Kaela, my wolf, broke the silence in my mind, her voice sharp and resolute. “Sienna, didn’t I tell you from the start that staying in Thornwood was pointless?”
Her words cut deep because I knew she was right. Killian, my so-called mate, had never truly seen me. Kaela resented him for it, despising how he had treated us.
“Leave the Pack,” she urged again, “You deserve happiness, Sienna, not this.”
I had considered it—letting Killian go, allowing him to live his life with Lyra, and freeing myself from this endless heartache. But the moment I discovered I was carrying his child, everything changed.
“I can’t,” I whispered to Kaela, my voice trembling. “I won’t let my child grow up without a father... not like I did.”
Kaela’s frustration simmered, but she softened at my plea. “Fine,” she relented, “but don’t expect him to change, Sienna. You have me, always.”
Her words brought a flicker of comfort, but it was not enough to drown out the growing despair.
Days passed, each one blending into the next, my condition worsening as I struggled to keep up with the weight of my responsibilities.
One evening, after an exhausting day spent tending to the house, I finally sat down, hoping for a moment of rest.
But before I could even catch my breath, Killian’s voice invaded my mind through the pack’s mind link.
“Sienna, you should be grateful Lyra’s condition is improving. As an apology, you’ll cook her a grand feast tonight.
“We’re celebrating her recovery at my residence, and you will also apologize to her in person. We’ll arrive at seven.”
The link went silent, leaving me staring into the emptiness of the room. I glanced at the clock—it was already five.
Two hours to prepare a feast?
Kaela growled in my mind, her voice sharp and laced with frustration. "Sienna, do you hear yourself? You’re putting yourself and the pup at risk for him and her again. How much more can your body take?"
I ignored her, my heart heavy but determined. Killian’s command left me with no choice, and I could not afford his anger again.
My hands trembled as I gathered ingredients from the pantry, calculating how much I could prepare in two hours.
"I have to do this, Kaela," I whispered to her in my thoughts. "For the sake of keeping the peace. For the pup."
Kaela huffed but stayed silent, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
I worked tirelessly, ignoring the ache in my body and the overwhelming fatigue that came with giving Lyra my energy.
My vision blurred as I chopped vegetables and marinated meat, but I forced myself to keep going.
The clock ticked mercilessly, each minute feeling like a weight pressing down on me.
By the time the food was ready, I was drenched in sweat, my hands barely steady enough to arrange the dishes on the table.
At exactly 7 o’clock, Killian arrived, his arm around Lyra as they walked in like royalty.
Their friends also came to live up the party.
"Lyra, if you're still feeling any headaches, don't push yourself," one of her friends said with concern.
Another chimed in, "Yes, we want to celebrate your recovery, but we don't want you to tire yourself out."
Lyra’s soft voice carried over the chatter. "I’m actually bored of staying in bed all the time, so this celebration makes me really happy."
"Of course, it’s your boyfriend’s idea," one of them added with a teasing tone.
"There's no one more romantic than Killian in this pack," Lyra said sweetly, her eyes shining as she turned toward him.
Killian pulled out a chair for her like a perfect gentleman, his smile warm. "Thank you, honey," Lyra cooed.
"Anything for you," Killian replied, his voice soft and affectionate. He leaned down to peel shrimp for her with such care it felt like a dagger twisting in my chest. "What do you want to eat first?"
Their intimate display only heightened the chatter at the table, drowning out any small hope I had of catching Killian's attention.
Exhausted, I tried to mind-link him. ‘Killian, may I take a rest now?’
Before I got a response, one of his friends interrupted. "Hey, Sienna, can you make an omelet for me?"
And so, it continued. One dish after another was requested, piling up endlessly. Each request kept me tied to the kitchen until it was nearly 9 p.m.
My body ached, my energy was drained, and I felt like I could collapse at any moment.
When I finally stepped out to deliver a drink to Lyra, my trembling hands betrayed me. The glass slipped, spilling its contents near her lap.
"Are you doing this on purpose?" one of her friends barked at me, their tone accusatory.
But Lyra, ever the picture of false kindness, waved them off with a gentle smile. "It’s okay, guys. I’m fine."
She turned to me with mock sincerity. "I know you didn’t mean it, Sienna."
Another friend chimed in, loud enough for the whole room to hear, "See? Even after Sienna endangered her life, Lyra is still so gracious."
I bit my lip, holding back tears, but Killian cut through the noise.
"Sienna," he said, his voice cold and commanding, "lend your clothes to Lyra and take her to change. Didn't you say you had something you wanted to talk to Lyra about?"
I froze under his gaze, suddenly remembering his earlier demand for me to apologize to her. My throat felt dry, but I nodded silently.
"Come this way, Lyra," I said quietly, leading her out of the room while suppressing the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
Once we reached my room, her mask of innocence crumbled. The words that slipped from her lips, dripping with venom, sent shivers down my spine.
"I know you’re his mate," Lyra said, her voice calm but laced with malice. "Killian himself assured me I had nothing to worry about. But now, hearing the heartbeat in your stomach... I think it’s time I started worrying, don’t you, Sienna?"
