THE ALPHA FOLLOWS HER

4 AM.

The *Blackthorn Pack* mansion was drowned in darkness.

Only one room had a light on.

_Lyra Wynter’s_ room.

She was packing her bag.

The 3-day treatment was over. Today was the last day.

Her hands were shaking.

The wound on her shoulder still hurt. The same wound she got saving _Kael_.

`Just leave. Just leave.` she told herself.

Footsteps outside the door.

Lyra stopped.

A soft knock.

"Who?" she asked.

"It’s me," a tired voice. _Kael’s_ voice.

Lyra thought for 3 seconds. Then opened the door.

_Kael Veyron_ stood outside. Bare shirt. Hair wet. Like he just came in from the rain.

Dark circles under his eyes. 3 nights without sleep.

Silence between them.

"What do you want?" Lyra asked.

Kael looked inside. The bag was packed.

His jaw tightened. "Leaving?"

"Treatment’s done," Lyra answered coldly. "Deal’s done."

Kael stepped inside. Closed the door.

"One more day," he said.

"By what right?" Lyra looked straight into his eyes.

"By this right," Kael moved closer. "That if you leave… I’ll die."

It wasn’t a lie. The moon-shaped mark on his chest was aching again.

Lyra looked away. "That’s your problem, Alpha. Not mine."

And she reached for her bag.

Kael grabbed the handle. "I won’t let you go."

Lyra let go of the bag. "Then stop me."

And she walked past him and out the door.

Kael stood for 2 seconds. Then followed her.

---

*THE CHASE*

Lyra left the mansion. Headed for the forest.

The rain started again.

Kael followed her from a distance. Hiding behind trees.

`Where is she going this late?`

Lyra walked for 20 minutes. Deep into the forest. Stopped in front of an old cabin.

Light was on inside.

Lyra went in.

Kael hid behind a tree. Peered through the window.

Inside, _Lyra_ took off her hood.

Messy hair. Exhausted.

She opened her bag. Pulled out an old photo.

20-year-old Lyra. In a white gown. Next to 19-year-old Kael. Smiling. He was soft back then.

Lyra held the photo to her chest. Closed her eyes.

A tear fell.

Kael’s heart stopped.

`She’s crying? Because of me?`

Something inside him broke.

Then the cabin door opened.

_Torin_ ran in. Out of breath. "Miss Wynter!"

Lyra quickly hid the photo. "What happened?"

"The Alpha’s been attacked!" Torin panted. "Rogues. At the mansion!"

Kael’s heart dropped. `A trap?`

Lyra didn’t waste a second. Grabbed her bag and ran.

Kael ran after her too.

Lyra was sprinting through the rain.

Kael caught up. "Stop. It’s dangerous."

Lyra didn’t stop. "Get out of my way."

They reached the mansion and…

No attack.

Only _Rylan Drake_ standing there. With 10 guards. Smiling.

And in the middle stood _Kael_. Completely fine. No wounds.

Lyra stopped.

Kael looked at her. Then at Rylan.

"It was a trap," Kael said. Voice like ice. "To get you here."

Lyra’s eyes widened. "You…"

"Yes," Kael said. "I had Torin lie. Because you don’t give straight answers."

Rylan laughed loudly. "Wow Kael. Such a big drama just to get your mate?"

Lyra’s face went pale. Red with anger. "You’ve sunk low."

Kael stepped closer to her. Rain falling on both of them.

"Yeah I sank low," he said. Only for her. "I sank 5 years ago for you. I’m not sinking again."

Lyra raised her fist. Punched Kael’s chest.

Kael didn’t even move.

"You hate me, right?" Kael grabbed her hand. "Then hate me to my face. Not behind my back."

Lyra tried to pull her hand free. Couldn’t.

Rylan cut in: "Nice scene. But Miss Wynter, remember? You said you’re free."

Lyra looked at Rylan. Then at Kael.

She yanked her hand free with one jerk.

"I _am_ free," she said. "And I’m leaving."

And she turned and walked away.

Kael watched her go. Didn’t stop her.

He just whispered: "You can run all you want, Lyra. Your scent will bring me right to you."

---

*NIGHT*

Lyra came back to her room. Soaked. Shaking.

She closed the door. Put her forehead against it.

`He lied. For me.`

Her fist clenched.

On the other side, _Kael_ was destroying a table in his room.

"Anger," he told himself. "It’s just anger."

Lie.

He was scared.

Scared of losing her again.

He opened the window. Rain.

And he caught her scent.

Lyra’s scent. Faint. From far away.

Kael closed his eyes.

And then… the dream.

---

*DREAM*

This time they were both 20.

In the forest. Moonlight.

Lyra was laughing. "Kael, promise me. You’ll never leave me."

Kael kissed her hand. "Never, my Luna."

