07

Miguel's POV

Driven by an unwavering determination, I assumed the role of a leader, guiding a dedicated search team through the treacherous terrain surrounding the falls.

For thirty-five grueling days, we combed every nook and cranny, leaving no stone unturned in our relentless pursuit of Lya's whereabouts. Despite the passage of time, a lingering sense of hope coursed through my veins, refusing to let go of the belief that she may still be alive.

However, as the days turned into weeks and exhaustion weighed heavily on our weary bodies, a chilling realization began to take hold. The absence of any trace of Lya's body cast a haunting shadow of doubt upon our search efforts.

Could it be possible that she had eluded our grasp, escaping a fate we had feared?

Driven by a desperate need for answers, I turned my attention towards MoonWar, a nearby haven that teemed with life and secrets. Its very presence whispered of enigmatic possibilities, offering a glimmer of hope in my relentless quest to find Lya.

With renewed determination, I stepped foot onto the sacred grounds, my heart pounding with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.

Yet, nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted my eyes as I entered the MoonWar's training ground. A shockwave of recognition coursed through my being, electrifying every nerve in my body.

There, amidst a sea of determined warriors, stood a figure adorned with a cascade of dazzling red hair that danced in the sunlight.

Damn, I recognized it right away, that woman was Lya!

Time stood still as my gaze locked with hers, a torrent of emotions flooding my senses. It was her, unmistakably her. Lya had not only defied the odds but had emerged amidst the very realm that held the answers to her disappearance.

My heart swelled with a mix of relief, joy, and a tinge of disbelief at the sight before me.

In that transcendent moment, the path forward seemed clear, albeit fraught with uncertainty. The reunion I had yearned for was now within reach, and yet, the mystery of her transformation within the realm of MoonWar loomed large. Determined to uncover the truth, I took a resolute step forward, ready to confront the enigma that awaited us both.

She actually hugged a man and laughed so happily.

After I said I was going to take her back to GreyStone Pack, she even loudly contradicted me and argued with me. That look was completely different from the Lya in my memories.

"You are not Lya?" I narrowed my eyes and asked the woman in front of me who looked exactly like Lya, "Lya would not contradict me like that, who are you?"

The woman with red hair grew her mouth in surprise and the disdain in her eyes became more obvious, "My esteemed GreyStone Pack Future Alpha, it's only been a month since I've seen you, and you cannot even recognize the mate you once personally rejected? You really got a good memory."

Her tone was mocking and not at all like the woman I knew.

The bad thing was that Kai kept telling me in my head that he could sense that she was Lya.

Not wanting to deal with our GreyStone Pack affairs in front of the MoonWar, I reached back out to take Lya's hand and lead her outside the training ground, "Come back with me, you do not know how anxious your adoptive parents are looking for you."

Lya shook my hand off hard, the second time she had pushed me away, and I was already a little confused.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked her with a frown, "Can you bear to watch your adoptive parents die of grief for you?"

Seriously, I could not stand it when Aurora kept telling me how she had not found Lya yet.

"They'll grieve for me?" Lya looked like she had heard some kind of funny joke.

I wanted to say something else, but the man who had just been hugging Lya came up again and stood directly between us, blocking my view of Lya.

"I do not know who you are, but you cannot take Lya," the man's voice disgusted me to no end, not to mention the look of pride on his face.

Damn, I could not suppress my anger for so long!

A surge of pent-up anger, long restrained within the depths of my being, surged forth with an unstoppable force. Fuelled by a mix of frustration, disbelief, and a burning desire for justice, I unleashed the fury that had been festering within me. With a primal roar, I propelled my clenched fist forward, the weight of my emotions propelling it towards its target — the face that had caused me so much anguish.

In that explosive moment, time seemed to slow as my fist connected with unyielding force. The impact reverberated through the air, a resounding echo that mirrored the depth of my indignation.

The man, caught off guard by the intensity of my assault, instinctively attempted to evade the blow. But my resolve and raw determination outmatched his feeble attempts at defense, leaving him defenseless against the tempest of my rage.

As gravity asserted its dominance, the man's body collided with the unforgiving ground, his presence reduced to a mere aftermath of my unrelenting strike. The clash between our forces unleashed a symphony of raw power, the echoes of which lingered in the air, punctuating the realization of my own strength and resolve.

Yet, as the dust settled and the weight of my actions bore down upon me, a mixture of emotions flooded my consciousness. The turbulent storm within my soul mirrored the turmoil of the situation, leaving me to grapple with the consequences of my actions.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, silence blanketed the space, broken only by the heavy breaths of all who bore witness. The gravity of the moment hung heavy in the air, its significance unfurling like tendrils of smoke. For within that singular act, a statement had been made — one that resonated with the simmering discontent and the yearning for retribution that had driven me to the edge.

