Lyra remained on the cold floor of the cell long after Kael had left. Her body trembled, her breaths shallow and uneven as the weight of what had just happened settled heavily on her chest. She felt exposed—raw in a way she never had before. The shame and fear still clung to her skin like a second layer, tightening with every shallow breath.
How had she let herself get this close to breaking?
Her mind screamed at her to get up, to fight, to reclaim the strength she had built over years of running. But her body refused to move, as though it had absorbed every ounce of Kael's manipulation, rendering her helpless.
The door to the cell creaked open again, and Lyra's heart lurched in her chest. For a moment, she feared it was Kael, coming back to finish what he'd started. But the figure that stepped into the dim light was smaller, the outline softer. It was the same young wolf from earlier, the one who had brought her food.
He looked at her with a mixture of hesitation and pity, as if he understood what had happened but was powerless to stop it. He didn't say anything for a long moment, simply standing there, unsure whether to approach.
"What do you want?" Lyra finally managed, her voice hoarse, barely more than a whisper.
The young wolf knelt beside her, his blue eyes filled with something that almost looked like sympathy. "You shouldn't stay here," he murmured quietly. "It's not safe."
Lyra scoffed weakly, her body still trembling. "You think I don't know that?"
He glanced toward the door, as if expecting someone to barge in at any moment. "I mean it," he said, lowering his voice even further. "Marcus is growing bolder. He… he wants you gone."
Lyra's chest tightened. She had suspected as much. Marcus had always been dangerous, but now, with Kael's obsession with her becoming more obvious, Marcus had more reason than ever to see her as a threat.
The young wolf hesitated again before leaning closer. "I could help you escape."
Lyra's heart skipped a beat. Escape? The word hung in the air between them like a fragile promise. She had dreamed of escaping this hell, of finding freedom again, but the idea seemed impossible. How could she run when Kael watched her so closely? How could she flee when Marcus was lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment to strike?
"Why would you help me?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
The young wolf shifted uncomfortably. "Not everyone here agrees with Kael," he said. "Or Marcus. Some of us think… think the pack is heading toward something dark. We don't want to see it happen."
Lyra wanted to believe him. She wanted to hope that this could be her way out. But every instinct screamed at her to be cautious. This pack was built on deception, power, and control. Trust was not a luxury she could afford.
Still, the idea of escape lit a spark of something she hadn't felt in days—hope.
Before she could respond, the door creaked open again, and Lyra froze. This time, it was Isla. Her sharp amber eyes swept over the room, narrowing as they landed on the young wolf.
"What are you doing here?" Isla's voice was cold, her gaze accusatory.
The young wolf jumped to his feet, stammering out an excuse. "I—I was just delivering the food."
Isla's eyes flicked to the untouched tray on the floor and then back to the young wolf, her expression hardening. "Leave. Now."
Without another word, the young wolf hurried out of the cell, his shoulders hunched, as if he were trying to make himself as small as possible under Isla's harsh gaze. As soon as he was gone, Isla turned her attention back to Lyra, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"You're causing quite a stir," Isla said coolly, stepping further into the room. "The Alpha's distracted, the Beta's agitated, and the pack is starting to ask questions."
Lyra struggled to her feet, using the wall for support as she met Isla's gaze. She hated the way her body shook, the way her knees wobbled beneath her. She had never wanted to appear weak, especially not in front of someone like Isla.
"I'm not doing anything," Lyra said, her voice laced with bitterness. "Kael's the one who brought me here."
Isla raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "You think I don't know that?" She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "But you're more dangerous than you realize."
Lyra swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I'm not dangerous. I'm trapped."
Isla let out a humorless laugh, stepping closer. "You think you're trapped, but you're affecting things here more than you know." She glanced toward the door, her gaze growing colder. "Kael may be obsessed with you, but that doesn't mean you're untouchable."
Lyra's pulse quickened. Isla wasn't one to make idle threats, and the weight of her words settled like a stone in Lyra's chest. Was this another warning? Or was it something more?
"What do you want from me?" Lyra asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Isla's lips twitched into something resembling a smile, but it was a cold, calculating expression. "I want you to understand your position. You might think you're safe because Kael is protecting you, but Marcus isn't the only one who's noticed the Alpha's...distraction."
Lyra's chest tightened with unease. She knew the pack was watching. She had seen the way they looked at her, felt their eyes on her every time she walked through the halls. But what Isla was suggesting went beyond simple observation. The pack was starting to question Kael's leadership, and that meant things were about to get even more dangerous.
