Bound by Fate, Freed by Choice

Chapter 4

Lyla's POV

"Just look at her! Isn't she ashamed? Aren't you ashamed, Rowan? Sitting in here, in a room, with a grown woman—together on the bed, no less!" The woman's voice was filled with venom, and her furious gaze was aimed straight at me, not at Rowan. I felt confused and dreaded, wondering what I could have possibly done to deserve this. Who was this woman, and why was she attacking me like this? All I had done was sit on the edge of the bed, talking with Rowan.

The woman was striking, and not just because of her anger. Her skin was a smooth, olive tone, and her piercing hazel eyes glared down at me with a fiery intensity that made me want to shrink back. Her hair was a cascade of dark waves, tumbling down her back like a midnight river, framing her flawless, high-cheekboned face.

She wore a fitted dress that clung to her tall, slender figure, making her look both elegant and intimidating. She stood taller than me, and her posture screamed authority.

Before I could say a word, Rowan stepped forward, his gaze hardening. "Dalia, that's enough. You need to stop."

Dalia laughed—a sharp, bitter sound that made the hairs on my neck stand up. She glanced back at me with a look that could cut glass. "You didn't tell her, did you?" she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Didn't tell her you're my mate, did you?" Her eyes flicked between us, and her smirk twisted deeper. "And you didn't tell her that she's leaving today, did you? Shame on you, Rowan. Or maybe you're just tired of sneaking her around outside, so you brought her right here to fuc—"

"Shut the fuck up, Dalia!" Rowan's voice boomed, making me jump despite his anger not being directed at me.

The power of his roar pulled at old wounds, bringing back memories of past yells and harsh voices that still haunted me. There was so much happening, so much to process.

This woman, who he'd called Dalia, was claiming she was his mate. She was saying I didn't belong here. And then there was her accusation that Rowan and I are sleeping together? My head was spinning.

Dalia's chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, her rage seeming to burn hotter. "If your parents were still alive, they would never stand for this," she spat, her eyes full of accusation as they bore into Rowan and me. Her words hit Rowan hard, and a flicker of pain crossed his face before his expression hardened again.

"This isn't how you handle things," he snapped. His voice was low, controlled, but beneath it I could feel a storm brewing. His jaw clenched as he held her gaze, his body tense with restrained anger.

Dalia's lips curled in a bitter smile. "You don't deserve this pack if you can't even respect your own blood, Rowan. What would they think, huh? Bringing a stray like her into our home, parading her around like she belongs?" Her gaze landed on me, full of cold contempt, and I could feel the depth of her hatred. She didn't see me as a person—just an intruder.

Without warning, he grabbed her by the wrist, his grip firm but controlled, and started leading her toward the door. Dalia tried to yank her arm away, but Rowan held tight, pulling her along as she continued to rant, her voice echoing through the room.

As they disappeared down the hall, her angry words grew fainter until finally, there was silence. The room felt strange without her chaotic energy—almost too quiet.

I stood there, frozen, my mind swirling with everything that had just happened. I was in a hurricane of emotions: confusion, hurt, anger—all blending together into something I couldn't quite name. And I just stood there and took it like I always did.

Just yesterday, I was scrubbing the floors of Alpha Kaiden's packhouse, clinging to a fragile hope that I'd finally be getting my wolf, that my mate would come and claim me, that life would somehow get better. But everything had turned upside down.

My mate had been my sister's ex-husband—my own alpha—and he had rejected me in front of everyone. Now, here I was in an unfamiliar pack, surrounded by strangers, promised a fresh start. Yet, somehow, things felt far from a new beginning.

I hadn't even had time to gather my thoughts when a faint knock sounded at the door. My heart clenched, and for a moment, fear and hurt tangled inside me. Could that be Rowan again? I wasn't even ready to face him again, not after what had just happened.

The knock came again, gentle but insistent, urging me to find my voice. Summoning every bit of courage I had, I managed to speak up, though my voice was shaky. "Wh... who is it?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my words. My throat ached, the buckled tears pressing down so heavily it almost hurt to speak.

