To ruin an Omega - Chapter 289: New Battlefields

Chapter 289: New Battlefields

HAZEL

I walked down the hallway with Delta trailing behind me. The sound of my heels hitting the floor felt too loud, too final. Each step took me closer to the car. Closer to leaving.

The front door stood open when we reached it. Sunlight streamed through, bright and mocking. I could see the car waiting in the circular driveway. Black. It was sleek too. The kind of vehicle that screamed money and power.

My luggage was already being loaded into the boot by two sentinels. They moved quickly and efficiently. Nobody spoke.

I stepped outside. The air hit my face, cool and crisp. It smelled like pine and earth. I didn’t even realize my home had a familiar smell. This was the place I had always wanted to leave behind now something sentimental tugged at my heartstrings.

The car door opened and I saw them inside. Grandmother Pauline sat in the back row, her posture perfect. Next to her was Grandfather. He hadn’t paid me any attention since he’d arrived yesterday. He hadn’t asked how I was doing. He hadn’t offered comfort or advice or anything that resembled grandfatherly concern.

I knew we barely knew each other but still. The man was like a ghost.

I wondered if he even cared that I was being shipped off.

Mother stood by the car. Her face was composed as it was calm. She looked every inch the stone-hearted Luna who had orchestrated all of this. Who had decided my fate over breakfast like she was choosing what dress to wear.

But when I got close, something in her expression shifted. Damn. She was trying to hard to be stone hearted.

She reached for me. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me in. The hug surprised me so much I almost stumbled.

“I know it is hard.” Her voice was soft against my ear. Nothing like the cold tone she’d used earlier. “But you will thank me.”

I stood there for a moment, frozen. Then I nodded against her shoulder. “I will understand with time.”

“You will.” She pulled back and hugged me again. Tighter this time.

I looked over her shoulder at the SilverCreek estate. The place that has been gone for the longest time. This massive building that loomed behind us and was all stone and pathetic glass.

Movement caught my eye on one of the upper floors.

Father stood at a window. His figure was unmistakable even from this distance. He was looking down at us. At me especially.

Our eyes met.

Then he turned and walked away. Just like that. He didn’t even wave nor did he acknowledge me. He simply disappeared from view.

Something twisted in my chest. I was always a daddy’s girl. I had moulded that image so him not giving me the time of day hurt. It was sharp and painful.

I pulled away from Mother and kept my voice steady. “So Father will not come and say goodbye?”

Her lips pressed together in a thin line. “The incident is still fresh in his mind. But he will forgive you and he will forget. I will make sure of it.” She smoothed down my hair with one hand. “He will even be at the wedding.”

“I will take your word for it.”

She nodded and stepped back. Her mask slipped back into place. The stone cold Luna returned. She had to or I might not leave this place.

I turned to the car and climbed inside. Delta followed behind me.

The interior smelled like expensive perfume. Grandmother Pauline’s scent. I settled into my seat and Delta moved to sit beside me.

“Go sit in the front seat with the sentinel driver.” Grandmother’s voice cut through the space in a sharp and disgusted manner.

Delta’s face went red. She mumbled an apology and scrambled out, making her way to the front passenger seat. The door slammed shut.

I turned to Grandfather. “Good morning, Grandfather.”

He glanced at me. The smile he gave was polite but also empty. Then he looked away, out the window.

That was it. That was all I got.

I settled back in my seat and tried not to let it bother me. I tried not to wonder what his deal was or why he couldn’t be bothered to pretend he cared.

The car started moving.

The estate got smaller behind us. I watched it through the rear window until we turned a corner and it disappeared from view.

Everything I’d known. Everything I’d been. Gone.

My chest felt tight. Too tight. Like something was squeezing my ribs from the inside.

I was leaving SilverCreek territory. Actually leaving. This wasn’t just talk anymore or threats or plans. This was real. The car under me, the road ahead, the destination getting closer with every second.

Fear crept up my throat. Cold and slithering.

No. I pushed it down and refused to let it show on my face.

