LUCIAN'S POV

The sun had long dipped below the horizon by the time I got home. The wind howled through the trees, stirring leaves and whispering rain into the air. It hasn't started yet, but I could feel it in my bones. A heavy storm was coming. Ashridge has always been like that during winters.

I stretched my neck side to side as I stepped into the estate, fatigue settling deep in my shoulders. It had been a brutal day. The board meeting took longer than expected. The packs account had issues that needed sorting, and don't even get me started on the contractors. This is my life now after I became the Alpha of Erelis pack and still have to run my company as the CEO.

All I wanted now was a long hot bath and something warm in my stomach.

The house was a bit quiet, aside from a few pack members still running around to get some things done. They bowed their heads politely the minute they saw me walk in.

I stepped into my side of the building and it was unusually quiet. Too quiet.

No soft humming from Evelyn in the kitchen. No footsteps echoing in the hall. I reminded myself that Nora's maid was on a short leave due to her Mother's illness. But even so, Maya would have stepped in. She knew Evelyn was gone. She always took pride in keeping the estate running like a clock. I shook my head, dismissing the unease curling in my gut.

I walked upstairs, unbuttoning the cuffs of my shirt, ready to wash today's stress off my skin.

But the moment I opened my bedroom door, I stopped cold.

Nora- my ten year old daughter was fast asleep on my bed. Still in her school clothes-her shirt was rumpled, socks halfway off, her hair unbrushed, and her homework was scattered on my bed.

What the hell.

I approached quietly, kneeling beside the bed. Her small hand was curled against her cheek, her face turned toward the window where the breeze could easily get her cold.

I reached to scoop Nora up in my arms, intending to take her to her room. As I lifted her, she stirred.

"Daddy," she mumbled with sleep in her eyes.

"Yeah, baby," I whispered. "I'm here."

She blinked the sleep away. "Is Aunt Maya back yet?"

Her question hit me harder than I expected.

"No," I said slowly. "She's not home yet."

She gave me a small nod, her lips pressing together. "I waited for her. She said she'd help me with my science project when I got back...but I guess she forgot."

Guilt pierced through me like a blade.

"You shouldn't be sleeping here," I said softly. "Come on, I will take you to your room and help you get changed.

Nora pushed herself up gently. "It's okay, dad. I'm not five anymore. I can change my clothes now."

That made me pause again. Nora is sounding so grown it hurts my heart. Like, can I have my little Nora back?

"Alright," I said quietly. "Go ahead. I'll wait until you're done and fix us something to eat while you're doing that."

She slid off the bed and walked towards her room. I stood there for a long moment, staring at the door she closed behind her. The storm had begun, raindrops hit the windows in scattered patterns.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Maya's line.

Straight to voicemail.

I tried again.

Same thing.

A flash of frustration lit in my chest. She always picked up my calls. Always. Even in the middle of meetings or conferences. Where the hell was she?

Just then, someone knocked.

"Come in."

Aiden, beta of Erelis pack and my long time friend, stepped in. His expression was cold as always.

"Alpha," he bowed. "I was hoping to go over the quarterly logistics before tomorrow's council call."

"Hold that thought for a second," I said, sharper than I intended to. "Have you seen Maya around?"

Aiden blinked. "You don't know?"

My stomach tightened even before I heard what he had to say. "Know what?"

"She flew out to Manhattan earlier today with the private jet. Said she has urgent business to attend to. I assumed she cleared it with you."

The silence in the room was deafening afterwards.

"She didn't," I muttered.

Aiden looked genuinely surprised. "She usually tells you everything."

Exactly.

"Do you know what business? Or who she went to see?"

He hesitated, then he said, "Something about Queens Fashion Academy. She had an email sent to her from Lucas Banner. Said it was urgent."

Lucas Banner. That name sounds vaguely familiar.

I raked a hand through my hair. "She left Nora alone. She didn't even bother checking in."

"I thought Evelyn was still here," Aiden said carefully.

