Chapter 6

"I want to resign."

I stood in the infirmary office and handed my resignation to my supervisor, Gordon Walsh. The room fell silent at once. Every coworker stared at me in shock.

Gordon's eyes went wide. "What? Lyra, you've got to be kidding. Your bonding ceremony with Alpha Ryder is just around the corner!"

I calmly gathered my things. "I'm not kidding. The ceremony has already been canceled."

The hush broke into a low rustle of voices.

"The invitations already went out."

"How could it be canceled so suddenly?"

"Did Alpha Ryder change his mind?"

I didn't explain. I packed in silence.

I'd treated countless injured werewolves here for five years, saving lives thanks to the rare healing gift I'd been born with. Now, it was all coming to an end.

Gordon came to my side. "Lyra, at least tell us why. We can help if there's any trouble."

I slung my bag over my shoulder. "There's no trouble. We're just… not right for each other. I've already withdrawn the invitations. I'm truly sorry for the trouble."

After leaving the infirmary, I went straight home.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw two figures in the living room—Ryder, who hadn't been home in a week, and Isabelle.

They sat on the couch. Isabelle's hand lingered at her belly. Her smile was gentle with quiet contentment. Ryder was peeling an orange for her. His movements were so gentle that it seemed like he was handling a rare treasure.

His brows drew together when he saw me. "You're back. Why did you clear the room out like this?"

I looked around. My things were gone. Not a single trace of me left.

"I just did a little tidying," I said.

Isabelle cut in. Her voice was so cloying that it turned my stomach. "Oh, Lyra! I have to thank you for your generosity. Thank you for letting me bear Ryder's pup. I'm truly grateful."

She stood, deliberately angling her belly forward. "I know this is hard for you as Ryder's mate. Still, for the future of the pack and the alliance between our families, your sacrifice as Luna will secure what we all need."

She actually said "sacrifice".

"It's okay. I understand," I answered evenly.

Disappointment flickered in Isabelle's eyes. Clearly, she'd wanted me to rage, to break down, or to give her the scene she'd been waiting for.

She suggested, "Why don't we have dinner together now that everyone's back? We can discuss the plans for your upcoming bonding ceremony."

I looked at her in silence.

Isabelle's expression changed at once. Tears sprang to her eyes. "D-did I say something wrong? Lyra, I can leave if my being here makes you uncomfortable—"

Ryder cut in. His expression darkened. "Enough. What's with that attitude, Lyra? Isabelle is pregnant and physically weak. How can you be so rude to her?"

I looked at him. He'd once been gentle to me, yet now he was scolding me in that tone.

"I wasn't being rude," I said.

Ryder stood. His dominance as Alpha washed over me. "Then what do you call that silence? Come to the dining room and eat with us. That's an order."

An order? He was using his Alpha authority to treat me like an insubordinate underling.

I didn't resist. I went with them in silence.

At the table, Ryder directed the household staff with practiced ease, instructing them to serve Isabelle a selection of light, carefully balanced dishes. Each was perfect for a pregnant she-wolf.

He remembered that Isabelle couldn't stomach spicy food, her need for folic acid, every flavor she loved, yet somehow forgot my allergy to shrimp.

My medical report lay in plain sight on the dresser in our room, but he hadn't so much as glanced at it.

The staff set down plate after plate of seafood. I sat there without a word, touching nothing.

"Why aren't you eating?" Ryder asked.

"No appetite," I said.

Isabelle ate with care, glancing up now and then with triumph glinting in her eyes. She knew she'd won.

Once dinner was over, I stepped into the hallway to take Lucas' call.

"Did you book the flight?" he asked with concern.

I lowered my voice. "Yes. The flight leaves in three days."

"Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No. It's all set. I'm ready to go."

Lucas' voice was low and gentle. "Lyra… Take care of yourself."

I hung up and turned toward my room, only to find Ryder a few paces behind me. His brows were knitted, and his eyes were sharp with suspicion and confusion.

"Who's leaving?"