Chapter 3

Lyra’s POV

My hand trembled as memories resurfaced. It's him, the ruthless Alpha who had killed my father. The revelation hangs heavy in the air, like a dark shadow over the room.

The pack doctor and Beta Zach leave the room, sensing the fizz of tension that now fills the space. I can't tear my gaze away from him. Anger stirs within me, and I feel it building.

Sasha whimpers, sensing the agony that grips me, as the Lycan king's gaze bores into mine. His presence feels like a threat, and I struggle to contain the emotions that threaten to burst over.

  

Then I finally found my voice. "You?" I utter, my question hanging in the air. His face remains locked into mine, emotionless, as I sense him moving.

Instinctively, I push myself back into the bed, creating physical distance, but the emotional turmoil remains, along with the harsh truth.

I don't want to believe it's anything other than a dream, but when he moves closer to me, the wave of disbelief shatters. It's all real; he's here, a reality that sends chills down my spine.

He reaches out to my hand, which is placed over the bed. My heart races with conflicted emotions sparking within me.

  

Anger seeped through, and I screamed, "Don't you dare touch me!"

He paused, cold eyes locking onto mine, amusement playing in his dark gaze. His lips curled up at the corner, a sinister expression that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Mate," Sasha's voice echoed in my head, a whisper escaping my lips as my strength drained away. "Please let me go," I pleaded, desperate for an escape from this chilling reality.

He tilted his head as his hand reached out to my cheek and said, "Not on my watch, mate.”

  

I feel a magnetic pull as my stomach twists in tight knots, a connection that defies reason as I wrestle to pull away.

"You are fucking beautiful," he mutters as he pulls his hand away.

Finding one's mate should be a blessing, but I feel disappointed; the moon goddess seems to have made a mistake

"How can he be my mate? I thought he had a mate. I don't seem to know much about him, but all I know is that he was mated to a beautiful she-wolf.”

  

Then I find my voice and stutter, "Y..you k.killed my father. Moon goddess, have to be kidding with me."

"You sound disappointed," he says as he arches his brows with no show of emotions. After all, he is the ruthless Lycan king of the Moonpeak Pack.

His name alone invokes fear; the tales of his fierce action in battle spread like wildfire. He strikes terror into the hearts of those who dare cross his path, and people fear at the mere mention of his name.

Tears flow from my eyes freely without control. "I don't want to be here," I whine.

  

He cups my cheek. I'm taken aback as my breath hitches in my throat, sparks hitting me at full force. I feel disgusted as I hurriedly shake my head and pry his hand off my face.

I sense him stiffen at my touch, with a slight hint of some emotions in his eyes. Immediately, as it comes, it goes away, the coldness returning.

He gets up, gives me a long stare, and walks out the door.

Moon goddess has so much hate for me to give me a mate like Kessler. I can't bear it as pain squeezes my heart. I can't accept him as my mate. No, I can't, as a surge of emotions overwhelms me.

  

I am numb, helpless, and drained of emotions as I grab my hair with anger and let out a loud cry.

"Fuck my life, I can't be like this, crying like a lady in distress. I've been broken before and won't allow it to repeat itself," I mutter, taking a look at the door as a smile rises to my lips.

Hastily, I push myself up from the bed, my heart pounding with beats as I move to the door. With determined steps, I walk out of the room, looking around; there is no one in sight.

I make my way and see two guys talking, feeling relieved when they don't glance my way.  

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding as I found myself breathing in the fresh air.

"Where are we going?" Sasha asks in my head.

"Anywhere but not here," I reply defiantly.

"But he is our mate," she says as I roll my eyes.

There is a sort of celebration going on. I hide in a corner until the coast is clear, then tiptoe and go out the gate of the Moonpeak Pack.

Overwhelmed with joy, I run into the woods and pause for a while to catch my breath. I take off my clothes, shift to my wolf form, and carry my clothes in my mouth as I run, not looking back for once.

With each step, I contemplate where to go. I can't go back to Tristan; I know he wants me dead. I don't have a plan. It is stupid to stay with someone who killed my father.

  

"I can't accept him as my fated mate. If I had the chance, I'd reject him," Sasha groans in my head at the thought of rejecting my mate.

Tired, I stop at a tree. I shift back into my human form, wear my dress, and lean on a tree trunk. Within minutes, I fell asleep.

I sense something is off as I notice footsteps around me. I open my eyes, look around, and realize I am surrounded by wolves. They aren't familiar.

I panic and hurriedly stand up, trying to shift into my wolf. Then, a man steps out and says, "Don't bother."

My eyes widen like saucers as I realize who he is. His voice sends chills down my spine as memories flood my mind.  

Kesslers POV

A gentle knock on my door heightened my heart rate. She entered, moving with a blend of grace and confidence, her hips swaying elegantly.

As she drew nearer, I concealed my emotions.

