CHAPTER TWO :

Lyra's POV

Every step I took only made the bonds tighten, like invisible chains binding me to them.

I was moving slowly, but they still trailed behind me, hunting me like prey.

This is bullshit. Bullshit!

My wolf growled but didn’t resist. He wanted them—believed they would protect us.

But I didn’t need anyone.

My feet slammed against the wet ground, pushing me forward. The night was alive with sound, but I only heard them. Their voices. Their pursuit.

"Lyra!"

Jace’s voice came from my left, soft yet edged with something dangerous. “You cannot hide forever, my dear. We will find you.”

How predictable.

I pushed harder, ignoring the burn in my muscles. I wouldn’t let them catch me. Not tonight. Not ever.

But then I made a mistake.

The ground beneath me shifted. It was no longer solid earth but something wet, sinking. Before I could stop myself, my front paw plunged in, dragging the rest of me down.

"No!" I howled, the sound more wolf than human.

I twisted, clawing at the earth, but the more I moved, the deeper I sank. Cold fear curled in my chest. The swamp pulled at me like it had been waiting for this moment.

Then I heard him.

"I see you."

Before I could react, strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me from the mire with effortless strength. I thrashed, bared my teeth, but it was useless.

Kayden.

His dark eyes held exhaustion, but his grip was unyielding. He set me down, his hands firm on my arms, not letting go.

His voice was low, commanding. “Don’t stop fighting.”

I shifted back, my body aching as I returned to human form. I staggered backward, glaring at him. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“You didn’t have to,” he replied smoothly, his voice calm, but something unreadable flickered across his face. “You are mine, Lyra. It is my duty to protect you.”

"Yours?" My voice cracked with fury. “You’re the reason I was running!”

“Running won’t change what’s already written,” he said, stepping closer.

I backed away, my pulse thundering in my ears. I hated the way my wolf responded to their presence. I hated the pull of the mate bond. I hated everything.

I should have never been in that clearing. Should have never been curious. Should have stayed with the others in the rogue clan.

"Stay away," I warned, fists clenched.

Kayden halted, his expression softening—just a fraction. "I don’t want to hurt you. None of us do."

"Let me go."

"We can’t," he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Before I could protest, Jace strolled into view, golden hair gleaming in the moonlight. His amber eyes flickered with amusement. "You look a mess, kid. Oh, the mud is messy." His grin widened.

I glared at him. “Do you think this is funny?”

“Maybe a little,” he admitted with a chuckle. Then his voice dropped, turning almost disappointed. "But mostly, I’m just let down that you gave up so soon. I was enjoying the chase."

He was mocking me. Belittling my struggle. My fight.

I opened my mouth to snap back, but another presence sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Ronan stepped out of the shadows, his silver eyes piercing through me like ice. "Enough of this game. It is time. The ceremony must proceed. Let’s go back."

My stomach twisted. My breath caught in my throat and for a moment I did not dare breath.

"Go? Us?" The words barely made it past my lips.

"Yes, us."

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I am not going back. I am nobody’s business."

Ronan’s expression didn’t change. "You have no choice."

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

Kayden stepped between us, his voice low. "Ronan," he warned before turning to me. "Don’t be afraid of him."

"Come on, Kayden. She has to understand," Ronan said, his cold silver eyes locked onto mine. "This bond isn’t something she can run from. It is the end."

"The end can rot," I mumbled, clenching my fists. "I will break the connection."

"You’re tough. I like that," Ronan mused. "But breaking the bond? That’s already been decided. It’s impossible."

"Nothing is impossible," I snapped, my voice trembling.

The silence between us was heavy, suffocating. I hated how small I felt standing before them.

Kayden exhaled. "We will give you time. You will see that this bond isn’t a curse."

"It will be a prison," I whispered.

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against mine. The warmth of the mate bond ignited inside me like fire, stealing my breath.

I slapped his hand away. "Don’t touch me."

Ronan’s voice was cold. "Enough. The longer we stay here, the more time we waste."

Jace grinned, eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Don’t be afraid, little wolf. You will be happy with us."

