The room was dimly lit and thick with heat, the scent of burning wood from the fireplace mixing with sweat drenched sheets tangled beneath them. Heavy breaths filled the space bodies slick with heat and desperation.
Archer's grip tightened on Lyra's waist as she rode him,her nails dragging down his chest leaving red welts in their wake. His wolf growled,a sound of frustration rather than satisfaction. This wasn't what it needed,what he needed
Yet he continued
His hands roamed her curves,his lips marking her skin yet his mind was elsewhere as that face kept flashing in his mind.
Archer's breathing was ragged, his grip tightening around Lyra's hips as she arched beneath him, her body yielding to his every movement.
His wolf was restless, demanding, pushing him to seek out satisfaction where it could be found. He had tried to drown himself in this moment, in the heat of her skin, the sound of her moans, the way her fingers dug into his back.
But it wasn't enough.
No matter how deep he buried himself in her, no matter how rough, it wasn't her.
It wasn't Haelyn.
It had been just once, once yet he'd never been able to forget that moment
Archer clenched his jaw, his muscles tightening as frustration built inside him. He forced himself to move faster, to chase the release his wolf craved, but when it finally came, all he felt was emptiness.
The silence afterward was deafening.
Lyra collapsed beside him, her skin damp, a smirk curving her lips. She ran her fingers over his chest, her nails still red from the marks she had left.
"You were rough tonight," she purred. "I like it when you take your anger out on me."
Archer said nothing, staring blankly at the ceiling, his golden eyes dark with something unreadable.
Lyra's fingers trailed up his arm, her lips grazing his shoulder. "You should do this more often. Maybe then you'll finally forget her."
His wolf snarled inside him.
Archer turned his head toward her, his expression unreadable. Then….
"Get out."
Lyra blinked. "What?"
"I said, get out."
She propped herself up on her elbow, irritation flashing across her face. "Oh, so that's how it is? You use me and then throw me out?"
Archer exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Lyra."
"What?" she snapped.
His golden eyes met hers, cold and unyielding. "I don't have time for this. Leave."
She scoffed, shaking her head as she climbed out of bed, yanking the sheets with her as she gathered her clothes. "You're an ass, Archer."
He didn't argue.
With one last glare, Lyra stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, Archer exhaled sharply, running a hand through his damp hair. His wolf was still pacing inside him, unsettled.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape Haelyn.
The sound of a sharp knock made him groan.
Before he could respond, the door swung open.
Artemis and Rowena strode inside.
Archer sighed, leaning back on the pillows, barely bothering to pull the sheets higher. "Ever heard of knocking?"
Artemis wrinkled his nose, crossing his arms. "Gods, Archer. Really?"
Rowena rolled her eyes. "This is pathetic, even for you."
Archer smirked lazily. "What? You expected me to sit around and sulk?"
Artemis exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Some things never change."
Rowena folded her arms. "We have a problem."
Archer let out a long sigh. "We always have a problem."
Rowena's voice hardened. "Arthur attacked the temple of the High Priestess."
The smirk vanished from Archer's face. His body tensed immediately. "What?"
Rowena's jaw tightened. "He went looking for Haelyn. When he couldn't find her… he burned the temple down."
Artemis clenched his fists. "He killed them, Archer. He slaughtered the priestesses."
Archer's grip on the sheets tightened, his golden eyes darkening with fury.
"The High Priestess?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
Rowena hesitated. "She's missing."
Silence stretched between them.
Archer exhaled through his nose, swinging his legs off the bed as he reached for his pants. "Shouldn't you know where she is?"
Rowena's patience snapped. "You've forgotten, haven't you? She broke off all ties with me because of you!"
Archer scoffed, slipping on his shirt. "Why does she hate me so much?"
Artemis glared at him. "You really don't get it, do you?"
Rowena stepped forward, her voice strained. "I don't care about that right now. My mother is missing. And I need help finding her."
Archer exhaled sharply. "What's the plan?"
"We need to go to Cerius," Artemis said. "Make sure they know Arthur is becoming more dangerous."
Archer's jaw clenched as he grabbed his coat. His wolf growled in agreement. They were running out of time.
His golden eyes burned with determination.
"Then let's go."
Rowena raised a brow. "Just like that?"
Archer shot her a sharp look. "What? You thought I'd sit here while Arthur keeps tearing everything apart?"
