Lilith stepped forward, her voice dripping with false concern as she ground her heel into the scattered ashes. “Seraphina, it’s just a stranger’s ashes. Why are you putting on such a pitiful show? If you wanted to prevent Farrow from being buried here, you didn’t need to go to such lengths.”
Her words snapped something inside me. I surged to my feet, shoving her away with all the strength I could muster. She staggered back and fell, but the satisfaction was fleeting.
Orion’s face twisted with rage as he marched toward me. Without a word, he slapped me hard across the face. It was the first time he had ever hit me, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the torment in my heart.
“You left Lyra at home alone just to come here and bully Lilith out of petty jealousy. You’ve disappointed me beyond measure, Seraphina! How did Lyra end up with such a pathetic mother?”
His words were daggers, each one plunging deeper into my soul. Orion’s face was a mask of fury as he continued, “You like crying over strangers’ ashes? Fine, cry all you want! From now on, Lyra will be with me. You’re not fit to be her mother. I won’t let you poison her with your bitterness.”
Through the mind link, the Alpha gave an order. “Beta Herbert, take Lyra from the pack house and bring her to my private residence. Seraphina is no longer allowed to see her without my permission.”
There was a long pause before Beta Herbert replied hesitantly, “Alpha, Lyra... Lyra died in an ambush the day you were supposed to fetch her and the Luna at the border.”
Herbert’s voice broke slightly as he continued, “And Alpha, the grave Lilith chose for Farrow is where Lyra’s ashes were buried.”