I was Luna Hazel. Or I had been. Or I would be again. I refused to be scared. Refused to be weak.

But my hands were shaking in my lap.

I curled them into fists.

Aldric’s messages replayed in my mind. His demands. His threats wrapped up in polite words and smiling emojis.

Spy on your grandmother. Find out her secrets. Or else.

I looked at Grandmother Pauline. She sat straight, her gaze fixed ahead. Regal and untouchable.

How was I supposed to spy on her? How was I supposed to find out anything when she looked like the kind of person that rarely told people what she had for breakfast?

But I needed to try. Aldric had made that clear. And if I wanted to survive, if I wanted to keep whatever scraps of power I had left, I needed to play his game.

I cleared my throat. “A little birdie tells me that Fia is doing well today.”

Grandmother Pauline turned to look at me. A small smile curved her lips. “Some people just do well in life.” Her tone was light and conversational. “Did you curse her and expect that she break out in hives and die or something?”

The way she spoke made it obvious. She was uncomfortable. She didn’t want to talk about this. Not with Grandfather sitting right there.

I forced a laugh. “You will be shocked what the power of manifesting can do.”

She gave me a curt smile and turned back to face the road.

That told me that was a dead end.

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked out the window. Trees rushed past. The landscape changed from familiar to foreign.

My mind raced.

How would I survive Lily of the Valley? What strategy would work? What mask should I wear?

Should I play the meek lamb? Keep my head down, scope out the territory, make allies with the Omegas and Sentinels? Would that keep me safe?

Or should I come in like a ravaging beast? Assert dominance from day one, make sure everyone knew I wasn’t someone to mess with regardless of what they knew or heard?

I didn’t know. I hated not knowing. I hated not having a clear advantage.

The best advantage would have been Lysander. If he’d been sexually attracted to me. If he’d wanted me the way he apparently wanted Fia.

Thinking about Lysander made my jaw clench. His obsession with my sister. The way he spoke about her like she was some prize to be won.

Fia. Fia. Fia.

Always Fia.

But I could work with this. I could always make anything work.

Heat season was coming. Babies were made during that time. Wanted or unwanted. If I got pregnant, that would secure my position. Give me leverage.

And if Lysander remained obsessed with my sister, well. I’d heard the current ruling Alpha of Lily of the Valley had plenty of sons. One of them could be bewitched, manipulated or used.

Anything to secure myself.

“What is on your mind, child?”

I blinked and turned to Grandmother Pauline. “Jitters.”

She studied me. Her eyes were sharp, calculating. “The look in your eyes did not look like jitters. You looked like someone plotting.”

My stomach dropped but I kept my face neutral.

“Your recent lot should have made one thing damn clear.” Her voice was cool. Matter-of-fact. “You are not a great plotter. You do not have a beautiful or sinister mind.” She leaned back in her seat. “If you will be favored in this pack you are going to, be the doormat and make sure you are loved by all. That is the smartest advice I would give you.”

“Thank you.” The words came out automatic.

But my mind screamed something different. That was a fucking useless advice. I will not grovel for those beneath me.

I turned to look out the window again. Anything to avoid her gaze.

The trees thinned out. Buildings started appearing. Small houses at first, then larger structures. We were entering a town.

No. Not a town.

A territory.

My heart started pounding.

And then I saw them. The gates. Massive iron structures that stretched high into the sky. Intricate designs were worked into the metal. Flowers and vines twisted together in patterns that were almost hypnotic.

Lily of the Valley.

The name was written across the top in elegant script. The letters gleamed in the sunlight.

The car slowed as we approached. A sentinel stepped out from a guard station. He waved us through.

The gates swung open.

This was it. This was real.

My hands were shaking again. I pressed them flat against my thighs to hide it.

The car rolled forward. Through the gates. Into Lily of the Valley territory.

My new home. My new prison. My new battlefield.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to sit up straighter. To look confident even if I felt like I was drowning.

Whatever came next, I would survive it. I had to.

Because going back to SilverCreek wasn’t an option anymore.

And failure? Failure meant death. Or worse.