Lyra's POV
By the time I returned to my room, exhaustion had seeped into every muscle of my body. I flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as the day replayed in my mind.
The school was... different. The building itself was beautiful, and Ava's chatter had been a welcome distraction from the glares and whispered comments from others. But the moment the word "omega" had been thrown at me in class, it had hit me like a punch to the gut. It wasn't anything new, though. I should be used to it by now.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I sat up, frowning slightly. Who could it be?
"Lyra, open up!" Ava's unmistakable voice came from the other side.
I walked over and opened the door to see her standing there with an enthusiastic grin plastered across her face.
"Come with me," she said, her tone giving no room for argument.
"What? Where?" I asked, confused.
"Just trust me," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along before I could protest.
We walked into the woods, and I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Ava seemed different, almost giddy, and I didn't know what to expect.
"I want to show you something," she said, her voice softening as we reached a small clearing surrounded by tall trees.
"What is it?" I asked hesitantly.
"My wolf," she said, a hint of pride coloring her voice. "You have to see her. She's incredible."
Her confidence was infectious, but it also reminded me of everything I was hiding. Still, I nodded, curious despite myself.
Ava smiled and began talking as she stepped farther into the clearing.
"You know, I shifted late too. Everyone thought I was a late bloomer or that maybe something was wrong with me. And for a while, I thought so too."
Her words struck a chord. I watched her closely as she continued.
"But even before I shifted," she said, "I could feel her. I always knew she was there. We connected in small ways. It was like... like having someone always with you, even when no one else was."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. Hope stirred faintly, almost as if in response, but I ignored it.
"When I finally shifted, it was the best moment of my life," Ava said, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. "I can't even describe the feeling. It's like... pure freedom. And she's everything I hoped she would be."
She looked at me then, her eyes shining with excitement.
"But don't just take my word for it. You have to see her for yourself."
Before I could respond, Ava stepped back, her body already beginning to shift. Her transformation was seamless, fluid. The sound of bones cracking was faint, almost graceful, and within seconds, she stood there in her wolf form.
I gasped. Her wolf was breathtaking. A stunning mix of ginger and gold, with the shiny golden tones glowing softly under the moonlight. Her fur looked almost magical, and her eyes were sharp and intelligent.
Ava gave a playful growl and began running through the woods, circling around me in a show of speed and agility.
Hope stirred again, this time more forcefully. She wanted out, wanted to run alongside Ava, to feel the wind in her fur. But I couldn't let her. Not now.
Instead, I stood there, longing etched into every fiber of my being. I wished I could be like Ava—free, unburdened. But my reality was far more complicated.
When Ava finally returned, she shifted back effortlessly, her grin wide and triumphant.
"So? What do you think?" she asked, pulling her clothes on as I handed them to her.
"It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen," I admitted honestly.
"Thanks," she said, her smile softening. "But you'll get there too, Lyra. I can feel it. You're not as far off as you think."
Her words hung in the air as we made our way back to the pack house. Ava chatted on, filling the silence with stories about her wolf and life in the pack. I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting.
I knew Ava meant well, but the constant questions and the pressure of hiding my secret were beginning to weigh on me. How much longer could I keep this up? Sooner or later, the truth would come out, and I wasn't sure I was ready for what would happen when it did.
As Ava and I parted ways, I took a deep breath, bracing myself. It was time for dinner preparation, which meant one thing: the kitchen. I hated being there, not because of the work, but because of Kiera. She made it her personal mission to remind me I didn't belong, and it took everything in me not to lash out.
But there was no escaping it. If I wanted to keep my place in this pack, I had to endure. I trudged forward, the cool evening breeze brushing against my skin, offering little comfort as I approached the pack house.
As I passed the Alpha's quarters, faint voices caught my attention. At first, I ignored them, figuring it was none of my business. But something made me stop. I couldn't explain it. Hope stirred restlessly within me, her energy leaping as though she knew something I didn't.
The voices grew clearer. It was an argument, tense and low, the kind that made your stomach churn even when you weren't part of it. I couldn't make out the words, but one voice stood out—the Alpha's.
Kael.
Why was I standing here? I should leave. I shouldn't eavesdrop. But my feet refused to move.
And then it happened. His scent hit me, strong and intoxicating. Hope reacted immediately, pushing forward in a way she never had before. She didn't just stir—she leaped.
Mate.
No. Not again.
My heart raced as the door to his quarters creaked open. I froze, every muscle locking in place. Kael stepped out, his presence commanding as always. His sharp eyes scanned the hallway and landed on me.
For a second, the world seemed to stop. His gaze burned into mine, and I felt it again—the pull, the undeniable connection that made Hope practically howl every single time I laid my eyes on him.
Could he feel it too?
His wolf's energy was unmistakable. It reached for me, just as mine reached for him. There was no hiding from it, no denying the bond that tugged at both of us.
Kael's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable as he took a step closer. I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Did he know? Could he tell that I wasn't what I seemed? Did he somehow sense my wolf, the one I'd worked so hard to keep hidden?
"Lyra," he said, his voice deep and steady, but there was a note of something else. Curiosity? Frustration?
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Hope was too busy clawing at me, desperate to bridge the gap between us.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone sharp now, snapping me out of my daze.
"I—I was just heading to the kitchen," I stammered, lowering my gaze.
"Then go," he said firmly, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as though searching for something.
I nodded quickly and moved past him, my heart hammering in my chest. The pull was unbearable, almost painful.
As I hurried away, one question burned in my mind: If truly Kael was my mate... what would happen when he found out the truth?