014 ~ Clarity

"Why am I getting divorced and asked to leave the pack for good?" Her voice was cracking. She wasn't sad because she liked where she was but because of all she had to go through. She ran away and almost got killed because of this same marriage and now, the alpha wanted to discard her like she was nothing but garbage.

"I hope I can explain everything to you but it's confidential," Zane replied, taking the papers from her.

"This should be the least of your worries. I'm sorry about your family and how broken it got because of us. I know you have nowhere to go and you can stay here but only on one condition."

"I don't think I can do this right now." She walked out on him. Her heartbeat was heavy with tears. Because of Ryder, she might probably never see her sister again. Why would he suddenly not want her anymore? All the more, she felt used and dumped. She wanted to go back to her room but Zane stepped in front of her.

"Listen to me, Sydney. I know you're sad and hurt but you have to do as I say or else, you will be thrown out indiscriminately." His chest heaved up and down. It pained him to see her cry because she reminded him of his deceased sister. Much to his surprise, she buried her head in his chest while letting all her frustrations out through tears.

Slowly, he embraced her while patting her hair gently.

"I managed to put in a good word for you and he will let you stay, only if you become a relative to someone. Me, to be precise. If you wish, I could adopt you as my sister or daughter and you can stay here. Besides, there is a terrorist group out to seek you. They will never near here because it is the alpha's turf. You'll be safe here, Sydney."

"I would never see my sister again." She blurted out, her whole body shaking.

"I'm sure you will. We'll find her together. Okay?" He assured her and she nodded.

"I didn't know you could be this nice. I always thought of you as a stone statue." She wiped her tears, feeling quite better.

"He's going to regret letting me go. I will make sure of that." She vowed but Zane only laughed.

"Let's not bother about him for a while and just get you settled."

For the first time since Sydney's arrival, she felt inner peace. She was already getting used to being married to a man she knew little about. And now, she was going to be an eighteen year old divorcee. Crash.

"Where would I be staying then? Somewhere around here?" She asked, arranging the clothes inside the bags Zane had brought.

"It's so funny that I was only married for three days. I should definitely add that to my resume." She mocked herself.

"I've already prepared a place for you. My place isn't all that spacious."

"What? You live with your cat?" She arched a brow, a tint of parody blended in her voice.

"No, it's a one bedroom apartment. Just how I like it."

"Oh..." She mouthed. "I've got to tell Ina that I'm moving away. She would probably scream if she ever found out I was married to her brother." She mused a peal of laughter, hoping she'd wake the next morning with her sister by her side.

"Alright, I will take these outside and wait in the car. But don't be late. We still have to go to the registry." He informed her and exited the room. Sydney sighed and dropped on the bed. Thinking back, she and Ryder never slept together on the bed. It was only her in the spacious room and on the king sized bed.

She had come to love the forest scent of the room. And speaking of forests, she stood up and walked to the window, not sure of what she was searching for. The intruding voice in her head had stopped over a while and somehow, she felt empty inside.

"You were married to my brother?" She heard a voice that made her turn abruptly. Ina stood at the door with shock on her face.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just felt it wasn't necessary." She shrugged, moving away from the window.

"Well, at least, it's not that stuck up Clara. My life would have sucked even harder." She snorted.

"But it's over now and I'm leaving," Sydney replied somewhat sadly.

"Trust me, you don't want to be around my brother for the rest of your life. He isn't the alpha Lord of tyranny for no reason. You might even end up hating him if you knew half of what he does." Ina advised, throwing Sydney into confusion.

"What do you mean?" She asked, her hands behind her back waiting for an answer. That statement awakened the curiosity in her. She had been hearing the name 'Alpha Lord of Tyranny' but she didn't know what people meant by that.

"That's a story for another day. Let's get you out of here." Ina grabbed her hand and led her to the car.

******

"How are you, Clara?" Ryder asked, his full attention on her. But she couldn't stand his stabbing gaze, so she looked down at her feet.

"I'm sorry about all I said the other day. It was my emotions all over the place." She quickly knelt and bowed her head.

"It won't happen again, alpha. And I promise to kill every feeling as you have ordered." She swore. She regretted all she said to him. She was just jealous and felt she was being treated unfairly.

"It's fine. I hold no grudge. Rise." He commanded and she did as told.

"There is something else, alpha. I saw Zane and your bride together in a comprising position."

The moment she stopped talking, Ryder stood up and started laughing. He walked to the front of his desk and sat down. Clara didn't understand what was funny about what she said.

"What bride are you talking about?" He asked with folded hands.

"Sydney, of course. You married her, didn't you? For someone who is married to the alpha, she has the guts to be intimate with another man." She fumed.

"Wow... That quick?" He muttered and mused a knowing smile.

"I tossed aside what I consider useless. She's useless to me so why should I be married to her?" He asked with a smiling but dangerous expression.

Just then, a knock came to the door and Zane walked in with the signed papers.

"It is time to find a new bride, Zane."