007: The Ritual

Lyra’s POV

The moment they walked in, the entire room shifted.

Alejandro Castillo moved like a predator, every step deliberate and powerful. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with silver threading through his dark hair. His eyes were the same brown as Killian’s, but colder, harder, like they’d seen too much and forgiven too little. Alpha energy rolled off him in waves so thick I could barely breathe.

Isabella Castillo was just as intimidating in a different way. She was elegant, beautiful, with sharp features and ice in her gaze. Her presence commanded respect without her having to say a single word. She wore a deep burgundy gown that made her look regal, untouchable.

They took their seats at the head of the table, and only then did everyone else sit.

My hands were shaking in my lap. I clasped them together, trying to steady myself.

Alejandro’s eyes swept over the table, landing on me with an intensity that made my wolf whimper. He didn’t look away, just studied me like I was something he needed to assess before deciding whether to keep or discard.

Isabella’s gaze was just as piercing, but there was something else there too. Calculation, and suspicion.

“So,” Alejandro said, his voice deep and authoritative. “This is the girl who’s carrying my grandchild.”

It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, heavy with doubt.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “Yes, Alpha.”

“How convenient,” Isabella said, her tone dripping with disbelief. She leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming against the armrest. “A runaway bride, claiming to be pregnant with my son’s child, conveniently appearing on the day she was supposed to mate with another Alpha.”

My throat tightened. I didn’t know what to say.

Killian’s voice cut through the tension. “She is my mate. The bond is real.”

Alejandro’s eyes shifted to his son. “The bond, perhaps. But the child?” He looked back at me. “That remains to be seen.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

The table went silent.

Rafael raised an eyebrow. Marisol smirked. Vicente’s expression darkened.

Alejandro’s gaze hardened. “I’m saying that claims need to be proven, especially when they come from someone who brings scandal and disgrace into my pack.”

My face burned with humiliation, but I refused to look away.

Isabella leaned forward, her voice measured and cold. “If you are truly carrying an heir to this pack, then you will undergo the ritual.”

My heart dropped. “Ritual?”

“A blood ritual,” she explained, her eyes never leaving mine. “It will confirm whether or not you are pregnant, and if the child is Killian’s.”

Panic shot through me. I wasn’t pregnant. I’d lied. And now they were going to expose me in front of everyone.

Killian’s voice entered my mind through our mate bond, sharp and urgent. “Don’t refuse. It’ll only make her more suspicious.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, even as my heart raced. “I’m not actually pregnant, Killian. What am I supposed to do?”

“I know.” His response was immediate, almost irritated. “We’ll figure it out. Just don’t refuse.”

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself.

Killian addressed his mother, his tone calm but firm. “It’s too early for the ritual. She’s barely a few weeks along. The magic won’t be strong enough to detect anything yet.”

Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “Then we’ll wait. A month, perhaps. That should be sufficient.”

Alejandro nodded in agreement. “One month. And if the ritual shows nothing, she leaves this pack immediately.”

My stomach twisted. One month. I had one month to figure out how to survive this lie, or I was done.

Before I could respond, Alejandro turned his full attention back to me. “Now, tell me, Lyra Dominic. Why did you refuse Adrian Massimo?”

The question caught me off guard.

Everyone at the table was watching me now, waiting for my answer.

“Everyone in Mexican City knew about your relationship,” Alejandro continued, his voice sharp. “You were together for years. You poured your family’s resources into his pack. And then, on the day of your mating ceremony, you run. Why?”

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Because I realized he didn’t love me.”

“Love.” Alejandro said the word like it was something distasteful. “You threw away a political alliance, disgraced your family, and fled to my son, all because of love?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice stronger now. “I refused to mate with someone who was using me.”

Alejandro’s eyes darkened. “Or perhaps you were sent here as a spy. Perhaps your father orchestrated this entire thing to infiltrate the Northern Pack.”

My blood ran cold. “That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” He leaned forward, his presence suffocating. “Your family has hated us for years. Your father nearly destroyed my son once before. And now you conveniently appear, claiming to be Killian’s mate, carrying his child. Forgive me if I find that suspicious.”

“I’m not a spy,” I said, my voice shaking with a mixture of fear and anger. “I didn’t even know about whatever happened between our families until yesterday.”

“Convenient memory loss,” Marisol murmured, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Alejandro ignored her, his focus entirely on me. “Let me be very clear, girl. I don’t trust you. I don’t trust your family. And I don’t trust this sudden bond with my son.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “If I find out you’re lying, if I discover you’re here to harm this pack in any way, I will kill you myself. Bond or no bond.”

The threat hung in the air, heavy and absolute.

I wanted to shrink back, to disappear, but I forced myself to stay still, to hold his gaze.

“I understand,” I said quietly.

Vicente finally spoke up, his voice measured. “Brother, perhaps we should trust Killian’s judgment. He has never been reckless. If he says she’s his mate, then she is.”

Alejandro’s jaw tightened. “Killian has made mistakes before.”

“We all have,” Vicente said carefully. “But he’s proven himself time and again. He wouldn’t bring her here without reason.”

“That’s what concerns me,” Alejandro said. “The reason.”

The tension at the table was unbearable. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, judging, waiting for me to slip up.

Isabella broke the silence, her tone cold and final. “One month. If the ritual proves her claim, she stays. If not, she leaves, and we sever any connection to the Dominic pack permanently.”

“Agreed,” Alejandro said.

Killian’s hand found mine under the table, his grip firm. I didn’t know if he was trying to comfort me or warn me, but either way, it did nothing to ease the knot of fear in my stomach.

Servants began bringing out the food, platters of roasted meat, vegetables, and rich sauces. The conversation shifted to other pack matters, but I could still feel the weight of Alejandro and Isabella’s suspicion pressing down on me.

I had no appetite. My stomach was in knots, my throat tight. But not eating would be seen as disrespectful, another mark against me.

I forced myself to take a bite.

The moment the food touched my tongue, something was wrong.

My throat began to burn, a sharp, searing pain that spread rapidly. I tried to swallow, but my airway was closing, tightening with every second.

I gasped, my hands flying to my throat.

“Lyra?” Killian’s voice was sharp, alarmed.

I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred at the edges, the room spinning violently.

My throat swelled completely shut, and I felt my body tipping forward, the chair falling away beneath me.

The last thing I heard was Killian shouting my name before everything went black.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​