Lyra's POV
The warmth of Kael's body pressed against mine was intoxicating, grounding me in the comfort I hadn't realized I needed. His arms were wrapped around me, his warmth seeping into my skin as we lay on the bed, tangled together. The room was quiet, except for the soft hum of our breathing and the occasional creak of the floorboards. But the peace was deceptive—my thoughts were anything but calm.
"You know," Kael murmured, his lips brushing the crown of my head, "I don't think I've ever met someone as stubborn as you. It's impressive, really. Infuriating, but impressive."
I smirked against his chest. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest.
"Oh, it absolutely is. It takes a special kind of stubbornness to walk into my pack and drive everyone crazy without even trying."
I nudged him playfully.
"I didn't drive anyone crazy. If anything, it's your fault. You keep pulling me into your messes."
"My messes?" Kael feigned offense, pulling back slightly to look at me. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "I think you're forgetting who the Alpha is here. You're the chaos in this pack, Lyra."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. If I'm chaos, what does that make you?"
He grinned, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. "The one who thrives in it."
The way he looked at me sent a flutter through my chest. For all his teasing, there was a tenderness in his gaze that made it impossible to look away.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his tone softening.
"Kael," I began.
He hummed in response, his fingers lazily tracing circles on my arm.
"What are we going to do about Selena?" I asked, turning slightly to look at him.
Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean," I said, sitting up. "She knows about my wolf, Kael. She's taunting me with it, and it's only a matter of time before she tells the entire pack."
"She won't," Kael said firmly, sitting up as well. "I'll handle it."
"How?" I demanded, crossing my arms. "What are you going to do?"
"Leave it to me," he said, his tone dismissive.
I shook my head, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Kael, she humiliated me in front of everyone during the run. And now you're defending her? You know what she's capable of. Why are you acting like this isn't a big deal?"
"She's just... shocked," Kael said, his voice softening. "It's a lot to process. She won't tell anyone. I'll make sure of it."
"Shocked?" I repeated, my voice rising. "That's your excuse for her behavior? She's not just shocked, Kael—she's dangerous. And you're acting like she's the victim here."
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lyra, it's not that simple."
"Why isn't it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"
He hesitated, and I could see the internal battle playing out on his face. Instead of answering, he leaned closer, his lips curling into a teasing smirk.
"You're cute when you're mad, you know that?"
I pulled back, glaring at him. "Don't do that. Don't change the subject."
His smile faltered. "Lyra—"
"When are you going to tell her?" I interrupted, my voice trembling. "When are you going to tell Selena we're true mates?"
Kael's expression darkened, and he looked away. "When the time is right."
"And when will that be?" I asked, my chest tightening.
He let out a frustrated sigh.
"It's not that simple. I can't just dump everything on her right now. It's all too much. She'll need time to process it."
His words felt like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, the weight of his statement sinking in.
"So you're protecting her," I said quietly.
"Lyra, it's not like that," he said, reaching for my hand.
I pulled away, standing up from the bed.
"Then what is it like, Kael? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're choosing her over me."
"I'm not," he said, his voice firm. "This is about the pack. About keeping the peace."
"No," I said, shaking my head. "This is about you being too afraid to face the truth. You're scared of what she'll do if she finds out the truth about us."
Kael stood, his eyes pleading. "I'm trying to protect you, Lyra. Don't you see that?"
"Protect me?" I scoffed. "By keeping me in the shadows? By letting her treat me like I'm nothing? That's not protection, Kael. That's abandonment."
He flinched at my words, but I didn't stop. "I want to know," I said, my voice trembling. "I want to know the story between you two. What happened? Why is she so important to you?"
Kael's jaw tightened, and he looked away. "It's complicated."
"I deserve to know," I said, stepping closer. "If you want me to trust you, then tell me the truth."
He was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the floor. Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of guilt and regret.
"Selena and I... we were together for years. We chose each other before I ever knew about you. Before I ever felt the bond."
His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I struggled to keep my composure. "You chose her," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Before I could respond, his expression changed. He went still, his eyes glazing over for a split second. It was subtle, but I'd seen it enough to know what it meant. Someone was speaking to him through the pack link.
"Kael?" I asked, moving closer to him. "What is it?"
He blinked, the warmth in his eyes replaced by a hint of tension.
"Nothing to worry about. I'll be back in a bit. Stay here."
"Where are you going?" I pressed.
"The pack elder wants to see me," he said, already moving toward the door.
That set off alarm bells in my head. "Why?"
"It's probably nothing," he said, avoiding my gaze. "Just stay here, okay? Don't go anywhere."
I watched him leave, the door clicking shut behind him. My gut told me this wasn't "nothing." Kael had looked uneasy, and the mention of the pack elder made my heart race. Something was going on, and I had a sinking feeling it involved me.
I waited a few minutes before slipping out of my room. The house was quiet as I made my way toward the meeting hall, my heart pounding with each step. I knew I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I couldn't ignore the gnawing need to know what was being said.
I found the hall and pressed myself against the wall near the door. Their voices were muffled, but I could make out enough.
"Why have you allowed a Nivara into the pack?" Rowan's voice was sharp, laced with disapproval. "And I hear you've grown... fond of her."
My breath hitched. My instincts had been right—this was about me.
"She's a wolf like the rest of us," Kael replied evenly. "There's no reason to treat her differently."
"No reason?" Rowan scoffed. "You know the stories as well as I do. Her kind is dangerous. A curse waiting to happen. She doesn't belong here."
Selena's voice chimed in, dripping with smugness. "He's blinded by whatever spell she's cast on him. Lyra is a threat to all of us, and you're too stubborn to see it."
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I wanted to burst in and defend myself, but I couldn't move.
"Enough," Kael snapped. "Lyra is a member of this pack, and I won't hear another word about casting her out."
Rowan's voice was calm but firm. "If you insist on keeping her here, then her wolf abilities must be bound. It's the only way to ensure she won't become a danger to the rest of us."
Bound?
The word sent a chill through me. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
"She hasn't done anything wrong," Kael said, his tone edged with anger.
"Not yet," Rowan countered. "But if we don't act now, we risk a tyrant rising among us. Do you want to take that chance?"
I couldn't listen anymore. My legs felt like lead as I turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last. The weight of their words settled in my chest, suffocating me.
The thought of having my wolf bound, of being stripped of the very essence of who I was, was more than I could bear.