Thank you

~Ryker~

I caught her before she hit the ground.

My hand closed around her arm, the other steadying her at her waist as her body stilled against mine for a brief second. Her breath caught lightly as she looked up.

We were too close. And then I saw her.

Lyra stood a short distance away, her gaze fixed on us, unmoving, but there was something in the stillness that didn’t sit right, something that lingered longer than it should have.

I released Elira immediately, stepping back as though the moment had not happened, my expression settling into something neutral again.

“You’ll get better,” I said to Elira.

She nodded slightly, adjusting her grip on the stick again, and I didn’t wait for anything else.

“Keep practicing,” I added before turning away from her completely.

I walked toward Lyra without rushing, my steps steady and measured as I closed the distance between us, stopping only when we were far enough from the others that whatever she had to say would stay between us.

I didn’t speak first and she didn’t hesitate.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with her,” Lyra said, her but edged, like the words had been waiting for the right moment to be said.

“Elira,” I corrected without hesitation, my gaze steady on hers.

but edged, like the words had been waiting for the right moment to be said.

“The slave,” she replied, deliberately, like the title mattered more than the person.

I let the silence stretch for a second before responding, my tone even.

“She’s under our protection.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Lyra countered immediately, stepping slightly closer, her voice lowering but sharpening, “she’s not just any slave, Ryker, she’s his rejected mate.”

I held her gaze without reacting, without giving her what she expected to see.

“I’m aware.” I said simply.

Her brows pulled together slightly, frustration flickering across her expression before she steadied it.

“Then you should also be aware of what that means,” she continued, “Kael is already searching, and the hunt is spreading wider every minute.”

My jaw tightened faintly, but I didn’t interrupt.

“If he finds out she’s here,” Lyra added, her gaze unwavering, “that we are harboring her, it won’t just be her he comes for.”

I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting briefly past her toward the forest before returning.

“They want her dead,” she went on, her voice firm, “she is supposed to be dead, and we were supposed to stay away from anything tied to Valerith.”

“And yet, here we are,” I replied quietly.

Lyra’s expression hardened slightly.

“You’re taking a risk,” she said, more direct now, “a risk that doesn’t just affect you.”

I stepped closer, not aggressive, but firm enough to make my stance clear, my voice calm but grounded.

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” she challenged, and this time, there was something else beneath it, something personal, something she wasn’t saying outright.

My gaze didn’t waver. “She needed help,” I said, my tone steady, “and I gave it.”

Lyra turned slightly away, exhaling under her breath as she crossed her arms, her posture tightening. “You’re too close to this,” she muttered.

I didn’t respond immediately. Because part of me knew exactly why she said that. “I’m not,” I said finally, and she turned back to me, her expression unconvinced.

“She’s not ordinary,” I continued before she could push further, my voice quieter now. That caught her attention.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her tone shifting slightly. I held her gaze for a moment before answering.

“When I found her, something didn’t feel right,” I said slowly, “so I tested it… on the training ground today.”

Lyra stilled. “And?” she pressed.

“I felt a strange aura. Very faint, but noticeable to me,” I replied, my voice low, thoughtful, “it wasn’t weak… it was restrained. I bet she doesn’t know this either.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she processed that. “You’re saying she’s stronger than she looks.”

“I’m saying there’s more to her than we can see,” I corrected.

There was silence after that, pressing this time.

“That doesn’t change the risk,” she said eventually, though her tone had softened slightly.

“It doesn’t,” I agreed. Another pause stretched between us before I straightened slightly. “You’ve said your piece,” I added calmly, “and I’ve heard it.”

Lyra held my gaze for a moment longer before nodding once.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Ryker.”

“I do.”

She studied me for a second longer before turning away as she headed back toward the pack, disappearing gradually between the structures without another word.

I remained where I was. For a moment, everything was still and then I turned. My gaze instinctively found Elira again across the training ground.

She was still practicing.

Her movements clumsy but determined, her focus locked in as if nothing else existed beyond the stick in her hand and the need to get it right.

She is a slave. That’s what she claimed to be.That’s what she was supposed to be. But nothing about her felt that simple.

My jaw tightened slightly as I watched her for a moment longer before turning away, my steps carrying me toward the edge of the forest without conscious thought.

The air changed as I moved deeper in. It was quieter, cooler, and yet… it felt like something wasn’t right.

I slowed. My gaze scanning the trees as my senses stretched outward instinctively, picking through the silence for anything out of place.

It was a faint smell. Something or someone had passed through recently. Definitely not mine or anyone that belonged here.

My posture straightened slightly, my jaws clenching as the realization settled quietly into place.

‘We’re not as hidden as I thought…’

I hurried back to the pack and on my way into the boundary, I hit the large bell. This alerted everyone in town and they immediately dropped everything they were doing and hurriedly moved to the town square.

I stood tall on the platform and waited for everyone to gather, including Elira. She stood behind the people, making sure not to draw attention to herself. But still, she attracted stares from the people.

“This is going to be brief!” I started, my gaze moving across all faces standing in front of me. “I believe we have all heard of the wide manhunt ordered from the King Kael of Valerith.”

Faint murmurs grew, and some of the people turned their heads to look at Elira. She swallowed and slightly lowered her head, avoiding every gaze.

“We are not one to be scared!” The murmurs died down. “We have trained for years, we have protected ourselves for ages. This shall pass too. But, to be safer and more hidden…” I took a pause, and then continued, “We would start building the fence heading back east, this would cut us off completely from the world. Anyone we dared to trespass would face our wrath!”

“Yes!” The people roared in unison and bravery.

“Let’s get to work!”

They started to disperse almost immediately, leaving only Elira and Lyra in front of me. Lyra glanced at me, and then at Elira with a straight face, before walking away.

Elira kept still in the distance she was and stared at me. How gazes locked and her eyes said words that didn’t need to be spoken.

“Thank you.”