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Chapter 18 : The Awakening of the Wolf
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2024-11-13 23:57:56
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Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 19 : Shared Moments
As they step into the dimly lit kitchen, Lyra hesitates, instinctively pausing at the threshold. The scent of fresh bread and roasted meat fills the air, but her memories in the kitchen are ones of silence and subservience, where she was only allowed to eat what was left over and avoid anyoneโs gaze.Kane notices her pause and reaches out, touching her arm gently. โLyra, come in. Youโre not a servant here anymore. Youโre my mate,โ he says, his voice firm yet tender. โYou have every right to be here. And,โ he adds, smiling slightly, โto help yourself to anything you want.โShe looks up at him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and hesitation. โIโฆ It just feels strange. Iโm so used to keeping my head down, staying out of sight.โ Her voice is barely a whisper as she glances at the fully stocked pantry.Kane gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. โI know this will take time, Lyra. But every day, youโll grow more into the strength I see in you.โ He reaches for a plate and hands it to her
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-13Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 20 : Lessons in Strength
Lyra's POVAs the first light of morning filtered through her window, Lyra blinked awake, stretching beneath the soft sheets and savoring the warmth of the bed. For a brief moment, she felt that gentle peace she was starting to know, a calmness that filled her with an unfamiliar sense of hope. Just as she was gathering herself to start the day, she heard a soft knock at her door.โItโs open,โ she called softly, still somewhat cautious but knowing who to expect.Kane stepped inside, his face bright with an energy that surprised her. โGood morning, Lyra.โ He smiled. โDid you sleep well?โShe nodded, her fingers fidgeting slightly under the weight of his gaze. โI... Yes, better than I have in a long time.โโGood.โ His smile grew warmer. โI wanted to talk to you about something,โ he said, leaning against the door frame. โStarting today, I thought it might be time to teach you a few things. Self-defense, combat basics. I know it might feel like a lot, but I promise, Iโll go easy at first.โ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-14Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 21 : A Growing Bond
After her morning training session with Kane, Lyra returned to her room, the soreness in her muscles a satisfying reminder of the progress sheโd made. She stood under the hot spray of the shower, letting the water soothe her aching limbs, marveling at how much had changed in just a few days. There was a newfound strength within her, but it was more than just physicalโit was a stirring confidence, a belief that perhaps she could belong somewhere, beside someone.Freshly dressed, Lyra was adjusting her hair when she heard a light knock. Kane entered with an easy smile. "Feeling sore?" he asked, noticing her tentative movements.Lyra nodded, smiling shyly. โA little. But I think itโs a good kind of sore.โKane chuckled. โThatโs exactly how it should feel. Youโre doing great, Lyra.โ He took a step forward, his eyes bright with an idea. โHow about a break? I thought it might be nice to get away for a bit. I know a spot by a waterfall nearby. Itโs quiet, peaceful and I packed us a lunch.โTh
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-14Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 22 : King's Invitation
In the fading light of the evening, Kane received a message from his father, King Alaric, with an unexpected and urgent invitation for him and Lyra to join him for a private supper. The kingโs note was brief, written with a distinct formality but softened by a personal tone reserved only for family.Upon receiving the invitation, Kane knocked softly on the door between their rooms. Lyra opened it, a mixture of curiosity and nervousness flickering in her eyes.โItโs from my father,โ Kane explained, holding up the letter. โHeโs asked us to join him for supper tonight.โLyraโs brow furrowed in thought, her hands instinctively fidgeting with her necklace. โDo you thinkโฆ Is everything alright?โKane placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, sensing the anxiety that laced her question. โIโm not sure, but I know he wouldnโt have called us without reason. Whatever it is, Iโll be with you.โThey walked through the grand corridors of the pack house together, a silent understanding between them.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-14Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 23 : Training
The early morning mist was cool against Lyraโs skin as she stood on the training grounds beside Kane. The sun hadnโt fully risen, casting a soft, hazy glow over the forest surrounding them. Lyra took a deep breath, feeling the crisp air fill her lungs. Today felt different, though she couldnโt quite place why. She was stronger now - she could feel it in her bones.Kane stretched beside her, rolling his shoulders with ease and confidence. โReady to start?โ he asked, his eyes glinting with encouragement and just a hint of challenge.Lyra nodded, her pulse quickening with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. โI think so. Whatโs first?โโLetโs start with some endurance drills,โ Kane said, giving her a small smile. โIโll be right by your side.โThey began with a light jog around the training field. The ground was firm under her feet, and each step felt steady, almost effortless. In the past, this would have been a struggle, but now her breathing was even, her pace strong and unyieldin
