Kael's POV
From the moment she was brought into the pack, something about Lyra stirred something deep inside me—something primal. I remember the first time I laid eyes on her, how my wolf reacted, how my body seemed to hum with anticipation. The moment she entered the room, I could feel the tug—my wolf was excited. He was practically howling inside my mind, eager to reach out to her, to claim her, to mate. It was so overwhelming, so raw, I thought I was losing my mind. But then... nothing.
I couldn't sense her wolf. I couldn't feel that familiar presence of another Alpha's mate, the bond that should have been so undeniable. It left me confused. My wolf was insistent, growling "Mate, mate, mate!" but my rational mind refused to accept it. I already had a mate. I was the Alpha, and I had sworn myself to Selena. There was no room for another.
But there was something so alluring about her, something that drew me in despite my every instinct telling me to pull away.
It was more than just her beauty—it was how she carried herself, how I couldn't stop watching her, studying her movements. How her scent lingered in the air, intoxicating. And yet, it was fleeting, like she was almost... hidden. My wolf knew she was hiding something. We both sensed it.
When I spoke to her, when I asked her about her wolf, her answer was immediate, almost too quick. She said she didn't have one, that she had never felt it. And I didn't believe her. Not for a second. I could feel it—something was there, faint, weak, but undeniably hers. So why couldn't she feel it? Was she lying to me? Or was there something more to her story, something she wasn't ready to share?
I didn't push her any further. No, I wasn't going to rush her. There was something about Lyra that made me want to tread carefully. I needed to know her better, to understand what she was hiding. If I pushed too hard, too soon, I might scare her away. And I couldn't afford that. The pull between us was too strong, too... dangerous.
Her name was something I kept repeating to myself, a sweet sound that danced on my tongue. Lyra. It felt like something I should've known, something I was meant to say, like it belonged to me. I couldn't explain it.
I needed to see her again. Needed to know if the connection I felt was real.
I walked out, letting my senses guide me. I wasn't sure where she'd be, but my wolf knew. We both knew it wasn't enough to just wait and hope she'd come to me. I needed to see her again.
I found her in the courtyard, carrying a pile of clothes toward the laundry. She moved so gracefully, the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet there was a vulnerability about her that struck me. I wanted to reach out to her, to protect her from whatever torment she was going through. But then, I saw two girls, Keira and Freya.
I stood in the shadows, watching as they cornered her, taunting her, throwing insults like daggers. I couldn't hear their exact words, but I saw the way they looked at her, their eyes full of malice. I waited to see how Lyra would react. Would she stand up for herself, or would she cower like a weakling?
I could feel my anger bubbling to the surface, but I remained still, waiting. I had to see if Lyra would fight back. If she would show any ounce of defiance, of the strength I knew was buried beneath her quiet demeanor. I had seen it before, in the brief moments when she looked me in the eye. But now... nothing. She was standing there, silent, allowing them to hurl their insults at her.
Weak. She's so weak, my wolf growled.
I didn't believe it. I knew it wasn't true. My instincts told me that Lyra was anything but weak. There was a fire inside her, even if she refused to show it. But why wasn't she fighting back? Why was she allowing them to push her around?
I clenched my fists, watching as they shoved her once again, taunting her as if she were nothing more than a punching bag. It took everything in me not to charge at them, not to show them the power of the Alpha. But I waited. I wanted to see how far this would go.
Lyra raised her head slightly. There was a glint of something in her eyes—something defiant, something that made my heart race. It was as though she had made a decision in that moment, a decision to stop being the victim.
But then, Keira shoved her once more, and I saw it. The weak, defensive posture she had taken on for so long crumbled. She didn't retaliate. She didn't defend herself. She simply... accepted it.
That was it. Enough.
I couldn't stand by and watch this any longer. Not when I could feel how strong she truly was, not when I could feel the bond between us pulling me in a way that made no sense.
With a growl that rumbled through my chest, I stepped forward, my voice a deep, commanding growl. "Enough!"
Keira and Freya froze, their eyes widening in fear as I advanced. The air grew thick with tension. I could feel the weight of my wolf's anger pressing against me, urging me to end this right now. But I held back. I wouldn't let my rage take over. I would control this.
Keira opened her mouth, but I silenced her with a deadly glare.
I scolded them and even set out a punishment for them before sending them away angrily.
I turned my gaze to Lyra then, feeling a strange pang in my chest. There was a raw vulnerability in her eyes now, something I hadn't seen before. It made me want to protect her, to shelter her from this world that was so cruel. But I also saw the confusion there, the turmoil. She was still hiding something. I didn't know what, but I was going to find out.
"Follow me." I said to her and turned to leave.
She hesitated at first before hurrying after me.
My wolf was pacing inside me, urging me to hold her, to claim her, to understand her. I needed to know what she was hiding.
Because whatever it was, it was connected to me. And I couldn't ignore it any longer.