Chapter 62: Chapter 62
Kyra’s POV
The old wounds ached as I approached Luna Marlene, Sylvia growling low in my mind. "She told me to stay away from her son," my wolf reminded me. "Cast us out of her pack."
I know. Even after everything she said to me, I still found myself walking towards her to welcome her.
I dipped my head in respect, letting my submission scent linger carefully. "Moon’s blessings, Luna Marlene."
"Sorry for the urgent appointment."
I shook my head. "It’s okay, Luna Marlene."
Her fresh rain scent carried unexpected warmth as she studied my swollen belly. "The pup grows strong," she murmured, her voice softer than I remembered.
I pressed my lips together as my heart skipped a beat. The grandmother of the pup inside me was standing in front of me. I didn’t know it could be this awkward.
Sylvia bristled at the attention to our unborn child. "Why does she care now?"
Her concern shocked me. I was expecting her to lash out at me just like Sophia did, or irritate me just like Emily. I didn’t expect her to ask that, and now I was starting to fear the sound the door chime created.
I pressed a hand to my bump instinctively. "The Moon Goddess has blessed us," I said carefully, watching for any sign of the cruelty she’d shown when banishing me from her son’s life.
Her brown eyes—so like Nathan’s—held only concern. "If it’s a she-wolf, she’ll inherit your strength and beauty."
I averted my gaze. "With all respect, Luna Marlene, why are you really here?"
When I heard her sigh worriedly, I looked at her again. She glanced around before she looked into my eyes intently.
She glanced meaningfully at Yara. "I need to talk to you, Kyra. This is important."
There was something inside me telling me to refuse, but I found myself nodding. I turned and walked toward my office while I felt her trailing behind me.
I didn’t know for what reason she wanted to talk to me, but if it was about Nathan again, she should know that her son had already given up on chasing me.
"Something to drink?" I offered, my voice colder than intended.
She smiled and shook her head. When she sat on the couch, I sat in front of her.
"Before we talk about the reason I’m here, I want to ask you something. I hope you don’t mind."
"My answer will depend on your question, Luna Marlene."
"First, tell me truthfully—are you happy with Kieran?"
The question struck like a slap. Sylvia reared up defensively. "Our mate bond is none of her concern!"
My forehead creased. I was happy with my life. I knew some might judge me for accepting Kieran in my life. Aside from the fact he’s my stepbrother, it hadn’t been long since Nathan and I divorced, but I was truly happy.
"I am," I answered, not taking my eyes off her to show her my confidence.
"What about your father? Where is he?"
My father? Right! She was friends with my dad.
"He’s... he’s fine, Luna Marlene. He went to the Northern Territories for our pack business."
Luna Marlene shook her head as worry crossed her eyes and her hands trembled as she withdrew an envelope. "Then perhaps you can explain why your father sent this."
My heart raced. "Huh?"
I took the paper from her and read the message on it.
"You’re the only one I can trust. Help me."
"This makes no sense," I whispered. "My father would never reach out to you over his own daughter."
Luna Marlene’s eyes glowed wolf-bright. "Unless he couldn’t, Kyra. Unless someone’s keeping him from you."
The unspoken accusation hung between us—and for the first time, I wondered if Kieran’s evasiveness hid something far darker than I’d imagined.
"Maybe because you never trusted him, Kyra."
The words struck like claws to my chest, making Sylvia whimper in my mind. "She speaks truth," my wolf murmured, her voice heavy with regret.
That hit me. I felt something inside me aching. It was my heart. The hatred I showed him created a wound in his heart. He didn’t know that I’d learned to forgive him, even without me noticing it.
"Kyra, your father rarely contacted me all these years. And the message he sent me was this. Do you know where he is?"
I shook my head again, unable to believe the letter. It was printed, but I felt the need and desperation in it. However, I didn’t want to believe that he was the one who sent it. My father was safe. Kieran assured me of that. Sylvia growled in suspicion. "Secretive."
"This wasn’t from him. Maybe this is just a prank. Why would he send something like that? And who uses letters like that when he could just send you a text message?"
"Because no one would suspect that he would use this to ask for help?"
I squeezed my eyes closed, completely lost for words. I didn’t want to believe her, but the circumstances were telling me to believe the letter. My father... I hated him because he married another woman. I was so brokenhearted that I forgot he was hurting too. Maybe he couldn’t bear the sadness of losing my mom, so he tried to find another woman who could make him happy, because I failed to give him that as his daughter.
I needed to leave and go to my father’s house abroad. If he was really in desperate need of help, I would make sure that he wouldn’t be disappointed in his daughter again. I’d wasted too much time. That was enough.
Before I could stop myself, I was booking a flight on my phone, my claws extending with urgency. "Thank you for this," I told Luna Marlene, my voice thick with unspoken apology for all our past wounds.
She surprised me by placing a gentle hand on my bump. "Let Nathan accompany you. As Alpha heir, he could—"
"No." The refusal came out sharper than intended. "This is the Raven Shadow Pack’s business. My family business."
As she left, I stared at the letter, my wolf pacing restlessly. "Why wouldn’t Father contact us directly? Unless..."
The unspoken thought hung between us—unless someone was preventing him.
I took a deep breath before I called Yara to tell her to manage the shop for the meantime. I caressed my baby bump as I reserved a taxi.
At the airport, my blood ran cold.
There, leaning against a black SUV with predatory ease, stood Kieran—his blue eyes locked onto mine with terrifying intensity.
Sylvia went utterly still in my mind. "Mate knew we would come," she whispered. "How?"
The answer sent ice through my veins.
He’d been watching me.
And if he’d gone this far to keep me from my father... what else was he hiding?