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-14Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 24 : A Gift
Lyra stood in the training yard, wiping sweat from her brow after another intense session with Kane. Her muscles ached, but the growing sense of accomplishment kept her spirits high. She had never felt so alive, so... capable. Kane was smiling at her, his eyes filled with pride.Before she could say anything, his expression shifted slightly. A distant look crossed his face - a mind-link message. His lips quirked into a thoughtful smile as he looked back at her.โMy fatherโs just informed me,โ Kane began, his tone gentle but tinged with curiosity, โthat heโs ready for us to collect the journal. Your motherโs journal.โLyra froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. โMy motherโs journal?โ she repeated softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The idea of holding something so personal, so connected to the woman she had only fragmented memories of, made her stomach flutter with equal parts excitement and dread.Kane nodded. โItโs waiting for us. We can go now if youโre ready.โLyra to
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-15Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 25 : Meeting Mother for the First Time
Lyra sat on the edge of her bed, the wooden box resting on her lap like a fragile treasure. The intricate carvings caught the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and for a moment, she traced the patterns with trembling fingers. She drew in a shaky breath, her emotions tangling in a mix of anticipation and fear.Her wolf stirred in the back of her mind, calm yet alert.โThis is her. Our mother.โ The voice was steady, grounding her.โI know,โ Lyra whispered aloud, her voice barely audible. โItโs just... what if I donโt live up to what she wanted me to be? What if sheโs... disappointed in me?โHer wolf huffed softly, almost reassuringly. โShe gave us life, Lyra. She would love us. No matter what.โThat simple truth settled something deep within her. Taking a steadying breath, Lyra carefully lifted the lid of the box.Inside, the past greeted her with an intimacy that both thrilled and frightened her. She hesitated, her hands hovering over the contents as if touching them too quickly would sha
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-17Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 26 : Unraveling the Threads
Lyra woke the next morning with the journal still beside her on the bed. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming her skin, but her thoughts were still with the words she had read. Each sentence was a doorway into a life she had never known, each page a connection to a woman she could finally begin to understand.She traced the cover of the journal with her fingertips before sitting up. There were still so many unanswered questions, so many pages left to read. But Lyra also felt a new strength, a sense of purpose driving her. Her mother had written not just to leave a legacy but to guide her.Her wolf stirred within her. โThe answers will come. One step at a time.โLyra nodded to herself. She got out of bed and dressed, choosing something simple and comfortable - a sign that she was still adjusting to having her own clothing, her own choices. Today, she knew, was a day for digging deeper.When Lyra entered the dining hall, Kane was already waiting. His eyes softened when he
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-18
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Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 116 : Still Standing
Lyra POV Ekreth was gone again. For a long moment, she simply sat there, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. Duty waited outside that door. An entire kingdom will look to her now - broken, battered, but victorious. They had won the war. The Harbinger was gone. The seal was locked and nothing should get through to this world.And Kaneโฆ Kane was gone too.The thought carved another raw wound through her heart. She pressed a trembling hand against her chest, as if she could hold the pieces of herself together a little longer. She was Queen. There was no one else. She can't hide here.The heavy cloak of authority settled around her shoulders. She did not look at Nyxar. She couldnโt. Not yet.A soft knock stirred the heavy silence.Lyra blinked slowly, pulling herself out of the half-daze she'd sunk into. Her fingers still curled around Nyxarโs, reluctant to let go. She didnโt want to move. Didnโt want to face whatever waited beyond this quiet, broken moment.Th
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 115 : The Weight of Staying
Lyra POV The door clicked softly shut behind Ekreth, leaving her alone with Nyxar and the sound of her own heartbeat.For a long time, she didn't move.She sat there, hands folded on her lap, staring at the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest beneath the blanket. Each breath was a fragile miracle. A proof that he still lived - that he hadn't slipped away entirely into whatever place gods went when they died."You stayed", Thalia murmured inside her, voice warm and thick with emotion."I had to."Lyra answered numbly."No, Lyra. You chose to."Lyra's chest ached at the words.She hadn't thought about it. Not really. When Nyxarโs light began to break apart, when the world had turned inside out - she had moved without hesitation. Without calculation. As if something inside her had already decided long before she knew it herself.But that didn't mean she understood it. Or that she wanted to.A heavy silence filled her mind."He matters to you", Thalia said softly, without accusation.
