Chapter 7: CAUGHT STARING AT MR. HANDSOME

LYRA'S POV

My head kept twirling and turning as I headed for my room. It was quite unsual, what happened today. It wasn't every day someone saw the very person who changed their life forever, thankfully for me Duncan's cruelness was a blessing in disguise, I had him to thank for that.

I opened the door to my room and stepped inside.

“Why are you here, Julie?” I asked my made confusion shrouding my features. She wasn't supposed to be here especially not at this time.

“Uh, I jus, I just made your bed.” She stuttered scratching her head furiously with the tip of her fingers.

“But it's not even dusk yet.” I pointed out. “Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?” I asked, the behaviour she was putting on was really strange and if I was being honest, I was beginning to get scared myself.

“I know but I have to leave immediately, Alpha, I'm sorry.” She shuffled me out of the way, reaching for the door but not before I could hold her by the hand and yank her back inside.

“What is going on?” I asked her but she remained silent and I watched her try to make up several different excuses that didn't make it to her mouth in her mind.

“Talk to me or you are not leaving this room.” I told her. The last thing I wanted to do was to use my alpha command on her. I only did it when I considered it very necessary. The command could be really overwhelming on some wolves sometimes and I didn't want to cause any of my people fear.

“I- i'm s-sorry Alpha but it's my father.” She finally said.

“What is it with him?”

“He is really sick and I don't have enough money to care for him. If you could help me, please.” She fell down to her knees spontaneousy, I had to force her to stand up.

“Get up Julie, just stand up, it's okay, but why didn't you tell me?” I raised her up to her feet while she wipes off the tears that had fallen down her cheeks with the back of her palm.

“I was scared, I'm sorry.”

“It's okay, alright. Get your father to the hospital immediately. I would clear the bills immediately.” I told her.

“Thank you so much, Alpha.” She fell down to her knees again.

“Stop it Julie. I don't like this, okay, get up.” I told her.

She nodded and bowed her head before turning away.

“And Julie.” I called after her. “You can take the rest of the week off.”

“Thank you.” She bowed and left.

I let out a sigh of relief as the door clicked shut behind me. I had to admit, I sincerely thought something else had come over her.

I wiped away the sweat that had now formed on my face. I took off my clothes and entered the shower. Today had been full of surprises and really hectic along with that, I still had a gut feeling that there was more surprises to come especially now that Duncan knew I had his son. I turned off the shower and exited the bathroom. I had tried to evade him everytime over the past few years and now only a simple slip from me had been enough to ruin it all. I palmed my face in despair knowing I had to do something about it but whatever I did, I didn't want to cause a war between the two packs.

First, I had to make sure Duncan never visited Ryan in the school and get the staff to inform me if he ever showed his face, I kept that on my to-do list for tomorrow.

Thorne and Ryan arrived a while later and I met them at the door.

“So how did it go with your deer boys?” I asked them as they walked in. I didn't fail to notice that there was mud on their shoes and dirt on their faces.

“What the h**l happened and do you both realize you're staining my floor?” I asked them both still staring in disbelief at how dirty Thorne was, for Ryan it was almost a usual occurrence when he went out to play with his friends.

“Do you guys have any explanation for this?” I asked again for what felt like the thousandth time.

“It's simple, Ryan and I buried the deer.”

“Uh?”

“You didn't really think we were going to eat it, did you?” Thorne raised an eyebrow.

“No, but you sure sounded like you were.” I looked between the both of them.

“We had a change of mind, that poor deer didn't deserve to be killed.”

“I see so it got the kind of burial it deserved, right?”

“Exactly.” Thorne emphasized placing his hands on his hips.

“I am not intrigued.” I sighed. “but either way, you both need a shower.” I said, I picked Ryan up from the floor ignoring how dirty he was.

“Come baby, let's go get a shower.”

“Yay.” He exclaimed in excitement.

I helped him have his bath and change his clothes before we all went downstairs for dinner.

Thorne had also changed into a nicer pair of clothing. He wore a plain white shirt that wasn't buttoned up at the top. I got a peek at his chests, he was handsome. I didn't even realize I was staring until Thorne called me out for it.

“Is there something you find so delicious about me?” Thorne asked with a wink. I blinked, not once but twice and immediately laughed it off.

“Seriously?, Well I just thought you look totally different from before.” I tried to hide my embarrassment but I could tell the constant twitching of my eyes betrayed whatever emotion I was trying to hide.

“You mean you think that I look more handsome than before.”

I laughed again.

“Well I agree but not in that manner.” I tried to convince myself. Thorne raised an eyebrow that told me he didn't believe any of what I said.

Ryan just kept grinning from ear to ear at the table, I knew he was going to say something funny but I don't think to stop it. All of a sudden he began clapping his hands.

“Uncle Thorn is very handsome, isn't he mum?” There was totally nothing wrong with his statement until he decided to drag me into it.

“Yeah, I think he is.” I replied smiling at him.

“Thank you, pal.” Thorne patted him on the head.

“You would make a really good daddy.” He added. My face fell in embarrassment and I became even more angry when Thorne didn't see anything wrong in what he said.

I got up impulsively and headed for my room.

“Where are you going?” Thorne asked almost immediately.

“I think I lost my appetite.” I said. “Just let me know when you both are done eating, I have to get Ryan to sleep afterwards.” I said and left.

Not like I had counted the time on the clock but it didn't take twenty minutes after I had left before I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” I said presuming it was Thorne.

“Where is Ryan?” I asked when I didn't see my son.

“I already tucked him in, it's okay.”

“Thank you and I'm sorry about this night, what Ryan said, it's just…” I trailed off. I didn't know what else to say,".

“It's okay, Lyra. He said nothing wrong. He is just a kid.”

“I understand that.” I nodded.

“I was going to ask, are you still considering going out with Duncan tomorrow?” Thorne asked, I could sense the insecurity behind his question but I didn't know why he would feel that in the first place.

“I’ve decided not to.” I assured him.

“I can't allow myself anywhere near him.” I added.

“I'm happy to hear that.” Thorne said and taking me by surprise Thorne pulled me into a hug.

“Now get to sleep, little princess or do you need me to tuck you in?” He jokes.

“Of course not.” I grinned. “good night”

“Goodnight.” He said.

I closed the door after him, my heart was still thumping in my chest and I couldn't, I couldn't deny the way my insides melted when Thorne touched me. There was only one explanation for it and I still didn't want to entertain any though pertaining to that. What Duncan did to me was enough.

I couldn't suffer anymore heartbreak.