Soraya's POV
Six pairs of eyes pinned to my body the instant my words came out, their gazes piercing as if searching my soul for the answers to what my words could probably mean.
I lowered my head, my lips pressed tightly as I walked.
After my outburst, it had been deemed unsafe for us to continue staying at the hospital.
Kael moved ahead, the remaining two brothers flanking me at both sides, forming an impenetrable link.
In my head, I felt Jada move lightly, her giddiness in contrast to the solemnness filling around.
~Mates believe us!
She yipped, shocking me.
My eyes widened at her revelation, flickering between each triplet.
Since I had mentioned about it, they hadn't questioned me, neither did they contradict my words.
Sure their gazes were piercing, telling another story, but unlike my previous experiences with them, this was different.
My heart pounded loudly, as I pressed my lips tighter, a complicated feeling swirling in my chest.
Compared to before and now, what was so different that I got treated like that?
It wasn't fair.
Just thinking about it brought tears gathering in my eyes once more.
"Are you alright?" Kael's deep voice cut through, causing my tears to freeze halfway.
My vision blurred with tears, causing his huge figure to appear foggy.
I quickly suppressed the sadness in my chest, pressing it painfully till the familiar tightness hooked at my throat.
"Yes." I answered, my voice cracking in between.
Kael's steady gaze on me deepened, his brows creasing in a way that told he didn't believe me, but he said nothing, offering a faint nod and resuming his leading to the pack house.
Draven and Lucen said nothing as well, causing silence to fall around.
A week ago, or even five days ago and I would never have imagined myself walking in their midst.
Everything was so shocking that I couldn't believe anything happening.
Silence stretched all the way to the pack house, pack members and guards alike, parting and giving way as they say us.
"Your highnesses, welcome." Some of them chorused, bending their backs in submission to the three domineering wolves.
Others gushed excitedly at them instead.
"Your highness Kael, please come over to test out new products!"
"Your highnesses, it's been long you've visited the children school!"
One young woman yelled. "When should we expect your highnesses for the monthly inspection? The young teenagers are excited to show you their inventions."
To say I was shocked was an understatement.
The pack was buzzing with awe, reverence and respect even as they were being denied.
"We will see to everything once we are done with our tasks." Kael said, moving along.
Even with being told down, the members of the pack weren't angry. They gushed to themselves.
This was a side I never knew they had.
In front of me they were cold, merciless and unfeeling, but who knew their pack would love them this much?
I felt a few probing eyes land on me, discerning even the subtle feelings.
Some held confusion, even disdain.
To them, I might have been blemish staining their god's pristine clothes.
Instinctively, I let my hair fall out, covering most part of my face.
Very soon, Kael led us to the top part of the pack house, the most restricted part of the building.
He pushed a door open revealing a large bedroom as he led us all inside.
My first impression on seeing the room wasn't how beautiful it was. Instead the thought was another cage.
"Stay here." Kael said, his deep voice snapping me from my muse. "We'll come set up some things to make you comfortable while you stay here."
Our eyes locked with each other, and something told me he was ready to leave.
"Aren't you all curious?" I blurted anxiously, wriggling my fingers together.
They paused. A very triplet like action that made three of them move similarly, their expressions blank.
"What's there to be curious about?" Draven shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze one me light and passive.
"Soraya we understand that you were probably shocked by the events that happened." Kael started, pinching the bridge of his nose, his gaze almost scolding. "But that doesn't mean we can go around accusing people because of your suspicion."
Suspicion?
The word cut deeper than it should, and I found myself defending.
"It's not an accusation!" I argued back, feeling tears gather.
I thought we were past this stage already.
"Then what is it?" Lucen snapped. "Did you think you knocking the needle out of the nurse's hand was because you knew? That's absurd. You were only lucky. That's how you are still alive Soraya. You don't get to blame someone because of that."
Luck?
Again. Did they believe it was luck?
It had been my gut feeling.
