Chereads / The Alpha's Secret Omega / Chapter 24 - The Ghosts of Us

Chapter 24 - The Ghosts of Us

Lyra's POV

I barely had time to collect myself after leaving Kael's office. My hands smoothed over my clothes, attempting to erase any trace of what had just happened. My cheeks still felt warm, my lips swollen from his. As I descended the stairs, my thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions-questions about Kael's bond with Selena, about the intensity of what we shared, about... everything.

But as I reached the bottom of the stairs, someone yanked me sharply into a shadowed corner. Startled, I found myself face-to-face with Kellan, his expression a storm of anger and frustration.

"Did you let him fuck you?" His words were sharp and cutting, his voice low but laced with venom.

I stiffened, feeling my irritation spike.

"Excuse me?" I hissed, yanking my arm free from his grip. "Whatever I do is none of your business. Why do you keep meddling in my life?"

His hands moved to my shoulders, gripping them firmly as his piercing gaze bore into mine.

"It is my business, Lyra," he growled. "Kael has a mate. What you're doing with him won't end well, for either of you."

The audacity. He spoke as if he had any right to dictate my life or question my choices. A part of me wanted to lash out, but another part–the curious, calculating side of me–saw an opportunity.

"If you're so concerned," I began, meeting his glare with one of my own, "maybe you can answer something for me. Are they true mates or chosen mates?"

Kellan's grip faltered slightly, and I watched as the conflict played across his face. I knew I was pushing my luck, but I couldn't stop myself. I'd always wondered about Kael and Selena's bond, and now, with Kellan so riled up, I hoped to get the truth.

"Does it matter?" he finally bit out, his tone guarded.

I tilted my head, studying him.

"It does to me. If they're true mates, fine. But if they're chosen mates... well, that changes everything, doesn't it?"

His eyes searched mine, as if trying to decide whether or not to tell me. For a moment, the tension was suffocating.

"They're mates," he said at last, his voice heavy. "And nothing will change that. You think whatever this is with Kael means anything? It doesn't. You'll only end up hurt."

His words struck a nerve, but I refused to show it. Instead, I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You don't know anything, Kellan."

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

"What do I need to know, Lyra? Are you his mate?"

My heart stopped for a fraction of a second before resuming its frantic rhythm. His question hung in the air, heavy and demanding. My mind raced, and I fought to keep my composure.

"Of course not," I said smoothly, forcing a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous."

His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering within them. But I didn't let him see the cracks in my façade. I couldn't.

Kellan finally released me, but he didn't step far. His gaze softened just slightly, though his jaw remained tight. "Whatever you're doing with Kael," he murmured, his voice low and almost intimate, "just remember, Lyra—you're not his to claim. You're not his to ruin."

"Mind your goddamn business, Kellan," I retorted.

As Kellan stood there, his expression hardened, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn't quite grasp. When I made to walk past him, he grabbed my arm again, his grip firm yet not unkind.

"Do you really not remember?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of frustration and something deeper, something almost vulnerable.

"Remember what?" I snapped, yanking my arm free. "What could possibly be so important that you won't stop pestering me about it?"

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

"Our past, Lyra," he said softly, yet his words struck me like a thunderclap.

I froze, the air thickening around me. "What past?"

Kellan inhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair as if debating whether to say more.

"I lived in your pack when I was a kid," he began, his voice calm but tinged with emotion. "I stayed with my uncle while my father trained to become Beta here. We were... close."

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as he continued, "We did everything together. You were my world, Lyra. We promised each other—" His voice broke for a moment before he pushed on. "We promised that when we got older, we'd choose each other."

I stared at him, my mind racing as his words began to unlock buried memories, a floodgate I hadn't known was there.

"My real name is Ian," he said, his voice quieter now. "Kellan's my middle name. I had no choice but to leave your pack when my father became Beta here. I had to be his successor. That's the life I was born into."

And then, like a bolt of lightning, it all came crashing back. His name. His face. His scent. His laugh. His promise.

"Ian," I whispered, my voice trembling. My eyes searched his face as the memories fell into place. "It's really you."

He nodded, his jaw tightening.

I stumbled back a step, the weight of it all nearly knocking me off balance.

"You left," I said, my voice cracking. "You left without a word. I cried for weeks. I thought I did something wrong. I thought... I thought you hated me."

His eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw the boy I used to know—the one who used to hold my hand and promise me the world.

"I never hated you," he said, his voice low. "Leaving was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I didn't want to hurt you."

But you did, I wanted to say, the words burning in my throat.

No wonder he always seemed familiar. No wonder I could never shake the feeling that I knew him. His scent, his face, his very being—they'd haunted me in ways I hadn't even realized.

And now, standing here in the shadow of everything we'd lost, I wasn't sure what to feel.