Kael's POV
The field was alive with the energy of the pack, but my attention was only on Lyra. She stood close to me, her arms crossed and her expression as fiery as ever. I found myself smiling despite the tension between us. She was captivating even when she was upset.
"You're still thinking about Selena," I said, tilting my head as I watched her carefully.
"No," she shot back, the word clipped. "I'm thinking about how you haven't done anything about her."
There it was—her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I hated how helpless I felt when it came to this. "Lyra, I told you I'd handle it."
"And I told you I don't believe you," she said, her eyes narrowing. "She's already made it clear she knows about my wolf. It's only a matter of time before she tells the entire pack."
"She won't," I said firmly, though I couldn't say for certain. I wanted to reassure her, but I knew Lyra well enough to know she wasn't going to accept empty promises.
Her voice rose, cutting through the quiet between us. "How can you be so sure? You weren't the one humiliated during the pack run, Kael. You didn't hear the jabs or see the looks."
My jaw tightened. The memory of Selena's antics during the pack run was still fresh, and guilt gnawed at me. I should've stopped her sooner.
"She's just shocked," I said softly. "She wouldn't tell anyone."
"Why do you keep defending her?" Lyra's voice wavered, but her anger burned bright. "You know what she's capable of. You saw it during the run. And you're still making excuses for her."
"I'm not defending her," I said, stepping closer. "I'm just saying she needs time."
"Time for what? To ruin me?" she snapped. "Because that's what's happening, Kael."
The frustration in her voice was mirrored by the ache in my chest. She wasn't wrong, but what was I supposed to do? If I revealed too much, too soon, everything could spiral out of control.
"When are you going to tell her about us?" she asked, her voice softer now but no less intense.
"When the time's right," I replied, knowing how hollow it sounded even as I said it.
Her silence cut deeper than her words ever could. The look on her face—hurt, disappointed—was unbearable.
I reached for her hand, but she pulled away, crossing her arms. "You've been saying that for weeks. When, Kael? When she's already destroyed me in front of everyone?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, Lyra gasped sharply.
Her body folded in on itself, and she crouched to the ground, clutching her stomach. Panic gripped me instantly.
"Lyra?" I dropped to my knees beside her, my heart pounding. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer. Her body trembled, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. I reached out to touch her, but she flinched, and the sound she made—a low, pained whimper—sent ice through my veins.
Kael... Her voice echoed faintly in my mind, weak and broken. My wolf... she's slipping away. She's in pain.
The fear in her voice broke something in me. I didn't wait for an explanation. Scooping her into my arms, I sprinted toward the infirmary, my legs moving on instinct.
"Stay with me, Lyra," I murmured, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to stay calm. Her weight in my arms felt too light, and her skin was far too cold.
Her eyes fluttered open briefly, meeting mine, and the faint smile she gave me was almost worse than her pain.
By the time I burst into the infirmary, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. "Melora!" I shouted, my voice a mix of panic and desperation.
Melora appeared almost instantly, her sharp eyes assessing the situation. "Lay her down," she instructed, her tone brisk.
I obeyed, setting Lyra gently on the examination table. My hands hovered over her, unsure of what to do. "What's happening to her?" I demanded, my voice raw.
Melora pressed her fingers to Lyra's pulse, her face grim. "Her wolf is in danger," she said, her voice softer now. "The bond between them is weakening."
"Why?" I asked, stepping closer. "What's causing this?"
She sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling slightly. Then her gaze snapped to me. "Wolfsbane," she said, the word like a death knell. "A very potent type."
My stomach dropped. "Wolfsbane? How? She doesn't—"
"She's been consuming it over time," Melora interrupted. "This wasn't a single dose. Someone's been administering it to her in small amounts, likely through her meals."
The world seemed to tilt beneath me. Someone was poisoning her, and I hadn't noticed.
"Who would do this?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
"That's what we need to find out," Melora said. She turned to Lyra, her tone softening. "Lyra, do you know who's been preparing your meals?"
Lyra shook her head weakly, her voice barely audible. "I don't... I just eat what's served."
Guilt clawed at me, sharp and unrelenting. How had I let this happen? How had I failed her so completely?
Melora moved quickly, preparing herbs and antidotes. "We need to stabilize her wolf before the damage becomes irreversible," she said.
I nodded, stepping closer to Lyra's side. Her hand felt fragile in mine, and I squeezed it gently, hoping to anchor her to me.
"I'm here," I said, my voice trembling. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Her lips moved, but her voice was too soft to hear. I leaned closer, and her whisper cut through me like a blade.
"You always say that," she murmured.
"And I always mean it," I replied, my voice firm despite the lump in my throat.
As Melora worked, I felt a storm brewing inside me. Whoever had done this to Lyra would pay. I would make sure of it.