Lyra’s POV

“Are you insane? You pushed her into the pool!” Soren’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and furious. All eyes turned to me—already judging, already condemning. “Are you trying to kill her?” he added.

Selene clung to him, soaked, trembling in his arms like she might collapse at any second. Water dripped from her dress, pooling at their feet. Kael stood beside them, his gaze locked on me, cold and accusing.

“What are you saying? I didn’t push her.” My voice came out steady. Controlled. Even as every stare in the crowd pressed into my skin.

The poolside was packed now. Guests had rushed out from the hall. Whispers spread quickly—low, eager. Phones were already up.

“Stop lying! I saw you push her,” Soren shot back, tightening his hold on Selene.

I held his gaze. “No, I didn’t. She was dragging my hand…to take my ring. Then she staggered backward.”

“You pushed her deliberately,” Soren insisted. “I know what I saw.”

For a second, I didn’t know what to say again. Selene shifted slightly in his arms. A soft, broken sound left her lips. “It… it wasn’t…” she started weakly, then stopped. Her fingers curled into Soren’s shirt like she needed him to breathe. “It was probably an accident…”

Probably. Her voice was soft and careful. But her eyes—For a split second, they met mine. Her lips curved faintly, a small and hidden smile. Then gone before anyone else could see it. My wolf, Muna, stirred low in my chest and hissed. ‘She’s a slimy bitch.’

Kael turned to Selene. “An accident? Stop protecting her.” His voice dropped, dangerous, as his eyes fixed back on me. “You think we’re stupid?” He moved closer. “We already know you’re jealous of Selene.”

“I’m telling you what happened,” I said evenly. “She grabbed me. I pulled away. Then she lost her balance. Why are you not listening to me?”

Soren scoffed. “You expect us to believe that? Why do you hate her so much?”

For half a second, I just stared at him. “I—Lyra—hate Selene?

The same girl I picked from the street. Fed and cleaned up?”

I let out a slow breath. “You’ve already decided what to believe,” I said. “So nothing I say will matter.”

Selene flinched at that. Subtle. Perfect. “Lyra… please,” she said softly. “Don’t make this worse…”

Worse. The word landed like a joke. I looked at her properly now. “Worse?” I repeated quietly. “You cornered me, fell into the pool on purpose and I’m the one making things worse?”

A ripple moved through the crowd.

“Corner you?” Soren’s voice rose. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“That she staged it,” I said plainly. “She came to me. Provoked me. Grabbed my hand. And when I pulled away, she let herself fall.”

A few gasps broke out. Selene shook her head quickly, like the accusation hurt. “Why would I do that?” she asked, her voice trembling just enough. “I’ve always respected you… shown you love. and appreciation. You took me in. You helped me… paid for my education…”

“Stop.” Kael snapped, his aura flaring. He pulled her slightly behind him and stepped forward. “Helping her doesn’t give you the right to treat her like she’s beneath you,” he said coldly. “Anyone could have done that for her. I could have done that.”

The words hit harder than they should have. Soren stood facing me fully now. “That’s the problem,” he said, his voice turning cold. “You think too much about what you’ve done for people. For Selene. For us.”

“Shouldn't I?” I cut in sharply. My eyes moved between them. “Are they lies?” My voice tightened. “I loved you as my mates. Both of you. For eight years.” My chest rose slowly. “Eight years of supporting you. Protecting you. Building your careers from nothing. And this is how you repay me? By standing here, celebrating her and accusing me of a crime?”

Silence dropped heavier this time. “Don’t twist things,” Soren snapped. But there was a flicker now. Irritation. Not denial. Guilt.

I tilted my head slightly. “Am I twisting it? Or are you just uncomfortable hearing the truth out loud?”

Kael’s expression darkened. “You always do this,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “Throw everything in our faces like we owe you something.”

“You do owe me something,” I snapped. “I’m your mate. Faithfulness. Loyalty. And basic decency would have been a start.”

Selene let out a soft sob. Instantly, both of them turned to her.

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble…” she whispered, clinging tighter. “This is supposed to be my night… a happy night…”

Her happy night. My gaze flicked briefly toward the hall—music spilling out, lights glowing, laughter rising. Her graduation.

From the same academy I enrolled her into.

Muna growled beneath my skin. ‘Look at her. She’s taken your place.

I ignored her. ‘Traitors,’ she snapped. ‘They didn’t even give you credit.’

Kael stepped closer again. The air shifted with him, heavy and pressing. His presence alone made the space feel smaller.

“You’ve been off since she came into our home,” he said quietly. “Jealous. Possessive. I ignored it.” His eyes hardened. “Selene is just a harmless girl. She doesn't deserve all that antagonism.” He lowered his voice. “Now you’re crossing the line by trying to kill her. I won’t allow it.”

A cold laugh slipped out of me. “Are you seriously accusing me of trying to kill her?”