Rowena smirked. "Well, you were busy."
Archer rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Rowena."
Artemis exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "For once, I agree with him. Let's move."
Without another word, the three of them exited the room, their steps heavy with purpose.
Arthur had crossed the line.
And it was time to remind him who he was dealing with.
The air in the room was thick with heat, not from the fireplace, but from her.
Haelyn writhed on the bed, her body drenched in sweat, her hands clutching at the sheets as waves of unbearable heat rolled through her. Every nerve in her body was on fire, her skin tingling as though it had been set ablaze.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly as the burning worsened.
Marlyil knelt beside her, pressing a damp cloth against Haelyn's forehead, but the moment the cool fabric touched her skin, she screamed.
Seraphis, her face lined with worry, placed a hand on Haelyn's shoulder, whispering a chant, trying to ease the fire raging within her. But nothing was working.
"What do we do?" Marlyil demanded, her voice tight with panic.
Seraphis exhaled sharply. "We need to find her mate."
"But we don't even know who it is! She hasn't been marked," Marlyil argued, frustration evident in her voice.
Cerius stood with his arms crossed, his golden eyes dark and unreadable as he watched his daughter suffer. He rarely showed emotion, but this…this was different. His jaw tightened, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to punch something, someone.
"I don't know who he is," Cerius muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "But as a father, I already dislike him."
Marlyil shot him a quick look. "Cerius, this isn't the time for humor."
"I wasn't joking," Cerius grumbled, though his worry was evident.
Just then, the door burst open, and Kieran rushed in.
"My Alpha…."
Behind him, Archer, Artemis, and Rowena stormed inside, their faces grim.
Cerius turned to them, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Archer didn't answer. He didn't care why they were here.
His golden eyes locked onto Haelyn.
She was trembling, her hands clawing at her clothes, as though they were suffocating her. Her breath hitched, her lips trembling. She was in pain.
His heart clenched.
Haelyn gasped, her fingers shaking as she struggled to undo the ties of her gown.
"I….I can't… I can't breathe. I'm burning," she whimpered, her voice broken, desperate.
Seraphis and Rowena, mother and daughter, spoke in unison.
"She needs her mate."
Archer stiffened. His wolf snapped to attention.
Artemis stepped forward. "Then we need to find out who he is."
Seraphis nodded. "There's only one way to confirm it. If he marks her, their bond will glow, wrapping around them."
Artemis clenched his fists. "I'll do it."
Rowena glanced at him briefly, her face unreadable. "If you're truly her mate, it will happen."
He moved toward Haelyn, hesitating for only a moment before lowering his head to her neck.
He bit down.
Nothing happened.
The room was silent, save for Haelyn's soft cries.
Cerius exhaled, his face unreadable. "Next."
Archer's breath came short. He knew.
He knew.
Without a word, he approached her, his eyes never leaving her trembling form.
"Haelyn," he murmured, his voice rough, uncertain.
She turned her head slightly, her feverish eyes meeting his. Something in her softened, as though, deep down, she had already known too.
Archer lowered his head, inhaling her scent. His wolf howled.
He sank his teeth into her neck.
A golden glow erupted between them.
Light coiled around their bodies like threads of destiny binding them together. It swirled, wrapping around their limbs, their souls, solidifying their bond.
Haelyn gasped, the burning inside her shifting, the flames no longer consuming her but turning into something else…..something primal.
Cerius tensed.
Marlyil exhaled, shaking her head. "It's him."
Seraphis nodded grimly. "It's him."
No one spoke for a moment.
Then Cerius sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't like this."
Marlyil chuckled dryly. "You don't like anything."
Seraphis turned to Archer. "You know what you have to do."
Archer met her gaze, his golden eyes unreadable.
"Leave," he said simply.
Artemis clenched his jaw but didn't argue. Rowena placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him toward the door.
Cerius hesitated, his gaze flickering to Haelyn. He didn't want to leave her alone with Archer. But he had no choice.
With one final glance, he turned and left.
The door shut behind them.
Leaving Archer and Haelyn alone.
The moment the others were gone, Haelyn whimpered, pressing herself against him.
"Make it stop," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Archer pulled her into his arms, his breath warm against her skin.
His lips traced her jaw, his hands settling on her waist. "I've got you, little wolf," he murmured.
Her body trembled, but the burning…
The burning finally faded.
Her mate had found her.