CHAPTER 21 Lyra's POV   I heard the fading footsteps of Alpha Gray and Raven, I cautiously shifted from my hidden position behind the curtain. The air felt intensely hot, the thick fabric trapping the warmth. I slowly placed my foot down, and steadily descended from my improvised hiding spot, emerging into the dimly lit room. Taking a moment to compose myself, I glanced around. The room was empty, the echoes of their conversation lingering in the air. I sighed, wiping the sweat from my forehead as I made my way towards the table to pick up the dessert. The cool surface of the tray provided a welcome contrast to the warmth of the room. It was obviously a bad idea, but it was too late now.  As I headed for the kitchen, my mind replayed the two unexpected kisses from Alpha Gray. The memory left me strangely unsettled, and I found myself longing for more. It w

CHAPTER 23 Lyra's POV The warmth of Helena's embrace provided a brief escape, but her words lingered. "I wouldn't be surprised if Raven had something to do with you falling." Her suspicion struck a chord, and for a moment, I dismissed it."You think?" I replied, attempting to downplay the idea, but a flicker of doubt clouded my thoughts.Helena raised an eyebrow, her gaze searching. "Lyra, this is Raven we're talking about. She's always been competitive, and your involvement with Alpha Gray might have triggered something."I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to entertain the notion that Raven deliberately caused my fall. "I don't know, Helena. It could have just been an accident."Helena leaned back, studying me. "Accident or not, you're in the midst of pack politics now. You can't afford to be naive, especially with someone like Raven around."A flash of memory disrupted our conversation. I saw the hall again,

CHAPTER 25  ALPHA GRAY  The kiss lingered in the air as Lyra pulled away, and I looked at her, our eyes meeting in a shared moment of uncertainty. The mate bond, once cut by me, but not entirely forgotten, whispered promises of what could be. After a moment, I broke the silence. "Lyra," I said, my voice carrying a mix of sincerity and a touch of regret. She looked at me, her expression guarded. "What, Gray?" "I know this is complicated," I began, searching for the right words. "But I would love for us to be together another time. We should plan properly so that it will be different from today." Lyra sighed, her gaze wandering as if searching for answers in the room. "I don't know, Gray. This... it's not as simple as planning for another time." I stepped closer, placing my hands on her shoulders, urging her to loo

CHAPTER 27  LYRA'S POV  She kept her eyes on me,she was still demanding an explanation. I remained quiet, unable to find the words to answer her question. I looked at Helena, her intense stare fueling my discomfort. I knew she wouldn't let it go until she found out where I had been. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I finally managed to ask her, my tone was defensive. Helena didn't flinch. "Answer the question, Lyra." I sighed, feeling cornered. "Alright, alright. I met with Alpha Gray." "What?!" Helena exclaimed, her eyes widening. Despite her apparent surprise, I could tell she was aware of my actions. She was giving me the chance to confess before she scolded me properly. I met her gaze, the guilt settling in. "Helena, I didn't plan for things to go this way. It just happened."

CHAPTER 29  LYRA'S POV   I opened my eyes and the morning greeted me with a throbbing headache, a painful reminder of what had happened the previous night. The sheets were rumpled, and the cabin felt empty. Helena wasn't in the room, leaving me alone to face the aftermath of my decisions. I sighed and my hands reached my eyes, attempting to clear off the remainder of sleep, as I tried to stand up, a sharp pain shot through my stomach, causing me to wince and fall back onto the bed. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath, my hand instinctively reaching for the source of the pain. The memory of the vicious attack replayed in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability. "Falling apart already, Lyra?" a voice echoed in my mind, a cruel reminder of the consequences of my choices. Sighing, I decided to lie back down for a moment