His Pack Falls Without Her Magic

"Swallow your pride, Lyra! You were a rogue when we found you. Don't forget it."Damian's words were a hot brand, shattering the last of my illusions."This isn't about pride. It's about my status.""Status?" He took a step closer, his voice turning harsh, like he was scolding a disobedient pup. "This is about the pack's survival. I can't let your ego endanger us. You're too emotional, Lyra."The sacrifices I made, the life I gave, he dismissed as "ego.""Fine." I nodded, my voice surprisingly calm. "I understand."In their minds, Isla was better. Stronger. And I was just a tool they could now throw away."I knew you'd understand," Damian's expression softened into a look of condescending relief. "Isla arrives this afternoon. I expect you to cooperate with her."That evening, a sleek black car pulled up to the manor. Isla stepped out, dressed in a brand-new shamanic robe, her long hair adorned with feathers and bones. It was all for show. But for a pack obsessed with tradition, it

The moment I opened the door, the temperature in the room plummeted. Isla and Damian froze, like two deer caught in the headlights."What are you doing?" My voice was terrifyingly calm."Lyra, this isn't what it looks like—" Damian scrambled up, trying to shield Isla from my sight. But it was too late. I saw the mate-bond necklace—my necklace—glittering against her bare skin.The primal rage of a she-wolf whose territory had been invaded roared to life in my blood. Without a single spell, a crushing pressure slammed down on the room.Damian's face went white. He felt it—the absolute dominance of a superior bloodline."Lyra, listen to me," he rushed towards me, trying to use his pathetic excuses to calm me down. "Isla found a dark aura on the Unity Stone. She was helping me purify it...""Purify it?" I laughed. "My mate-bond is a 'dark aura' to you?"I took one step forward.The pressure was too much. Damian's knees buckled, and he crashed to the floor. He wasn't knocked down by ma

The next morning, my comm crystal wouldn't stop ringing.I slowly brewed a cup of coffee. I savored the long-lost peace on my Evernight City balcony. Only then did I answer the call."Lyra!" Damian's voice was hysterical. "You have to come back! Now!""What's wrong?" I asked, feigning concern. "Wasn't the ritual a success?""Success?" he shrieked, his voice cracking. "It was a complete disaster! Isla's shamanic crap did nothing!"I took a light sip of coffee."That's a shame. But what does it have to do with me? Didn't you say her traditional ways were more reliable?""Stop playing dumb!" he raged. "The ritual can't happen without your wards! Now every pack in the north is laughing at us! The pack members are questioning my leadership!""Then you should talk to Isla about a solution.""Isla can't do anything!" he finally admitted. "Only you can fix this! You have to come back. You have to calm the pack!"I set down my coffee cup."Let me get this straight, Damian. Yesterday, you were

"What do you mean? You're not afraid?""Our bond isn't a simple mate pact anymore. It hasn't been for a long time," I said, my voice cold. "Ten years ago, I used a secret art to bind it to a loyalty pact. You were the one who broke your vow, Damian. Any attempt to sever our bond now will only shatter your own soul and strip you of your power."I heard a sharp intake of breath."What secret art? How could you...""Try it," I taunted. "Go on, ask the Moon Goddess to break our bond. Let's see if she punishes the betrayer or helps him."There was a long silence."Lyra, I was wrong," his voice suddenly dropped low. "It was all a misunderstanding. Isla blinded me. I was a fool.""You're just figuring that out?""I admit I hurt you. But it wasn't all my fault," he started shifting the blame. "You were always so secretive, you never told me your real power. If you had just been honest...""Honest?" I sneered. "What did I need to be honest with you about? I gave you ten years of my life, and a

I didn't even spare Isla a glance.I just softly spoke an ancient syllable:"Silence."Instantly, every shamanic totem on Isla's body went dim.The phony runes painted on her face faded like old tattoos.The bone necklace she wore lost its magical glow and became a cheap ornament."My power..." She stared at her hands in terror. "What did you do to me?""I took back what wasn't yours," I said, walking toward my car without a backward glance.Behind me, I heard Isla and Damian start to argue."You said you'd protect me!" Isla screamed. "You said if I helped you deal with her, you would marry me!""Now is not the time... and you lied to me!" Damian tried to calm her."When is the right time?" Isla shrieked. "After our baby is born? After we use its blood to cast the curse and steal her power? Is that plan even going to work now?"I stopped in my tracks.Bloodline curse.I turned around slowly."What did you just say?"Isla realized she'd let it slip. Her face went pale."I... I didn't sa