Before I could react, Kayden lifted me onto his shoulder, carrying me against my will. My fists pounded against his back, but he didn’t falter.

They were taking me back—to the very place I had been running from.

The Blood Moon Clearing loomed ahead like a nightmare come to life.

The great runestones shimmered under the crimson glow of the moon. Shadows flickered across the open space, cast by the gathered wolves—wolves who stared at me with predatory eyes, their gazes filled with curiosity, resentment, envy.

The wind howled through the trees, but the sound was nothing compared to the screaming inside my head.

I couldn’t run. I was trapped.

Kayden set me down in the clearing. I stood in the center, surrounded by the three Alphas—Kayden, Jace, and Ronan.

"Everyone!" Kayden’s voice rang through the air. "I present to you all—my mate. Our mate." He paused, turning to me.

I held his gaze, unflinching.

"He’s asking for your name, little wolf," Jace said, amused.

"Oh!" I feigned surprise. "My name is Lyra."

Kayden’s lips curled into a smirk. "I present to you Lyra, mate to the three Alphas and future Luna."

The clearing buzzed with murmurs. Some wolves stared in awe. Others seethed with anger.

I should have been afraid.

And maybe, deep down, I was.

"I won’t stay," I gritted out. My voice was barely more than a whisper.

"You will stay, little wolf," Ronan replied, his voice like ice.

"No one is forcing you," Jace added, his smile unsettling. "But let’s be honest—you have nowhere to run. We will find you. You know that, right?"

I clenched my hands into fists. "I will succeed."

Kayden stepped closer, his dark eyes searching mine. "Things will change now, Lyra. You are ours, and you will obey."

"I am not! I do not belong to any of you!" I lashed out, my heart pounding against my ribs.

Ronan sighed. "The Moon Goddess has chosen you for us, Lyra. Accept that."

The mention of the Moon Goddess made my blood boil. The so-called goddess of fate, the bringer of misfortune—she had ruined my life, tying me to them.

"I don’t care," I spat. "I refuse."

Kayden ignored me. "We’ve delayed long enough. Let the ritual begin."

A hush fell over the crowd as the pack's elder entered. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, her ceremonial robes flowing behind her.

"The pack bond must be strengthened under the red light," she declared. "The Alphas shall bond with their mate first in this process."

"No." The word escaped me before I could stop it.

Kayden took my hand, his grip firm but not painful. "Lyra, don’t make this harder than it has to be."

I yanked my hand away, my voice rising. "I said no! You cannot force me!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"You are ashamed of us," Ronan said coldly.

"Whatever you think, I agree," I shot back. "Because I don’t want this."

"Lyra, we are mates!" Ronan growled, his patience wearing thin. "What is stopping you from doing this?"

"I do not want a mate. I want to be free."

"You must be kidding."

"I’m not." My voice shook with anger. "I will not let you chain me to a fate I never chose."

"Do you think you have a choice?" Ronan’s words hit me like ice water. "This bond is real. Nothing will keep us apart now."

"Then I will find a way to break it," I said defiantly.

A fresh wave of murmurs spread through the clearing. Breaking a mate bond was unheard of. Taboo.

"You don’t know what you’re saying," Kayden murmured.

"Watch me," I hissed. "I will do it—even if it kills me."

Jace’s smirk vanished. "Lyra, breaking the bond will destroy you."

"Then let me go!" I pleaded, struggling in Kayden’s hold.

"No," he said simply. "We will complete our mating ceremony tonight."

Before I could protest, Ronan grabbed me, hoisting me onto his shoulders. I kicked, fought, screamed—but they carried me toward the center of the clearing.

"Stop fighting," Kayden murmured. "No matter what you do, the ritual continues."

His smirk was annoyingly pretty.

"No!" I screamed, but it was too late.

They placed me on my feet, encircling me. Their presence was suffocating. Their power was undeniable. And so annoyingly charming.

The Alphas towered over me, daring me to run.

And my wolf—traitorous, foolish—moved within me, responding to the pull of the bond.

No. No, no, no.

“NO!”

I refuse.

But then—I heard it.

A sound, too obvious and too loud to ignore. Not to mention the fact that it carried some strange aura.