HE STARTS DREAMING OF HER

Three days passed.

*Kael Veyron* was healing.

The wound on his body had closed.

But the wound in his mind… was getting deeper every day.

Reason: *Lyra Wynter.*

She came every morning. Gave the medicine. Left without a word.

No eye contact. No name.

Like he wasn’t the Alpha. Like he was air.

And at night…

At night Kael went insane.

---

*NIGHT 1*

Kael closed his eyes.

In the dream, he was back in that hall. The mating ceremony.

*Lyra* in a white gown. 20 years old. Trembling.

"Kael, I’m your mate."

And he said: "I reject you."

Lyra turned. Ran into the rain.

Kael called after her: "STOP!"

She stopped. Turned.

But this Lyra was older. 25. Cold. Blue eyes.

She smiled faintly. "Too late, Alpha."

And vanished.

Kael’s eyes snapped open. Sweat. Out of breath.

He looked at the bed. The pillow beside him was damp.

From tears? No. From sweat.

"No," he clenched his fist. "I’m not weak."

---

*NIGHT 2*

The same dream again.

This time Lyra was alone in the forest. Wounded. Bleeding.

Kael ran to her. "Lyra!"

He reached out his hand.

Lyra looked at his hand. Then put her own hand on her chest.

Right over her heart.

"You hurt me here," she said. "And it will never heal."

And she collapsed into the dirt.

Kael woke up screaming.

"TURN ON THE LIGHT!" he roared.

Torin was in the room in 2 seconds. "Alpha?"

"Where is she?" Kael asked. "Miss Wynter?"

"S… she’s probably sleeping."

"CALL HER. NOW."

10 minutes later Lyra was at the door. Hood on. She didn’t look sleepy.

"What happened?" Her voice wasn’t groggy. It was cold.

"I had a dream," Kael said bluntly. "About you."

Lyra blinked. Once. Then opened her eyes. "And?"

"And… are you okay?"

The question had worry in it. And anger.

Lyra took one step inside. Came closer. Put a hand on his forehead.

Cold.

"No fever," she said. "Just a sick mind, Alpha."

She pulled her hand back. "Medicine in the morning. Go to sleep."

And she left.

Kael stared at the door long after she was gone.

---

*NIGHT 3*

This dream was different.

Kael and Lyra. Together.

In the forest. Holding hands.

Lyra was laughing. 20-year-old Lyra. Innocent.

"Kael, you’ll never leave me, right?"

Kael squeezed her hand tight. "Never."

Then the scene changed.

The same hall. The same ceremony.

And he yanked his hand away.

"I reject you."

Lyra fell to the ground. She didn’t cry. She just stared at him.

Kael woke up with a scream.

3 AM.

He got out of bed. Bare feet.

Straight to Lyra’s room.

The door was closed.

He knocked. No answer.

Another knock. Harder.

A voice from inside: "What?"

"Open the door."

"Talk in the morning."

"No. NOW."

Silence. Then the door opened.

Lyra. In her hood. Dark circles under her eyes. She wasn’t sleeping either.

"What’s the problem, Alpha Veyron?" she asked.

Kael looked her up and down. She was fine. Breathing.

The anger in him cooled. And was replaced by… restlessness.

"I… I’m fine," Kael said. "Just… checking."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "At 3 AM? Checking?"

Kael had no answer.

Lyra tried to close the door.

Kael put his hand out to stop it. "Wait."

"Move your hand."

"No."

Silence. Only the rain.

Then Kael said quietly: "Do you… hate me?"

Lyra stopped.

She looked up. Straight into Kael’s eyes.

"Hate?" she laughed. No sound. "To hate, you need a heart, Alpha. Mine died 5 years ago."

The door shut.

Kael stood outside. His hand still on the door.

Pain in his chest. Not the kind a knife gives.

---

Morning.

There were rumors in the pack.

"The Alpha was standing outside Miss Wynter’s room last night."

"At 3 AM."

"What’s going on?"

*Elara*, a girl from the pack, brought Lyra breakfast.