"Is this your lover in MoonWar?" I cannot show my emotions, I just knew that the way this man and Lya just hugged was an eyesore.

Kai whispered mockingly in my ear, "My God, are you jealous of him?"

I refused to admit it, ignoring Kai's words and mocking Lya, "You like that kind of a loser, do not you?"

I expected Lya to tell me that it was not her lover, or to look at me with adoration like the teenage girls who stood around every time I defeated someone.

But Lya did not. She screamed, then rushed to the man's side and held his face in concern.

Fury surged through my veins, propelling me forward with an unwavering determination. With a single-minded focus, I closed the distance between myself and Lya, my hand gripping firmly onto her arm. The world around us seemed to fade into the background as I propelled us away from the chaos that surrounded us.

Every fiber of my being was consumed by the need to protect her, to ensure her safety at any cost. It was a primal instinct, an unyielding force that refused to be swayed by the chaos and confusion that enveloped us.

The weight of responsibility settled heavily upon my shoulders as I realized that it was up to me to take Lya back to GreyStone Pack, regardless of the obstacles that lay in our path.

Lya, in her desperation, fought against my grasp, her movements fueled by a mixture of anger and defiance. Her eyes burned with an intensity that matched the blaze of her red hair, a silent protest against the course of action I had chosen.

In a moment of raw determination, she transformed before my very eyes, her human form giving way to the untamed power of a red wolf.

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in her physical form, I momentarily faltered, my grip momentarily loosening. It was a testament to her unwavering spirit, a declaration of independence in the face of adversity.

Yet, even as she stood before me in her lupine guise, a silent challenge emanating from her gaze, I remained steadfast in my resolve.

Before I could be surprised that Lya had actually awakened her wolf and that the wolf was actually so dazzling, she grabbed my wrist viciously with those sharp wolf claws.

The pain hit me all at once and I had to let go of Lya.

"What are you mad about?" I covered my wrist and yelled at Lya, "Are you that cold-blooded? Would you rather break your adoptive parents' hearts than stay here?"

"I think you may have forgotten," Lya reverted to human, "That a month ago you rejected me as your mate, and I think we are no longer related to each other, and you have no right over me."

I did not know why, but my heart ached for a moment when I heard her say that there was no relationship between us, but I quickly sobered up, "Even if we are not mates for each other, you are still one of our GreyStone Pack, and I must take you back. As the future Alpha of GreyStone Pack, I have the right to control you."

In the midst of the heated exchange between Lya and me, a figure emerged from the shadows, a woman with striking green eyes that mirrored Lya's own. The intensity of her gaze commanded attention, exuding a sense of authority and strength that instantly captivated me. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, positioning herself as a shield, her protective embrace enveloping Lya.

As her arms encircled Lya, the woman's voice carried a commanding yet composed tone, resonating with the weight of her position. "I am Allora," she declared, her voice laced with an undeniable air of authority. "I am the Alpha of MoonWar, and Lya is my daughter, the very future of our MoonWar Alpha lineage." Her words reverberated through the air, a resolute proclamation that left no room for doubt.

In that moment, I found myself caught in the grip of conflicting emotions. The realization that I had unknowingly stood in the way of a connection that held great significance, not only to Lya but to the entire MoonWar pack, struck me with a force I had not anticipated.

Allora's presence exuded a palpable strength, her unwavering stance sending a clear message of determination. Her words echoed through the depths of my consciousness, demanding my attention and respect. It was evident that this matter would not be dismissed lightly, as she made it clear that she would seek my statement on the matter at a later time.

In the face of Allora's unwavering command, a mix of emotions surged within me — regret, uncertainty, and a dawning understanding of the impact of my actions.

Though the desire to defend my choices tugged at my heart, I knew that the present moment was not the time for such explanations.

My expression grew harder and harder with Allora's words, Lya, the loser who had not even awakened her wolf at the age of eighteen, was actually the daughter of a wolf pack alpha?

No matter how surprised I was, it was impossible to take someone else's daughter on someone else's territory, and I had to leave for a while.

"Lya, you are such a cold-blooded person." Before leaving MoonWar, I said to Lya in an icy voice, "Your adoptive parents suffered immensely for you, yet you are so happy in MoonWar, I bet you do not miss them, do you?"

Lya heard my words as if she had heard a joke, "Miguel, you have no idea what's going on, you just stubbornly think you are right. And from the moment you rejected me, we were the most ordinary strangers to each other. Go away and never bother me again!"

Hell, Lya seemed so calm that I could not even tell if what she was saying was coming from her heart or if it was just a false statement made out of anger.