Selene lowered her gaze but I caught it again. That flicker of satisfaction. Knowing that my mates had turned against me because of her. She was enjoying this.

Soren exhaled sharply. “You weren’t even invited tonight,” he said. “Why are you here, Lyra? To ruin it?”

I met his gaze. “I came to this hotel to meet someone.”

I lied. I had heard about the graduation party from Nina, my PA, how my mates went all out, inviting top celebrities and billionaires in Velmora and beyond, behind my back, pooling funds from my firm, to celebrate the bitch I brought into our home out of charity. Something they had never done for me. Like sneaking around luxury hotels, fucking her and spoiling her wasn’t enough any more.

“A likely excuse,” Soren muttered.

“She came here to hurt Selene,” Kael said flatly. “Because she’s jealous.” His voice turned colder. “But thanks to the Goddess, we were here to stop her.”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My heart somersaulted and then slammed hard against my ribs. I looked at him. Really looked at him.

And for the first time, I saw who he really was clearly. Before I could speak, hurried footsteps shattered the silence.

“Sir…” Kael’s PA pushed through the crowd, two police officers right behind him.

One of the officers stepped forward. “We received a report of assault and harrasment…”

Nina arrived just then and stopped beside me. She said nothing but her eyes took everything in at once: Selene in Kael’s arms, the hostility on my mates’ faces and the tension hanging thick in the air.

Kael cut in, stepping closer to me. “You will apologize to Selene. Now.” A crushing, invisible pressure slammed into me. My breath caught. Muna growled instantly. Kael’s Alpha dominance.

Cold. Controlled. Commanding and demanding I submit. “Apologize,” he said quietly. “Or I let them take you in.”

The force tightened. My lungs felt heavy. My knees threatened to give way. Beside me, Nina went still. I felt her stare shift to him—shocked.

“I didn’t…” My voice strained. “…do anything.”

The pressure pushed harder. “Apologize.”

“No.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. But it held.

Kael’s expression darkened. Just then, Selene stepped in quickly. “Kael… please let’s not escalate this,” she said softly, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Lyra isn’t an evil person. She couldn’t have tried to harm me…”

Kael’s rage flared instantly. He pushed forward toward me, eyes wild with fury. His shoulder brushed against Selene. She let out a soft gasp and collapsed to the ground in an instant, sobbing. “Kael…”

“Selene!” Soren called sharply, rushing to her side to protect her. Then his head snapped up. “Enough!” He moved between Kael and me, fast and careless. “Just let it go!” he barked.

In the same motion, he shoved me aside. I staggered back. My heel hit the wet marble edge. And I slipped. No one reached for my hand. Not Kael. Not Soren. Not anyone.

I went down. And just before I hit the water, I saw her face—Selene.

Still watching. Still smiling at me victoriously.

Splash. Cold water swallowed me whole.

I surfaced at the edge and wiped water from my face with my palm. Nina helped me out of the pool. Her grip was firm, steady, pulling me up. I stepped onto the marble, water dripping from my clothes, my hair clinging to my face. The world was still.

Kael and Soren hadn’t moved. Not a step. Not even a glance that lasted. Selene was now in Kael’s arms—safe, dry and held like something precious. Like someone worth saving. I caught her face.

That ghost of a smile lingered. Small. Coy. Mocking. She was enjoying my humiliation.

My fingers curled slightly as something shattered inside my chest.

Because I remembered. When Selene fell inside the pool earlier, Kael had jumped in like the world ended there. And Soren had followed right after. No hesitation. No thought. But me—

I had gone under, and the water had swallowed me. No one came for me. No one even tried. It was like I didn’t matter enough to save.

Blood chilled in my veins.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Kael exhaled slowly, like he was still in control of the situation. “Now,” he said, “I’m sure the water has cooled your head. Apologize to Selene properly so she can go back to her party.”

The bond pressure flickered again, pressing at my mind—waiting.

Muna stirred and rose. This time, I didn’t resist her.

My voice cut through the silence. “No.” Just that.

Kael looked at me, like he couldn’t quite place what he was seeing anymore. Soren stared at me too, his expression tight.

A bitter laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it. That made Soren’s brow crease. Kael’s gaze sharpened. I stepped forward.

One step was enough. And I'd had enough.

“Kael Draven.” I called. His jaw tightened as he held my gaze.

“Soren Draven.” I called and turned to meet his gaze. The air shifted.

The bond between us trembled, uneasy and strained. I met their eyes. And I said it clearly. “I don’t want anything to do with you both anymore. I reject the bond between us.”

The world blurred. Then—The bond twisted, pulled and snapped back. Violent. Sharp. Like a whip cracking through bones.

Kael’s aura around me faded completely. And for the first time, in eight years, the only thing between me and the twin Alpha wolves was just emptiness.