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 114 : Dust and Gold
Lyra POV The silence that followed didnโt feel like peace. It felt like the world had forgotten how to breathe.Stone dust hung in the air like smoke, fine and pale, drifting slowly down in spirals from the vaulted ceiling above. Runes that had once blazed with ancient light were now dark and broken, their power spent. Cracks split the floor like veins across a dead heart.And at the center of it all, Lyra sat on her knees in the ruins of the seal - her hands tangled in Nyxarโs coat, her breath coming in ragged, uneven pulls.He was warm. That was the only thing she could hold onto.He was warm.His chest rose and fell beneath her fingers, slow but steady. His body, usually tense with power, now felt strangely soft in her arms - boneless, weighty. And his faceโฆHis face looked peaceful.Not serene. Not untouched. There were shadows under his eyes, ash on his skin, and gold still faintly glowing at the corners of his mouth. But there was no pain now. No fight left in him.Justโฆ peace
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 113 : Ashes of a God
Nyxar POVThe earth still quaked when the light began to fade. Not with the blinding fury of battle, nor with the blood-red chaos of war - but with something quieter. Heavier. Like the echo of a heartbeat after it stops.A sacred breath held too longโฆ finally exhaled.Nyxar stood at the heart of the chamber beneath the castle - boots braced against fractured stone, the runes beneath his feet flickering like dying stars. The seal pulsed in front of him, threads of gold and shadow unraveling into the dark like veins torn open.Ekreth stood beside him, tall and monstrous in his truest form - wrought of shadow and old bone, his wings hunched tight against the low ceiling, scraping stone as they twitched.The air thrummed with old power. The kind that didnโt belong to the world above.Nyxar didnโt flinch.And before them in one moment the gate was gone. No fire. No rupture. No tearing in the fabric of the world. Justโฆ closed. Like it had never been there at all.Nyxarโs chest was a war dru
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 112 : The Gate
Lyra POV - Dawn The sky held no warmth when morning came.It broke over the horizon like a blade - pale and cold, slicing through the hush that had settled over the city. No birds sang. No bells rang. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.Lyra stood alone in the highest tower, watching the first light seep into the edges of the world. The city still slept below, curled into itself like a creature trying to heal. She could see the rooftops where ivy climbed, the market square where sweetbread had been shared, the fountains where pups had splashed. All the places that had made her heart ache the night before.Her eyes were dry now. Her chest hollowed and quiet, the way it always felt after grief had burned itself down to embers.The shirt sheโd held all night was gone. Folded. Left behind. Like a prayer she couldnโt take with her.She wasnโt bringing Kane into this. This was hers to carry. This was her moment to end what First Queen couldn't. Gave up what gods turn her into.The rit
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 111 : Before the Ash Settles
Lyra POVThe city pulsed like a living thing.Not with war drums or warning horns, not with screams or smoke. But with something gentler. Steadier. Like a heartbeat finding its rhythm again after the chaos had passed.She walked its cobbled streets alone, the sky soft and bruised with dusk, her cloak drawn close against the cool wind.She didnโt want to be recognized.Tonight, she wasnโt the Queen. Not the warrior. Not the widow.She was just a woman - a ghost, maybe - drifting through the bones of a city that had outlived too much death.The streets were cracked and uneven where the stone had split from the last quake. Ivy had begun to creep over the ruins. Not the kind born of darkness and shadow like before - but living ivy. Green. Hopeful. Unafraid.It clung to burned-out walls, softening them. Claiming them.And everywhere she looked, life had begun again.A child ran past her, barefoot and shrieking with laughter, trailing a cloth banner behind her like it was a cape. Another pu
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 110 : The Ones Who Remain
Lyra POVThe embers still glowed behind her.Lyra didnโt look back.The scent of ash clung to her skin, tangled in her hair, curled in the back of her throat. Kaneโs name lingered there, unspoken. His memory pulsed with every breath.But she did not allow it to take her. Not yet.Later, she told herself, jaw locked so tight it ached. I will mourn him later. When the war is done. When I am alone. When I am allowed to shatter.But not now.Now, there were still choices to be made. Kingdom to hold together. Monsters to face.And one of them waited for her in human form - standing beside another creature just as ancient, just as terrifying.She found them where the Hollow Grounds bled into the broken remnants of the forest - where the warded stones gave way to open earth and the burnt sky cracked with thin threads of gold.Ekreth stood with arms crossed, tall and impossibly still. The last rays of dusk caught the edges of him, casting long, sharp shadows at his feet.He had taken a human
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 109 : Kaneโs Pyre
Lyra POV The pyre stood at the edge of the Hollow Grounds, where even shadows seemed afraid to linger.Smoke curled upward in slow, lazy spirals, black against a bruised sky. The earth beneath Lyraโs boots felt scorched, barren - like it remembered too. The scent of charred wood, old blood, and unspoken goodbyes clung to the air, suffocating.She stood alone.The others waited behind the circle of warded stones, where the barrier shimmered like a ghost in the dying light. Not one of them crossed it. Not Nyxar, not Elara, not the witches who still whispered her name like a half-broken prayer. They knew this was not a moment meant to be witnessed.Grief, Lyra had learned, wasnโt something that could be comforted. It wasnโt something you wrapped in soft words or shared through tears. It was a blade, and she had been holding it for days - bleeding quietly from the inside.Now it was buried in her chest, where no one could see it but her.Kaneโs body lay wrapped in his old wolfhide cloak
Lyra, His Second Chance Mateย ย ย Chapter 108 : The Last Thread
Lyra POV The battlefield had gone silent. Smoke drifted in slow spirals, carrying the scent of charred magic and iron. The fires were still burning, but no one moved to put them out. The witches stood frozen in their circles, eyes wide. Warriors clutched weapons they would never raise. Because all eyes were on her and on him. Kane knelt at the heart of the broken ring, cracked stone glowing with sigils that no longer pulsed. His hands dug into the earth, breath coming in ragged gasps, and his back arched in pain as the Harbingerโs presence writhed inside him - like a second heartbeat made of shadows and fire. But it was still Kaneโs face. Still his eyes. Lyra stepped forward slowly. She couldnโt feel her feet. Couldnโt feel her hands. Only the pulsing ache in her chest - the last thread of their bond, frayed and bleeding. Ekreth stood to her right, arms folded, waiting like a vulture made of smoke and starlight. His wings curled inward as if to shield her from what came