"You don't belong here," Isla continued, her voice sharp. "And if you want to survive, you need to understand that. Kael can't protect you forever."
Lyra's heart pounded in her chest. She knew Isla was right. She didn't belong here. But where could she go? How could she escape when Kael had made it clear that he wasn't going to let her go?
Isla gave her one last look before turning to leave, her words hanging in the air like a warning. "Be careful, Lyra. There are worse things in this pack than the Alpha."
---
**Kael's Quarters (Kael's POV)**
Kael stood by the window of his private quarters, staring out into the darkened woods beyond the stronghold. His mind was a storm, swirling with conflicting thoughts. His encounter with Lyra earlier had left him unsettled in ways he hadn't expected.
He had seen her fear—**felt** it. And for a moment, it had satisfied him, knowing she was finally starting to break. But something else had lingered in her eyes, something that gnawed at him even now.
Vulnerability.
He hadn't expected it. Lyra had been strong, defiant since the moment she'd been captured. She had fought him at every turn, resisted his control with a fire that both enraged and intrigued him. But tonight, in that moment when she had begged him to stop, he had glimpsed something fragile beneath the surface.
And it had made him hesitate.
Kael clenched his fists at his sides, frustrated with himself. He couldn't afford to hesitate—not now, not when Marcus was circling like a vulture, waiting for him to falter. His obsession with Lyra was becoming a distraction, just as Marcus had warned. But Kael couldn't walk away from her. Not now. Not when she was so close to breaking.
A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned as Isla stepped into the room, her expression grim.
"We need to talk," Isla said, her tone serious.
Kael's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the look on her face, the way her usual sharpness had given way to something heavier—something laced with warning.
"Marcus?" he asked.
Isla nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "He's moving faster than we thought. The pack is starting to side with him. They see your fixation on Lyra as a weakness."
Kael's jaw clenched. "They will fall in line," he growled.
Isla shook her head, stepping closer. "Not if Marcus gets to them first. He's turning them against you, Kael. If you don't put him in his place soon, you'll lose control of the pack."
Kael's fists tightened, his frustration boiling over. He had known Marcus was plotting something, but he hadn't realized just how far his Beta was willing to go. His focus had been divided—drawn between Lyra and the pack—and now he was paying the price for it.
But Marcus had made one mistake.
He had underestimated Kael's resolve.
"I'll deal with Marcus," Kael said coldly. "He won't get away with this."
Isla nodded, her expression hard. "Do it soon," she warned. "Before it's too late.
Kael's mind raced. He needed to act, and fast. The challenge Marcus posed wasn't something he could ignore any longer. It wasn't just about leadership—it was about survival. If Marcus gained more traction within the pack, Kael would lose everything. And worse, Marcus would claim **her**.
His thoughts drifted back to Lyra. She was the key to all of this. Her power, her bloodline—it was all tied to something far larger than she realized. He couldn't afford to lose control of her now, not when he was so close to unlocking everything he needed from her. But she had to be broken first. The vulnerability she had shown earlier had been a glimpse into her weakness, and Kael needed to exploit that.
Yet, for reasons he couldn't quite comprehend, her fear had unsettled him. It wasn't supposed to. He had wanted her to feel helpless, to understand that she was entirely at his mercy. But in that moment, something had shifted, and it left him uneasy.
He pushed the thought aside. This was not the time for second-guessing. He would deal with Marcus. And Lyra... she would fall in line.
Kael straightened, his gaze hardening. "Marcus has pushed me for the last time."
---
**Back in the Cell (Lyra's POV)**
Lyra couldn't sleep. The cold stone of the cell pressed into her back as she lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. Isla's words replayed in her mind like a broken record: **Kael can't protect you forever.**
It wasn't protection she wanted from Kael, but she couldn't deny the danger swirling around her now. Marcus was lurking in the shadows, and she had no doubt he would strike soon. Kael's obsession with her had drawn a target on her back, and every moment she spent in the stronghold felt like a countdown to disaster.
She hadn't wanted to believe it before, but it was clear now—Kael's fixation on her wasn't about her as a person. It was about power. Control. She was just a pawn in whatever twisted game he was playing, and Marcus was waiting for his chance to remove her from the board entirely.
Her mind drifted to the young wolf's offer of escape. She had been so hesitant, unsure of who to trust, but now? Now it seemed like her only option. She needed to get out of here before Kael's enemies used her as leverage or worse—before Kael's possessiveness tipped into something even more dangerous.
A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. Her body tensed, fear prickling the back of her neck. The door creaked open, and she flinched, expecting to see Kael or Marcus looming in the doorway. But it was neither of them.
