Chapter 19 A New Resolve

• Sitting on the familiar bed in my old room, I took a deep breath, trying to let the comforting memories settle over me. It was strange being back here. So much had changed, but the room still had all the little details I remembered—the faint scent of pine drifting through the window, the scratches on the wood floor, the worn quilt my mother had made years ago. I ran my fingers along its faded edges, feeling the small sense of belonging I thought I’d lost when I’d left the pack.
• The twins had escorted me to the cabin and helped me settle in, but duty had called them away. Grey had gently held my hand, his cool touch a grounding comfort, while Blue had squeezed my shoulder with a reassuring smile, promising they’d be back soon. I watched them disappear into the woods, feeling the strange pull in my heart already missing them. I could feel their presence even from afar, a soft warmth inside me, steady and anchoring.
• With them gone, I had time to sit with my thoughts and take in my surroundings. I was home, yet I wasn’t the same girl who’d left, and this room, while familiar, no longer held the same sense of permanence. My old life and my new life felt like two pieces of fabric stitched together, a clumsy patchwork of identities. I felt torn, needing answers more than ever.
• A soft knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called.
• The door creaked open, and Bea slipped in, her smile warm and eyes shining. “It’s been forever,” she said, sitting beside me on the bed. “I’m so happy you’re here, Amelia. Things have been… different without you.”
• I returned her smile, feeling a soft glow in my chest. “I missed you, Bea. And I’m glad you and Levi found each other.”
• Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed softly. “It was… unexpected. But he’s my mate. I just never thought it would work out this way. Now I get why you were always so protective of him.”
• I laughed, a hint of the old joy surfacing. “I was. He’s always been stubborn, but he deserves happiness, just like you.”
• Her eyes softened, a look of relief crossing her face. “And so do you, Amelia. Even if things were hard, I always believed you’d find your place.”
• I was grateful for her words, but there was something pressing at my heart. “It’s strange,” I murmured, my gaze drifting to the floor. “To come back here, to feel like I belong… but also like I don’t.”
• She reached out, placing a gentle hand over mine. “Give it time. You’ve been through so much, and you’re still finding yourself. The pack may not have understood you before, but things can change. They’ll see the strong, incredible person you are.”
• Her words lingered, giving me a spark of hope. Just then, Levi appeared in the doorway, his expression hesitant but his eyes filled with warmth. He stepped in, and I felt a pang of guilt for leaving him the way I had.
• “Levi,” I started, feeling a lump rise in my throat. “I’m sorry for leaving.”
• He held up his hand, shaking his head. “No, Amelia, I need to apologize. I should have been there for you. I was hurt, and I blamed you for things that weren’t your fault. I thought…” He swallowed, his voice cracking. “I thought I’d lost you too, like we lost Mom.”
• The ache in his voice tore at me, and I crossed the room, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m here now,” I whispered, feeling a wave of relief as he hugged me back tightly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
• We pulled back, and he cleared his throat, a smile breaking through his usual serious expression. “I want you to come back. Live here, with me and Bea. We’re family, Amelia. Always.”
• The warmth in his offer tugged at me, making me feel both safe and torn. “I don’t know, Levi,” I replied softly, glancing out the window. “I have a lot to figure out. There’s the twins… and this whole Lycan identity that I barely understand.”
• Levi nodded, his gaze understanding. “Whatever you decide, just know this place is always yours. You’ll always have a home here.”
• A comfortable silence settled between us, a quiet peace I hadn’t felt in so long. But the questions still gnawed at me, the holes in my understanding of who I was. “Levi,” I ventured, “do you know anything about… why I might be a Lycan?”
• He looked at me, brows furrowing. “I don’t, Amelia. I wish I did. I thought we were both werewolves. Mom never hinted otherwise, at least not to me.”
• I nodded, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “There has to be something—or someone who knows the truth.”
• Bea looked thoughtful. “What about the Alpha? He’s always had a strange way of… knowing things. Maybe he knows something.”
• The idea made my heart pound. Alpha Cedric had always seemed powerful, all-knowing in a way that was almost intimidating. If anyone in the pack held the secrets of my past, it would be him. I glanced at Levi and Bea, feeling a newfound determination stir inside me. “Then let’s go find out.”
• We got ready, and soon we were walking toward the pack house, the central building in our territory where the Alpha resided. The air felt charged with an uneasy energy, the weight of anticipation pressing down on me. As we walked through the pack grounds, whispers followed us, curious glances from my old packmates trailing behind.
• We hadn’t made it far before a voice pierced the quiet, loud and shrill. “Well, well, look who’s back.”
• I stopped, clenching my jaw as I turned to see Lyra and her entourage standing by the edge of the training grounds. Her lips curled into a smirk, eyes alight with that familiar glint of cruelty.
• “Amelia,” she drawled, crossing her arms. “I thought you’d gone rogue. And yet, here you are, prancing back like you belong.”
• I held my head high, refusing to let her bait me. “Lyra,” I replied coolly, trying to keep my tone steady. “This doesn’t concern you.”
• She scoffed, flipping her hair with a dramatic flourish. “Oh, but it does. Nicolai is my mate now, my chosen mate. He didn’t need you, and he never did. Maybe now you’ll finally get that through your head.”
• The mention of Nicolai stung, and I felt Levi tense beside me. Bea placed a reassuring hand on my arm, grounding me, reminding me of why I was here. Lyra’s words were nothing more than noise—she didn’t know my journey, and she didn’t deserve the power to shake me.
• “Believe whatever you want, Lyra,” I said, voice low and steady. “It doesn’t change who I am.”
• She sneered, taking a step closer. “Oh, I see you’ve grown some confidence. Must be nice to walk around pretending you’re someone important just because you managed to snag the attention of the twins. But don’t fool yourself. They’ll see through you eventually, just like everyone else did.”
• Her words hung in the air, but instead of igniting the familiar hurt, I felt something else—a sense of resilience, a strength I hadn’t known before. Lily stirred within me, her presence a comforting warmth, a reminder of the power I now held.
• I looked Lyra in the eye, calm and unshaken. “I’m not pretending, Lyra. I know exactly who I am. And if you’re still fixated on trying to tear me down, maybe it’s because there’s something missing in you.”
• For a moment, her mask slipped, and I saw the flash of insecurity, the flicker of doubt that she tried so hard to hide. Then she forced a laugh, the sound sharp and brittle. “Enjoy your little charade while it lasts, Amelia. But don’t expect us to welcome you back with open arms.”
• I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned, continuing our walk toward the pack house, feeling a new resolve settle within me. Lyra’s words had once held power over me, but now they felt empty, like echoes of a past I was leaving behind.
• When we reached the pack house, I glanced at Levi and Bea, my heart steady, my purpose clear. This wasn’t about proving myself to anyone else; it was about finding the truth, about reclaiming the parts of me that had been hidden for so long.
• As we stepped inside, the scent of the pack house washed over me, grounding me in memories. This was the place where my journey had begun, but it wouldn’t define where it ended. I was ready to face
• whatever lay ahead, to uncover the answers that would finally set me free.