"Damon, Rowan's beta," a deep, steady voice replied from the other side of the door. There was something reassuring in his tone that made me feel a little more at ease.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly wiped away the stray tears clinging to my cheeks. "Come in," I said softly.

The door opened, and Damon stepped in. He was tall and well-built, exuding the calm confidence. His wavy, dirty blonde hair fell casually across his forehead, with a few freckles scattered over his tanned skin and a thin scar cutting above one eyebrow, adding a rugged edge to his look. His dark brown eyes were warm and steady, and he smiled—a warm, genuine smile that immediately made me feel better, like I wasn't alone.

"You must be Lyla," he began, his voice friendly and kind. "I've been eager to meet you." He extended a hand, offering it to me with an easygoing smile.

I hesitated for a moment before reaching out and shaking it, afraid that he might find me... unworthy and dirty, somehow. I still felt like a stranger in this pack, even though I'd been promised a new life here. But he didn't pull away; his hand was firm and welcoming.

"I just got back from a trip last night, and Alpha Rowan told me we had a new member joining us. I didn't know that new member would be a beautiful young lady," he added, and the playful note in his voice caught me off guard.

I felt my cheeks heat up and looked down, my fingers fiddling nervously. I wasn't used to people being this kind, this warm. His words felt genuine, not forced, and I found myself smiling shyly.

Damon's expression softened as he stepped a little closer. "Hey, listen... I heard about what just happened with Dalia." He paused, giving me a look of understanding. "Don't worry about her, okay? She'll be taken care of. I promise you, you'll like it here in Darkmoon. I'll make sure you have the fresh start you deserve."

His voice was steady, and he had this calming presence that I hadn't expected. The faint scent of his cologne reached me, clean and woodsy, comforting in its own way, but not quite as soothing as Rowan's. Still, it was enough to make me feel calm.

I found myself nodding, and Damon's grin widened. His expression brightened even more, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his face. "How about I show you around the pack? It's a pretty big place, and I bet you haven't had a chance to see much of it."

The thought of finally getting to explore and seeing more than just the walls of this room filled me with a flicker of excitement. A tiny smile crept across my lips as I looked up at him. "I'd love that," I replied, my voice still soft but a bit steadier now.

He chuckled, clearly pleased by my reaction. "I thought you might. You know, Rowan mentioned you're a bit reserved. He just didn't mention you'd be so easy to talk to."

Blushing, I glanced down again, feeling warmth spread across my cheeks. There was something about Damon—his calm nature, his kindness—that made me feel like I could let down my guard, even just a little. He reached out, gently taking my hand in his, and nodded towards the door. "Come on, let's go. I'll introduce you to some people on the way."

I followed him out, feeling my nerves melting into excitement as I stepped into the hallway. It was long, with rooms lining both sides, and a few pack members moved about, offering us nods as we passed. Everything felt vibrant and alive, so different from the cold, harsh life I'd known before.

Just as we reached the end of the hall, Rowan appeared around the corner. His expression was calm, his usual mask of control firmly in place, but as his eyes fell on Damon and me—specifically, on our hands joined together—something changed in his gaze. It was subtle, but there was a flicker of something unreadable, something almost like anger or... protectiveness.

It felt like a cold splash of water, that look in Rowan's eyes. Guilt surged through me, even though I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. I hadn't meant to overstep, and certainly hadn't intended to stir any confusion. I quickly pulled my hand away from Damon's, suddenly feeling as though I'd committed some grave offense.

Damon, oblivious to the tension, gave Rowan a friendly nod. "Just giving Lyla a tour. Figured she might want to see her new home."

Rowan's gaze lingered on me, and his jaw tightened, though he nodded curtly. "That's... good. But make sure she's settled. She's had a rough start." His voice was calm, but I could hear an edge to it that made my pulse quicken.

Damon chuckled, glancing between Rowan and me with an amused glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, Alpha, I'll take good care of her."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks again, feeling embarrassed and something I couldn't quite place.

Damon's lightheartedness differed sharply from Rowan's intense, unreadable expression. I couldn't help but feel a strange connection with both of them—a calmness with Damon's easy presence, and an electrifying pull with Rowan's strong, silent gaze.