003

LYRA

Warm.

Soft.

Plush.

Was I dreaming? 

My eyes fluttered open slowly as I took in my surroundings.

This wasn’t my room. I didn’t even have a room of my own.

How did I…‘The stranger’. I recalled.

This was his home.

I stretched, feeling energized as memories from earlier came crashing down. Bathing. Eating. Dozing off on the chair….

But I couldn’t recall coming into this room. 

Did he carry me here? 

A smile spread on my face as I plopped on the bed, ‘This was real!’ I muttered to myself. 

I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept in a bed, I stayed on the bed, my eyes on the ceiling as I thought about everything that had happened.

The moon goddess must have sent me an angel, Perhaps this was a new beginning for me….

After minutes of reveling in my thoughts, I finally stood up, opening the door gently. 

I scanned the sitting room, the house was small but quite comfy and homely. 

Outside, seated by the fire and shirtless, was none other than, The strange man.

I stood still, as my eyes raked him. He had a masculine body and so many scars on his back. He was so focused on the fire that he had barely noticed me. 

He had a powerful, strong and distant aura and I couldn’t help but wonder who he truly was.

“Are you going to keep standing and analyzing me?” His deep baritone voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and my face flushed in embarrassment as I walked closer.

“I wasn’t analyzing you.” 

My voice was low and soft as I crouched down on a stool beside him.

My gaze flickered to his bare chest, there was a golden scar on his right side and then, he raised his face, his ocean blue eyes fixed on mine, “How do you feel?” He asked, his voice low and deep. 

I hesitated, swallowing hard before responding, “Strong. I haven’t felt this way in days,” My voice was hoarse, but I meant it.

“That’s good. You needed the rest,” He added before handing me a blanket, “Cover up, it’s cold,”

“Why are you helping me?” I asked, my voice low and firm, “You barely know me, yet you’re treating me so well. Who are you?”

He paused for a minute, before looking at me, “I’m Damon.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face before he leaned against the wall, “I’m nobody special, and I am also not from this pack” He admitted, “I came for a reason.” 

“And what could that be?”

“A healer.”

I scrunched my face in confusion , “A healer?” I repeated, and he nodded, “But the last descendants of healers already died. We don’t have a healer in this pack.”

“I was directed here. It’s an urgent situation.”

“I think you were misdirected, if indeed there was a healer here, they would be well known. That would be the person’s occupation,” I explained, “But why do you need a healer, are you sick?”

He froze as if contemplating whether to tell me, “It’s fine if you don’t want to share…”

“Someone important to me.” He responded, his voice low, “And doesn’t have much time left.”

Something about the way he said it, made my chest tighten. “I do hope you find them.”

He nodded and silence settled between us.

I could still feel his gaze on me, staring at me in a way that made my skin crawl. The weather was changing, and it seemed like rain was about to fall.

I wanted to speak, but he beat me to it, “Let’s continue inside, the rain might be heavy.”

I nodded, the wind was already blowing and everywhere was chilly, we got inside and settled in the living room. 

“Damon, I…”

“Enough talk about me, Lyra.” He cut in softly, “Let's talk about you?”

 My gaze flickered from his lips to his face, “What do you want to know?”

“Why do they treat you like this? And why do you let them?”

I swallowed hard, unsure of how to answer. “Because of my parents.”

“They were accused of partnering with the rogues to kill the alpha and Luna because the people didn’t choose them to rule.”

His jaw tightened, “That doesn’t justify it. You’re not your parents, and so they have no right to treat you like filth.”

I let out a dry chuckle, “No one cares. They believe I’m to pay for my parent's crime since they committed suicide.”

Damon's eyes darkened, “You don’t deserve this pack.”

“It’s not like they need me either, I am useless to them. The moon goddess just had to worsen it by mating me to the Alpha, you saw what happened in the gathering,”

My gaze flickered to his bare chest and for a moment, I wanted to graze my fingers on that scar. 

“He is an asshole and doesn’t deserve you either. You have to stand up for yourself, you can’t let them bully you for the rest of your life, don’t you get tired and angry?”

“Perhaps you could teach me…how to defend myself…” My voice low and soft as my fingers came in contact with the scar on his chest.

“What happened here?” I asked, pressing it, and he flinched, “A birthmark.” 

The air around us thickened… almost suffocating. 

“Does it hurt? You flinched,”

“A little….”

Our faces were so close to each other and his gaze flickered to my lips, just for a second, before he pulled back, I didn’t want him to. 

I leaned forward slowly, My heart pounding as I reached for him. My fingers hesitantly rubbing the scar on his chest, “I…it’s….” I trailed off, unable to form a complete sentence.

His ocean blue eyes met mine, sending a shiver down my spine. 

It held something I couldn’t decipher, tempting, alluring, and I pushed myself closer to him.

 “Lyra…” He warned, his voice low and dangerous.

I ignored his warning, my hands trailing down his body, he was quiet, but I could feel his gaze on me.

For the first time, I felt wanted—the tension was so thick, I didn’t want to think—I knew what I wanted, and so I leaned in, eager to join our lips when he stood up abruptly.

“I’m sorry….I can’t….”

And with that, he walked out. 

I felt like covering myself in shame. What was I even thinking? 

He had saved me and in return I had tried to kiss him. Goddess save me from this embarrassment. 

Maybe I should apologize? He shouldn’t leave his hut because of me when it was raining heavily. 

I stood up, taking slow steps to the door, the sound of the thunder made me shiver a bit, I opened the door and he wasn’t there. 

I went out in the rain to check if he was around, but nothing. It was as if he disappeared into air.

Filled with regret and disappointment, I returned back to the hut.

I had successfully managed to chase someone that had compassion for me. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stretched tiredly as my eyes fluttered open. The room was ice cold because of the rain. 

I dozed off on the chair after tirelessly waiting for him.

And even now…he wasn’t back. 

He left.

I heaved a deep breath, at least I had a shelter to lay on. 

I stood up about to head to the bathroom when the door burst open.

Several men stormed inside, and from their uniforms I knew who they were…Alpha Ian’s guards!

“Why did you barge into my room?” I asked, my voice louder than intended. 

“Alpha Ian summons you! You’re to leave everything you’re doing and follow us,”

I could feel my heart racing, but I didn't show it… why was he looking for me? 

“I’m not going anywhere! Tell your alpha that I’ve done both wrong, so I have no business with the palace,” I retorted, my mind already racing for an escape route.

The window!

I moved towards it slowly, 

“Don’t make us drag you there, Lyra. Just obey,”

“I have every right to refuse an invitation from the Alpha, especially when I committed no crime,” I replied, now standing near the window.

The guards started coming forward and without thinking, I jumped and landed on the soft grass.

I stood up, about to run when I froze. 

More than three guards were standing in front of me and without saying a word, one carried me across his shoulders, I tried to struggle, but it was useless, 

“This is abduction!” I yelled on top of my voice, “Let me go!” I continued, but it fell on deaf ears as they ignored my tantrums and screams.