Fury Unleashed: The Awakening Alpha Nira novel Chapter 3

Nira's POV:

Damon's words hit like a blade, sharp and deliberate, slicing straight into my ears.

My body started to shake—not from fear, but from the sheer effort it took to stop Lyra from breaking through and tearing him to pieces.

My fists were clenched tight, nails digging into my palms until the taste of blood filled my mouth. But that pain meant nothing, not compared to five years of hell behind bars, or the relentless torment that came every second my wolf was forced into silence.

Lyra was thrashing inside my mind, howling with rage. I bit down hard on my lower lip, keeping the scream buried deep in my throat.

Damon saw me trembling and actually smiled, satisfied. His voice was cold and firm. "You're not going anywhere this week. Stay home, get yourself ready, and don't screw this up."

I kept my head low, but hate surged in my chest. My fists tightened again.

He really thought that little piece of leverage was enough to keep me in line. I couldn't wait to prove him wrong.

A scornful stare hit me like a slap. It's Janice.

She was eyeing my worn-out shirt with obvious disgust, then turned to Aven with mock concern.

"Aven, didn't I tell you to give my clothes to Nira?"

Jenna's face soured immediately, full of judgment. "Janice offered you her clothes and you still insist on dressing like that? Are you trying to humiliate this family?"

"She threw them out!" Aven jumped in, his voice full of contempt.

"She did it on purpose. Just wants to play the victim and guilt-trip us."

The room turned cold. Every single person looked at me like I was the problem.

No one asked why I threw them away. No one cared about the pity sewn into those clothes or the condescension behind the offer.

That was my reality. Birth parents who bent over backward for their adopted daughter while treating me like I was nothing but a burden.

"Change. Now." Damon slammed his hand against the table.

I let out a quiet, mocking breath and headed up the stairs. Behind me, I heard Janice whispering to Jenna, her voice sweet and venomous.

"Once she's married into the Howells, they'll have ways to break her."

I didn't stop walking, but my lips curled into a cold smile. Janice, marrying into the Howells was never the end. It was where everything started.

I slammed my bedroom door shut behind me, sealing out the fake concern and toxic air downstairs.

I took a long breath and let everything settle. My mind finally cleared.

Damon really believed that video gave him control over me?

Let him keep believing it. Playing weak was part of the setup.

I had come back for one reason—those recordings.

Not because I feared them getting out, but because I needed to destroy every single copy with my own hands. And when I did, every last person who filmed them, who hurt me, would pay in blood.