Then suddenly darkness.

Voices. "Alpha! Political alliance! This girl is weak!"

Kael’s face changed. Anger. Pride.

"I reject you."

Lyra fell. In the rain.

Kael woke up screaming.

4 AM.

He looked at the bed. Sheets torn.

He got up. Straight to Lyra’s room.

Door closed.

He knocked.

No answer.

Another knock. Harder.

Voice from inside: "What?!"

"Open the door."

"No."

Kael turned the handle. Locked.

He kicked the door. It cracked open.

Inside, _Lyra_ was sitting on the bed. Hair wet. Eyes red.

"Are you insane?" she yelled.

Kael walked in. Rain dripping off him.

"Yes I am," he said. "Because of you."

Lyra stood up. "Get out."

Kael closed the door. "Listen first."

"I don’t want to listen."

"YOU WILL LISTEN!" Kael roared.

The whole room shook.

Lyra flinched. Stepped back.

Kael saw the fear on her face.

His anger cooled instantly.

"No," he said softly. "I don’t want to scare you."

Lyra breathed. "Then what do you want?"

Kael took a step forward. "The truth."

"What truth?"

"The truth about 5 years ago. Why did you leave? Why did you come back?"

Lyra laughed. A painful laugh. "Truth? The truth is you called me trash in front of everyone. And the truth is I came back for revenge."

The words cut.

"Then do it," Kael said. He stepped forward, chest out. "Kill me. That’s what you want, right?"

Lyra looked at him. At his wounds. At his eyes.

Her hand raised. To slap him.

And stopped. Mid-air.

Kael caught her hand. Put it on his cheek.

"Hit me," he said. "If it makes you feel better."

Lyra’s hand was shaking.

She dropped her hand.

Silence. Only breathing.

Then Lyra said quietly: "You don’t get it, Kael. What’s broken… doesn’t get fixed."

"It does," Kael said. "If the person fixing it is real."

Lyra closed her eyes. A tear fell.

Kael wiped it with his finger.

Lyra jerked away. "Don’t touch me!"

"Scared?" Kael asked. "Scared you’ll fall in love again?"

Lyra’s breath caught.

She didn’t answer. Turned to the window.

Kael stood behind her.

Both watched the rain.

After a long time Kael said: "Tomorrow morning… last dose. After that you’re free."

Lyra nodded.

Kael walked to the door. Stopped.

Turned. "I… I don’t sleep. I get dreams. About you."

Lyra didn’t turn around.

Kael left.

---

*MORNING*

Last dose.

Lyra came in. Bag in hand.

Kael was sitting on the bed. Healed. Strong.

Lyra gave him the medicine. Her hand didn’t shake.

"Done," she said. "You’re healed now."

Kael drank it. "Thank you, Miss Wynter."

Hearing "Miss Wynter" hurt Lyra’s heart.

She turned to leave.

"Wait," Kael said.

Lyra stopped.

"One thing," Kael said. "Wherever you go… I’ll find you."

Not a threat. A promise.

Lyra didn’t turn. Just opened the door and left.

Kael sat there long after she was gone.

Then he put a hand on his chest. On that mark.

It was darker now.

---

Evening.

News came in.

_Miss Wynter is gone._

Room empty. No bag. No photo.

Only the window open. And rain.

Kael heard it and said nothing.

He just stood up. Put on his jacket. Picked up his sword.

Went to Torin. "Gather the pack."

"Where are we going, Alpha?"

Kael looked out. Toward the forest.

"To get my Luna back."

And he walked out into the rain.

The whole Blackthorn Pack followed.

---

Far away, at the edge of the forest.

_Lyra_ sat under a tree. Getting soaked.

She held that same photo in her hand.

She tried to tear it. Couldn’t.

Then a voice behind her:

"I told you. I’d find you."

_Kael_ stood there. Soaked. Sword in hand.

Lyra stood up. "Why are you here?"

"Because," Kael threw his sword down. "Without you I’m incomplete."

Lyra laughed. "Lies."

"Truth," Kael took a step forward. "And to prove it…"

He unbuttoned the top of his shirt. Chest visible.

That moon-shaped mark. Now glowing.

"See this?" Kael said. "This is your mark. The mate bond. Broken. But alive."

Lyra’s breath caught.

Kael came right up to her. Rain on both of them.

"Last time I’m asking, Lyra Wynter," he said. "Will you be mine? Or will you kill me?"

Lyra looked at him. 5 years of pain. 5 years of hate. And… something else.

She opened her mouth to answer.

Then an arrow sound came from the forest.

_Swoosh!_

An arrow flew straight at Kael.

Lyra screamed and shoved him.

The arrow hit her arm.

Lyra collapsed. Bleeding.

Kael’s world stopped.

"LYRA!!!!"