3

Lyra’s pov 

The next morning I woke up to the soft hum of dawn and the chill of what my reality was. 

It was clear from the strewn sheets that he had slept in here. Probably crept in after I  had shut him out in the middle of the night. 

My heart softened as I reached out, grabbing the sheets, like I was feeling for the scent of him. Today was Sunday. Sunday mornings were one of our sacred ritual day- always had been. Cassian and I hunted together every week since our mating. 

It was one of our many traditions that made us closer and despite the crazy days so far, I was hoping on just getting some time alone with him. 

So when I came down the stairs an hour later dressed and fastening the belt of my cloak, I froze, extremely shocked at the scene before me. 

Cassian stood in the foyer, dressed in his hunting wear, laughing with her. Sable. In a hunting wear as well. Her hair glowed like gold in the morning light, her hand brushing his arm as she smiled up at him. The sight was enough to make my wolf growl. 

The moment they noticed me, the air shifted and they stepped away from each other. The Omegas around bowed quickly as I descended the stairs, their gazes darting between us like they could sense a storm brewing. 

“Good morning Lyra, I can tell your fashion sense has greatly improved, let me guess, it was all Cassian?” Sable said sweetly just before playfully smacking him. “I knew all those lessons I taught you would pay off.” 

I ignored her, my eyes on Cassian. “Why is she here?” 

He cleared his throat before approaching me. “She will be joining us on the hunt. I thought I’d include her since they barely do things like this abroad.” 

My stomach turned. Around us I could sense the Omegas straying from their work as they exchanged uneasy glances, saying so many things without using words. My heart churned and my fists tightened. 

With folded arms, I calmly replied. “No.” 

“Lyra,” he sighed. He was making it seem like I was the bad person, the one that is inconsiderate and not too subtle in making a grounded decision, but I was been pushed against the wall, and I wouldn’t push back? 

But before he could continue, Sable sighed dramatically as she stepped back. “Look, it’s fine Cassian,” her voice trembled with fake hurt. “I don’t want to be the reason you two have another fight.” 

“I don’t want to be the reason I turn that pretty face into a bruised pulp, but I guess we all have certain restraints, don’t we?” I ask in the similar Sweet voice she used. 

“That’s enough, Lyra,” Cassian said sharply, stunning me. 

“You’re defending her? No it’s not Cassian. I don’t even get why she’s here,” he sighed again, like he was tired, but even I was tired- of this bullshit of going back and forth over the same thing. “She has a home. Barely miles away from here. This doesn’t make sense.” 

“My father knows I’m here. It’s fine.” 

“I don’t care.” 

Cassian’s jaw tightened and he grabbed my arm. I stared up at him in shock. “You’re being childish right now. She’s a guest, where’s the sweet and friendly Lyra I love, I don’t recognize this woman standing before me right now and I hate it.” 

“Childish? Then maybe this woman standing before you right now doesn’t want to go hunting. After all, I’m not the sweet and considerate woman you love, I hope you find her on your way to hunt and realize she’s dead.” 

He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Lyra, please.” 

“Is she’s going, I’m not.” 

I walked away, expecting, hoping he’d come after me. He always did. But this time he didn’t. 

And like a fool, in the silence and in front of everyone I walked away- alone to my room and slammed the door shut behind me. The silence that had followed me up the stairs was heavier than any argument we’d ever had. 

I didn’t go down for breakfast or lunch and when the Omegas brought a tray, I sent it back untouched. When the last one was about shutting the door, I asked, hoping she couldn’t sense my desperation. 

“Where is he?” 

She stiffened before she hesitates. “He- The Alpha and Lady Sable have left for the hunt all morning.” 

My throat tightened. I said nothing as she left. 

I wanted to cry, but it wouldn’t change anything. I couldn’t anyways. I felt numb with pain, like I was distraught and broken and couldn’t feel anything. 

And that was how it began- how Sable seeped into my life. It’s been weeks now but of course I’d sound crazy if I pointed that out. 

