"Are you okay, Luna?"
Lyra flinched, startled by Gina's voice. She looked at her, momentarily confused.
"Huh?"
"I've been asking if you like your hair."
Lyra turned back to the mirror, where her straight black hair cascaded neatly down her shoulders. A delicate clip rested on one side, adding a subtle elegance. She managed a small smile.
"This is… very nice. Thank you, Gina."
"You're welcome, Luna."
Lyra sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Please, just call me Lyra. I'm not your Luna."
Gina smiled faintly but said nothing as she tidied the table.
"You've been distracted all morning, Lyra. Is something bothering you?"
Lyra's eyes flickered to the side. Memories of last night flashed in her mind, and she shook her head as if to banish them.
"I'm… just not feeling great, I guess."
"Are you unwell? Do you need anything?" Gina asked, concern etched on her face.
Lyra walked to the window and looked out at the bustling pack members below.
"No, I'm fine. Really."
"Are you sure? You have the pack meeting at lunch—"
Lyra spun around, frowning. "What pack meeting?"
Gina froze mid-step. "Didn't I mention it earlier? The pack has a meeting today, and the Alpha wants you there."
Lyra groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Why? I'm not even part of this pack."
Gina's expression softened. "The Alpha will probably introduce you as our Luna."
Lyra crossed her arms, frustration bubbling up. "He's too persistent. And let me save him the trouble—this pack won't accept me. I'm wolfless."
"Trust the Alpha, Lyra. He knows what he's doing."
Lyra said nothing, but unease settled in her chest. She wanted to believe in Kael, to let herself feel something for him, but every time she remembered her brother and the past she couldn't forget, her resolve hardened.
The pack hall was nearly full by the time Lyra and Gina arrived. Pack members greeted her with varying levels of warmth—some with smiles, others with wary glances that made her want to disappear.
Gina led her to the front of the room. Lyra hesitated, pointing to an empty chair off to the side.
"Can I just sit there?"
"No, Luna. Your place is here," Gina said firmly, guiding her to the table at the front.
Lyra sighed and gripped the fabric of her skirt tightly under the table. The solid wood shielded her trembling hands from view, but the tension in her shoulders was impossible to hide.
As the meeting began, five elders in the front row sat with stern expressions. Elder Myra, whom Lyra had spoken with briefly before, offered a nod of encouragement, but the weight of their collective stares was suffocating.
Minutes later, Alpha Kael entered the hall, accompanied by Beta Albert. His commanding presence filled the room instantly, and the murmurs died down.
"You look tense," Kael whispered as he took the seat beside her.
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Why am I even here? I told you I don't want this. Just reject me and spare us both the trouble."
Kael smirked, leaning closer so only she could hear. "Why would I reject my mate? That's not happening."
The meeting proceeded with reports on pack business—updates on growth, losses, and future plans. Lyra listened quietly, feeling out of place but intrigued by the organized efficiency.
Then Kael stood, addressing the room.
"As many of you have heard, the rumors are true," he began.
Lyra froze as his words sank in. Her heart raced, and her pulse thundered in her ears.
"Kael, don't—" she hissed under her breath, but he ignored her.
He extended a hand toward her. "This is Lyra. She is my mate and will be your Luna."
The room fell silent, the weight of Kael's declaration settling over the pack like a heavy fog.
Elder Maxwell was the first to speak, his tone sharp. "Our future Luna?" He raised a brow. "Are you certain, Alpha?"
Lyra wanted to shrink into herself. She whispered, "This isn't right."
Kael tightened his grip on her hand. "You'll be fine," he murmured reassuringly, though his gaze never left the crowd.
Elder Maxwell leaned forward. "Alpha, our pack has always been the strongest. Shouldn't our Luna match that strength?"
The murmurs from the crowd grew louder, and Lyra felt the blood drain from her face. She tried to pull her hand away from Kael's, but he held on firmly.
"What exactly are you implying, Maxwell?" Kael asked, his voice dangerously low.
Another voice chimed in—Elder Maxwell's wife, Maris. "It's not hard to smell her rank… or notice what she is."
Elder Myra's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "And you think that makes her weak?"
Lyra finally managed to free herself from Kael's grip. She stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Please, stop. There's no need to argue about me. I know I don't belong here. I'm not strong enough to be your Luna."
Kael's eyes darkened. "Lyra, don't—"
"No!" she interrupted. "This is the right thing to do. I don't want to be the reason for your weakness."
A derisive chuckle rang out from the crowd. Lyra's eyes darted toward the source—a woman in a striking red gown, her lips painted to match. She exuded confidence as she sauntered forward.
"Well, well. Rejecting our Alpha, are we?" the woman said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Laura." Kael's expression hardened. "When did you return?"
Laura ignored him, focusing on Lyra with a predatory smile. "So, you're the one? The Luna who doesn't even want the title? How quaint."
"I—I'm not rejecting him," Lyra stammered. "I just… don't want to bring him down."
Laura's smile widened, but it held no warmth. "You don't need to worry about that. You already have."
Lyra flinched, the words cutting deeper than she expected.
"She hasn't brought anyone down," Kael growled, his voice thunderous. "And I won't let anyone speak about my mate like that."
Laura's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, Alpha, you're so protective. But she's wolfless. That's not up for debate."
Lyra dropped her gaze to the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just don't want to be a burden."
"She is not a burden!" Kael's voice echoed through the hall, silencing all conversation.
Elder Myra stood abruptly, her gaze fierce. "Enough! Lyra is not weak. Her wolf is sealed—trapped by something or someone in her past. But that doesn't make her any less deserving of being Luna."
The crowd murmured in confusion and curiosity. Kael's head snapped toward Elder Myra. "What do you mean, her wolf is sealed? Can it be freed?"
Elder Myra nodded. "Yes. But only if Lyra is willing to face the truth and reclaim what was taken from her."
Kael turned to Lyra, his expression resolute. "If there's a way to bring back your wolf, we'll find it."
Lyra's hands clenched at her sides as she struggled to process the revelation. Could it really be true? Could her wolf—the part of her she'd thought was lost forever—still exist?
Elder Myra's words echoed in her mind: Only if she's willing.