The Alpha's Secret Omega

Lyra's POV

It wasn't long after Kellan stepped back that the sound of footsteps echoed just outside the door. My stomach dropped.

"Kellan!" Ava's voice rang out, bright as usual, a sharp contrast to the tension in the room. "You haven't fulfilled your promise to take me shopping yet. Don't make me use my mouth and snitch to Lyra."

What?

Kellan moved in an instant. Before I could process what was happening, he grabbed my arm and shoved me into the bathroom. The door closed behind me, and his voice was low and firm. "Stay quiet," he hissed, the urgency in his tone making my heart hammer harder.

I pressed myself against the cool bathroom wall, my breath shallow, straining to listen.

The door creaked open, and Ava's footsteps padded into the room. She sounded completely carefree, like she hadn't just thrown my name into some blackmail scheme.

"You're so fucking loud," Kellan snapped at her. "If you don't shut your big mouth, there's no shopping. You can kiss my money goodbye."

"Oh, please," Ava shot back, and I could practically hear the smirk in her voice. "If you'd just kept your promise, Lyra's name wouldn't even come up."

I froze. My name. Again.

What was going on? My pulse quickened as their words echoed in my head. Ava was blackmailing her brother. About me.

The pounding of my heart was so loud I was afraid they'd hear it. I clenched my fists, trying to keep myself calm, but my mind was spiraling.

What could Ava possibly know about me? What was she holding over Kellan? And why did my name keep slipping into their conversation like I was some pawn in their game?

I stayed pressed against the wall, barely breathing, as their voices continued on the other side of the bathroom door.

"Can you shut your mouth for once, Ava?" Kellan snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. "Why is your mouth always so damn loose?"

Ava laughed, completely unfazed by his frustration. "Oh, come on. Don't be so uptight. I'm your little sister—you're supposed to spoil me!"

"Just go wait in the car," Kellan growled, his tone colder now. "I'll be down in a minute."

There was a pause, and then Ava's obnoxious giggle cut through the air. "I always knew you were a sweet brother," she teased. "You're just too stubborn to admit it."

Kellan scoffed, clearly running out of patience. "Don't push me, Ava. I'm this close to changing my mind."

I could almost hear Ava pouting before her voice turned playful again. "Well, if you're feeling so generous, why don't we make it a little family outing? Invite Lyra to come with us."

What?

I froze, my stomach dropping again.

"No," Kellan said immediately, his voice hard and unyielding.

"Oh, don't be so boring," Ava replied, ignoring his objection. "You know what? I'll go get her myself, and we'll wait for you by the car."

"Ava—" Kellan started, but before he could finish, I heard the door open and her footsteps retreating. She was gone.

My heart raced as I leaned against the bathroom wall, trying to process what just happened. Ava was coming to find me and I had no idea why or how to avoid it.

I stayed in the corner of the bathroom, arms crossed, fuming quietly. I didn't understand why I had to hide in the first place when I hadn't done anything wrong. The door opened, and Kellan stepped inside, his expression stony.

"You can come out now," he said flatly.

I didn't move at first, letting the silence hang for a moment. Then, I straightened and walked past him without a word or a glance. If he thought I'd just act like everything was fine, he had another thing coming. He better not try to stop me or make this worse—I just wanted to leave in peace.

"Wait," Kellan called out, his tone firm.

I stopped, sighing audibly, and turned to face him.

"You'll have to come with us," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Ava won't let it go until she gets her way, and that means dragging you along."

I stared at him, biting back the urge to argue. Ava's meddling was the last thing I wanted to deal with, but it wasn't like I had much of a choice. I was still angry, not just at the situation but at the fact that Kellan seemed so calm about it. Like this was just another normal day.

There were so many questions swirling in my mind about what I'd overheard earlier, about the strange conversation between Kellan and Ava, but I clamped my mouth shut. No point in bringing it up now. He wouldn't answer me anyway.

"Fine," I said shortly, nodding. Without waiting for a reply, I turned on my heel and left the room.

As I walked back down the stairs, I couldn't shake the heavy feeling in my chest. Ava probably had no idea I'd moved into the main villa. She would've gone to the servant quarters looking for me, which gave me a little more time to prepare myself for whatever madness was coming.

