08

I cannot stop thinking about Lya's cold gaze when she said the word "stranger" just now.

On the way back to GreyStone Pack, Kai suddenly spoke up.

"Miguel, did you hear what Lya just said?"

"Yes, yes, of course I heard that," I mimicked Lya's voice, "Miguel, we are the most ordinary strangers."

Damn, how dared she call us strangers when I thought at least we used to be mates.

"No, Miguel," Kai sounded a little bemused, "I mean, Lya said you had no idea what was going on, remember?"

Kai's voice poured cold water on my anger, reminding me to pay attention to something I had not noticed earlier.

"You mean ... Lya did not jump into the waterfall herself?" I asked Kai with a frown.

"Who knows? Do you remember, the day after Lya jumped off the waterfall, the Kendall family was acting rather strangely."

I thought through all the events of that day and really caught something that did not quite make sense, "Yes! You are right! When Kendall took me to her house, she made me wait at the door for a while, and I did not hear anything at that time."

"But if Aurora and Damon were really crying and smashing things, there's no way they'd be so quiet, do not you think?" Kai added.

"You are right!"

I began to wonder, Kendall did not look natural at the time.

So if Kendall was lying, what was the family covering up?

I frowned and said, "I should investigate them properly."

"Remember the pair of glasses you picked up?" Kai reminded me, "That old man looked pretty nervous when you gave it back to him, he might know something about it."

"Yes, but I cannot ask him directly, I cannot guarantee what role Nicholas played in this conspiracy."

**

Following a brief yet intense discussion with Kai, I wasted no time in mobilizing my best agent to delve into the depths of the matter at hand.

As he delved into the intricate web of clues and evidence, it became increasingly apparent that the Damon's family had left behind a trail that could not be easily ignored. It was as if they had carelessly laid bare their deceit, their actions painting a portrait of betrayal and manipulation.

Little did I expect the magnitude of the revelation that awaited me. The reports unveiled a shocking truth, a sinister plot that surpassed all reasonable expectations.

It was an unimaginable pact forged in the shadows, an unholy alliance between the Damon's family and the enigmatic figure known as Nicholas.

The purpose of their collusion? To auction off Lya's innocence, to subject her to an unspeakable fate, all in exchange for what could only be described as a grotesquely ludicrous price.

As I delved deeper into the intricacies of this repugnant scheme, my fury swelled like a tempest within me. The sheer audacity of Nicholas, an aged man with a mane of gray hair, daring to involve himself in such abhorrent dealings, struck a chord of revulsion deep within my being.

The realization that he could potentially be Lya's own flesh and blood, her grandfather, only further intensified the waves of anger crashing against the shores of my soul.

The weight of the reports, meticulously compiled by my diligent subordinate, bore down on me with an unbearable heaviness. The detailed accounts, the undeniable evidence, each word fueling the flames of my rage.

The corners of my vision blurred as I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white under the strain. A tempestuous storm raged within me, a swirling maelstrom of indignation and a burning desire for justice.

In that moment, a profound sense of duty surged through my veins. It was not merely a personal vendetta that consumed me, but a resolute commitment to protect the innocent and bring the perpetrators to account.

With every fiber of my being, I vowed to dismantle this wicked alliance, to ensure that those who dared to tread upon the sanctity of another's life would face the full wrath of their actions.

The room pulsated with an air of solemn determination as I mapped out my plan of action. Every piece of the puzzle had to be meticulously examined, every thread followed to its source.

The weight of responsibility settled heavily upon my shoulders, driving me forward with unwavering purpose. There would be no rest until justice was served, until the vile tendrils of this conspiracy were severed once and for all.

With a newfound resolve burning brightly in my eyes, I forged ahead, prepared to confront the darkness that lurked within the Damon's family and Nicholas himself.

The road ahead would be treacherous, fraught with peril and uncertainty, but I would not falter. The anger that engulfed me now served as fuel, igniting a fire that would guide me through the darkest of nights, illuminating a path toward redemption and retribution.

What Lya said was true!

The Damon's family deceived everyone, and they did not treat Lya well.

And that damn Nicholas, he had the delusion to sleep with my mate! Although I rejected Lya, she was my mate at that time.

I shuddered to think that poor Lya must have seen me as her last chance at that moment, but I rejected her unmercifully and said so many hurtful things.