"Evelyn is gone for a while due to a family emergency. Maya knew that."

Aiden fell silent.

The image of my daughter curled up on my bed, waiting for a woman who never showed up flooded my mind again.

My jaw tensed. "So she flew to Manhattan? Without telling me?" I muttered more to myself than him.

Aiden gave an hesitant nod. "Yeah. One of the security teams saw her leaving in a hurry this morning. At first, I thought she was on pack business and you'd approved it."

My eyes narrowed. "Aiden, I said I didn't. She didn't leave any message."

There was a pause before Aiden cleared his throat. "I came for a pressing matter, Alpha. We've had another report on the Ridgeclaw pack (southern region). One of the motion sensors picked up a suspicious looking wolf last night-more than just a stray wolf passing through."

That straightened me up. "You think they're up to something?"

"Looks like it," Aiden said. "The movements were too calculated. One of the trackers swears the scent was masked-like they didn't want to be identified."

I cursed under my breath. "Alright. Put on a four hour rotation. No one goes in or out of the pack without clearance. And have tech check the surveillance grid again. I want all eyes on it and zero blind spots."

Aiden nodded in understanding. "Got it, Alpha."

But even as Aiden turned to leave. I couldn't shake the feeling in my gut. Rogues were one thing. Maya disappearance without a word-that was something else entirely.

"One more thing, Aiden."

Aiden turned before he could step out. "Yes, Alpha."

"Book me the next flight to Manhattan." I said tightly.

Aiden blinked. "Now?"

"Yes, Aiden. Now."

Aiden nodded without questioning and stepped out.

I stood by the window, watching the rain fall.

Three years ago, I believed the bond between Maya and me was the answer to everything. That finding my fated mate would fix what was broken inside me-give me the love I needed from a true mate and treat my daughter with no difference.

But tonight, looking at my daughter, hearing the disappointment in her voice.I wasn't so sure anymore."

My fated mate had just chosen her career over the child I swore to protect.

And for the first time in years, Elora's face flashed across my mind.

The way she used to sing Nora to sleep. The way she never missed a single school recital.

The way she'd dropped everything for our daughter, including her dream as a designer.

I stared into the storm, wondering how everything had gone so wrong.

And what the hell was I going to do to fix it ?

ELORA'S POV

I hadn't moved from bed since I woke up. The sun had risen and dipped behind the skyline hours ago, yet I still lay there, staring at the ceiling like it held answers to the anger and heaviness pressing on my chest.

I was supposed to be at Queens Fashion Academy today. My first official day working with Lucas. A fresh start. A step back into the world that made me feel alive. But instead of excitement, all I felt was a sick twist in my gut.

Because of her.

Maya.

I hate that she has these effects on me. That after all these years, she can still reach into me and wrap her claws around my confidence, my strength, and my will to move. I hate it even more that she didn't have to say a word to make me feel like this. Just her face-just her presence was enough.

"So you're just gonna lie here and sulk forever, huh?"

I flinched at the sudden intrusion of the voice. Then I realised it was her.

Sierra. My wolf, sharp-tongued, fierce and almost impossible to silence, echoed in my head.

"Get up, Elora, she's not worth this. You're not a coward."

"I'm not being a coward, Sierra."

"Oh really? lying in bed, hiding, letting some high-nosed bitch with over-processed hair and a fake smile make you question yourself. Real brave of you, Elora."

I scoffed softly. "You saw how she looked at me yesterday. Like I was beneath her."

"And since when do you care how she looks at you? You survived heartbreak, betrayal, motherhood, and rejection. And now you're going to let some wannabe Luna ruin your comeback day? That's not like you, Elora."

I sighed and rolled onto my side. "You don't understand."

"I understand better than you do. Maya didn't destroy you, but you let her shake you. Big difference. Now get your ass out of bed."

Before I could argue more, a knock sounded at my door. I adjusted myself and close the mindlink.

"El?"

Selene.

