Chapter 1: Thane

Lyra strode into my office to the edge of my desk, her eyes locked on me and judging from the triumphant smile on her face, I could tell she had come in with good news.

“Is it done?" I asked, my voice low and urgent.

Lyra's smirk grew, her eyes glinting with pride as she nodded. "It's done."

The words hung in the air and I felt the weight of anticipation lift from my shoulders like a burden had been lifted.

I rose from my chair to my full height as I processed the news.

The long, tense night of waiting was finally over. I felt a rush of relief and exhilaration course through me.

Lyra leaned against the doorframe, her posture relaxed.

“Honestly, it’s kind of embarrassing how easy it was to kidnap Alpha Cameron’s little sister from right underneath his nose.” She snickered.

My gaze narrowed, my thoughts snapping to the potential consequences of this action.

“Did we suffer any losses?" I asked, my concern for the pack's safety overriding my momentary triumph.

Lyra's expression remained smug, her tone reassuring. "None. Your plan went just as it was supposed to. Our little spy did great. And Alpha Cameron remains blissfully unaware of his sister's... absence. Pathetic.” She scoffed, her disgust for our enemies more than evident.

I wanted to feel calm but I clenched and unclenched my fists, tension coursing through my body.

“Secure the borders. The minute he realises she’s gone, he’ll be here trying to break down our walls.”

My mind was racing. I wanted to bask in this victory but I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just rolled the dice on our pack's safety.

Had this been too much of a risk? I thought about how much danger I was putting my pack members in by pulling such a stunt. It was a gamble but it was necessary one needed to end this war that had lasted way too long.

"Where is she?" I demanded, my gaze snapping back to Lyra.

“In the dungeon," she replied. "I had to practically post guards to keep everyone off her. Everyone’s dying at the chance to take a bite out of her – Diamanté blood and all that comes with it. Everyone wants to get their hands on her, payback for all they’ve done to our pack.”

Lyra's words dripped with venom, her bitterness evident. "But don’t worry, I told them that if anyone gets to have a go at her first, it’s you."

I stood up, a bitter taste filling my mouth as I thought about our ugly history with the Eclipse pack.

The memories of the destruction and chaos they had unleashed upon my pack haunted my mind.

My resolve hardened.

Alpha Cameron and his entire bloodline will regret ever having crossed paths with my own.

"I'll make sure that pathetic Alpha Cameron is at my feet, begging for his sister's life when I'm done with her.” I snarled, my voice low and menacing as I strode past Lyra.

Her smirk didn't go unnoticed, and I could sense her approval of my plan.

My boots echoed through the halls as I made my way to the dungeons, my determination for revenge growing with each step.

I knew I couldn’t let myself celebrate this victory just yet. I knew the significance of this move and how much of a crucial turning point it would bring in our war against the Eclipse pack. I had to capitalize on it.

I needed to exercise patient until everything was done and set in stone.

The two soldiers at the entrance of the dungeons bowed at me and opened the main cell door as I walked past them.

I could hear Lyra trailing behind me.

“I’ll organise a meeting with the elders to decide what our strategy with Alpha Cameron will be. Now that we have his little sister, everything has changed. But until then… if you want to make her scream a little, I’ll be happy to look the other way.” Lyra spoke, tucking some of her dark short hair away.

Trust me, I wanted nothing more than to make the Diamanté family pay. But I knew she wouldn’t survive the night if I acted now.

“I just want to see her for now.” I spoke not hiding the bitterness in my voice. Seeing Alpha Cameron’s little sister locked up. Knowing I had the upper hand and the control would be more than gratifying for now.

Lyra nodded.

She walked past me and led me to one of the cells in the back.

I suddenly felt something stir in me as we got closer.

I placed a hand to my chest not knowing what this searing feeling was.

Not pain, something uncomfortable but not pleasant.

Something demanding to be felt.

I felt my wolf stir within me.

Mine.

The voice came from within.

Something magnetic was pulling me, drawing me in and I realised it was coming from the cell.

“Thane?” I heard Lyra call my name in concern. “Are you okay?”

Her voice was distant, but I wasn’t focused on it at the moment.

I walked past her feeling like I was in a trance.

I stopped in front of the cell and everything clicked into place.

I saw a girl.

She was hugging herself shaking in fright and the unsettling feeling intensified.

But it’s only when she looked up at me, her green eyes piercing mine that I was really knocked off my feet.

Something moved through me and the next thing I knew my legs buckled beneath me, and I found myself crouched on one knee, my head spinning.

The girl’s eyes widened at me shocked and alarmed.

“Thane!“ Lyra yelled my name, her voice piercing through and I felt her hand on my shoulder. “Thane, what’s wrong?”

I looked up at the girl, all my walls and defences crumbling. My essence laid bare.

“Mine.” I growled out loud this time, the sound low and menacing, as my wolf surged to the forefront, refusing to be contained.

Lyra backed away from me startled.

Finally the primal energy left my body and I felt myself crumple onto the floor, nothing but my arms straining to hold me up

My gaze locked onto the girl's, and a single, consuming thought dominated my mind; she was mine.

The realization hit me like a tidal wave, and I swallowed hard, my throat constricting with the force of my emotions.

Crap.