Chapter 8: The Transfer

LYRA'S POV

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even the crackling fire in the council chamber seemed to fade as everyone stared at Beta Ronan.

"Or making her disappear?"

His words hung heavily in the air.

Councilman Briggs slammed his palm against the oak table.

"Mind your words, Beta."

"I chose them carefully," Ronan replied without flinching.

His steady gaze swept across the council before settling on Kael.

"My Alpha, I believe transferring Lyra to Iron Hollow is premature."

Kael's expression remained unreadable.

"Explain."

Ronan took a slow breath.

"We've gathered evidence against Lyra, but we haven't investigated how that evidence got there."

Briggs scoffed.

"The bracelet was found beneath her floorboards."

"It was."

"The cloak was hidden in her home."

"It was."

"The map was there as well."

"Yes."

Briggs spread his arms triumphantly.

"What more do you need?"

"Proof that Lyra put them there."

The room erupted in whispers.

Several elders exchanged uneasy glances.

Ronan continued before anyone could interrupt him.

"If someone wanted to frame her, planting evidence would be the obvious first step."

Briggs narrowed his eyes.

"Are you accusing someone inside this pack?"

"I'm saying we should consider every possibility."

Kael remained silent.

His silence made my chest ache.

He wasn't defending me.

But he wasn't dismissing Ronan either.

For now...

That would have to be enough.

Elder Marcus leaned forward.

"Beta Ronan makes a valid point."

Briggs shot him an irritated look.

"So you believe the accused instead of the victim?"

Marcus sighed.

"I believe in justice."

Before the argument could continue, Selena suddenly gasped.

She clutched her side and winced.

Kael was beside her in an instant.

"Selena."

"I'm fine," she whispered.

"You don't look fine."

She forced a weak smile.

"I just... remembered something."

The entire chamber went quiet.

Kael crouched beside her.

"What did you remember?"

She hesitated.

"It was dark."

Her breathing became uneven.

"I couldn't see his face."

My stomach tightened.

"But..."

She slowly lifted her eyes.

"...I remember hearing Lyra's voice."

Every head turned toward me.

My heart sank.

Another lie.

"I kept begging her to let me go," Selena continued, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"She told me no one would ever believe the daughter of a traitor."

"I never said that!" I shouted.

The guards beside me tightened their grip on my arms.

"I've never spoken to you since you disappeared!"

Selena buried her face against Kael's shoulder.

"I wish I could forget."

Kael closed his eyes briefly.

Pain flashed across his face.

Not anger.

Not certainty.

Pain.

Because he wanted to believe both of us.

And he couldn't.

Or perhaps...

He thought he couldn't.

Elder Briggs cleared his throat.

"This changes nothing."

Marcus frowned.

"It changes nothing because it proves nothing."

Briggs ignored him.

"The transfer will proceed tomorrow."

"No."

Every head turned toward Kael.

The Alpha slowly stood.

His voice was calm.

Firm.

"The transfer is delayed."

Selena looked up sharply.

Briggs frowned.

"My Alpha—"

"I said delayed."

Kael's eyes swept across the council.

"No one leaves this pack until I understand exactly what happened."

For the first time since my arrest...

I saw uncertainty on Selena's face.

It lasted only a second.

Then she lowered her head again.

"As you wish."

But I noticed the way her fingers tightened around the crescent moon pendant.

She hadn't expected that.

Neither had I.

---

The guards led me back to the prison as the sun dipped below the mountains.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither did I.

The corridors felt colder than before.

When we reached my cell, the younger guard unlocked the chains around my wrists.

"I..."

He hesitated.

"What is it?" I asked.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"My sister used to study with you."

I searched his face.

"Emma?"

His eyes widened.

"You remember her?"

"She lent me books when no one else would talk to me."

He smiled sadly.

"She said you were the kindest person she'd ever met."

Emotion tightened my throat.

"How is she?"

"She's married now."

A small smile found my lips.

"I'm happy for her."

The guard looked around to make sure no one was listening.

Then he quietly slipped something into my hand.

A small silver key.

"For the chains," he whispered.

"In case..."

"In case what?"

He swallowed hard.

"In case Beta Ronan is right."

Before I could ask another question, he hurried away.

I stared at the tiny key in my palm.

Someone else believed me.

Someone else was willing to risk everything.

I tucked the key into the hem of my dress.

---

That night, rain battered the prison walls.

Lightning flashed through the narrow window.

Sleep refused to come.

Every time thunder rolled across the sky, I remembered Selena's final words.

"Tomorrow."

Just after midnight...

A scream shattered the silence.

It came from somewhere above.

Another scream followed.

Then running footsteps.

Guards shouted orders.

A warning horn echoed across the pack.

The prison door burst open.

The younger guard rushed inside, his face pale.

"Lyra!"

"What happened?"

He looked terrified.

"The infirmary..."

"What about it?"

He swallowed.

"Selena is gone."

Before I could process his words...

The entire prison shook violently.

A deafening explosion echoed somewhere outside.

Dust rained from the ceiling.

The torches flickered.

Then darkness swallowed the prison.

Somewhere in the blackness...

A deep, terrifying wolf howl echoed through the valley.

It wasn't a sound I'd ever heard before.

And somehow...

I knew it wasn't one of ours.