RYLAN'S OFFER

Blood.

The rainwater was turning red.

*Kael Veyron* sat on the ground. *Lyra’s* head in his lap.

"LYRA! OPEN YOUR EYES!" he roared. His voice echoed through the forest.

Blood was pouring from Lyra’s arm. The arrow was still in it.

Her lips were turning blue. Breathing fast.

"Doctor!" Kael bellowed. "TORIN!"

Torin and 4 guards appeared in 2 seconds.

"Move back, Alpha," Torin said.

Kael held Lyra tighter. "I’m not letting go."

"Alpha she’ll die! The arrow has to come out!"

Kael looked at the arrow with shaking hands. Poisoned. Black.

He closed his eyes. And snapped the arrow. The rest stayed inside.

Lyra groaned and opened her eyes.

"Kael..." her voice was so faint.

"I’m here," Kael pressed her hair to his chest. "Nothing’s going to happen. You hear me? Nothing."

Lyra gave a weak smile. "You… saved me again..."

"Shut up," Kael put a finger on her lips. "Don’t talk."

Then clapping came from the forest.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

*Rylan Drake* jumped down from a tree. 10 guards with him. Soaked in the rain. A smirk on his face.

"Bravo," he said. "What a love story. Rejected her 5 years ago. Now giving your life for her."

Kael lifted his head. Eyes red. "Say one more word… and I’ll kill you."

Rylan raised both hands. "Whoa, don’t get mad. I came to help."

He pointed at Lyra. "That arrow… it’s not a normal arrow. It’s 'Blackthorn Poison'. Only I have the cure."

Lie.

Kael knew. But he didn’t have time right now.

"What’s the condition?" Kael asked through gritted teeth.

Rylan smiled. "See? Even Alphas get desperate."

He crouched next to Lyra. Brushed her wet hair behind her ear.

"The condition is very small, Kael," Rylan said to Lyra. "You give her to me. I’ll heal her. And she’ll be the Healer of my pack. My Luna."

A knife to the heart.

Lyra opened her eyes. "No..."

Rylan took her hand. "Shhh. You want to live, right?"

Kael slapped Rylan’s hand away. "DON’T TOUCH HER!"

"Then let her die," Rylan stood up. "3 hours. The poison reaches the heart. After that… no one can save her."

Silence.

Only rain and Lyra’s fast breathing.

Kael looked at Lyra. Blue eyes. In pain.

A war inside him. Rage vs Love.

Finally he lowered his head.

"Take her," he said. His voice was dead. "Save her."

Rylan’s victorious smile.

Tears in Lyra’s eyes. "Kael… you…"

"Shut up," Kael kissed her forehead. Fast. Broken. "Just stay alive. That’s all."

Rylan handed Lyra to his guards.

As they lifted her, her eyes met Kael’s one last time.

Kael stood there. In the rain. Fists clenched. Bleeding. Didn’t know if it was his blood or hers.

Rylan said: "Thanks, Kael. For giving us your Luna."

And they all left.

Kael stood there for a long time.

Then he looked at the sky and screamed.

The whole forest shook.

---

*RYLAN'S PACK - DRAKEHOLD*

2 hours later.

A white room. Smelled clean.

_Lyra_ lay on the bed. Arm bandaged. Poison out.

The door opened.

_Rylan_ came in. Tray in hand. Soup.

"How are you, my Healer?" he asked softly.

Lyra turned her face away.

Rylan set the tray down and sat near the bed.

"You know?" he said. "When you held Kael’s hand… I was burning."

Lyra stayed silent.

"I won’t force you," Rylan said. "3 days. Just stay here 3 days. Heal. Then you decide."

"What decision?" Lyra asked. Cold voice.

"Either go back to him… who rejected you.

Or stay with me… who will make you Queen."

Lyra closed her eyes.

Rylan stood to leave. Stopped at the door.

"Oh right," he said. "Kael hasn’t sent any message yet. Guess… he gave up."

Lyra’s heart sank.

Rylan left. Door closed.

---

*BLACKTHORN PACK - THAT SAME NIGHT*

Kael destroyed his room.

Tables. Chairs. Walls.

"FIND HER!" he roared. "SEARCH THE WHOLE WORLD!"

Torin was terrified. "Alpha, she’s safe with Rylan. We can’t attack. It’ll start a war."