--------

I had just stepped outside, adjusting my jacket, when Kael's car pulled up. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him get out, his commanding presence making my stomach churn. I kept walking toward the car where Kellan and Ava were waiting, hoping Kael wouldn't notice me, but of course, that was wishful thinking.

His sharp gaze immediately locked onto us. "Where are you all going?" he asked as he approached.

Ava, ever the chatterbox, responded before anyone else could. "We're going shopping, and I asked Lyra to come along because she needs supplies too." She smiled sweetly, adding, "We're friends now, you know. I just love her company."

Kael's expression didn't soften, but his words were swift and decisive. "I'm coming along."

I saw Kellan's face twist into a frown. "You just came back from somewhere. You don't need to go with us."

Kael turned to him, his eyes blazing with authority. "You dare question your Alpha?"

The tension was palpable, and no one dared to speak as Kael strode past, opening the car door. He slid into the passenger seat, then reached out, gripping my wrist and pulling me in next to him before I could react.

"You sit here," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ava pouted, stamping her foot like a child. "What about me? You two are the men—you should take the driver's seat and shotgun. Lyra and I should sit in the back like the princesses we are!"

Kellan scowled at her, clearly irritated. "Get in, Ava."

With a dramatic sigh, Ava finally took the shotgun seat, mumbling something about how unfair it was. Kellan climbed into the driver's seat, his jaw clenched, and started the car.

The moment the car began to move, I felt Kael in my head. His voice came through the mind link, sharp and laced with anger.

"Why do you smell like Kellan?" His words were more of a growl than a question.

I froze, my heart racing. "I don't," I replied defensively.

Kael's gaze turned to me, his jaw tightening. "Don't lie to me, Lyra. I can smell him all over you. His scent is on you. Why?"

I bit my lip, my mind scrambling for an explanation. But what could I say? The truth? That Kellan had pulled me into his room, kissed me, and then locked me in his bathroom to avoid Ava? No, that would only make things worse.

"It's nothing," I finally said, keeping my eyes on the window.

Kael's growl reverberated in my head, making Hope stir uneasily. "I demand an answer, Lyra."

I turned my face toward him, meeting his burning gaze. His anger was evident, but beneath it, I sensed something else—something possessive, something primal. It made my pulse quicken and my wolf tense.

As we entered the mall, I did my best to keep my head down. I could feel Kael's anger radiating toward me, even if he hadn't spoken a word since we left the car. His questions still echoed in my mind, but I didn't have the courage—or the energy—to answer them. And then there was Kellan. His gaze followed me, steady and unreadable, like he was studying my every move.

Ava, however, was in her element. She darted around the store like a whirlwind, grabbing clothes and accessories off racks with the precision of someone who'd done this a hundred times. Before I could protest, she was shoving item after item into my hands.

"Try this one on, Lyra!" Ava chirped, holding up a sleek black dress. "Oh, and this! You'll look amazing in it."

I forced a smile, but my discomfort grew with every passing second. Every time I looked up, Kael's burning gaze was on me, filled with questions and fury. On the other hand, Kellan's stare was... different. Calculating, maybe? Amused? I couldn't quite place it, but whatever it was, it made my skin crawl.

Ava must have noticed my discomfort because she suddenly turned to the men, crossing her arms. "You two are being ridiculous," she huffed. "Stop hovering and staring! Go find something for yourselves or, better yet, wait in the car. You're making Lyra and me uncomfortable."

Kael and Kellan both opened their mouths to object—of course, they did—but Ava silenced them with a glare sharp enough to cut steel. It worked. They exchanged looks before stalking off reluctantly, leaving me alone with Ava.

"You're welcome," Ava said with a wink, but I barely managed a nod. The tension was still thick in the air, and I knew it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

By the time we finished shopping and returned to the car, the atmosphere was even worse. Ava, usually a chatterbox, was eerily quiet, and I knew she could sense it too. The silence was suffocating, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn't shake.

Kael didn't look at me, but his anger was palpable, and Kellan's occasional glances in the rearview mirror didn't help. Every hair on my body stood on end. My wolf was restless, pacing inside me like it wanted to claw its way out.

I stared out the window, wishing I could melt into the seat and disappear entirely. The ride home was slow and heavy, the tension too thick to cut. Even Ava, who usually managed to talk her way through anything, didn't try to fill the silence.

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. Whatever awaited me back at the villa, I knew I wasn't ready for it.