From the very moment that nurse walked in, I felt something was off with her.
She had the same scent everyone in my former pack had— the smell of something rotten.
How could I have forgotten the smell that had once been part of my torment?
This time, my tears flower, dripping down my cheeks like precious pearls betrayed by their lover.
"I am not blaming anyone." I repeated, my voice choked as I struggled to breathe my words out. "The person behind this is my step-family in my pack. They have been trying to kill me for a while now."
"Oh, please Soraya." Draven let out an expatriated breath. "Your step-family? Really? Is this a drama?"
Kael and Lucen were quiet, their expressions blank but I could tell they probably thought the same.
"Please believe me." I urged, pleading even. "Before I came here, I lived with my aunt and niece. They took me in after the death of my parents five years ago, and at that time I had no idea what they were planning until it was two late."
"My niece, Cecilia had always been jealous of me since I was little, but I never knew how bad it was. I believed everything she said, never complained even when she demanded things from me. I thought if I kept silent maybe she would like me…"
"I thought, finally, maybe I would get the love I craved for." I laughed, the sound bitter. "I was naive. A fool even."
I clenched my fists, remembering Cecelia laugh at my face. "I had a fated mate, but he betrayed me. He slept with my niece the very same day I told him I was pregnant."
The eyes on my body sharpened, six gazes raking my body from head to toe.
"You were pregnant?" Lucen said, his voice deep. "What happened?"
Thinking about my baby, a painful feeling grew in my chest.
Jada howled in my head, hurt at the thought, grief and sorrow clouding me.
I lowered my head, losing my voice.
How do I tell them it's gone? Taken from me before I even have the chance to feel them?
How could I tell them that I couldn't even protect the one piece of me?
I couldn't bring myself to speak, so I shook my head, not meeting any of their gazes.
The air grew quiet immediately.
Tears streamed down my face, as I sniffled, the pain of losing my child hitting me once more.
I tried my best.
I tried to protect them, but it wasn't enough.
I choked, covering my mouth with my palm, trying to struggle my sobs.
"Soraya." Kael called gently, coming close to me, but I moved away.
"Please don't touch me. I need to finish." I begged.
Kael looked me in the eyes, a silent understanding flashing. He nodded, taking a step back.
Draven and Lucen were silent the whole time as I continued, telling them about my parents death and how I got here in the first place.
I couldn't tell the expressions that mirrored their faces. Either guilt or sympathy.
When I was done, I was a sobbing mess.
"Can I ask you a question Soraya?" Kael asked, deep in thought.
"Yes." I shook my head.
"What happened on the day your parents died? Could you also tell me how?"
My breath hitched at the painful question and memory.
Shakily, I replied. "We were celebrating my birthday when a fire started."
At once, they pupils constricted.
"Did you say fire?" Kael's voice tightened.
Confused, I nodded, eyeing his brothers and him with a frown.
"I see…" he trailed off. Seeing the look on my face, he explained. "A few years ago, Faye developed a condition, and it started after she attended a birthday party where a fire later broke out."
My eyes widened in panic, as I looked anxiously between the brothers.
What did this mean?
Was Faye at my birthday party and I never knew of it? Why can't I remember?
"Don't think too much Soraya. It's not your fault." Kael offers some comfort, making me even scared as it confirms my guess.
She had been there.
Draven and Lucen moved out of the room following their brother outside the room.
I ran up to them, my heart pounding in fear.
Were they going to hold my parents accountable as well?
"Please," I cried, standing in front of them, hands stretched out. "What are you going to do? My parents aren't at fault."
"We know." Draven says.
My tense heart filled with relief, tears streaming down my cheeks as I looked on to the two.
Kael and Lucen nodded along with him, breaking the silence.
"For years, we have been looking for the person behind the fire." Kael supplied, his tone turning dark. "We suspect it was more than one person who plotted it."
Lucen added. "When we find the people behind this, we won't spare any of them."