The War Goddess with Her Triplet Mates

Chapter 5 Strange Turn Of Events

Soraya's POV

8 YEARS AGO (continued)

The sound of birds chirping by my window roused me from sleep, and I struggled to open my eyes which were swollen from crying. After my encounter with my father two days ago, I had tried my best to stay out of his sight like he commanded. So I had snuck in with the help of Ryder, after the birthday surprise they had organised for me.

Luckily, I had not caught a glimpse of Father, but it made me sad all the same. Sad that I had to tiptoe around my own father. Sad that the last surviving person I called my family hated me so much that the sight of me made him go sour.

A fat tear rolled down my cheeks and I did not bother to wipe it off. This was not the first time my father made me feel unwanted, but yet it tore through my heart like a fresh wound. Sniffling, I got up from the shabby mattress I had slept in and proceeded to smoothen it out. After I was finished with that, I put the room in order and brushed my teeth before stepping out. I did not want to give Father a reason to get upset again.

As I made my way to his room, my heart began to pound in my chest. I was scared, just like always. But I could not avoid seeing him today. It was my mother's death anniversary today, and we were meant to visit her grave together.

The thought of that made my chest tighten in pain. I always felt the same way on my mother's death anniversary; sad, gloomy, cold, like I lost something I never had. Sometimes I felt guilty as well, after all she had died giving birth to me, and no matter how much Luna Vivienne and Ryder tried to rea*s ure me that I was not at fault, it was hard to shake it off. But nothing compared to the overwhelming longing for a mother; it was horrible.

I pushed all the bad thoughts away as I got to my father's bedroom and knocked, wondering how I should talk to him without angering him. But after a few minutes of calling out for him, there was no response. I pushed the door to find that it was unlocked and then I walked in. He was nowhere to be found.

"Dad?" I called out timidly, fiddling my fingers together anxiously. He hated it when I called him that. Still, there was no response.

After a thorough search of the house, I realized that he was not here. At first, confusion set in, and then it dawned on me that he had gone. He was probably at my mother's grave.

Without me.

All the tears I'd been holding back since morning came flowing down my cheeks as I sobbed bitterly. I felt forgotten. Unimportant. I felt like a burden.

I cried until my throat began to hurt, and by the time the pain in my chest went away, an hour had pa*s ed. I stood and trudged through the house, trying to clean it up a little. Father wasn't even taking care of himself, much less the house. So I swept, cleaned, and washed. With every room I stepped into, the overpowering scent of liquor hit my nostrils. I gathered all the empty bottles spread around the house and packed them into a box for recycling.

I had just finished the last of the chores when I heard a car pull up in front of the house. Once I saw Luna Vivienne step out from the pa*s enger seat, I raced to her, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist as I sobbed into her shirt.

"Goodness, Raya, what's wrong?" She asked, patting my head lightly as she hugged me back. "Did something happen?"

Her compa*s ionate aura was so comforting that it made me sob even harder. In between tears, I narrated what had happened this morning, my father leaving me at home while he visited my mother's grave, and the guilt I felt about today.

Her expression was sad when I finished and she brought me closer to her. "Oh, little Raya, don't cry."

"H-He hates me.." I sobbed. "Why does he hate me s-so much?"

"Oh, baby, he doesn't. He's just hurting, especially today, as it is a painful memory for him. Remember what I told you about a true mate?"

I nodded shakily.

"Good girl. Your father is hurting, and he probably needs his space to grieve. Do you think you can understand that?"

I sniffled. "I guess."

"That's my girl." She hugged me again, and leaned over to wipe my cheeks. "Now, don't be sad anymore, okay?"

I tried to stop crying. When Luna Vivienne saw that my mood was still a bit low, she proposed a visit to a bazaar that was taking place in town.

My face scrunched up. "What is a bazaar?"

When she explained that it was like a marketplace where we could shop for many different articles, I agreed. It was then that Ryder emerged. I saw him from a distance with a few other young boys. He jogged all the way to meet us.

"Hi, Raya," he said, giving me a hug and asking if I was okay. I could only nod. I hadn't seen him for a few days and I missed him.

Luna Vivienne informed Ryder of our plans to go to the bazaar, asking if he wanted to join us, but Ryder shook his head. "The boys and I are heading into the forest for our first hunting expedition!" He sounded excited.

"Alright then. You boys have fun, and be careful."

He nodded and turned to me. "I'll see you later, Raya." With a kiss to my cheek, he waved me goodbye and ran off to meet his friends.

I clambered into the car with Luna Vivienne and soon, we arrived at the bazaar. My jaw fell open at the sight of the bustling area filled with colourfully decorated stores. I was so excited that I all but jumped out of the car. Luna Vivienne hurried after me, laughing, and then holding my left hand gently, we walked through the busy marketplace.

I looked sideways at Luna Vivienne, thankful to her for bringing me here. She had a steady smile on her face as we walked, and I could not help but think that she was the most gentle and beautiful person in the world. Being around her brought warmth and joy to me.

I did not know my own mother, but I imagined that if she were still alive, she would be just as kind and soft as the Luna, radiating a comforting energy, just like the moonlight.

I smiled at these thoughts and focused on the bazaar. Everything looked so beautiful, and I let go of Luna Vivienne's hand and walked forward to explore.

