Fated To My Lycan Stepbrothers
Chapter 174

Naya's POV

I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning in my bed with thoughts in my head disturbing like a tsunami. Lily's words about Marley's schedule echoed in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

I glanced at the clock; its ticking was filling the room. The hands seemed to move slower than ever, and I found myself watching them, waiting for the right moment. As the clock struck a certain hour, I made up my mind. If Marley was up to something, I needed to replace out. By now, Lily should be done with her chores.

Quiet as a mouse, I slipped out of bed and tiptoed through the dark halls of the manor. If anyone saw me right now, they would ask me what I was up to since I wasn't going to the kitchen to steal snacks. Unfortunately for me, the floors were made of wood, so the only sound was the creaking of the wooden floor beneath my feet.

I paused. What if Zeke's or Kyle's wide ears hear my footsteps?

"Then go slower!" Naya snapped.

"I will. Just shut up!" I shot back, hurrying along the halls faster. It wasn't long before I reached my mother's quarters and hid in the shadows. Just then, I heard footsteps coming towards me.

Naya began to panic. "g**t, hide. Someone is coming upstairs." Updated by Narugi.com

I rolled my eyes, not surprised to hear her say what I already knew. "I know!"

"Then stop arguing with me and hide your fat a*s!"

I ignored her insult, hiding behind a stack of delivered boxes my mother never opens. Just as I crouched behind them, Lily's little feet came into view. It was obvious she was trying to be careful enough not to make so much noise.

She got to my mother's door and was immediately dragged inside. I changed my position, leaning on her door this time around to catch any snippets of their conversation. Marley was definitely acting suspicious. I was right when I said I shouldn't trust Lily. She was her minion.

The voices inside were hushed but audible. I scoffed.

Really? They couldn't even lower their tone or something?

Marley's tone was harsh, and Lily's responses were filled with reluctance. I strained to hear, trying to piece together the puzzle of their conversation. It felt like spying, but something told me it was necessary for the greater good.

"I... I didn't want to argue with her. and I thought it was better to go along with it." Lily's voice cut through the air, and my heart skipped a beat.

"You were right, Naya. She's a snitch." I said to my wolf bitterly. How could she?

It all ended with Lily stammering in response, her words barely audible, and Marley's stern commands sending her away.

I'll handle it." Marley's voice had shut Lily's, and soon Lily was quiet. I held my breath, running back to my earlier position behind the boxes, fearing they might discover me.

Lily opened the door, and I watched her breathe a sigh of relief. I always held my breath around my mother, too. This has got to be the bravest thing I have done apart from confronting elder Freya. I must have been out of my mind then. Thanks to my powers, I wasn't destroyed.

As Lily composed herself before disappearing down the hall, the door swung open, revealing Marley's worried expression. She scanned the hall as if sensing something was amiss. Panic gripped me, and I pressed further into the boxes, hoping she wouldn't spot me. "Please, please, please, don't let her spot us..." Naya prayed on my behalf.

I took deep breaths. Mother wasn't all that meticulous; she wouldn't see me, not with her eyesight. However, her eyes lingered on the spot where I hid, and for a moment, I was sure she had seen me. But she shook her head and retreated into the room, closing the door behind her. I let out a silent sigh of relief, realizing I needed to get back to my room before I got caught. I was about to leave my spot when she opened them again. I froze.

"That was close," Naya whispered.

I only nodded, my heart racing, when she came out of her room with the intensity of a fox. It was as if she had someone to meet. She continued down the hall, down my room door, and out of the door. I followed her steps through the quiet corridors with fear and curiosity. What was Marley up to? Why did Marley suspect Lily of being a snitch and send her to sleep early? The questions buzzed in my mind like persistent mosquitoes.

I frowned when I realized we were moving faster into the woods. Where was she going at this time of the night? As Marley turned to see if anyone was following her, I ducked behind a tree. Seeing no one behind her, she continued to a certain spot. I glanced back. The distance from where we were to the manor wasn't far at all.

Then I saw something I shouldn't have seen. Baron Diego

came out of the shadows, and my mother didn't look surprised. I gasped in shock, earning a glare from my side.

Slowly, with my heart in my mouth, I had to retrace my steps back to my room.

As I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and sank onto my bed. The clock continued its silent ticking, a constant reminder of the passing time. I couldn't shake off the feeling that things were spiraling out of control. Kyle was right. My mother was the spy, and Mrs. Lau must be working for her. This afternoon, she had abandoned Mrs. Lau with her subtle words of destruction.

In the dim light of my room, I pondered the events of the night. Marley's mysterious interest in Zeke, Lily's role as a possible snitch, Marley's harsh interrogation, and her spy meeting with Baron Diego. I didn't know when sleep took over my thoughts. Marley's POV

We were at our usual spot, the first place we met when Kyle found us. He was stupid enough not to thoroughly check who I was speaking to that day. A loud rustling sound made me turn in that direction.

"What's that?" I asked, peering into the darkness like a blind person. The slightly red moon wasn't of any help either. My bad eyesight was to blame. I have never seen the need to blame my eyesight before, but it was getting worse. I noticed. Baron's sharp eyes scanned the area. "It's a stray rabbit." He muttered as if he knew something I didn't. Baron needed me to penetrate the wolf cove, the largest and strongest, or else we would pose serious troubles for him. He knew that well. "You better be sure. Nothing must go wrong tonight." I snapped. But he was quiet. I took that as a yes. Good. "Are you ready? I think she's asleep."

"What about the Alphas?"

I smirked. "They should be busy with other matters."

Baron raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me."

"Yes, you gave me the idea. I asked my friend to tell them that they have information about their mother and that she isn't dead."

Baron chuckled. "That's cruel. But good enough to distract them from Naya tonight."

I nodded, glancing around. "You can go ahead with our plans. I'll distract anyone that tries to come your way."

"Her powers?"

"I noticed she can't summon them."

"Good," Baron replied, running into the manor with unusual speed. I was shocked when he transformed into a wolf and leaped over my open window. I stood at the front door, blinking in shock. Getting over my shock, I met him at the door of Naya's room, panting slightly.

"Er..."

He quickly raised his hands to his lips to shut me up. I swallowed, allowing him to open the door gently. We both hovered over Naya's sleeping form. Her blanket was all over her body, and there was a bit of sand here and there. "Someone has been naughty." I mused.

Baron seized the opportunity and hauled Naya off with surprising strength. Her eyes snapped open with fear as she struggled. Then she saw me, and her fear was replaced by betrayal. I couldn't help but smile at the evil that was happening.

"What's happehing? Where are you taking me? Put me down! Zeke, Kyle!" She screamed at the top of her voice, looking for anyone, someone, to help her.

I stepped forward, watching the scene unfold with cruel satisfaction. "Surprise, Naya. Did you really think you could get in the way of our plans?"

Her eyes widened with realization. "You... you're behind this?"

"Consider it a lesson, my dear. Stay out of matters that don't concern you." I grinned, enjoying the anguish in her expression.

As Baron dragged Naya away, I couldn't ignore the sense of betrayal in her eyes. She looked at me, her own mother, with disbelief and hurt.