CHAPTER 23
Lyra's POV
The warmth of Helena's embrace provided a brief escape, but her words lingered. "I wouldn't be surprised if Raven had something to do with you falling." Her suspicion struck a chord, and for a moment, I dismissed it.
"You think?" I replied, attempting to downplay the idea, but a flicker of doubt clouded my thoughts.
Helena raised an eyebrow, her gaze searching. "Lyra, this is Raven we're talking about. She's always been competitive, and your involvement with Alpha Gray might have triggered something."
I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to entertain the notion that Raven deliberately caused my fall. "I don't know, Helena. It could have just been an accident."
Helena leaned back, studying me. "Accident or not, you're in the midst of pack politics now. You can't afford to be naive, especially with someone like Raven around."
A flash of memory disrupted our conversation. I saw the hall again,
CHAPTER 24LYRA'S POV"You came after all," Alpha Gray said with a smile as he opened the door. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, we stood facing each other, caught up in the weight of an emotional connection that refused to fade."I... I needed to talk," I admitted, my voice betraying a mix of uncertainty and longing.He nodded, a subtle understanding passing between us. "Come in," he gestured, and I entered the room. The cabin felt warm compared to the cool night outside, and the subtle scent of pine surrounded me.As I took a seat, I couldn't help but notice the way Alpha Gray observed me. His intense gaze lingered on my brown hair and eyes, amplified by the red shirt I was wearing. The air between us crackled with an unspoken tension, a reminder of the complicated dance we found ourselves in."Did anyone see you when
CHAPTER 25ALPHA GRAYThe kiss lingered in the air as Lyra pulled away, and I looked at her, our eyes meeting in a shared moment of uncertainty. The mate bond, once cut by me, but not entirely forgotten, whispered promises of what could be.After a moment, I broke the silence. "Lyra," I said, my voice carrying a mix of sincerity and a touch of regret.She looked at me, her expression guarded. "What, Gray?""I know this is complicated," I began, searching for the right words. "But I would love for us to be together another time. We should plan properly so that it will be different from today."Lyra sighed, her gaze wandering as if searching for answers in the room. "I don't know, Gray. This... it's not as simple as planning for another time."I stepped closer, placing my hands on her shoulders, urging her to loo
CHAPTER 26LYRA'S POVThe woods enveloped me in a quiet symphony of rustling leaves and distant whispers of nocturnal creatures. As I walked away from Alpha Gray's cabin, my mind echoed with the events that unfolded. The almost-kiss, the sudden departure, and the complex dance of emotions left me in a state of slight shock.I couldn't believe how close I had come to sharing a kiss with Alpha Gray again. The anticipation, the brief moment when our lips were inches apart, only to hear him bid me goodnight without a peck on the cheek—it left me feeling a strange mix of disappointment and confusion. "Fucking hell," I muttered to myself, my breath visible in the crisp night air.The woods offered a comfort of sorts, a place to process the whirlwind of emotions that surged within me. As I pondered the encounter, a troubling thought surface
CHAPTER 27LYRA'S POVShe kept her eyes on me,she was still demanding an explanation.I remained quiet, unable to find the words to answer her question. I looked at Helena, her intense stare fueling my discomfort. I knew she wouldn't let it go until she found out where I had been."Why are you looking at me like that?" I finally managed to ask her, my tone was defensive.Helena didn't flinch. "Answer the question, Lyra."I sighed, feeling cornered. "Alright, alright. I met with Alpha Gray.""What?!" Helena exclaimed, her eyes widening. Despite her apparent surprise, I could tell she was aware of my actions. She was giving me the chance to confess before she scolded me properly.I met her gaze, the guilt settling in. "Helena, I didn't plan for things to go this way. It just happened."
CHAPTER 28ALPHA GRAYThe echoes of the night remained in my cabin as I lay on my bed, contemplating the delicate web of complications that surrounded Lyra and me.I reached out for my phone, a sudden urge to hear Lyra's voice compelling me. Dialing her number, the anticipation built with each ring until there was an almost immediate response."Hello?" Lyra's voice, a mix of curiosity and caution, echoed through the phone."Hey, Lyra," I greeted, my tone soft yet filled with a longing I couldn't entirely conceal. "How are you?"There was a brief pause before she responded, "I'm okay. I got home a few minutes ago "I sensed hesitation in her words, a subtle indication that she might be keeping something from me. "Is everything alright?" I asked, concerned about coloring my
CHAPTER 29LYRA'S POVI opened my eyes and the morning greeted me with a throbbing headache, a painful reminder of what had happened the previous night. The sheets were rumpled, and the cabin felt empty. Helena wasn't in the room, leaving me alone to face the aftermath of my decisions.I sighed and my hands reached my eyes, attempting to clear off the remainder of sleep, as I tried to stand up, a sharp pain shot through my stomach, causing me to wince and fall back onto the bed. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath, my hand instinctively reaching for the source of the pain. The memory of the vicious attack replayed in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability."Falling apart already, Lyra?" a voice echoed in my mind, a cruel reminder of the consequences of my choices.Sighing, I decided to lie back down for a moment
CHAPTER 30LYRA'S POVI sighed and opened my eyes, greeted once again by the dimly lit cabin. The pain in my stomach had subsided, and I felt a bit better than before. Helena had left me with instructions to rest, and as I sat up, the tray was still on the table, with the remainder of the healing tea that Helena had given me.The room felt quiet, and I hesitated before deciding to get up. As I walked through the hallway, I noticed the sun casting a warm glow through the windows. The throbbing headache had lessened, and I could finally think more clearly.I made my way to the main area, finding a sense of relief in the openness of the space. The couch looked inviting, and I sat down, resting my head against the cushions. As my mind began to clear, I couldn't help but dwell on the events of the previous night.The faces
CHAPTER 31Lyra's POVI halted, staring at the towering trees around me. The idea of unlocking hidden memories felt like stepping into the unknown. But there was an undeniable pull, a desire to uncover the truths that lay dormant within me.A rustle in the bushes snapped me out of my contemplation, and I instinctively tensed. The forest seemed to hold secrets, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched.As I scanned my surroundings, the foliage parted, revealing a figure stepping into the clearing. It was Alpha Gray, his eyes locking onto mine. I felt a surge of conflicting emotions — surprise, frustration, and an undeniable attraction that I couldn't deny."Lyra," he called, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "We need to talk."I glanced back at the forest, Sheila's