Safety

Kezla's heart beated as she approached the familiar, grand entrance to her family home. The sight of the servants rushing forward to claim her luggage was a comforting sight, yet a strange sense of unease settled over her.

"Where's Father?" she asked one of the maids, her voice tinged with concern. It was unusual for him not to be there to greet her.

The maid hesitated, her eyes darting nervously. "He's... he's in his study, ma'am."

Kezla's brows furrowed. Something was amiss. She hurried up the grand staircase, her footsteps sounding in the silent hallway. As she reached the door to her father's study, she paused. A strange noise, a muffled thud, emanated from within.

Before she could react, the door swung open. Two burly men emerged, each gripping a limp, lifeless body by the legs. Kezla's breath caught in her throat as she watched in horror as they dragged the body out of the room.

Fury ignited within her. She stormed into the study, her voice sharp, "What a way to welcome me dad!"

Kezla's father's voice echoed through the room, a chilling match to the chaos that surrounded them. "I always do what I have to do, Kezla," he said, his voice steady. "I was protecting what's rightfully yours."

Kezla anger flared. "Protecting? By killing people on the day I arrive home? You couldn't wait a single day?"

She had seen her father kill before, the cold efficiency with which he carried out his tasks. But this time, it felt different. It was a personal betrayal.

"This is the world we live in, Kezla," her father replied, his tone laced with a hint of weariness. "A world of power and control. If we don't fight, we'll be consumed."

Kezla scoffed. "A world of violence and bloodshed, you mean. You're no better than those thugs you sent to bury him."

Her father's expression hardened. "He was a threat, Kezla. A threat to our family, to our future."

Kezla shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. "You've gone too far, Father. Too far."

The Osborne family sat at the large dining table, the morning sun casting long shadows across the room. Maids moved silently, serving their breakfast. Elena, Kezla's twinsister, entered the room, her eyes scanning the table. When her gaze landed on Kezla, a cold, calculating look settled in her eyes.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look what the cat dragged in. Princess Kezla Osborne , back from her royal excursion." Elena's voice was laced with mockery, her eyes narrowed into slits.

She took her seat, sipping her juice with a delicate hand. Her eyes, however, were glazed, and she winced as a headache pulsed through her temple. "I didn't know you were coming back," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Alejandro, their father, regarded his daughter with a mixture of annoyance and concern. "How could you possibly know she was coming back when you were too busy getting drunk last night?" he asked, his voice stern.

Lucas, the eldest Osborne sibling, entered the dining room. A wide smile spread across his face as he greeted his family. "Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice warm and welcoming.

Turning to Kezla, he offered a sincere apology. "I'm so sorry I couldn't meet you at the airport or be there when you arrived. We've been incredibly busy at the lab, and I just couldn't get away, no matter how much I wanted to."

Kezla smiled at her brother's apology. "It's alright, big bro. I'm home safe, that's all that matters."

Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're back. And just wait, you'll soon know what it means to be truly busy. You're joining the club now, remember? We'll see you at the lab."

Elena, growing increasingly irritated by the sibling's work-related conversation, interrupted. "Can you two please keep it down? Let's just enjoy our breakfast in peace."

Their father, Alejandro, interjected, his voice sharp. "You don't know the meaning of hard work or success, Elena. All you do is party all day. Whenever someone tries to give you advice, you bring up this ridiculous notion of being a model. That's all you ever talk about."

Elena rolled her eyes. "Fine, accept it. I'm a model. I don't want to spend my days cooped up in a lab, experimenting on some weird concoction. If you can't accept that, then so be it."

Elena, undeterred, continued, her voice filled with excitement. "And by the way, I've already sent my photos to that new modelling agency in town. Just wait, you'll be seeing my face on every magazine and TV screen soon enough." She spoke, her hands moving in the air as she continued, "I can't wait to see my face plastered on the city's billboard, me getting bombarded by endless fans for an authorgraph."

"Just imagine me dad, me on the runway with you all sitting and cheering for me," Elena paused staring at her dad, "I can feel it, dad, it's happening soon."

Lucas, sensing his father's growing irritation, intervened. "Elena, when did this new agency start? And what's the name? Just so we know you'll be safe."

"I need to know to add more security for you because of the unknown number of unknown werewolves attacking the Northern Blood Pack." He added.

"Was there an attack?" Kezla, who had been quiet, asked surprised.

"What happened?" Kezla continued, "Who are they?"

"Why are they attacking the Northern blood pack? Are they looking for something? Didn't you find out anything brother Lucas?" Kezla asked all in one breath.

Elena flung her fork onto the plate, frustration evident in her voice. "Can you two stop exaggerating? We can't even have a peaceful breakfast anymore!" she exclaimed. "Let me eat in peace, will you?"

Elena chuckled. "Don't worry, no one's going to hurt me there. It's called the Galaksi Empire."

Alejandro, intrigued, asked again, "What did you say the name of the agency was?"

Elena, pleased with her father's interest, repeated, "Galaksi Empire." This is the first time her father is showing interest in anything related to her modelling work and she was extremely happy to see he was finally getting to accept what all she wants to do is to model!

Alejandro turned to Lucas. "Isn't that the same name as that bodyguard agency we hired for extra security?"