Chapter 152: Chapter 152
Matt’s POV
I was cleaning my wound on my cheek when Mom came down the stairs and gasped at the sight of our faces.
The new house was huge and impressive by human standards, but I hated it here.
The Northern Territory had been our home—vast forests where we could shift freely under the moonlight and run without constraints. Here in this crowded city, concrete and glass structures imprisoned our wolf nature. We couldn’t even shift without risking exposure to humans.
We’d lived perfectly fine in our Northern pack territory until this sudden inheritance drama forced us to move.
"What happened to both of you?" Mom rushed to me and touched my face before checking Mason’s bruised eyebrow and lip.
"It’s nothing, Mom," I replied, not wanting to make things worse.
"Nothing? That’s not nothing, Matt! Who did this to you? Huh?"
I shook my head. "We’re no longer pups, Mom."
"It was Kyra’s mate. The Alpha of Nightfall Pack," Mason said, shooting me a hardened expression.
I hissed, my wolf Timber rumbling with displeasure.
"That woman again?" Mom screamed, her neck and face flushing red with anger.
"Did you still visit Eva’s grave?" Mom growled, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me.
I stared back blankly. "Yes."
"Matt!" she screamed. "I told you never to try to see them!"
I shook my head. "I just wanted to know what kind of person they are."
"Kyra is a gold-digger, Matt! She’s stealing everything that belongs to us!"
I stood and faced her. "Mom, we can settle this without ruining what’s left of the family—"
"She’s not part of this family, Matt! Who knows if she’s even Eva’s biological daughter? What if she’s just pretending?"
"Didn’t Attorney Lee confirm it? We were there during the reading of the will. It clearly stated that Eva Foster’s daughter should inherit the family business and all the Foster property."
"Then what about us?" she spat back.
I gritted my teeth. I never wanted wealth—most Northern wolf packs focused heavily on business ventures and territory. The Foster family had done well, but we never had power close to the Alpha. We weren’t even among the top-tier wolf families. There was nothing here worth all this vicious infighting.
My parents had made plenty of money on their own. I simply wanted a close, loving family filled with connection. When Grandmother was alive, our family had been harmonious. Now my parents were fighting with Aunt Sara too. The whole situation felt suffocating.
"This will just make things worse, Mom."
"That bitch Kyra is making it worse, Matt! Can’t you see? She kicked your father out of the company! Matt, wake up!"
I looked sharply at Mason. "The girl you’re calling a bitch is our cousin, Mason."
"She’s not! Mom said she might be an impostor—"
"Don’t be ridiculous!" I growled. "Kyra has money. She’s running her father’s pack and company. She has power and money. She doesn’t need the Foster family’s wealth."
"Then why did she steal the company from us?"
I pressed my lips together. I didn’t know Kyra’s reasons, so I had nothing conclusive to say. I just wanted my family to realize that Kyra wasn’t the enemy. Clearly that girl was lonely. She’d lost both parents. Her stepbrother seemed obsessed with her, and her stepmother had killed her father. I couldn’t imagine she would put herself in such a difficult situation without good reason.
Mom slowly shook her head, looking at me in disappointment. "I can’t believe you’re taking her side, Matt. You’re my son! Your father was wronged. You should be standing by your family, not defending that woman!"
"I have free will, Mom. I’ll believe what I want, and in my eyes... Kyra’s not what you’re claiming her to be."
"MATT!"
I kept my expression cold as I walked past Mason and went upstairs. New house, new life? No. This was worse than before.
I should just move back to the ancestral house in the Northern Territory. At least there, I could breathe fresh air, run free, and escape this toxic atmosphere that had consumed my once-loving family.
***
Kyra’s POV
"What will you do now?" Nathan asked worriedly.
I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath. "I actually don’t know... I don’t know anymore."
"Why don’t you get yourself checked and get some rest. You shouldn’t stress yourself too much." His eyes dropped to my stomach.
I looked at his face. "Can you let Snow stay at your house for the meantime?"
He clenched his jaw. "Whatever you want for her, but I’m worried about you too. I can’t just leave you here, especially after you told me about your situation."
I smiled and caressed his arm. "I’m fine, Nathan. I still have to work and besides, Emily and Yara are here."
"Do you want me to send Ana back here? So you have another person to rely on?"
I shook my head. "She should stay with Snow."
He sighed heavily, his wolf Alaric projecting concern that Sylvia could feel. "I’m just really worried."
"I won’t tell you to stop worrying, but I promise I will take care of myself. I won’t get hurt."
"Promise me," he whispered, staring into my eyes intently.
"I promise."
He stepped closer and cupped my face. His forehead touched mine, and I closed my eyes. After everything, I would tell him the truth. All of it. Whatever he felt after—anger, hurt, disappointment—I’d deal with it.
The next day, I decided to visit the Foster family’s sunflower farm in the Northern Territory. I’d heard the ancestral house was there. I found out there was a helipad on their property, so I took a helicopter. It was Emily’s, actually, and she came with me.
It didn’t take long before I saw the beautiful sunflower fields. Even Emily looked amazed by the flowers. For once, she forgot to be sarcastic.
I needed to check out the farm—that was why I came. Sure, I might inherit the Foster fortune, but I didn’t need their money. Everyone around here knew my mother’s family. Some had even worked for them for years. Perfect place to start investigating.
"That’s the Foster ancestral house, Miss Kyra. The housekeeper now is the old housekeeper’s daughter," my bodyguard said.
I looked at him. "The old housekeeper knew my mother?"
"Yes, miss. She was actually your mother’s nanny."
I took a deep breath and nodded. I started walking toward the ancestral house. The housekeeper opened the door for me, and the maids immediately bowed their heads when they saw me. They lined up before me, and I admit it made me uncomfortable.
"Good day, Miss Kyra. I am Felicia, the current housekeeper."
I nodded and gave her a small smile, but my expression immediately changed when I saw the man standing in the middle of the staircase, resting his arm against the railing.
He immediately flashed a smile after seeing me. "Hi, cousin."
My brow furrowed. "What are you doing here, Matt?"
He shrugged and started walking down the stairs. He was whistling until he stopped in front of me. "The city is toxic, and I prefer fresh air. How about you?"
I gritted my teeth, Sylvia growling softly inside. "I won’t trust you, Matt."
He glanced behind me and smiled. "That’s good defense. Why don’t you introduce me to the beautiful lady behind you?"
My brow furrowed again. I heard Emily’s exaggerated groan.
"Why don’t we go inside now and get straight to our purpose for coming here, Kyra? I think this place has become polluted too. Too bad for the flowers," Emily interjected, her disdain obvious.
Matt chuckled and looked at me again. "I can help, Kyra. I’m not as bad as you think."
I lifted my chin and looked him straight in the eyes. "Prove it, Matt. My trust has been shattered too many times. Prove to me that you will help seek justice for my mother’s death. That way, I can trust you."
His lips parted in surprise. It seemed like he didn’t know there had been foul play in my mother’s death. But if that was true, why was he at my mother’s grave? I didn’t understand his intentions, but I wouldn’t give him my trust easily.
