6

Chapter 6

Lyra's POV 

The moment Theron disappeared through the doorway, the room fell into complete silence.

I let out a shaky breath I hadn't even realized I had been holding. My racing heart slowly settled back into my chest as I stared blankly at the closed wooden door.

Everything about that conversation had left me confused.

I had expected threats, interrogation or perhaps another prison. Instead, he had asked questions, and nothing more.

The door opened again a few minutes later, and Sable walked back inside carrying a fresh bowl of warm water along with several clean bandages.

"You pulled your stitches, I told you not to keep jumping around." she muttered, setting everything down on the small table.

"I didn't exactly plan on it. No patient ever does." I frowned. 

She gently peeled away the bloodstained bandage from around my ribs. I couldn't stop myself from hissing through my teeth as the cool air touched the wound.

"It isn't as bad as I feared," Sable said after examining it carefully. 

"A few stitches stretched, but none of them opened completely." She patted my shoulders. 

I stayed quiet while she worked, and nothing prepared me for how strangely peaceful the room was. 

No shouting echoed through the walls, no guards stood outside waiting with silver chains, no one called me a traitor.

I guess weeks of torture does something to you.

The realization settled over me so suddenly that my throat tightened. 

For the first time in weeks, I felt safe, and that thought alone terrified me.

Once Sable finished wrapping the fresh bandage around my waist, she gathered the bloody cloths into the bowl.

"You should rest," she advised.

"What happens after I recover?" I asked her. 

"That depends." She paused.

"On what?" I raised a brow.

"On you." She scoffed. 

"What do you mean?" My brows creased into a frown.

"If you wish to leave Ironveil territory, nobody will stop you." Her lips curved into a stiff smile. 

"Really?" I blinked at her unsure whether or not to believe the words that are coming out of her mouth. 

"We don't keep unwilling wolves here." She looked almost amused by my disbelief.

I lowered my gaze to the blanket covering my legs. Those words felt so unfamiliar that they almost sounded unreal.

My previous pack had taken everything from me. My freedom, home, title, and even my voice.

Now another Alpha's pack was calmly telling me I was free to leave whenever I wished.

I didn't know what to do with that.

After Sable left, I leaned back against the pillows and stared at the wooden ceiling overhead.

Everything had changed so quickly.

Three weeks ago, I had believed my future was already decided. I would spend my life beside Ryker and Renn.

We would eventually have pups, grow old together, and lead our pack together.

I had planned every tiny piece of that future, now it no longer existed.

My fingers tightened around the blanket as I remembered every smile. Every quiet dinner we had shared, and every night we had fallen asleep beneath the same roof.

Had any of it been real? Or had I simply imagined a love that never truly existed?

"No..." A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I closed my eyes.

They had loved me, at least. I believed they once had.

But in the end, none of that love had been strong enough to survive a single accusation. That hurt more than the prison ever could.

I slowly turned my face toward the window.

Freedom! 

If I stayed here, would I simply become another burden, or another stranger living off someone else's kindness?

But if I leave, where would I even go?

I had no money, no home, pack, family, or destination waiting for me.

The world beyond these walls suddenly felt much larger than I remembered.

"I will decide later." I let out another slow breath.

"For now, I just need to get better." The words sounded small inside the empty room.

One week later.

The ache in my ribs had subsided much more than the last three days of pain.

The bruises across my back had finally begun fading from deep purple into yellow. I still couldn't shift, and Sable refused to even discuss it.

"Your wolf needs more time," she insisted every morning, but that didn't stop the boredom.

By the seventh day, I thought I might lose my mind staring at the same four walls, and the moment Sable arrived carrying breakfast, I looked up hopefully.

"I need a favour." I beamed excitedly at her. 

"Whenever someone starts a sentence like that, I already know I'm going to regret it." She narrowed her eyes immediately.

"I want to see the Alpha's quarters." I blinked.

"Absolutely not." Her spoon froze halfway to the tray.

"Why not?" I looked sad. 

"Because Alpha Theron specifically instructed you to rest." Her voice was stern.

"I have rested." I shrugged. 

"You are much more troublesome than you looked unconscious." Sable sighed dramatically.

"I will only walk for a little while." I begged. 

"No." She shook her head.

"I promise I won't run away." I pressed further. 

"No." She insisted. 

"I don't even know where the borders are." I argued. 

"No." She refused to bulge. 

"You really enjoy saying that word." I folded my arms.

"It saves time." The corner of her mouth twitched.

"You almost smiled." I noticed it immediately.

"I absolutely did not." She glared. 

"You did." I chuckled. 

"I was thinking about something else." She scoffed. 

"You smiled." I couldn't help laughing, and it surprised both of us.

The sound felt strange after everything that had happened.

"You know..." Sable blinked before shaking her head.

"What?" I looked at her. 

"I thought you would be difficult." She sighed. 

"I am." I immediately grew serious. 

"No! I expected someone bitter." She smiled properly this time.

"I am bitter." I cleared my throat.

"You don't act like it." She walked towards me. 

"I don't want them to take that from me too." I looked down at my hands, and the smile slowly disappeared from Sable's face.

For a long moment neither of us spoke.

"Fine." Finally, she let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Really?" I looked up instantly.

"We're only walking around the main residence. And nowhere near the training grounds." She warned. 

"I understand." My face lit up.

"If Alpha Theron asks..." She pressed her lips together. 

"I will tell him I forced you." I assured her. 

"You would be terrible at lying." She snorted.

A few minutes later, we stepped outside together. The fresh mountain air immediately filled my lungs. Ironveil looked nothing like Ashveil.

The buildings were simpler, stronger, and built from dark stone instead of polished wood.

Warriors moved with remarkable discipline, greeting Sable with respectful nods before continuing their duties without stopping to gossip.

Nobody stared at me, whispered, pointed finger, and it felt peaceful. And as we walked through one of the wide stone corridors, I glanced sideways at Sable.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked her. 

"You already are." She frowned. 

"I mean a real question." I turned towards her. 

"Go ahead." She chuckled, but I hesitated.

For some reason, I found myself thinking about those calm grey eyes again.

"Alpha Theron..." I halted. 

"What about him?" Sable raised an eyebrow.

I looked ahead, pretending to study the carved stone walls instead.

"What kind of man is he really?" The question escaped my thoughts before I could even stop it..