"Hi, I hope I'm not interrupting," she said.

"Not at all," I replied, my gaze fixed on her. Fuck, I muttered a curse I couldn't deny the irresistible pull she had on me.

I stood up, circling the mahogany table, and reached out to take her hands.

Leaning in, she kissed me, and my hand found her waist, drawing her nearer. A soft moan escaped her lips as our mouths met in a passionate kiss. I kissed her with intensity, our lips moving hungrily.

My hand moved upward, cupping her breasts, gently massaging and teasing her nipple. She moaned, her hips moving against mine, drawing us closer, and I could feel the heat building as our bodies pressed together.

Breaking the kiss, I started planting kisses along her neck. She wrapped her leg around me, and I couldn't help but moan in pleasure, arching my back. My hand moved lower, cupping her bottom, pulling her even closer as our kisses continued.

She broke away, desires clouding her eyes, and whispered, "Kessler, I need you."

With desire intensifying in my eyes, I lowered my head, kissing her again. Moving my hand down to her waist, I began to remove her jeans and underwear. The scent of her arousal filled my nostrils.

A soft knock echoed, and my attention shifted to the door. I sensed my beta Zach, so I mind-linked him, "Don't enter."

My eyes darkened, my wolf Dolph threatening to surface, still mourning his mate.

I gently let her go, earning a gasp from her. "Annie, get dressed this minute," my voice cold and distant.

Shock smeared her face, on the verge of tears. With trembling hands, she dressed without making eye contact.

In a shaky breath, she muttered, "Fuck you, Kessler. You will regret this," as she stormed out of my office.

As the door closed behind her, I was angry with myself for letting my desires cloud my judgment. My fist clenched as I could feel Dolph's discontent within me.

I decided to reach out to my beta, Zach, through our mind link. "Prepare to go to the lake with me." Without waiting for his reply, I severed the connection.

The lake has always been a place of solace for me, and within a minute, Zach entered the office, ready to accompany me.

"I opened the window and jumped out. I transformed mid-air and landed with a big thump. I noticed Zack's Wolf Dante followed suit as we ran into the woods.

"Catch me if you can," I mind-linked Zach as I sprinted into the woods, my paws echoing through the woods.

Reaching the lake, I took a moment to drink some water and sat down, surrounded by the peacefulness of nature.

I don't wish for any mate, but the moon goddess chose to give me one and was brutally killed.

Even after many years, the heaviness of loss hasn't lifted. Everywhere I look, the air still holds onto the scent of her presence.

Feeling the peace the lake brings, I dive in to swim as the bright moon shines in the sky.

However, that peace was disrupted when the distant sound of hurried footsteps reached my ears.

Despite being far away, my heightened sense of hearing picked it up, sending a ripple of tension through me.

I froze as my senses kicked in, the sound got louder as I prepared for whatever was coming.

Zach, sensing my unease, came over to the lake as the footsteps drew nearer.

"Someone's coming, and they're in a hurry," I mind-linked him, "Pay attention." He nodded, showing he was ready to focus.

"It's not just running; it feels like someone's fleeing from a threat," I said, my pulse speeding with the urgency of the approaching footsteps.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped, and a group of wolves gathered around a wounded wolf. She was caught in a trap that someone had cleverly set.

Then I sensed a scent—a gentle mix of jasmine, rose, and a hint of citrus, like a sweet memory. Her scent leaves a sense of grace in the air.

Dolph exclaimed, "Mate, our mate is hurting."

A surge of emotions hit me, a blend of anger and determination. I let out a growl that seemed to shake the earth.

The others around me shivered in fear, their bodies tensing up. They could feel the authority in my fierce growl.

They quickly recovered and launched an attack on me. I let out another loud growl, jumping into the fight to protect my mate.

I mind-linked Zach. "Tend to the wounded wolf."

The first wolf charged at me, but I dodged its attack and swiftly swiped at it. My claws extended, and with a decisive move, I snapped its neck, ensuring the threat was out.

The second wolf attempted to pounce on me. With a sudden burst of power, I leaped, meeting the wolf mid-air. We struggled for dominance, and in the fierce confrontation, I used my claws to poke its eyes. The wolf growled loudly in pain, and with a swift move, I snapped its neck.

The third wolf circled cautiously, eyeing me warily. As it lunged forward, I locked eyes with it. Meeting the attack head-on, I swiftly snapped the life out of it in an instant.

These were young wolves, and it was evident that they couldn't match my strength.

Seeing them all dead, my intense energy started to calm down; my heart raced with the excitement of victory.

As I rushed to check on my injured mate, fearing the toll of the trap on her. I gently placed my fingers on her wrist, and sparks of emotions ran through me.

Feeling a sense of urgency, I addressed Zach, "We've got to move fast. Her pulse is weak," as I placed her on my back to get her the help she needed.

Then I ask a simple question. "Moon goddess, why another mate?."