"Careful, so you don't get lost, Raya!" She yelled from behind me through the noise in the crowd.

I looked back and nodded. "I won't."

I was looking around excitedly when I heard it; a loud popping sound. I froze at the spot, stricken with fear, and trying to understand what was happening. And I saw them. A large group of feral, dangerous-looking rogues rushing into the bazaar. There was a piercing scream from the crowd. And then another. The rogues began to destroy everything in sight, hara*s ing the buyers and vendors in the bazaar, most of whom were bottom omegas and did not stand a chance against the trained wolves.

I still stood, shocked and not knowing what to do. I looked back in the hopes of finding Luna Vivienne, but she had gotten lost in the crowd. I staggered backwards in the busy crowd, searching for her to no avail. I was about to yell her name when I saw her rush right into the center of the chaos, standing between the rogues and everyone else. Being the highest titled werewolf present and also the Luna of the pack, she had stepped up in the middle of the crisis.

I looked from the feral wolves to the Luna and fear made my palms begin to sweat. I began to walk towards her but she saw me and subtly shook her head, signaling me to hide in the doorway of one of the stores. I stopped in my tracks and retraced my steps carefully so as not to attract attention. But by accident, I stepped on a branch and it made a loud cracking sound.

I looked back in fear. The rogues had noticed me.

"Soraya, run!" I heard Luna Vivienne yell.

But it was too late. Two of them had already lunged forward to grab me roughly.

I struggled in the grip of the two rogues, tears filling my eyes as I called out for Luna Vivienne, but it was no use. I was still crying when I felt something hard connect to my head. I doubled over in pain, trying to stay conscious, but I felt myself slipping.

The last thing I heard was the rough voice of one of the rogues as he demanded something from the Luna.

And then everything went black.

***

I don't know how long I was unconscious for, but when I awakened, a sharp pain shot through my head, making me wince. I tried again to open my eyes, but all I could see was darkness.

Where am I? I wondered. I struggled to sit up and as my hand touched the ground, I felt slimy, moist earth beneath my fingers. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the environment and I realized I was in a dungeon. A gasp escaped my lips as I looked around in shock. This was the pack dungeon. Till now it had only been a wild tale I'd heard from other werewolves, how terrible and lonely it was here.

Why on earth was I here? I wondered again. I tried to stand up but a strong resistance led my eyes to the shackles around wrists and ankles.

"No, no, no…help! Is anyone there?" I called out desperately. I tried to unchain myself but it was no use. "Help, please!" I tried again.

There was no answer.

Just as I was about to yell again, I heard the deafening sound of the doors being opened. And then, footsteps. I called out again, glad I wasn't alone. I struggled to see who it was but when the light of the moon hit in their direction, my heart leaped with joy.

"Ryder! Alpha Michaelson!"

I had never been so happy to see them. “Thank the moon goddess you're both here," I said, gratefully. The pounding of my heart had gradually died down at the thought that they were going to get me out of here. "I don't know what happened," I said breathlessly. "We were at the bazaar, and there were some rogues…I woke up and found myself chained here and–"

The words died on my lips when I realized they hadn't said a word. "R-Ryder?" I called out. Something was not right. I searched his face, wondering what the problem was. But instead of the usual smile he had for me, his face was cold, his expression harsh.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice smaller. Their eyes were filled with anger and a resentment I had never seen before.

"Silence!" Alpha Michaelson commanded, his eyes blazing red. "Don't pretend like you were not a part of this."

I shrunk back in fear. He was furious.

"Only the goddess knows what they offered your father. What they offered him that was enough to make him betray the pack. He colluded with those filthy wolves to cause damage to all of us! And you…" he glared at me with hateful eyes. "You knew what was going to happen at that bazaar, and you lured her right into their trap and got her killed."

It was as if the world stopped. I staggered back to the floor in shock.

"I-I don't understand…" I half yelled. My brain was flooded with too much information at once and I was struggling to process it. "My father? Luna Vivienne? I-I don't understand."

Luna Vivienne couldn't be dead. No. That was just not possible. I couldn't be…

"I don't understand what's happening," I cried out. "Where is Luna Vivienne? Where is my fathe–"

But Alpha Michaelson had already stormed out of the dungeon. I could not breathe. Lost, I turned to Ryder who was still standing there.

"Ryder, please tell me what happened. I don't understand what's going on," I pleaded, my eyes filling with tears. But he only let out a loud hiss, staring at me with hatred in his eyes.

"Ryder, I swear I didn't set Luna Vivienne up. We were just–"

He pulled the dungeon door open and walked in, advancing closer to me as he spoke.

"Shut up!" He hissed at me. "Stop telling lies. Both you and that excuse of a father are bloody liars. It was you who convinced her to go to the bazaar. It was you who led her right into their trap. You, Soraya!"

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "I swear, I didn't." I shrunk into the wall as he towered over me. I couldn't help but feel scared, I had never seen him act like this.

"Ryder.."

"Why?" He said simply, his voice cracking a little. The pain in his eyes was obvious. "Why would you betray my mother like that? She treated you with so much love and kindness. She even took you like a daughter. So, why?!"

The anger in his eyes returned. Before I could say anything, I felt his hands tighten around my neck painfully. My feet dangled in the air as he choked me, and I tried to scream to no avail.

I was at his mercy.