2: Running Away.

Chapter 2

Lyra's POV

I stood outside my front door with my hand pressed against the wooden surface, my heart hammering so hard against my ribs I thought it might burst. I really hadn't wanted to follow Nathan last night. I still couldn't understand what force had pushed me to go after him, what madness had made me think it was a good idea.

I was about to push the door open when it suddenly swung inward, making me stumble backward in surprise. My brother Marcus stood in the doorway, his familiar face looking concerned and slightly annoyed.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my expression neutral as I met his eyes.

"Hi Marcus," I managed to say, though my voice came out shakier than I'd hoped. I cleared my throat and tried to sound more normal.

"Where were you last night?" he asked directly, his brown eyes scanning my face like he was looking for lies.

I gripped the hem of my shirt tighter, my fingers twisting the fabric nervously. Of course no one knew I had followed Nathan. Of course Marcus would be wondering where I'd disappeared to during the party.

"I was at Cat's house," I lied quickly, the words tumbling out before I could think of anything better. How could I possibly tell him the truth? How could I explain that I'd slept with his best friend? How could I admit that I'd been secretly longing for Nathan for years?

"Cat?" Marcus repeated, his eyebrows rising slightly.

"Yes, Catherine. My friend," I explained, hoping my voice sounded convincing. "We left the party early and went back to her place."

He nodded slowly, seeming to accept this explanation. "Oh, okay. Come inside. I need to talk to you about something important."

He stepped aside and walked into the house. I followed him, closing the door behind me with hands that were still trembling slightly. We both sat down in the living room, Marcus taking his usual spot while I perched on the edge of the couch across from him.

I studied his face carefully and noticed something flickering in his eyes. Worry, maybe? Stress? Whatever it was, it made my stomach clench with anxiety.

"Lyra," he began, and I quickly shut down the connection to Ivy, who had started muttering something sarcastic in the back of my mind. I needed to focus completely on whatever Marcus was about to tell me.

"Dad called this morning," he said simply.

My eyes widened immediately. "What did he say?" I asked, leaning forward in my seat.

It was extremely rare for our father to call us. Ever since our parents had moved to Canada to get better medical treatment for Mom's condition, communication had been sporadic at best. Usually I would try calling them and they wouldn't pick up, then they'd call me back days later when I wasn't available. I couldn't blame Dad for being so scattered. He was the only one Mom had over there, and sometimes I felt terrible about the burden he was carrying alone. The medical treatment in Canada was supposed to be much better, but it was also incredibly demanding and expensive.

"It seems like one of us needs to go help him," Marcus said carefully, watching my reaction.

I felt my heart skip in a way I couldn't quite understand. Something about his words made hope flutter in my chest, though I wasn't sure why yet.

"Go help him? Is something wrong? Is something wrong with Mom?" The questions rushed out of me in a panicked stream. My hands gripped the edge of the couch cushion.

"No, it's not like that," Marcus said quickly, holding up a hand to calm me. "Mom is stable. But Dad said it's getting too much for him to handle alone. He needs one of us there to help with her care, to help navigate the medical system, to just be there for support."

As soon as he finished speaking, something clicked in my brain. This was it. This was the perfect opportunity I hadn't even dared to dream about.

This was my chance to escape from Nathan, to get as far away from him as possible. If I went to Canada, I wouldn't have to see him again. I wouldn't have to face him after what had happened between us. I wouldn't have to endure the humiliation of running into him around town, remembering how he'd thrown money at me like I was some kind of prostitute.

"I'll go!" I shouted suddenly, the words bursting out of me with desperate enthusiasm.

Marcus's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He leaned back in his chair, clearly not expecting such an immediate and forceful response.

"You'll go? What about finding your mate?" he asked, tilting his head. "I thought you promised yourself you'd never leave London until you found them."

The question hit me like a physical blow, reminding me of yet another failure in my life. I had made that promise to myself when I was eighteen, convinced that my mate was somewhere in this city waiting for me. I was supposed to feel some kind of bond, some magical connection when I met the right person.

But when I turned eighteen, nothing happened. No sudden recognition, no overwhelming attraction, no sense of completeness. I thought maybe my mate just wasn't close by yet, that fate would bring us together when the time was right.

