Chapter 14: The look in her eyes

Caelan POV

The first thing I smelled was blood.

It lingered in the air, and my head snapped in the direction it came from.

And there she was,

Lyra. She held the missing girl in her arms.

Relief flooded me and I moved closer.

“You did it.” I smiled.

Then I noticed it.

The blood on her hands and clothes. The way she dragged her feet against the floor, almost as if she was trying to hide her pain.

The look in her eyes. Dead.

A small crowd had gathered, and the little girl was taken away from her and handed over to her mother, who cried out in relief.

But I was more concerned about Lyra. I frowned when her expression remained the same, the pain on her face too great to ignore.

“Lyra!” I rushed forward, catching her just before her knees gave way. Her body was limp against mine, her breath shallow, and her face caked with blood—not just hers.

“I did it,” she whispered, her voice rough.

I felt warm liquid from the part where I held her. I raised my hand, and cold dread gripped me at the sight of blood that accompanied it.

“You're bleeding.” I said quickly. “We need to have you treated.”

“I will be fine.” She rasped. “It's just a scratch. I will heal.”

Furious I looked up “Who was it?” I growled to no one in particular, but Finn answered my question.

“It was Alpha Idris. I recognized the scent of his pack warriors.” Finn said.

I frowned. “Idris?”

Fury raced through me. That snake had the guts to show up so close to my territory to take one of my own and injured Lyra?

“How did he get the girl?”

Finn shook his head. “Nobody knows. We believe she must have wandered out of the pack territory unsupervised.”

Despite the anger I felt, I focused on Lyra. Though the injuries were not life-threatening, I could see she was in pain.

I carried Lyra in my hands and turned to a warrior by my side and gave my orders.

“Get me the Healer, now!”

Mira was the only one who I could trust with Lyra’s injuries.

She was more than just a healer to me; she was like a sister. When I first found her on the run from a pack of wolves, she had been desperate for help, and I saved her.

Ever since, she had given me her loyalty more than anyone else, and she soon became the only friend I could talk to or go to when I needed medical care.

I needed her now.

When the warrior I commanded didn't make a move, I growled.

“Do you wish to have your head chopped off?” I threatened.

He immediately bowed, shaking his head. “No, my King. It's just that… the healer…”

He trailed off, looking away. Irritation crawled at me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“She's… dead.” Lyra whispered in between gasps.

I looked around. “Who is dead?”

“Mira. She got killed because of me.” A tear slipped from her eyes as she broke.

My heart hammered at the news. I staggered a little, shocked by the unexpected news. “M…Mira is dead?”

Lyra lowered her head. “I'm sorry. It's my fault. All of it.” She finished.

That feeling of dread I felt earlier suddenly overwhelmed me. I didn't lose Lyra, but Mira was equally important to me. She was family. Every rogue wolf in the pack was family.

I had a duty to protect each and every one of them, to protect Mira, but I failed.

I failed to protect Mira.

With my heart feeling like it was torn into two, I howled into the evening air.

Every rogue wolf felt my pain, and they joined, our howls echoing into the distance.

Soon, the warriors were at my side. They knew what it was. It was a cry for war.

Tomorrow was the blood moon. It was going to be a bloody war.

****

The atmosphere in the pack was already charged with tension.

The warriors were ready. There was barely enough time to train, but they were prepared, just like I was. In the next hour, the sun would set, and the moon would be our signal.

I already sent Thorne to guard the Northern Gate. It was the weakest point, and I knew Idris would target it.

The door opened, and Lyra entered the room. I stared at her in surprise.

“You shouldn't be here. I want you to stay in. I wouldn't like you to get in the way; you're injured.” I said a little too harshly.”

Lyra frowned and shook her head. “No. I'm coming with you.”

I stopped moving and looked at her. “It is not a request,  you need rest.” I said harshly.

“I'm fine. I recovered over the night,” she replied.

“Lyra!”

“I'm not a coward; I will fight.” she barked out

Her eyes were set with a determined look.

“Fine.” I turned away.

She sighed. “I have tried hard to understand why you brought me here, but I haven't been able to get it. You don't treat me like a prisoner, you don't treat me like a pack member; one minute you want to kiss me, and the next you don't mind sending me into a trap. Now you want to protect me? Why do you care so much?”

 I shrugged. “I do not have to answer your questions.” I stated.

“I could die today… Any of us could lose their life today.” She laughed bitterly. “I thought at least you would be honest with me, knowing anything is possible in that war.”

Before I could respond, I felt an uneasy feeling grip me. My ears twitched in attention, trying to pick up strange noises.

At the same time, a rogue warrior ran in, panting. Something was wrong.

“What is it?” I frowned.

“The Northern gate!” He caught his breath. “It's open. The wolves have infiltrated the pack.”

How was that possible?

“What about Thorne?” I asked.

The warrior avoided my gaze. That answered my questions, and my eyes widened in horror as realization dawned.

Thorne. He betrayed me!

Screams broke out in the pack, and I stormed out, Lyra behind me.

Chaos exploded around us.

 I shifted mid-leap, bones cracking, fur tearing through skin as I landed on all fours and sniffed.

I could smell him, Idris. He had a scent I could never forget.

A wolf leaped at me. I tore into him, biting and tearing. Once he was dead, I kept looking through the field.

The moon was out, and it cast a red hue over the battlefield.

I tipped my head to the side and turned in time to see a black wolf lunge at me.

He tackled me to the ground, knocking the breath out of me.

Idris.

I snarled at him, and he snapped back, digging his claws into me. His weight crushed me.

He was stronger than I remembered.

Too strong.

I summoned my strength and pushed him off, but he was already back to his feet in an instant, circling me.

Our gaze was locked.

He dived at me again, and I met him mid-air. I sank my teeth into his neck, and he yelped, scratching my ribs with his claws. Pain shot through me.

I twisted and pushed him down, pressing my paws against his neck, choking him.

“Caelan, look out!” Lyra warned me before I felt another wolf slam into me from the side.

He dug his claws into my flank and ripped out flesh. I growled, pushing him off. Idris was up again, and he ran towards me full force.

I dodged him just in time, but his teeth caught my tail, biting hard. He dragged me down until I was on the floor and sank his teeth into my neck. My breath wheezed out. Blood filled my mouth.

My vision blurred.