"Miss Wynter, are you okay?" Elara asked. "The Alpha… he’s…"

"What?" Lyra took the tray.

"He’s been staring at you. Since breakfast."

Lyra looked out the window.

On the training ground, _Kael_ was fighting with a sword. Furious.

Every strike looked like it had a name.

Lyra looked away.

---

Evening.

Time for treatment.

Lyra came in. Set her bag down.

Kael was sitting on the bed. No shirt. Bandage on his shoulder.

Lyra’s eyes went there. The wound from 3 days ago.

Her hand shook for one second.

Kael noticed. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Lyra answered coldly. And started applying the medicine.

The moment her fingers touched Kael’s skin…

Both of them flinched.

Kael closed his eyes. That touch. That heat.

`5 years.`

Lyra quickly pulled her hand back. "Done."

She stood to leave.

Kael grabbed her wrist.

Lyra stopped.

"Let go," she said.

"No," Kael said. "Answer me."

"Answer what?"

"The dreams. Why are you in them every night?"

Lyra looked down. Her wrist in his hand.

She pulled free. "I’m not coming. You’re calling me."

"Me?"

"Your sins." Lyra stood straight. "Now excuse me."

And she walked out.

Kael looked at his wrist. Her fingerprints were still there.

That night.

The dream came again.

This time Kael was alone in the forest. Dark.

A voice in the distance: "Kael."

Lyra.

She stood in the light. But there was a shadow behind her.

"Come closer," Lyra said.

Kael walked to her.

The moment he took Lyra’s hand… the shadow stepped forward.

It was *Rylan Drake*. The enemy Alpha.

He took Lyra’s hand in his. "Thanks, Alpha. For taking care of my Luna."

Kael looked at Lyra.

Lyra looked down. Said nothing.

Kael woke up.

Screaming.

He destroyed the bed.

"LYRA!!!!"

The whole mansion woke up.

---

6 AM.

*Rylan Drake* was at the Blackthorn Pack gates.

With 10 guards.

"I’m here to see my future Luna," he said. "Miss Wynter."

Torin immediately told Kael.

Kael was downstairs in 2 seconds. Eyes red. Hadn’t slept in 3 nights.

At the gate, _Lyra_ was already standing. Bag in hand.

Rylan saw her and smiled. "Miss Wynter. You promised. You’d be the healer for my pack."

Lyra was silent.

Kael stepped forward. Stood between Rylan and Lyra.

"She’s the healer for _my_ pack," Kael said. Voice like ice. "She’s not going anywhere."

Rylan laughed. "What happened, Kael. Five years ago you called her trash. Now she’s yours?"

The words hit straight in the heart.

Lyra closed her eyes.

Kael clenched his fists. "Shut up."

"Or what?" Rylan took a step forward. "Fight me? In your condition?"

Kael was about to move.

Then Lyra grabbed his arm.

Everyone stopped.

Lyra looked at Kael. Then at Rylan.

"I never made any promise," she said in a cold voice. "I’ll finish my job. Then I’ll leave."

Rylan’s face fell.

There was no victory on Kael’s face. Only… relief?

Lyra let go. And walked inside.

Both Alphas watched her go.

One with rage.

The other with jealousy.

---

That night.

Kael couldn’t sleep.

He punched the wall in his room.

`Rylan.`

`He said her name.`

`Lyra didn’t deny it.`

Jealousy. Rage. And fear.

Fear of losing her again.

He put his head on the bed.

And then… the dream came.

This time Lyra wasn’t in it.

Only a voice:

"The next time you touch me… either mark me… or kill me."

Kael’s eyes opened.

Pain in his chest.

Right where Lyra touched him.

The mark was darker now. Faint. Moon-shaped.

Half a mate mark.

Kael clenched his fist.

"I’ll mark her," he said to the dark. "Even if I have to burn the world."

In her room, _Lyra_ was also awake.

A matching mark was forming on her wrist.

She looked at it. And whispered:

"It’s too late, Kael."