I waited through nineteen, then twenty, then twenty-one. Now I am twenty-two and still completely alone. Catherine had found her mate the day she turned eighteen. They'd locked eyes across a crowded room and both knew instantly. But here I was, four years later, with nothing.

Maybe I didn't have a mate. Maybe I was one of those unlucky wolves who was destined to be alone forever. Maybe I'd waited long enough and it was time to accept reality.

"I'll just go," I said firmly, avoiding his question entirely. "When do we need to tell them someone is coming?"

"Tomorrow," Marcus replied, still studying my face with concern. "I already booked a flight."

"Tomorrow?" My voice came out higher than I'd intended. "So soon?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" he asked, leaning forward. "Lyra, you seem really eager about this, but it's a big decision. You'd be moving to another country, leaving everything you know behind. Are you sure you've thought this through?"

I nodded quickly, probably too quickly. Yes, I'm sure. The sooner I leave, the better.

I thought to myself.

Marcus looked at me for a long moment, clearly sensing there was more to my sudden enthusiasm than concern for our parents. But he didn't push it.

"Okay then," he said finally, standing up from his chair. "Pack your things before tomorrow. And Lyra? Are you sure you're okay? You seem upset about something."

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just worried about Mom and Dad."

He nodded slowly, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "Alright. Let me know if you need help with anything."

After Marcus left the room, I slumped back into the couch cushions, feeling like all the energy had suddenly drained out of my body. My chest felt heavy with a mixture of relief and sadness.

"Are you sure about this, Ara?" Kael's gentle voice spoke in my mind, and immediately my tense muscles began to relax.

Only Kael can calm me down.. Whenever I was going through something difficult, just hearing his calm, soothing voice could make everything feel manageable again. It was like having a warm blanket wrapped around my soul.

"I'm sure, Kael," I replied silently. "I can't stay in the same city as Nathan. I think I'll go insane if I have to keep seeing him around town, remembering what happened. I need to leave. I need to leave everything behind and start fresh."

Kael was quiet for several minutes, and I could feel him considering my words carefully.

"I support whatever decision you make," he said finally, his voice soft and full of caring. "Just promise me you won't hurt yourself over this. When you're in pain, it breaks my heart too."

His words made my throat tight with emotion. I pressed my lips together, trying not to start crying again.

But then Ivy's harsh voice cut through the moment like a knife.

"Coward," she hissed at me. "I wonder how I ended up being stuck with such a pathetic being"

I wanted to block her out, to shut down our connection so I wouldn't have to hear her brutal honesty. But if I did that, I'd lose Kael's comforting presence too. They were linked somehow, and I couldn't access one without the other.

I'd learned to live with Ivy's sharp tongue over the years, but today her words stung more than usual. Maybe because part of me knew she was right. Maybe I was being a coward, running away instead of facing the mess I'd made.

But I couldn't handle facing Nathan again. I couldn't handle the way he'd looked at me this morning, like I was nothing.

"You can call me a coward all you want," I said to Ivy silently. "But I'm not strong enough to stay here and pretend like nothing happened. I'm not strong enough to act normal around Marcus when I've slept with his best friend. I'm not strong enough to see Nathan and remember how he threw money at me afterward."

Ivy snorted derisively but didn't respond, which was probably for the best.

I pushed myself up from the couch and headed toward my bedroom to start packing. I didn't have much stuff anyway. Most of my belongings would fit in two suitcases.

As I pulled clothes from my closet and folded them mechanically, my mind kept drifting back to this morning.

The way he'd spoken to me like I was worthless.

“I hate him,” I muttered to myself.

Even after spending all those years hating him, I couldn't help it but still think about it. I just have to leave.

At least in Canada, I could start over. I could help take care of Mom, support Dad.

I could learn to be happy without Nathan Pierce in my life, I won't have to use years for hating someone.

As I zipped up my first suitcase, I felt Kael's presence wrapping around me like a warm embrace.

"It's going to be okay, Ara," he murmured gently. "This might be exactly what you need."

For the first time since waking up in Nathan's bed, I allowed myself to hope that maybe, just maybe, Kael was right.