Chapter 2: The Alpha's Summons

The moment the Alpha disappeared into the manor, the frozen silence shattered.

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

"Did you see that?"

"The Alpha looked at Lyra!"

"No... he stared at her."

"I've never seen him stop for anyone."

"Why would he summon a useless omega?"

Lyra stood rooted to the spot, her legs refusing to move.

Her heart pounded so violently that it hurt.

The strange warmth inside her chest hadn't disappeared. Instead, it pulsed softly, as if something buried deep within her had finally awakened after years of silence.

"Lyra."

Thalia's gentle voice broke through the noise.

She stepped beside the young omega, her weathered hand resting on Lyra's shoulder.

"You need to go."

Lyra looked up, fear filling her silver eyes.

"Did... did I do something wrong?"

For the first time in years, Thalia didn't have an answer.

"I don't know."

That frightened her more than anything.

____

Two warriors escorted Lyra through the manor.

The further they walked, the quieter the halls became.

Portraits of former Alpha Kings watched from the walls, each wearing crowns forged from silver and black steel.

Power.

Authority.

Blood.

Every painting reminded Lyra she didn't belong here.

The servants lowered their heads as she passed.

Some pitied her.

Others smirked.

No omega had ever been summoned by an Alpha King alone.

Especially not one like Kael Draven.

The guards stopped before a pair of enormous black doors.

One knocked.

"My Alpha."

A deep voice answered from inside.

"Enter."

The doors creaked open.

The office was dimly lit by the flames dancing inside a massive fireplace.

Bookshelves lined the walls.

Ancient maps covered an oak table.

Weapons from countless wars hung like trophies.

Standing before the window was Kael Draven.

His broad shoulders were rigid.

His hands rested behind his back.

He didn't turn around.

"Leave us."

The guards bowed before closing the doors behind them.

Silence settled over the room.

Lyra lowered her gaze.

"I... greet the Alpha."

Kael finally turned.

Golden eyes met silver ones.

Again.

His wolf stirred violently.

"Mate."

Kael clenched his jaw.

"Be silent."

"She belongs to us."

"Impossible."

His wolf growled low inside his mind.

"Look at her eyes."

Kael forced the voice away.

"What is your full name?"

"Lyra Ashwood."

"Age."

"Twenty-two."

"Rank."

She hesitated.

"...Omega."

Kael studied her carefully.

No arrogance.

No fear hidden behind lies.

Just quiet honesty.

"You have never shifted?"

"No."

"Never heard your wolf?"

"No."

"Never felt the pull of the full moon?"

Lyra slowly shook her head.

"I thought... there was something wrong with me."

Her voice cracked slightly.

"I stopped hoping years ago."

Something about those words lingered longer than Kael expected.

He remembered being ten years old when his own wolf first spoke.

It had frightened him.

Yet this woman had lived twenty-two years in complete silence.

No wolf.

No bond.

Nothing.

Then why...

Why did fate choose her?

"Look at me."

Lyra slowly lifted her head.

For the first time, Kael noticed the exact shade of her eyes.

Not grey.

Not blue.

Silver.

Almost...

Moonlight trapped inside glass.

His heartbeat skipped.

A forgotten memory surfaced.

____

As a child, his mother had once read from an ancient book.

"When the Moonborn returns, the heavens shall mark her with silver eyes."

He dismissed the thought immediately.

The Moonborn were myths.

Nothing more.

Weren't they?

Kael stepped closer.

"So tell me..."

"What did you feel when you saw me?"

Lyra swallowed.

"I..."

Her cheeks warmed.

"I don't know how to explain it."

"Try."

"It felt like..."

She placed a trembling hand over her heart.

"...something inside me woke up."

Kael's wolf slammed against his mind.

"She awakened because of us!"

He ignored it.

"And?"

"I heard..."

She hesitated.

"A voice."

His eyes narrowed.

"What did it say?"

Lyra looked directly into his eyes.

"It only whispered one word."

"...Mine."

The room fell silent.

The crystal glass in Kael's hand shattered.

Wine dripped onto the polished floor like blood.

Neither of them moved.

Suddenly—

Pain.

Sharp.

Burning.

Lyra gasped as agony spread across her chest.

She collapsed.

Kael caught her before she struck the floor.

The instant his skin touched hers—

A pulse of silver light exploded between them.

Time froze.

Kael found himself standing beneath a giant silver moon.

A woman dressed in shimmering robes smiled sadly.

Beside her stood a little girl with silver eyes.

Then—

Fire consumed everything.

Screams echoed across the sky.

A man's voice thundered.

"Hide the child!"

"They must never find the last Moonborn!"

The vision shattered.

Kael stumbled backward.

His breathing became uneven.

Lyra opened her eyes, just as confused.

"What... happened?"

Neither of them had an answer.

Far beneath the northern mountains...

Ancient chains rattled.

A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened in the darkness.

A deep, distorted laugh echoed through the underground halls.

"So..."

"The seal weakens."

"The Silver-Eyed Omega has awakened."

Thousands of black ravens burst from the cave entrance, disappearing into the night.

Their master had waited for centuries.

Now...

The hunt could finally begin.