Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 21

**Chapter 21**

Addison

The moment my question slipped from my lips, I noticed my brothers leaning in closer, their curiosity piqued. We all shared a collective breath, waiting with bated anticipation for our father to respond. His demeanor remained as composed as my mother’s, a calm that seemed to envelop the room.

“When you arrived here with Madge and expressed your desire to participate in this endeavor, to harness the full extent of your powers, I recognized that allowing this was the right course of action. As you progress, you will undoubtedly grow stronger, surpassing others with the abilities you will cultivate. No one will be able to coerce you into anything, for you will possess the means to defend yourself, even from a distance.”

His words resonated with a logic that I could grasp, yet a lingering dissatisfaction gnawed at me, and he noticed it immediately.

“Don’t overthink it, my dear child. Even with my past entangled with the Lycan King, you are not in any danger. If I had believed otherwise, I would never have sent you to live with Aunt Nora in Raven Mist. I am confident that Jeffery has informed Warrick about you by now, but that will not alter anything. It shouldn’t, because the palace rarely concerns itself with the happenings in Raven Mist unless they are of utmost importance.”

“I’m your daughter, which inherently makes me extremely important,” I retorted, a hint of defiance in my voice.

“Indeed, you are,” he replied, his tone reassuring.

Reflecting on my mother’s words, she interjected, her heart visibly racing. “Actually, I’m starting to think it might not be wise to keep Addison in Raven Mist any longer. She should come back home. It’s been two years since the incident with Jess. Having her here would ease my mind. I can’t bear the thought of anything terrible happening to her.”

My father let out a heavy sigh. “I just explained that my history with—”

“I understand what you said, but it doesn’t alleviate my concerns. How can you remain so calm after everything that’s happened?” Her hands balled into gentle fists, a clear indication of her distress.

“Our daughter is in capable hands. She will be shielded from anyone who wishes her harm. With Lyra by her side, nothing can go awry.”

“Lyra?” I interjected with a forced chuckle. “She hasn’t even shown herself to me yet. I’m beginning to doubt if she ever will. I really need her presence right now.”

“What do you mean by that?” they all asked in unison, their faces etched with confusion.

I hesitated, desperately trying to mask the lie that was about to escape my lips. Although my father, as Alpha, could easily delve into my thoughts, he had never intruded upon my mind, and I decided to take a risk.

“It’s nothing,” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I just can’t wait to have everything under control. The uncertainty of when she’ll appear is making it all the more difficult.”

“Are you afraid?” my father inquired, his gaze penetrating as he sought the truth.

I glanced around the room, feeling the weight of their expectations. I took a moment to delve deep within myself, summoning the courage I needed to respond.

“No. I’m not afraid,” I declared firmly.

He nodded with a sense of pride. “And that is why you will be alright. What transpired between your mother and me when we were forced to leave Pike Hill does not affect you, our children, since you were born here in Red Valley. This is why Dylan and Cole were able to visit you without issue; I was certain that no one would recognize them. I was genuinely astonished when your classmates identified them.”

“Well, they’re quite popular,” I said, rolling my eyes in playful annoyance.

“Of course we are,” Dylan interjected, his tone brimming with pride, momentarily lightening the mood despite the weight of our conversation.

However, my father’s expression shifted, signaling a return to seriousness. “You must understand that I have lived with regret for many years. I still think about those families, but before I was an Alpha, I was your father, and I ask you to find it in your hearts to forgive me. I am not proud of my past actions, but it was important for me to share this with you today.”

“I share some of the blame,” my mother added, her voice softening. “I could have disclosed this to you, but I chose to keep it hidden for as long as your father deemed necessary. We have raised you to the best of our abilities, and I believe we have done well, which is why even if you never forgive us, I take pride in the individuals you have become.”

As my mother finished speaking, she lowered her head, lost in contemplation, while my father stood tall, his eyes closed and lips pressed tightly together.

Though they both appeared to be at peace, I could sense their hearts racing beneath the surface, and I felt a strong urge to ease their worries.

With a smile, I stood up and approached my mother from behind, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. She clasped my wrists tightly, releasing a sigh of relief that spoke volumes. I didn’t need to articulate my thoughts; she understood me without the need for our mind link.

Next, I moved to my father, who exhaled a sigh that was louder than my mother’s.

I gestured to Dylan and Cole to join us, but it was only Dylan who stepped forward. Cole, however, got up from his seat and quietly exited the living room.

“Hey,” Dylan called after him.

“It’s alright. Give him some time,” my father said, forcing a smile. “He’s clearly the most disappointed, considering how much he looks up to me.”

“I’ll talk to him,” my mother asserted, standing up.

“No. Let it be. No one should be compelled into something they aren’t ready for. Let it unfold naturally,” my father advised.

Knowing Cole’s quick temper, I couldn’t help but wonder how long he would remain upset. Would he ever find it in his heart to forgive them?

“Hey,” Dylan said, breaking my thoughts. “You mentioned the competition has been canceled for now. Do you have any idea when it will resume?”

“Honestly, no one has any clue,” I replied.

“I hope it’s soon because I want to see my little sister compete against other schools,” he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

“Well, Max said that—”

“Max?” they all echoed in unison, their interest suddenly piqued.

I sighed, lowering my head as I continued walking. “Forget it.”

“I know what you’re feeling right now,” she said softly.

“Of course you do. You’re a part of me. It hurt walking past Jess’s house and seeing the lights out. Have they not returned for a long time? I can’t even ask my parents about it; they would realize Aunt Nora confided in me about things I wasn’t supposed to know.”

“But don’t you think your dad might—”

“I don’t think so. If he did, he would have mentioned something,” I replied, my voice firm.

“I know this is hard for you, but you know what? It’s time to cheer up. How about you call Max?” she suggested brightly.

“Are you crazy?” I exclaimed.

“Yes!” she replied enthusiastically.

As Saga continued to urge me, I made sure to keep my eyes peeled for anyone around. It was still early in the morning, and despite glancing around several times, I was the only one traversing the street.

Just as I looked down at my phone, contemplating whether to text Max and check on him, I accidentally stepped on someone’s boot. My gaze traveled up the long legs clad in black skinny jeans, a black leather jacket, and a black tank top. When I finally met the mysterious lady’s gaze, my jaw dropped in awe. Where had she come from? I was certain she hadn’t been there moments before. Even my senses had failed to detect her presence.

As I struggled to process what had just occurred, she tilted her head, her shoulder-length black hair cascading to one side as she sneered at me with lips stained a deep shade of black.

“Watch it,” she commanded, her tone firm and intimidating. Though her bangs obscured her eyebrows, I could sense the intensity of her glare.

I scoffed, my irritation bubbling to the surface. “You’re the one who should’ve been more aware. There’s an abundance of space on this street, yet you chose to position yourself where you’d get stepped on? Please!”

“Is that how you greet the one you’ve been anxiously waiting for?” she asked, her voice low and almost teasing.

“What?” I stammered, taken aback.

She stared into my eyes, pointing at herself with a long nail coated in black polish.

“As of this moment,” she said, stepping closer to tower over me, “you’d better address me properly.”

In that instant, it finally dawned on me who this enigmatic woman could be, and my eyes widened in delightful recognition.

“Lyra?”