From that day on, I married my books, barely leaving my room. I had my food sent up and threw any gifts he sent me to pacify me to talk to him out the window where I was sure he’d spot it when leaving the mansion. I refused his summons even his attempts at mating when he came into my room at night. I just couldn’t bear his touch when I could smell her on him, when he kept acting like the situation wasn’t severe. 

And it hurt me so much because I love him with all my whole heart but he didn’t seem to understand the severity of his actions and how it was killing me. He could apologize with the whole world but it still remained that she was still here. 

Days blurred into weeks, until Mira arrived one fateful evening. As she pushed the door open, her nose scrunched up when she spotted me. 

“I can’t believe this. You’re here with your head buried in a book and you really don’t know what’s going on do you?” 

Her face was tightened in worry as she approached me before drawing the sheets off me, leaving me exposed in the satin night gown I’ve not taken off in days now. 

“Lyra you can’t keep doing this to yourself.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

She sighed before sitting down, finally snatching my book and tossing it aside. “You need to hear this.” 

I tried to act unbothered, nonchalant, like my heart hasn’t been sliced through with a dagger and I was living half dead, and that I didn’t just panic, my heart ramming in my chest at her words. 

“Is it more important than my book?” 

“There was an Elder Council meeting yesterday and Luke attended,” I perked up at her next words. “Guess who else? Cassian and Sable.” 

Luke was an Alpha and Mira’s husband and only Alphas and their Lunas could attend Elder Council meeting. Not only had I not been Informed, Cassian had taken Sable. 

“Why couldn’t you go?” 

“Are you even alive? Cassian and Sable have been parading ceremonies and parties acting like a couple while you rot in here. I wasn’t going to attend that council and watch them without getting sick.” 

“What happened?” I tried to act like my heart hasn’t been ripped out my chest as I whispered, hiding my shaky fingers under the sheets I pulled across my body. 

“Well, word spread fast, even though Luke told me. Someone else other than the other Alphas and Lunas had been present. Gamma Rickon” 

“Sable’s father.” I whispered, dread filling me as I knew what I was going to hear wasn’t pleasant. 

“Well he had come to lay complaints. Apparently Lyra, on the night of that soiree? Someone had spotted Cassian leaving Sable’s room. It was confirmed they had slept together… “

“No…” I sprang from the bed, feeling tears burn my eyes, my throat clogged. “He wouldn’t lie to me,” I spun to face her. “He- he wouldn’t! He said…” 

My voice trailed as It then dawned on me how stupid that lie was and how I was even more of a fool for believing him. 

“Did you not for once question why she was suddenly staying here after that night, you’re not dumb Lyra, think! That morning just before you two left, Gamma Rickon had threaten to tarnish Cassian’s image with the evidence of him taking advantage of Sable. He said Sable shouldn’t return home and that she was his responsibility now.” 

Horror filled me as the realization hit. I’d been such a fool. To actually believe their words, to believe Cassian. To never had known. 

Mira got up, holding me by the shoulders. 

“The Elders proposed a marriage.” She dropped the bomb. 

“That’s ridiculous. I’m his Luna.” I quickly said without thinking, still distraught by the thought of Cassian lying to my face all these while. Was that why he stopped coming to my room to persuade me to mate with him, he was obviously getting it elsewhere, and with Sable. 

She looked at me like I was insane. “He cheated on you, and lied to you, and he accepted the proposal, how could you even want anything to do with that bastard? The Elders are worse off, they kept encouraging him. They said you haven’t given him an heir in years and that his true mate could give him as many heirs as he deserved.” 

Sanctimonious fools. Those Elders. Everyone on that council. They made me look like a fool and Cassian. Cassian lied to me- 

Heartbreaking sobs tore from my lips and once again, I broke apart but In Mira’s arms, crying like I had lost someone because truly it felt like I did which was worse off because this same person used to love me and I still loved him. 

One night. After three years with him, one night was all it took him to ruin our union. 

I sat there in Mira’s arms on the floor where I broke down, silent, numb. 

She squeezed my hand while she whispered. “Lyra, please say something.” 

“When will he be announcing this?” I calmly asked. 

“There’s another soiree tomorrow, held in honor for the return of the Dark Lycan. He will be making the announcement there.”