CHAPTER 004

Keira's POV

"You're the Alpha heir," my father said, setting down his cup. "You can't abandon the pack like this. Your mother and I need you here."

"Zeke is a good gamma," I said, my voice steady even though my hands were shaking at my sides. "He's powerful, capable, and he'll make a fine Alpha standing beside her. Lyra will make him a good wife. She'll make a fine Luna for this pack."

Lyra let out a giggle and threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck so tightly I choked on her overwhelming perfume.

"Thank you, sister," she said loudly enough for everyone at the table to hear. "I always knew you were misunderstood. I know deep down that you care about me."

Then she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dropping to a whisper so I was the only person who could hear what she was saying.

"Good. You've learned your place. Don't bother pretending anymore. Zeke never loved you, and he never will."

I shoved her back with a small push of my aura, just enough to put space between us without drawing attention from the others.

"The only thing Zeke ever felt for you was pity," I said quietly, my eyes locked on hers. "You'll find that out soon enough, and it'll be the hard way."

I headed for the stairs, wanting nothing more than to reach my room and shut the door on all of it. My mother's words. Her dead eyes as they stared at me. And Lyra's pretense.

Zeke was coming up the staircase just as I reached it, his eyes finding mine for only a second before Lyra's hands closed around me from behind.

Before I could even understand what was happening, her arms locked around my waist with a strength that absolutely didn't match the fragile omega she always claimed to be.

I had wondered for years how she managed certain things—how a girl who supposedly had no wolf kept surprising me with strength she should never have had at all.

"He doesn't love me?" she said, her voice fierce against my ear. "Let's see who he catches if we both fall down these stairs."

My eyes went wide as I caught the flash of red glowing in her irises.

The realisation dawned on me. She had lied all along. She had always had a wolf and abilities. That explained why she always had heavy perfume on. She was hiding away her wolf's scent.

But there was no time to think about what that meant, not with the stairs so close beneath us.

"Lyra," I said, my voice shaking, my hands grabbing uselessly at her arms. "Don't do this. Please."

She shoved us both forward, and I felt the floor give way as I got caught up in the air. I screamed, my hands grabbing for anything solid, finding nothing but empty air.

"Zeke, help me!" Lyra's voice rang out beside me, high and panicked, echoing off the walls. "I might die if I fall."

From the corner of my eye, I saw him rush forward to her immediately, hands held forward, ready to catch her.

The scene made my wolf claw forward, piercing my chest with her sharp claws. I winced and closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact of the fall.

The floor wasn't what I fell into. Instead, I was caught by strong arms… held tightly against a solid chest.

Did Zeke save me? But even as I thought that, something felt wrong.

This wasn't Zeke's body. This was bigger and bulkier, and that scent… the hair on my neck rose as I opened my eyes and struggled to get away from him.

"Easy," he said, his voice deep as he steadied me.

"She was angry with me and she pushed me down the stairs. I tried to hold on to her, but I mistakenly pulled her with me. I'm so sorry, Keira," Lyra said, and at that point, I could only stare and think in my mind.

This was quite the spectacle. But more than that, the Lycan King was here, and Zeke was holding his bride in his hands. I had decided to be his bride, but of course he wouldn't know that yet.

"Zeke. You have to let her go!" I said, and he looked at me with disdain.

"After you tried to kill her?" he asked, and I almost rolled my eyes at the absurdity.

"No… you don't understand, this—"

"You're Zeke. Keira's mate, and you must be Lyra. But how come you left your mate to save another woman?"

Zeke narrowed his eyes at him. "Lyra is weak and has no wolf. Keira pushed her. If she falls, she can at least heal herself. And who are you to question me?"

My eyes widened. He really did have a death wish.

"This is—"

"I am a guest of the wedding. In council with the Lycan King," he cut in, and I stared at him in surprise.

Something was off. Firstly, he was knowingly suppressing his aura so that they wouldn't feel it, and now he was lying to them about his identity. The fact that he came here before the wedding was another thing.

Lyra and Zeke straightened immediately when they heard the mention of the Lycan King. They feared his name that greatly? Only if they knew who he truly was.

"It's not what you think. I was only protecting the bride of the King," Zeke said. And Magnus turned to me then.

He leaned forward, his hand coming around my waist and pushing me close to him. I gasped in shock, and he brought his lips to my ear.

"I wonder then… who protects you, Sunflower."

"It's not appropriate to touch another man's mate like that," Zeke said with a restrained voice, and I felt Magnus stiffen against me and then slowly turn to Zeke.

"But you touch another man's bride so?" he asked, and I watched Zeke's face redden in embarrassment.

"Have a good day then," Magnus said and passed me one last look before he walked out. I cast one last look at Zeke and Lyra before turning my back to them and walking up the stairs.

That night, I wrote my rejection letter in my own blood and sealed it. I called my maid to give it to Zeke after the wedding.

I was finally letting go of my long-time unrequited love.