A huge wave of guilt overwhelmed me, and I could not help blaming myself for my carelessness. If I had not believed Kendall's bullshit so easily at that time, if I had given Lya a little more time and let her tell me everything clearly, would not the outcome have been different?

Unlike now, she looked at me so coldly, as if I were really her enemy.

I could not wait to fly to MoonWar at the moment to bring Lya back, and show her what I did to the Damon's family and that disgusting Nicholas.

But no, Nicholas was an elder of GreyStone Pack, I could not just dispose of him like that. I had to find enough evidence before I could deal with him.

Looking in the direction of MoonWar, I thought of Lya's happy face and had very mixed feelings.

It should be out of guilt, and I could not help but want to see her.

**

Miguel's POV

Looking at Lya and the man laughing and giggling, I was so angry that I hammered my fist into the tree beside me, and the leaves fell down in droves, almost causing me to be spotted by the MoonWar on the training ground.

This was the fourth day I'd come to the MoonWar training ground to observe Lya, and I'd lost count of the number of times Lya had smiled at the man.

I already knew that the man was Lya's mentor and that he is the beta of the MoonWar, but seriously, was it really necessary for a mentor to be so close to his student?

"Are you sure you are secretly watching Lya and not spying on her?" Kai's annoying voice started again, "I am tired of hiding with you every day, cannot you just go and apologize to her and just say you were wrong and beg her to forgive you?"

"What? Apologize to her?" I furrowed my eyebrows strangely, "Do you think I need to apologize to her?"

"What are you stubbornly insisting about? You are obviously dying of guilt inside." Kai immediately saw through my pretended composure and directly pierced my disguise.

Well, Kai was right, I did feel guilty.

I hung my head in loss, "And Allora seems to be waiting for me to apologize to Lya, do not you think?"

The first day I came to observe Lya, I was spotted by Allora, but she did not drive me away, she just told me not to be spotted by other MoonWar warriors.

"I cannot think of any other excuse than that for an Alpha of one pack to put up with a future Alpha of another pack coming to spy on their warrior training every day."

"I said observation, not peeping." I corrected Kai.

"Dwelling on the word doesn't make sense. Quickly, Lya seems to be heading to the Deep Forest Lake."

After hearing Kai's words, I turned my attention back to the training ground, where there was no longer any sign of Lya, and a wolf with dazzling red fur was running towards the entrance to the Deep Forest.

I hurriedly transformed into a wolf and followed Lya, while telling Kai, "If there is a war between two wolves, Lya will be the first to suffer, she is too dazzling. I think she'd better dye her fur to a more normal color."

**

Lya's POV

This marked my inaugural venture into the foreboding expanse of the Deep Forest, venturing forth alone into a realm where nature reigned supreme.

Towering trees loomed overhead, their lofty branches intertwined in a dense canopy that effectively barred the sun's rays from piercing through.

Even though the sun still held dominion in the outside world, as I set foot within the depths of the forest, an eerie twilight enveloped my surroundings, casting an unyielding shadow upon the land.

A profound stillness prevailed, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves under my careful footsteps. Silence embraced the air, so palpable that I could almost hear the symphony of my own breathing, the rhythmic cadence of my heart reverberating within the confines of my chest. Each inhalation and exhalation echoed through the dimness, amplifying the solitary nature of my journey.

The darkness within the Deep Forest was an entity in itself, an enigmatic veil that shrouded the world in obscurity. The absence of light created an environment where the senses were heightened, where the slightest sound reverberated with amplified resonance.

It was as if the forest itself held its breath, a profound hush that accentuated the allure and mystery that resided within its ancient depths.

As I ventured deeper, my senses acutely attuned to the shifting symphony of the forest, I became acutely aware of the absence of external distractions.

Without the incessant chatter of birdsong or the gentle caress of a breeze, my focus narrowed, honing in on the symphony of my own existence. The Deep Forest became a sanctuary where introspection and self-awareness flourished, where the essence of life pulsated with an undeniable clarity.

Despite the ominous ambience that surrounded me, a sense of awe washed over me in waves. The majesty of nature's cathedral, its towering pillars of foliage and the unseen creatures that called this realm home, invoked a deep reverence within my being. The duality of the Deep Forest, simultaneously captivating and foreboding, stirred a primal instinct that lay dormant within me.

The passage of time seemed inconsequential within the embrace of the Deep Forest. Minutes blended seamlessly into hours, and the ethereal twilight persisted, as if it were a realm existing outside the realms of conventional chronology.