It was the young wolf again.
His pale blue eyes scanned the room quickly before he slipped inside, closing the door softly behind him. "We don't have much time," he whispered urgently, his gaze darting nervously to the door.
Lyra sat up, her pulse quickening. "What do you mean?"
He knelt beside her, his expression serious. "I heard them talking. Marcus is no planning something. I don't know what, but it involves you. You need to leave. Now."
Lyra's heart raced. It wasn't a surprise that Marcus was plotting something, but hearing the confirmation made her stomach drop. She glanced toward the door, panic rising in her chest. "And Kael?"
The young wolf hesitated. "I don't know if even Kael can stop it in time."
Lyra swallowed hard, her mind spinning. She had to act quickly. She had no idea what Marcus had planned, but she wasn't going to wait around to find out.
"How do I get out of here?" she asked, her voice hushed but urgent.
He glanced at the door again, then back at her. "There's a passageway beneath the stronghold. It leads to the forest outside the territory. I can get you there, but we have to leave now. Before anyone notices."
Lyra's heart pounded in her chest. This was her chance—her way out. But doubt still nagged at her. What if this was another trap? What if Kael had set this up, knowing she'd try to escape?
But what other choice did she have?
She stood, her legs shaky beneath her, but the fire of survival flared in her chest. "Take me there," she said, her voice steady despite the fear swirling inside her.
The young wolf nodded quickly and led her to the door, his movements swift and careful. Together, they slipped out into the dark corridors of the stronghold, moving silently through the maze of stone halls. Every step felt like a heartbeat, each shadow a threat waiting to pounce.
Lyra's mind raced as they moved. She couldn't think too far ahead—couldn't let herself imagine what would happen if they were caught. She just needed to focus on getting out, on finding freedom again.
As they rounded a corner, Lyra's breath caught in her throat. A figure stood in the distance, silhouetted by the dim light of the torches lining the wall. Her stomach dropped. **Kael.**
The young wolf froze beside her, panic flashing in his eyes. He looked at her, silently begging her to stay quiet. But it was too late. Kael's sharp gaze had already locked onto them, his eyes narrowing with a cold fury that sent chills down Lyra's spine.
For a moment, no one moved. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating. Then, slowly, Kael began to approach, his footsteps deliberate and measured, each step echoing through the corridor like a death sentence.
Lyra's breath hitched in her chest, her heart pounding so hard she was sure Kael could hear it. She didn't know what to do—didn't know if she should run or fight or beg.
Kael's gaze flicked to the young wolf, his eyes filled with ice. "What are you doing, boy?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
The young wolf stammered, his voice trembling. "I—I was just—"
Kael silenced him with a glare, his attention snapping back to Lyra. His expression was hard, unreadable, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was clear.
"Trying to leave?" Kael's voice was cold, devoid of any of the softness he had shown her earlier. "Without my permission?"
Lyra swallowed hard, her mind racing. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her body was frozen, her muscles locked with fear.
Kael's hand shot out, grabbing the young wolf by the throat and slamming him against the wall with a force that made the stone crack. Lyra gasped, stepping back in shock as the boy's eyes widened with terror.
"Traitors don't last long here," Kael growled, his voice a deadly whisper. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
The young wolf choked, his hands clawing at Kael's grip, his legs kicking weakly as his air supply dwindled. Lyra's stomach twisted, panic surging through her.
"Stop!" she cried, her voice breaking. "It wasn't his idea! It was mine!"
Kael's eyes flicked to her, narrowing dangerously. "Is that supposed to change anything?"
Lyra's breath came in shallow bursts, her mind racing. She had to do something—had to stop this before Kael killed him. "Please," she begged, stepping closer. "Please don't kill him."
Kael stared at her for a long moment, his grip still tight around the young wolf's throat. Then, slowly, he loosened his hold, letting the boy crumple to the floor, gasping for air.
Without taking his eyes off Lyra, Kael spoke in a voice cold enough to freeze the blood in her veins. "Get out of my sight," he growled to the boy. "Before I change my mind."
The young wolf didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled to his feet, stumbling down the corridor as fast as his legs would carry him, leaving Lyra alone with Kael.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Kael stepped toward her, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her skin crawl. "You tried to escape," he said softly, dangerously. "After everything I've done for you."
Lyra took a step back, her heart racing. "Kael
He closed the distance between them, his hand gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with something dark, something possessive. "You don't get to leave," he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "You're mine."
Lyra's breath hitched, fear clawing at her throat as she stared up at him. She had crossed a line tonight, and now, there would be consequences.