Mag-log inLyra Before I can even think of how to respond, a blur of dark hair and floral perfume barrels straight into me, nearly knocking me over. “Ellie—?!” She wraps her arms around me like I’ve just returned from war. Which, okay… fair. But still, this absolutely isn’t necessary. “I’m fine,” I grunt against her shoulder, but it doesn’t stop her from clutching me tighter like she’s worried I’ll vanish into thin air. “Oh my gods, Lyra,” she gasps, pulling back just enough to scan me up and down like I’ve sprouted extra limbs. “I didn’t even know anything happened until this morning. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there—I was in heat and I spent the day with…” My hand flies up, covering her mouth, and I gesture with my head towards the door. Finally, Ellie glances at her brother, who is very intently staring at a hinge. She sighs and waves it off. “Never mind.” Before I can say anything else, she grabs my hand and drags me across the room like it’s hers. “Sit.” She pushes me gently on
LYRA He knows now. I spilled it all like I’m in a therapy session and he’s my counsellor. Except he’s not. I was just his little monster-obsessed side quest. And I’m a moron for telling him anything. Because he doesn’t care, he was just curious. And now that he knows, he’ll go back to his bloodsucking parasite, Maria. Except… he doesn’t. He's still seated beside me, like I didn’t REPEATEDLY tell him to fuck off. The fucker actually makes himself comfortable, leaning back on his hands now, legs stretched in front of him like we’re sunbathing. I shoot him a look that I’m sure could curdle holy water. Nothing. He just keeps staring at me like I’m a puzzle he’s still trying to solve. ‘There’s nothing more to know, you dense bastard. So what more do you want from me?’ I want to shout, but decide to just ignore him. When I move to get up, his hand immediately shoots out and he catches my arm. He says only one word. “Stay.” I freeze, a growl vibrating in my chest.
ZANE I race through the woods, my wolf following her fresh scent. It’s darker out here. The trees are thicker, denser, and there is an almost unnatural chill curling through the air. Moonlight slants down through the branches in fractured beams, like blades trying to cut through the tension clamping down on my chest. My wolf snarls. Not to dominate. Not to punish. Just to find her. To get to her before she slips so far into her panic that she never comes back. How far have we gone? We’re nowhere near the Eclipse Pack anymore, we’re in Moonridge territory now. Is Lyra planning on running all the way back to her home? Does she even know where she’s going or has her lycan taken over? My paws slam into the dirt when her scent grows stronger. My mind is a mess of questions. When I find her, will her lycan recognise me? Will she see me as a threat? Will she try to fight me? How can I possibly subdue her? I can’t. It is as simple as that. Unless, she has shifted back? I’ve sparred
ZANE There’s no denying it anymore. Not after watching her heart nearly stop. Not after holding her cold, limp body in my arms. Not after seeing her bleed out and still wanting nothing more than to breathe her name into the dark until she came back to me. The idea of living in a world where Lyra Weston no longer existed, it was soul-crushing. Like staring into a future that had already been torn in half. At that moment, the reality I have been hiding from hit me like a slap in the face. I need her. This isn’t fascination. It is not lust. Not power, or danger, or curiosity. It is her. Everything about her. The way she laughs like the whole world is beneath her but still carries every broken piece inside her like armour. Her fighting spirit. Her voice. Her perfect, smug, sass-soaked ass, and her dirty mouth. And I know what she is now. A Lycan. Good gods. A creature whispered about in ancient scrolls as the alphas that stood above all others. They are feared. Revered. Man
ZANEOn my way to the hospital, I am already mentally linking the doctors and nurses to prepare.The harsh white lights are blinding as I crash through the doors. The air reeks of antiseptic, sharp enough to sting the back of my throat. Doctor Bennett is already waiting beside a gurney in the reception area as I enter, but as soon as he sees Lyra in my arms, he pales.“She’s been stabbed with silver. It’s in her heart.” I tell him. His nose twitches, clearly also smelling the strong scent of wolfsbane coming from the dagger.Doctor Bennett snaps into motion, gesturing for me to put Lyra on the gurney, but I shake my head. Undisturbed, he leads me to the first room on our left. A sterile white room with a single bed in the centre. The moment I set Lyra on the bed, a nurse begins connecting different machines to her, and the doctor inspects the wound. But he looks grim. “If we remove the dagger, she’ll bleed out before her body can heal. The location…” His voice trails off.I growl l
ZANEI do not see Lyra for the rest of the day. Somehow, I manage to keep my distance, even as everything in me screams to run to her. To find her and beg for forgiveness. I hate that I pushed her away. I hate every lie I told her. And I hate myself… for being such a bloody coward. Yesterday, logic told me to push her away. To put distance between us before she got too close to the monster I might become. If I don’t find the weapon… if I lose myself… she would be the one to suffer for it. She would never be able to defend herself against me. So I did what needed to be done. At the gathering, I drove the wedge between us. Cold and deliberate. Exactly as planned.But this morning wasn’t strategy. This morning was weakness.What happened last night still burned under my skin, and instead of mastering it, I let it master me. I pushed her harder than I needed to. Crueler than I intended. I wanted her to feel the same sting she gave me.Spite is an ugly thing. And I wore it well. For a m
ZANE The morning light feels wrong, Something in my gut twists, as Lyra consumes my thoughts once again. The way she looked at last night’s gathering. Her family. Damn it… she has probably left with them. Closing my eyes, my thoughts spiral back to the office… Her eyes. Her face. Her moans. Her
LYRAI wake up alone, the morning sun stabbing through the blinds, and my head immediately groans in protest. Great. Just great. The last thing I want is to relive… that moment. My stomach twists as memories of last night flashes through my mind, and I wish - wish - I could crawl under the covers a
LYRA Elara gasps. “Oh. My. Gods.” I raise a brow in the mirror, but I already know what she’s reacting to. Because I look dangerous. The long black dress clings to every curve like it was custom-melted onto my skin. The thin straps barely hold it up, and the back dips so low I might as well
Lyra Zane steps out of the shower, leaving me right there to catch my breath. He wraps a towel around his waist, and rakes his fingers through his wet hair. A single water droplet falls from his hair onto his chest. My eyes trail the drop running down his chest, between his abs, and over that del