It was an immersive experience, where the illusion of nightfall within the heart of daybreak rendered time as an abstract concept, an ephemeral notion that held no sway over the rhythm of the forest.

As I ventured further, the boundaries between the tangible and intangible began to blur, as if the forest itself possessed a sentience that beckoned me deeper into its embrace. With each step, the symphony of the Deep Forest resonated within my very core, a reminder of my own place within the tapestry of existence.

Amidst the quietude and shadows, I continued my solitary exploration, drawing strength from the harmonious symphony that surrounded me. The Deep Forest, a realm of mysteries and hidden truths, would reveal its secrets to those with the courage to immerse themselves in its enigmatic embrace. And so, I pressed on, enveloped in the solitude and darkness, a willing participant in the timeless dance of nature's symphony.

Suddenly, a somewhat abrupt gasp came into my ears, and although it was very quiet, it seemed quite clear to me. Since being able to transform comfortably, my sense of hearing had been enhanced quite a bit.

I could tell that the gasp was not from Joseph, nor from any of the MoonWar fighters I had fought.

The unfamiliar gasp fired my alertness to the max, and I sped myself up slightly, the voice still following me closely.

Someone was following me.

I saw a thick bush ahead of me and accelerated behind it, ready to give the stalker a surprise attack.

Subtle footsteps sounded, and the man was already close to the bush where I was hiding. When I was ready, I crouched down slightly and then jumped hard, ready to give the man a hard claw to the neck.

I saw a pure black wolf who also looked up at me while dodging my attacks with great speed, those turquoise blue eyes glowing in the gloom.

It was Miguel, and as soon as I saw those eyes, I recognized him.

Not to be exaggerated, Miguel' wolf was also quite handsome, with his athletic body and toned torso exuding a strong hormonal aura.

I had to say that although Miguel and I had a rough time, he was really hot. Especially when he obviously has such a sexy body and yet he's looking at me with those innocent blue eyes.

Damn, how did I get so caught up in Miguel' good looks again that I forgot what he had done?

I mentally disgusted myself, then turned around, ready to leave.

"Lya, wait." Miguel nimbly stopped in front of me, that powerful wolf tail wagging slightly, "I need to talk to you."

"Oh, so you still know me as Lya, I thought my name with you was 'Miss Liar'." I was nonchalantly sarcastic about the hurt Miguel had inflicted on me.

"Look, I am really sorry, and I only just found out what your adoptive parents did to you. I apologize to you for the mistake I made at the time." Miguel finished the sentence with great speed, and then looked straight at me with those blue eyes, "You'll forgive me, won't you?"

To be honest, his actions and what he said really scared me. I did not expect Miguel to apologize to me, after all, he's always had that arrogant look about him, thinking he's never wrong.

But what's the use of that?

The damage he did to me has already been done, could an apology heal all the past?

Was a "sorry" to remove all the despair I was crying to grab his pants?

"Good." I deliberately coldly replied to Miguel, "From now on I will not take one step into the territory of GreyStone Pack, and I hope you will not come to MoonWar either, we should never get involved with each other again in the future."

After saying that, I walked around the black wolf and went forward, but Miguel did not stay where he was as I hoped, he followed, following me at a distance of one meter.

Walking to the edge of Deepwood Lake, I finally could not stand it anymore, I turned around and glared at Miguel viciously, "Why do you keep following me? Is the future Alpha of GreyStone Pack a pervert who likes to stalk people?"

Miguel looked at me with sincere eyes and did not refute the sarcasm in my words, "We used to be mate, I do not believe you can completely abandon our previous love affair so quickly. I can feel my heart beating violently when I look at you, do not you?"

"How dare you bring this up, do I need to remind you how you rejected me and completely cut off my hopes?" I looked at Miguel like he was a fool.

"I am really sorry, Lya. But since we would have chosen each other, it means that we are very compatible, doesn't it? Even if I reject you, I can still feel the connection between us." Miguel did not pay attention to my mockery and just focused on his words, "Can you give me one more chance?"

I bet this was definitely the most humble look of Miguel had ever been. Even so, I would never forget the countless nights when I would wake up from my dreams with tears in my eyes.

In my dreams, Miguel said over and over again, "I reject you to be my mate."

That had become a nightmare for me. I had no way to completely get rid of the pain of being rejected by Miguel, and I certainly would not forgive him so easily.