Kael's POV
The argument with my Luna, Selena was spiraling out of control, but I refused to back down. I leaned against the edge of the table, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. My wolf was pacing, its anger bubbling under my skin as Selena's words grated on every nerve I had left.
"She's fine where she is, Kael," Selena said coolly, crossing her arms. "The servant's quarters are more than sufficient for someone like her. She hasn't even shifted yet. She's no better than a human, an Omega at best."
Her words were poison, and my wolf growled so fiercely in my head I nearly winced. Weak? Our mate is not weak!
I clenched my fists, forcing my wolf to stay in check. He wanted out—wanted to make it clear that no one spoke about Lyra that way. But if I let him surface now, Selena would know something was off. She couldn't find out. Not yet.
"She's not just an Omega," I said, my voice sharp. "You don't know anything about her."
"I know enough," Selena shot back. "She's an outsider. She's been here for less than a week, and you're ready to roll out the red carpet? For what? She's a liability. She can't even shift, Kael."
My wolf snarled again, louder this time, pushing against my control. The air felt heavy, like a storm brewing just beneath my skin. I had to fight to keep my tone even.
"She's part of this pack now," I said, my words deliberate. "And as Alpha, it's my decision where she stays. Lyra is moving into the main quarters."
Selena's laugh was humorless.
"This is ridiculous. You can't seriously believe she belongs here. She's weak, Kael. She doesn't deserve special treatment just because you—"
She stopped, narrowing her eyes at me like she was piecing together a puzzle.
"Just because I what?" I asked, my voice cold.
Her gaze lingered, but she shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You're making a mistake."
The tension in the room was suffocating, but I held my ground. My wolf was restless, pacing, snarling at the disrespect aimed at our mate.
She's ours. She's not weak. She's strong. She's everything.
Selena's dismissive attitude was infuriating, but I refused to let her see how much her words affected me. Instead, I inhaled deeply, trying to keep my focus—when her scent hit me like a tidal wave.
That scent. Lyra.
It was faint but unmistakable, intoxicating and magnetic. My wolf practically howled, clawing at the edges of my mind, desperate to find her.
"She's near," my wolf growled in my head. "Our mate is close."
I straightened, my heart hammering as the pull grew stronger. Selena was still talking, but her words faded into the background. All I could think about was her—Lyra. She was close, too close to ignore.
Without another word, I turned and strode toward the door. Selena's voice followed me, sharp and accusing, but I didn't care.
"Kael!" she called after me. "This isn't over!"
I ignored her, stepping into the hallway. The scent was stronger now, wrapping around me like a tether, pulling me toward her. My wolf's excitement was nearly impossible to contain, his joy radiating through me.
She's here. Find her.
And then I saw her.
My breath caught as I took her in—the way the light seemed to catch her features, the way she moved with a quiet grace that drew me in every time.
Her scent was overwhelming now, filling my senses, drowning out everything else. My wolf was practically clawing at me, urging me to go to her, to close the distance between us.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. The world seemed to slow, and all I could focus on was her—those eyes, filled with something I couldn't quite place. Curiosity? Uncertainty? Something deeper?
My wolf's voice was deafening. Mate.
But I couldn't act on it. Not yet. Not when there were still so many questions, so many complications.
Could she really be my mate?
It didn't make sense. None of this made sense. But one thing was clear—I couldn't stay away from her. Not for long.
The intoxicating scent of her was enough to drive my wolf mad. My control wavered with each passing second, but I forced myself to maintain composure as I approached her. Lyra stood frozen, her eyes darting to mine like a deer caught in headlights.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharp, though not intentionally so. It came out more clipped than I wanted, a result of the storm brewing within me.
She fidgeted under my gaze, her cheeks turning a faint pink as she stammered.
"I-I was just heading to the kitchen."
Her voice was soft, hesitant, and my wolf stirred again, urging me to close the distance between us. But I stayed rooted, forcing the beast back.
"Then go," I replied curtly, watching her closely as she nodded quickly, her movements almost frantic as she tried to move past me.
My wolf growled in my head as she brushed by, the faintest hint of her warmth lingering in the air. I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself. Her presence alone was enough to unravel me, and the pull between us was growing harder to resist.
As she retreated, Selena stepped out of the room, her eyes immediately narrowing on Lyra's figure.
"Why is she here?" Selena asked, her tone laced with disdain.
I glanced at her briefly before turning my gaze back to Lyra, who was disappearing around the corner. The knot in my chest tightened, but I masked it with indifference.
"She said she was heading to the kitchen," I replied simply. Then, with a pointed look at Selena, I added, "She's a servant, remember?"
Selena's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her lips pressing into a thin line.
I raised a brow at her, daring her to say more, but she remained silent. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my wolf restless and growling in frustration.
She's not just a servant, my wolf growled. She's ours.
I didn't respond. I couldn't. There was too much at stake, too much I didn't yet understand. But one thing was clear—Lyra's presence could change everything.