Chapter 5 : Beneath the Surface

Kane’s POV

Kane carried her in silence.

She was weightless in his arms - too light, too still. Every step through the Blackstone halls scraped against his control like a blade. His wolf paced beneath his skin, snarling at the bruises, at the scent of dried blood, at the way her head lolled against his chest.

She had been broken. And they’d left her to die in the dark.

No one said a word as he passed. Pack members shrank back, eyes wide. The scent of fear followed him like a shadow.

“Prepare a room,” he barked to the nearest servant. “Now. Clean. Warm. Safe.”

The servant bolted down the corridor.

Thorne appeared beside him, breathless. “The healer’s waiting.”

Kane nodded, then pushed open the door to the best guest chamber. Firelight flickered to life as he crossed the threshold. He laid Lyra down carefully, gently brushing matted hair from her face.

She didn’t stir.

“Penelopa,” he said, turning to his personal healer. “Now.”

The middle-aged woman stepped forward without hesitation, a satchel already in hand. She took one look at Lyra and blanched. “Goddess…”

“Don’t say it,” Kane growled. “Just help her.”

Penelopa obeyed.

As she worked - cleaning blood, treating burns, applying healing salve to wounds no wolf should’ve endured - Kane stood watch.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t pace. But fury burned like wildfire beneath his skin.

His wolf was still growling. „They did this to our mate. They will die.”

Penelopa finished her inspection with slow, careful hands. “The silver did the worst of the damage. She’ll survive, but her healing is slow. Too slow for someone her age. Her wolf is… weak.”

“She’s not weak,” Kane snapped. “She’s been starved.”

Penelopa lowered her head. “Then she’ll need rest. And food. And time.”

“She’ll have all of it.”

A quiet knock sounded at the door.

Kane turned as the local healer stepped in - Evelyn. She looked older than she should have. Exhausted. But determined.

“I know her,” Evelyn said softly. “I… tended to her when I could. In secret.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me everything.”

Evelyn hesitated - then poured out the truth.

Lyra was the daughter of Omegas accused of treason. Her parents were executed after the Luna claimed they plotted against her. No trial. No proof. Only whispers.

Since then, Lyra had been beaten, enslaved, erased from the pack’s memory. And no one had stopped it.

“She was just a child,” Evelyn said, voice trembling. “And they hated her for blood she didn’t spill.”

Kane stared down at Lyra’s pale face.

“Her wolf’s name is Thalia,” he said quietly. “She tried to call for help. I heard her.”

Evelyn blinked. “She… spoke?”

Kane nodded. “She’s stronger than they think.” Then his voice turned cold. “But they’ve made a mistake.”

Evelyn swallowed. “What will you do?”

He rose slowly, towering, barely restrained.

“I’m going to burn the rot out of this place,” Kane said. “Starting at the top.”

Ten minutes later, Kane stood in the private wing of the pack house, the Alpha and Luna seated before him. Guards flanked the walls, but no one dared speak first.

Alpha Caden forced a smile. “Your Highness. I trust all is-”

“She was in your dungeon,” Kane said flatly. “Starved. Tortured. Branded with silver.”

Regina opened her mouth. “If this is about the Omega girl-”

“It’s about my mate,” Kane said, voice like thunder.

Silence slammed down on the room.

Caden’s face paled. Regina’s mouth snapped shut.

“She is mine,” Kane continued, stepping closer. “And you left her to die.”

“She’s the daughter of traitors-” Caden began.

“You’ll never speak that word again,” Kane snapped. “Not in my presence. Her blood is not your concern. But your actions? Your cowardice? That concerns me.”

Regina tried to recover, voice brittle. “We had no idea-”

“You had every idea,” Kane cut in. “And you allowed it.”

The room trembled with the weight of his fury. He didn’t shift. He didn’t raise his voice. But power poured from him like a wave of fire.

“I will be conducting a full investigation of your leadership,” Kane said, golden eyes glowing. “And you will comply. Or I will strip you of your titles myself. And I will finish this with my bare hands.”

Regina stood abruptly. “You have no right-”

“I have every right,” Kane growled. “Because she is mine. And you nearly destroyed her.”

The guards didn’t move. No one did.

Because in that moment, they knew - the prince wasn’t here for diplomacy. He was here for blood.

***

Back in the guest room, Lyra stirred. Not fully awake - but her fingers curled faintly in the sheets.

Her wolf shifted in her mind.

„He’s here,” Thalia whispered. „And he’s not afraid of them.”

Lyra exhaled, just once. A whisper of safety.