Please have mercy!

Lyra clasped her hands in her lap, her gaze barely lifting to meet the people ahead as she settled beside Casian on the couch.

She had no idea why Casian had summoned her family, but the weight of his words sent a ripple of unease through her. A quiet fear curled in her chest—whatever was about to happen, it wouldn't be good.

"I apologize for the interruption, Alpha Casian, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to keep the lowly omega out of a family gathering?" Cecelia remarked, her tone polished and laced with quiet disdain.

Norman and his family had long anticipated an alliance between their packs. It was no secret that the notorious Alpha Casian was still mourning the loss of his mate, but his parents—the Alpha King and Queen—were eager to find him a suitable match. And after receiving the invitation, Cecelie had a sinking feeling that Casian, too, was looking forward to meeting Miranda.

Casian smiled thoughtfully, considering Cecelia's remark. "But isn't she your family, Lady Cecelia?" He said, his voice smooth yet edged with something sharp.

Cecelia's expression twisted in displeasure.

"Or have you forgotten your own daughter, Alpha Norman?" Casian added, turning his piercing gaze toward the Alpha.

For years, Lyra's true identity had been concealed—no soul outside their family had known the truth. But the moment Casian spoke, the blood drained from their faces.

"We have already rid ourselves of her, and we suggest you do the same, Alpha," Cecelia said, her tone crisp with finality. "Her presence would only bring disgrace to your reputation."

Casian's expression darkened.

"And what kind of disgrace does Lyra bring to you, Lady Cecelia?" he asked, his cold eyes locking onto the woman.

Cecelia's lips trembled. The brooding intensity of his gaze made her stomach twist, but pride forced her to hold her ground.

"She is wolfless and mute—a disgrace to our pack and nothing more," she declared, her voice unwavering.

Casian's jaw tensed. "So that gives you the right to sell her?" His words cut through the air like ice, sending chills down Cecelia's spine.

Lyra turned to Casian, shaking her head desperately. 'Please end this. I don't want to be here.'

The memory of her abandonment still haunted her, and reliving it now made her heart clench painfully.

Casian's brows furrowed as if he had heard something, but the subtle exchange between them didn't go unnoticed by the others. No words had been spoken, yet the silent communication between them raised questions.

Lyra's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lips parting in a silent plea. The sight of her broken expression sent a sharp pang through Casian's chest. But then, he remembered the cruelty she had endured at the hands of her family, and his hesitation hardened into resolve.

"If having a wolfless mate is a disgrace to my reputation, then what about having a tainted wife—one who has already lost her virginity to another man?" Casian's cold gaze snapped back to Cecelia, his dark eyes brimming with unspoken menace. The sheer intensity of his stare sent a violent shudder down her spine.

Miranda, seated beside her mother, gaped at Casian in shock. But when her gaze shifted to Lyra, she found the woman just as taken aback by his words.

"I'm certain no man would willingly take a bride who has already shared a bed with someone else," Casian continued, his tone dangerously calm. "But if her family dares to conceal such a truth just to secure a marriage, that becomes a much bigger problem."

Norman flinched, his body going rigid as Casian's words sank in.

"I'm sure Norman understands what happens when someone lies to me," Casian added, his warning laced with lethal intent.

A ripple of terror shot through Norman, and without a second's hesitation, he dropped to his knees.

"It was a mistake, Alpha! Please, forgive this foolish man!" he pleaded, his voice trembling.

Lyra's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched her father abandon his pride, groveling at Casian's feet.

Casian, unmoved by his begging, straightened to his full height and turned to his beta.

"Darius, behead these worthless traitors," he commanded, his voice devoid of mercy. "Such pathetic worms don't deserve to live."

Cecelie, the prideful one, too, lost her composure. Death was something she feared, but the kind of death Casian imposed on them made her knees weak.

"Alpha, it was a mistake; please hear us out." Cecelie too broke down. She had no idea the truth she was trying to conceal would come out this way. But seeing the alpha so angry with them made her realize her mistake in the most brutal way.

"Please show us some mercy. Please forgive us."

Casian watched them sob at his feet, their tears real—born from fear. But their desperation did nothing to waver his resolve.

He wanted worse for them. A punishment that was not just painful but also unforgettable.

Cecelia wept, but when Casian remained unmoved, she turned to Lyra instead.

"Lyra, dear, please stop him. We don't want to die," she pleaded.

Norman quickly joined in. "Lyra, only you can save us! Please, save your father!"

Lyra stared at him in disbelief, his words slicing through her heart. He had never shown her kindness, never acknowledged her as his daughter—yet now, he begged for her mercy. Despite everything, she wasn't as cruel as them. Seeing her father reduced to this state made something inside her soften.

"Take them away," Casian ordered, his voice cold as he turned on his heel to leave.

But before he could take another step, Lyra reached out and grabbed his hand.

The room fell silent. The sound of their weeping ceased as Norman and Cecelia exchanged a quick, vicious glance.

They knew Lyra was a fool—too soft-hearted, too easy to manipulate. And seeing the way Casian paused at her touch gave them renewed hope.

Please, let them go. They regret lying, Lyra begged silently, her wide, tearful eyes searching his.

Casian's fury, already barely contained, burned hotter at their pitiful cries. But the moment Lyra pleaded for them, his anger shifted—giving way to disbelief.

"You can't be serious," he said, his voice low and sharp. "How can you dare to object to the Alpha's orders?"

His jaw clenched as he watched tears roll down her cheeks.

He should have known. Lyra was the weakest link here—the one who would easily be swayed by anyone's pain. But this wasn't just about easing her suffering. This was about the lies they told, the truth they buried to manipulate him.

Casian had expected his parents to want him to settle down. But he never imagined they would turn a blind eye to the deception behind the woman they had chosen for him.

Thankfully, Darius had gathered all the necessary information—even the fact that Miranda already had a lover, someone she had secretly been with. Her family had tried to conceal the truth, desperate to marry her off to him.

"Darius, did you not hear me?" Casian's voice rang out, laced with warning. His Beta shuddered at the sheer authority in his tone, and without hesitation, he signaled the guards to take the family away.

"No, Alpha… please, have mercy!" Norman and his family cried, their pleas desperate.

But their voices fell on deaf ears, and within moments, they were dragged away, their fates sealed.