he was my mate, that we slept together, and that the child belonged to him. He didn't play his response to me. He didn't show them how he treated me after.
“As you all can see, she confessed it herself. But the twins have decided to steal my pregnant wife away from me. I don't want to fight them, and I don't hate them. I just need my mate back.”
I wanted to lash out, to reveal everything that he did to me and how I would have died that day if the twins hadn't found me. I wanted everyone to know that they were my second chance mates, and that I'd only go back to Orion over my dead body.
But an image of a person caught my attention in the distance. The shirt the person was putting on was very familiar, a specific shirt I had loved so much, worked hard enough, and bought for myself since my parents had refused to buy it for me no matter how much I begged. The shirt was stolen the next day by my sister, and when I complained to my parents and tried to take it back, I was beaten up for it.
My gaze focused on the person at the edge of the grand door, looking strikingly the same as the missing Anika.
“Anika?” I whispered, and as if she could hear me, the person lifted their head, a black scarf wrapped tightly around their face to cover it. Our eyes met for a few seconds, and then, she bolted.
I was convinced it was Anika, and without thinking too much of it, I took advantage of everyone’s distraction and ran after the person.