Chapter Two

Lyra's Pov

The guards were only a few feet from me when the great doors of the hall slammed open so hard the sound cracked through the chamber like thunder. Cold wind rushed in, killing candles and stirring silk and smoke. Every wolf in the room turned at once.

The Alpha of Nightfang entered the hall dressed in black from head to toe, his broad shoulders marked with silver battle stitching and his scarred hands bare at his sides. He was taller than any man near him and darker than the moonlit room around him.

He always walks slowly as though he controls the world and that was the first terrifying thing about Kael Draven.

Everywhere fell silent as he stepped in.

Kael was supposed to arrive before midnight to finalize the alliance.

He was not supposed to walk into the middle of my own ruin, but here he was.

Alpha Magnus was the first to recover.

He stepped forward with a stiff smile and offered his hand for a handshake.

“Alpha Draven, we are sorry for the disorder.You arrived at an unfortunate moment.”

Kael stared at his hands and said nothing.

His gaze moved from my uncle to the guards surrounding me, then to the wooden box from the archives . It settled on me last.

My heart skipped a beat as he stared at me.

I should have looked away but I did not.

Then his eyes dropped to the guards reaching for me.

The guard let go first.

I had never seen a man release me from fear of another man's silence before.

His voice came low and even. “Why is the future Luna of Black Hollow being handled like a criminal?”

The uproar in the room came alive once again.

Alpha Magnus cleared his throat and signalled the hall to remain silent.

“Because she is one.”

A ripple moved through the crowd.

.

“Lady Lyra was found with sacred ledgers and an evidence of treason.”One elder bristled.

Kael’s eyes scanner the crowd again.

“That is a serious claim,” he said.

“I trust you have more evidences to show for it.”

Cassian stiffened at that.

Kael's eyes lifted to mine. "Did you steal from your own pack?"

The question was simple, yet it hit me so hard, my chest tightened.

No one had asked me that. They had only accused and condemned.

I swallowed hard.

"No."

His gaze did not waver. "Did you pass Black Hollow records to rogues?"

"No."

For one sharp second, the hall was so quiet I could hear the crackle of silver fire in the bowls.

Then Elder Marrow stepped forward with a sneer. "With respect, Alpha Kael, her guilt is not a matter for outside interference. The evidence is clear."

Kael held out his hand.

The elder frowned. "What?"

"The evidence," Kael said.

"Give it to me."

The elder looked at Alpha Magnus.

My uncle hesitated, then nodded stiffly. "Of course. We have nothing to hide."

That was the first lie spoken with confidence tonight.

The folded papers were placed into Kael's hand. He glanced over them, then crouched beside the carved box without ceremony. His scarred fingers traced the broken seal once.

He lifted one page from the top ledger.

I saw the exact moment he noticed the cipher.

His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Interesting," he murmured.

My heart sank deep into my stomach.

He rose and turned to face the platform. "You searched her room less than an hour ago?"

"Yes," Alpha Magnus said.

"And these were found there?"

"Yes."

Kael held up the copied ledger page. "Then either your framers are incompetent, or your liars are."

Shock rippled through the room.

Alpha Magnus's face darkened.

"Be Careful, Nightfang."

“Don’t dare take us for a fool.”

"I am being careful." Kael's voice remained calm. "This ink is not dry enough to have sat hidden for days. The wax transfer on this copy is smudged. The vault page was handled in haste. And the route marks here use eastern notation, while Black Hollow records western crossings by moon sector."

His eyes slid toward the elders.

My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

Cassian stepped forward at last. "That proves nothing. She had access to tutors and archives. Lyra is clever enough to imitate anything."

I turned toward him slowly.

It was not the accusation that hurt me then. It was how quickly he spoke to make sure I don't escape this.

Kael looked at him like something damp underfoot. "And you are?"

Cassian's jaw tightened. "Cassian Thorn."

"The male who was supposed to stand beside her tonight?"

A few people gasped uncomfortably.

Cassian lifted his chin. "I will not tie myself to a traitor."

"Yes. Weak men like you never do." Kael blurted.

Cassian's face went hot.

Selene stepped in smoothly before he could answer. "Alpha Kael, Black Hollow appreciates your concern, but this is still our internal matter."

Kael finally looked at her and her lips curved into a wry smile.

“Matters like this shouldn't be your concern.”

A quiet laugh almost broke from somewhere in the back of the hall before being strangled down.

My aunt hissed under her breath.

Alpha Kael took a step forward on the platform. "If this alliance means nothing to your pack,we can postpone the signing until you resolve your issues."

Kael turned to him fully. "Postpone?"

“No..no, we are fine.” He stuutered.

Kael let the word settle.

Then he added, "I do not sign treaties with unjust packs ."

His words hot harder than bricks.

My uncle's face blanched from fear.

The alliance mattered too much. Nightfang soldiers guarded the northern routes, and our trade debts had been choking Black Hollow for months. If Kael walked away without signing the alliance, the pack would go bankrupt.

"You are quick to draw conclusions, Kael" Magnus said, though his voice carried no weight.

Kael tucked the copied page back into the ledger. "I mahe conclusions from what I can see."

His gaze returned to me.

Under the weight of it, I felt exposed in a way I had not felt even under accusation.

He studied me for one long moment, then asked, "How old are you, Lyra Vale?"

"Twenty-one."

"And if your rank is stripped tonight, where do they intend to keep you?"

The answer came from Elder Marrow before I could speak.

"She would be in the dungeon until sentencing."

"That's impossible” Kael thundered.

The hall went still again.

Alpha Magnus laughed once, confused. "What?"

Kael turned from me and faced the platform like a man choosing terms at a war table. "You invited Nightfang to forge an alliance with Black Hollow tonight. I am prepared to do so."

Relief moved too quickly through too many faces.

Then he continued.

"But the terms have changed."

Selene's fingers tightened visibly around Cassian's sleeve.

My uncle's brows drew together. "Changed to what?"

Kael's answer came immediately.

"I will take Lyra Vale as my wife for one year."

The world came to an abrupt stop.