"THEN LET IT BE A WAR!" Kael punched the table. Blood came from his hand.

He didn’t sleep all night.

Every 5 minutes he went to the window. Stared at the forest.

`Is she okay?`

`Is she scared?`

`Will she… forgive me?`

4 AM.

He closed his eyes.

Dream came.

Lyra. With Rylan. Laughing. Rylan holding her hand.

Kael’s eyes snapped open. Screaming.

He hit his chest. Right on the mark. It hurt so bad.

"The mate bond… it’s breaking," he whispered.

---

*DRAKEHOLD - DAY 2*

Lyra was healing.

Rylan came every day. Talked. Made her laugh.

Today he brought a necklace. Black stone.

"Wear this," he said.

Lyra refused. "I don’t want it."

Rylan left it on the table. "Wear it whenever you want."

As he left he said: "Kael still hasn’t sent any word. Maybe… he gave up."

Lyra’s heart dropped.

That night.

She opened the window. Rain.

She looked at her arm. The moon-shaped mark. It was fading.

The mate bond was weakening.

An empty feeling in her chest.

`I’m free… so why am I not happy?`

---

*BLACKTHORN - DAY 3*

Kael was a ghost now.

No food. No sleep.

Only training. Rage.

Torin said: "Alpha, please stop. You’ll kill yourself."

Kael drove his sword into the wall. "It’s been 3 days. 3 DAYS!"

He made a decision.

"Declare war," he said. "Attack Drakehold."

"Alpha, this-"

"THAT’S AN ORDER!"

---

*DRAKEHOLD - NIGHT*

Lyra couldn’t sleep.

Light came through her window. Torches.

Noise outside.

An attack!

The door broke down.

_Kael_ walked in. Covered in blood. Sword in hand. Eyes wild.

"LYRA!"

Lyra stood up. "Kael?"

Kael looked her up and down. She was okay.

He breathed again.

He ran and pulled her into his chest. Tight.

"Got you," he whispered into her hair. "Got my..."

"LET HER GO!"

_Rylan_ stood behind him. With 20 guards.

Kael pushed Lyra behind him. Stood in front.

"Last time I’m saying it," Kael said. "Give me my Luna back."

Rylan laughed. "Yours? When you called her trash, she was mine. When you left her alone, she was mine. Now that you saved her from poison, she’s yours?"

Kael stepped forward.

Rylan pulled out his sword. "Come. Let’s settle this. Who deserves her."

Both Alphas face to face.

In the middle, _Lyra_.

Both looking at her.

Kael: "Come with me. I’ll fix everything."

Rylan: "Stay with me. I’ll never hurt you."

Lyra’s heart was shattering.

5 years of pain. 3 days of loneliness.

She closed her eyes. Breathed.

And took a step forward.

Whose way?

Everyone held their breath.

Lyra stopped in front of _Kael_.

Hope lit up in Kael’s eyes.

Then Lyra said, very quietly:

"I’m not going with either of you."

Explosion.

Kael’s face fell.

Rylan’s smile disappeared.

Lyra continued: "I’m free. And I’m… I’m leaving alone."

And she walked between both Alphas toward the door.

Kael reached for her hand.

Lyra pulled away. "Don’t touch me."

And she walked out. Into the rain.

Both Alphas watched her go.

One broken.

The other furious.

---

*FOREST - MIDNIGHT*

Lyra was walking. Arm hurting. Heart hurting more.

Footsteps behind her.

She stopped. Turned.

_Kael_. Alone. No sword.

"Why didn’t you go with me?" Kael asked. Voice full of pain.

Lyra didn’t answer.

"Why didn’t you go with Rylan?" Kael asked again.

"Because..." Lyra closed her eyes. "Because I hate both of you. And I hate myself the most."

Kael came closer. "Then punish me. Hit me. But don’t go alone."

Lyra looked at him. Soaked. Broken.

Her heart screamed: `Stay.`

Her mind screamed: `Run.`

She chose the second.

She raised her hand. Put it on Kael’s chest. Right on the mark.

The mark glowed.

Both of them shook.

"See this?" Lyra said. "This bond is still here. And that’s why… I have to go."

She pulled her hand back. Turned.

"Goodbye, Alpha Veyron."

And she disappeared into the dark.

Kael stood there.

Pain in his chest. More than in his heart.

He looked at the sky.

"Lyra..."

And he collapsed. Unconscious.