She pushed the door open, one brow raised as she saw me tangled in my blanket.

"Don't tell me you're skipping your first day."

I didn't answer.

She sighed and walked in. "Is this about yesterday?"

"It's about everything. It's about seeing her again. About realizing how much power she still has over me. I thought I was over it. I thought I was stronger."

Selene sat beside me and shook her head.

"Maya should be the one hiding, not you. She has no right to walk into your life and make you feel like this again. You built yourself up from nothing. You were Luna, a wife, and a mother. She stole all that once. She doesn't get to win again. Not after everything she did."

Her words cracked something inside me.

"You really think I can face her again?"

"You already did. Now do it standing tall."

I hugged her tightly. "You and Sierra are the best."

She held me for a beat, then pulled away and smacked my leg.

"Now go shower, you smell like self-pity and yesterday's dreams."

We both laughed off that joke and I was in the bathroom in no time. But my wolf had to be so jealous all of a sudden.

"So she could talk some sense into you but I can't?

"Shut up, Sierra."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The moment I stepped onto Queens Academy grounds, whispers spread around me like smoke.

One said: "Is that her? I heard her step-sister is married to the CEO of Weston's company. He's so hot I daydream about him everyday."

Then the other said: Have you seen their daughter's pictures online? Perfect genes."

My fist clenched beside me.

Before I could turn around and snap, Lucas appeared beside me.

"Take a walk with me."

I exhaled slowly and followed him down a quiet corridor.

"You okay?" He asked

"No,"

He gave a guilty nod. "I'm sorry about yesterday. If I'd known you guys don't get along or who she is to you, I would've never allowed her in."

"It's fine, really. I don't blame you at all. You did what you think was best for your Academy. I don't have the right to tell you who to hire."

Lucas walked beside me in silence for a moment, stealing glances like he was unsure if he should speak.

Finally, he asked, "So.if Maya's your half-sister, why do you guys hate each other so much?"

I paused. My fingers tighten around the strap of my bag. My throat felt dry, but I made myself meet his eyes.

"Three years ago, I found out Maya was my husband's fated mate." I said quietly. "The Moon Goddess saw fit to give my husband, the father of my daughter, a 'new true love'...and it just happened to be my half-sister."

Lucas blinked. "Wait, what?"

I continued. "The moment he realised it, everything changed. He stopped calling, stopped being my mate, he even forgot my birthdays. Then Maya stepped in-she braided my daughter's hair, tucked her in, took over the role as her mother ..that wasn't the painful part though. She fed her lies about me. And before I knew it, my little girl stopped calling me mom, and started calling Maya that instead."

A bitter smile spread on my lips. "I filed for a divorce," I added. "hoping to end it all cleanly. But I never heard back. For a whole three years."

Lucas looked at me like I'd just admitted to surviving a war. "Elora."

"I don't blame my daughter at all, though. She was just a kid. But Lucian? He made his choice. So did Maya. She didn't hesitate when the opportunity came. She silently craved it all-my family, my life, and she took it."

Lucas exhaled slowly, his jaw clenched. "Damn.I had no idea you went through all that. Elora, if you want her fired. I'll do it. Just say the word. Now I even have more reasons to get her out of here."

I was about to respond when a cold familiar voice cut in.

"Fire who?"

We both turned to see Maya standing just a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest, that smug smile I knew too well playing on her lips.

Then she moved closer to us, dressed like she was heading to a gala instead of An Academy. Her lips curled in a cruel smile.

"You wouldn't dare," she added. "Try firing me, Lucas. And see what Lucian does to your precious Academy."

I opened my mouth to shut her down, but I never got the chance.

Because right behind her, a voice spoke up. Calm, deep and way too familiar.

"Lucian will do what?"

Maya gasped. And so did I.

Maya turned around. "Lucian? What are you doing here?" Maya asked.

He didn't answer immediately.

Then he said, "Hello to you too, little mate."

But his golden eyes weren't on Maya.

They were on..

Me?