LOGINLYRAThe door was open just a crack when I got there. A line of warm light shone through the dim hallway. I paused for a beat, Ana’s half-finished thought still buzzing in my head. What was she going to say?I pushed the door open and found Zeviar by the window, his back to me. He was still in his dinner clothes, but his jacket was gone, and his sleeves were rolled up. He held a glass of amber liquid, not drinking, just holding it. His shoulders were tight, like he’d been standing there for ages.He knew I was there, but he didn't turn right away. "How was the garden?" he asked, his voice softer than usual."It was cold," I replied. "Ana kept me warm."He turned then, his gaze sweeping over my face with that intense focus he has. It always feels like he’s reading me, not just looking. Something changed in his expression when he saw me. "Sit down," he said."I'm good standing.""Lyra."I sat down.He put the untouched glass on the windowsill and walked over, sinking into the chair oppos
LYRAThe garden was strangely quiet, the kind of hush that only evenings have – a slow, easy stillness that settles in after the day's rush. Lanterns, hung between old oak trees, cast warm circles of light on the stone path, and from just beyond the bushes, the crickets started their calm, sleepy song. After the stuffy formality of the dining room, the cool air felt like a welcome gasp of fresh air, like coming up for a breath.Ana sank onto a stone bench with a complete lack of pretense, as if she’d never once worried about her appearance. She stretched out her legs, crossed her arms, and tilted her head back, gazing at the sky."Well," she said flatly. "That was a disaster."A surprised sound escaped me, a mix of a laugh and a gasp. "Was it that obvious?”"Cassian asked if you were a liability." Ana glanced at me, her eyes flicking sideways. "He asked you that. To your face. During dinner," she paused, a small breath escaping her. "Yeah. It was that obvious."I sat beside her, smooth
ZEVIARI left Lyra in my room to get dressed and practically almost fell down the stairs. My family was here. Way earlier than expected. And I knew precisely what that meant. Judging eyes. Constant scrutiny. Disapproval disguised as polite tradition.I made it to the main hall just as the first car crunched on the gravel outside. Guards scrambled to open doors, and servants stood in a stiff line. There I was, at the entrance, spine straight, face impassive. The Alpha King, welcoming his kin. Even though every fiber of my being wanted to be anywhere but here.The first figure to emerge from the car sent a clench through my jaw. Grandfather. Aldric Dravyn. The previous Alpha King. Retired, in title at least, but he’d never truly relinquished his grip on power. He was still a commanding presence, tall and broad-shouldered even with age, his hair the color of steel and his eyes capable of flaying you. Everything about him radiated authority, tradition, and an unyielding need for control.H
ORION"You're a coward." Rhys's voice was a faint whisper in my mind, distant and fading. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to feel him, to connect with my wolf like I used to. But there was only emptiness where Rhys should have been."I'm here," I pleaded. "Stay with me.""I'm trying," he murmured, "but I'm slowly slipping away."My chest ached. It had been weeks since I'd shifted, weeks since I'd felt Rhys at full strength. The curse was consuming him, consuming us both. Every day I stayed away from Lyra, every day our mating remained unfinished, he grew weaker."We have to go back to her and Zeviar," I stated."Then what are we waiting for?" Rhys's voice was a challenge."I need to break things off with Karleen first."I'd been at Nightshade for three days, finding every excuse to avoid the conversation I came here for. Pack business, border checks, patrol schedules – anything but facing Karleen."If you put it off any longer, I won't be here," Rhys warned. His words hit me like a
LYRAThe packhouse was still buzzing with activity when Zeviar finally returned. I'd spent the entire day on edge, Lucius's warnings echoing in my head, a hidden note in my drawer, and Mira's odd behavior just adding to the unease. But seeing him walk through the entrance, a wave of relief washed over me. He looked wiped out, his jaw clenched and shoulders tight. Yet, when his eyes met mine across the room, his expression softened. He came straight to me, no words needed."Are you alright?" His voice was low, meant only for me."It's been a long day.""For both of us." He studied my face. "Come with me.""Where?""Somewhere less chaotic."He led me through the commotion to his private rooms, a part of the packhouse I'd only visited once before. The sitting room was simple, but comfortable. A small table was laid out with food–nothing fancy, just bread, cheese, fruit, and wine. "You did this?" I asked."I thought we could use a break from everyone."I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you
LYRA I woke to utter chaos. Not a quiet disturbance, but a loud, impossible-to-ignore pandemonium. Footsteps thundered through the halls, and voices shouted orders as if the world were ending. I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The ache in my chest was still there ever since Orion left yesterday. It felt like something was pulling at my ribs from the inside, reaching for him across the distance. "He's fine," Sky said. "We'd know if he wasn't." I didn't argue, unsure about how she could be so sure. I dressed quickly and opened my door to find the hallway crammed with people. Maids hurried past with armfuls of linens, guards were repositioning furniture, and someone was directing a group carrying boxes that looked like decorations. Everyone moved with a frantic urgency. "Excuse me," I stopped a passing maid. "What's going on?" She barely slowed down. "The royal family's arriving! We have just two days to get everything ready!" "The royal family?" "The Alpha King's grandparents, his whole
LYRA The ballroom was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, casting warm light across polished marble floors. Tables draped in ivory linen lined the walls, laden with food and flowers. Wolves in formal attire filled the space—Alphas, Betas, council members—all glittering an
LYRA *The Night Before* I couldn't sleep. I tried. I spent hours in bed, trying to quiet my thoughts while listening to Willow breathe from across the room, but It didn't work. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them. My parents. The fire. Thorne's blood on my hands. The memories had been bac
ZEVIARIt's been two weeks.Two fucking weeks since I last saw her.I told myself it was necessary. That distance would give me clarity, help me think past the pull of the bond and make rational decisions about what came next.I told myself a lot of things. But none of them were true. I leaned ba
LYRAThe air between us crackled with tension so thick I could barely breathe.Zeviar's arm was still around my waist, solid and unyielding. Orion's hand gripped mine, warm and refusing to let go. And I was caught between them, the both of them pulling me in opposite directions until I thought I mi







