Chapter Four

Randall's POV

Seated on my chair, I released a stifled yawn having signed off on the Caelin Pack's request for some men to help ward off the Rogues in their Pack.  

My eyes burned from lack of sleep and my limbs ached. I stretched, fighting to stay alert, but it was no use, so I gave in, electing to head to bed. 

But when I got to the door, her face filled my mind, leaving no room for anything else. 

Lyra.

I wondered how she fared, if she had finally woken up. “Did she even take the food from the maids?” I muttered under my breath.

I sighed as I got to the door. I could almost hear Susan's warnings ringing in my ears but I grabbed the knob anyway.

It wasn't because I cared. Lyra was just too valuable. She was the most important part of my plan. That's all. 

At least, that was what I told myself as I pushed the door open.

Fiona, the Pack nurse, sat on a stool beside the bed, pleading with Lyra. “Please, eat some food. You need to regain some strength.”

But Lyra shook her head, her arms folded as she lay on the bed with her face to the ceiling. 

It wasn't until I took another step into the room that Fiona noticed me. Her daughter ran up to me quickly and wrapped her hands around my leg.

“Greetings, Alpha,” Fiona greeted me, bowing her head.

I picked the little girl up, smiling broadly at her. Then I kissed her forehead, drawing yet another giggle before setting her down. 

Fiona hurriedly walked over to us and grabbed her child's hand as she turned to leave. “I'll come play with you later, okay?” I said to the kid and she squealed as they exited the room.

“Have you come to see if I lost my life in the dungeon?” Lyra asked, slowly sitting up and turning her face away.

I pulled up a plastic chair and sat, sighing deeply, as my eyes drifted to the untouched plate of food on the bed. 

“Why won't you eat your food?” 

“Why do you care?” She turned to me, rolling her eyes. “You asked the maids not to bring me any meals. Quit pretending like I mean anything to you.”

I sighed. “I don't want you dead, Lyra. I need you alive. Besides, you tried to kill my maid, didn't you?”

Her eyes flashed with anger. 

“Please, eat,” I urged her more softly. “You heard Fiona. You need to eat so you can have some strength.”

“To hell with you and your food! I would rather die than help you murder my parents.”

Instead of getting angered by her outburst, a smile shot up on my face. She reminded me of my mother— 

Strong. Brave. Perhaps, too brave for her own good.

“What? What's so funny?” She snapped. 

“Y— You talk just like my mother,” I said, glancing at the portrait on the wall. 

She scoffed but I pressed on. 

“She was the strongest woman I ever knew but in the end, she could have lived. She could have left my father's side when the Rogues attacked but she refused. Said she'd rather die than live like a coward.”

Those memories wiped the smile off my face as I looked back at her. 

“Eat up,” I said, this time more firmly. “I can’t have your blood on my hands.” 

Lyra's glare lasted a few more seconds before she picked up a spoon and began to eat. She gobbled up her meal in a few minutes leaving nothing on her plate. 

“Happy now?” she asked, setting the tray aside. 

I nodded.

She moved up to the edge of the bed, closer to where I sat. Her countenance softened as she stared at me, silence lingering for a while.

“My father is innocent,” she said, putting an end to the suffocating silence. “He didn't do it and revenge is never the answer.”

“You wouldn't know anything about that because your parents are still alive. You have no idea what it means to lose one's parents.”

The memories of that day returned. I was only sixteen when my parents were murdered, and since then, I have tried to have my revenge, but I couldn't. I was far too young, and my army was little, having lost so many to the Rogues.

But now, with the Caelin Pack by my side and Alpha Max's daughter seated before me, I strongly believed that this was my chance and I wasn't going to miss it. 

“You cannot let that anger and quest for revenge consume you,” she continued. “Killing my father will not bring your parents back.”

“But it'll give them rest and bring me peace!” I yelled. 

She shook her head at once, gazing deeper into my eyes. “No. Peace can never be found in revenge. Only more pain.”

As I opened my mouth to speak, she quickly cut me off, reaching out to hold my hand. I flinched but I didn't pull away.

“You were willing to let an innocent maid die just so I wouldn't escape. This is not the Randall that I've heard about,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“You know nothing about me,” I shot back, yanking my hand away from hers.

“It’s not too late, Randall. You can stop now…” she said, with tears in her eyes. 

“I'll only stop when your father is dead.”

I leaned in and tilted her chin up. “And you'll watch. Maybe then you'll understand how I feel, and then you may speak to me about revenge.”

“You're a monster!” She snapped, hitting my hand off, “If you're anything like your father, then maybe he deserved what he got!”

With anger bubbling inside me, I raised my hand to strike her only stopping at the last second. 

She didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Her gaze remained unwavering.

“Go on. Do it!” She goaded me. “Are you scared? Or are you just a coward?”

I clenched my fist, anger seeping through my bones. Still, I couldn't hit her.

Instead, I found myself drooling at her beautiful golden eyes. All the anger in my chest vanished into thin air, leaving me with a longing to cup her cheeks.

Her lips… they called out to me, filling my mind with unbridled desires.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locked on mine as her breaths grew uneven. Her tongue flicked across her lower lip, setting a certain fire inside of me. 

I snapped out of the moment and quickly rose to my feet, turning to leave. 

“Stop,” she called out behind me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. 

As I got close to the door, placing my right hand on the knob, my mind swirled with conflicting thoughts, 

“Why did I feel like kissing her luscious lips?” I wondered. “I rejected her. I shouldn't be drawn to her anymore.”

A cold chill ran down my spine as her fingers brushed against my body. “You don't have to leave,” she said, as I turned to face her. 

I traced my eyes down her skimpy blue gown, her cleavage now in full view. Warmth rippled through me as she drew even closer, caressing my cheek with her right hand.

My heart jumped. 

Susan's warnings. My plans. The war… Everything fell away and all I saw was Lyra.

I leaned into her touch, letting out a moan that I couldn't control. Then she pulled me in, crashing her lips against mine and right there, I knew…

My parents were about to spit on me from their graves but I didn't care. Not even a little.