Chapter 33
_Lisa’s POV_
Rylan didn’t even blink. He stood tall, his expression unreadable. His body was coiled with anger. “That’s for breaking her, you arrogant bastard.”
Kael wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he slowly pushed himself up, his eyes flashing with rage and confusion. But he didn’t fight back. He couldn’t….not with everyone watching, and certainly not with the guilt flickering in his eyes.
“How dare you lay your hands on my son?” Alpha Alexis shouted as he stepped forward. His eyes were
blazing with rage.
Rylan didn’t flinch. His grip on my hand tightened protectively.
“I dare,” Rylan said, his voice low and fierce, “because your son hurt someone very dear to me. Lisa is under my protection now. He broke her. He rejected his true mate for such silly reasons. That makes him a
coward.”
Alpha Alexis growled, his power flaring dangerously. “Watch your words, Rylan.”
He was about to launch himself at Rylan, but Kael suddenly stepped in and placed a hand on his father’s
chest.
“Stop,” Kael said, his voice rough. “He’s right, Father. This is all my fault.”
Everything went quiet for a moment.
I stared at Kael. I was unable to hide the shock on my face. Even Rylan’s eyes narrowed.
Roxanne was the next to speak. She pushed past our parents. There was fury on her face. “What? What are you saying, Kael? That man has no right to attack you! Who does he think he is?”
To my surprise, Kael didn’t defend her. He looked irritated, like she was a buzzing fly he wanted to swat
away.
“Just stay out of this, Roxanne,” he snapped.
Roxanne gasped like he had slapped her. Before she could speak again, Luna Grace reached out and pulled her back by the arm.
“Enough,” she said in a sharp tone.
Alpha Alexis let out a long sigh, trying to calm himself. “We don’t want a fight,” he said. “We just want Lisa to come back home. That would be best for everyone.”
Rylan scoffed. “Best for whom? For you? So you can humiliate and use her again? No. Lisa does not want to go back with you. And she has every right to decide for herself. You cannot force her.”
Alpha Alexis turned to me then, his voice softer. “Is that true, Lisa? You don’t want to return?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. My heart was pounding, but I took a deep breath and said, “Yes. I don’t want to return. I will stay with Alpha Rylan at the Frostbane Pack.”
My mother stepped forward quickly. Her face twisted in concern. “Why are you saying this, Lisa? Please come home with us. How can you trust this stranger?”
My hands were trembling, but I stood tall. “Rylan is not a stranger. He saved me from rogues. He saved my life. He gave me shelter and treated me with kindness. Better than any of you ever did.”
Their faces hardened.
“If you had cared about me even a little,” I continued, my voice cracking, “you wouldn’t have encouraged Kael to reject me for Roxanne. It’s clear who you truly care about. It’s always been Roxanne, not me. Maybe… maybe that’s because I’m not your real daughter.”
I stared straight at my mother.
“Right?” I asked. “Is that it? Because I’m not your biological daughter?”
I waited for her to deny it.
But she didn’t.
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
She just stared at me.
And that silence… that silence told me everything I needed to know.
Inside my mind, Sierra stirred.
Sierra, did you hear that? I whispered inwardly.
Yes, my wolf said gently. She didn’t deny it, Lisa. That means… it might be true. You were right.
I can’t believe it, I thought. All these years…
You don’t need them, Sierra said. You have me. You have Rylan. And maybe… maybe you’ll find out who
your real family is someday.
Rylan stepped forward then. His voice was cold and final.
“Lisa is not returning with you,” he said firmly. “You all heard her. She wants to stay at the Frostbane Pack.”
Alpha Alexis tried again. “But-”
“No ifs and buts,” Rylan snapped. “She’s coming with me.”
His tone made it clear the conversation was over.
Then he added, “If you try to take her by force, you’ll be starting a war with the Frostbane Pack.”
A heavy silence fell over the crowd.
No one spoke.
Even Alpha Alexis said nothing more.
Rylan reached for my hand and held it gently. His grip was warm and strong.
“Let’s go,” he said.
I nodded. I was too numb to speak.
We turned and walked away from them. I didn’t look back.
As we neared the car, I heard Alexandra murmuring apologies to the crowd. “Sorry for the scene. We didn’t
mean to disturb your day.”
She climbed into the car after us.
Rylan sat beside me in silence.
His hand was still wrapped around mine, grounding me. But his face was hard. His jaw was clenched tight.
I glanced at him. “Are you okay?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Then he said, “I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
His eyes turned to me. “About how anyone could hurt someone like you and still sleep at night.”
I swallowed. Tears welled up in my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to thank me. They had no right to touch you. And now they won’t ever get the chance again.”
Sierra’s voice echoed in my mind. You’re safe now, Lisa.
I know, I replied. For the first time… I really feel like I am.
We drove away from the Crescent pack, away from the crowd, away from the people who never truly saw
And as I leaned back against the seat, Rylan still holding my hand, I knew one thing for sure.
This… this was the beginning of something new.
Something powerful.
Something mine.
