All Chapters of LYRA: REBORN FOR REVENGE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Before Lyra could make her escape, Jessy was back at her side, slipping her arm through Lyra's with the easy familiarity of years of friendship."Come on, let me walk you home," Jessy said, her voice bright and cheerful. "You look pale, and Eleanor said you've been feeling run down. What kind of best friend would I be if I let you walk back alone?"The best kind, Lyra thought bitterly. The kind that stays far away from me.But she couldn't say that. Instead, she forced a grateful smile and allowed herself to be led down the path toward the Alpha's residence. Each step sent fresh cramping through her abdomen, a constant reminder of what she was losing, but she kept her face carefully neutral."So," Jessy began, launching into conversation with the ease of someone who had no idea they were walking with someone who knew their darkest secret. "Did you hear about Marcus and his ridiculous attempt to impress Sandra at training yesterday? He tried to show off with that complicated flip move

The next three days passed in a blur of careful observation and meticulous note-taking. Lyra moved through the pack house like a ghost, watching, listening, cataloging every detail that might prove useful later. She attended pack meetings and smiled at the right moments, nodded when expected, played the role of dutiful Luna while her mind worked constantly beneath the surface.She'd become a spy in her own life. Every interaction with Mason was torture, every casual touch a reminder of his betrayal. But she endured it, kept her face neutral, her responses appropriate. When he asked how she was feeling, she said she was fine. When he kissed her cheek before leaving for pack business, she leaned into it instead of flinching away.But at night, when he was gone and she was alone, she pored over pack records and law books, searching for anything that could help her.It was on the third night, surrounded by dusty volumes from the pack library, that Lyra finally confirmed what she'd been dr

Lyra had barely made it three steps past Marcus when his voice called out again, stopping her in her tracks."Actually, Luna, if you have a moment?"She turned slowly, her market basket clutched in her hands, her smile carefully in place. "Of course, Marcus. What is it?"He closed the distance between them, his expression warm and concerned. Everything about him seemed genuine, from the way his eyes crinkled at the corners to the slight furrow in his brow. Marcus had always been kind to her, always respectful and supportive. In her previous life, she'd considered him a friend.Now, she didn't know what to think."I wanted to check in with you," Marcus said, his voice low enough that passing pack members wouldn't overhear. "Make sure everything is really alright. You seem, I don't know, different lately."Lyra's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "Different how?""It's hard to explain," Marcus said, rubbing the back of his neck in a gesture that seemed almost em

The knock on the door came just after breakfast, bright and cheerful and utterly unwelcome. Lyra knew who it would be before she even opened it. She'd been expecting this, had known that Jessy would follow up on her concerns to Marcus with a personal visit. Still, knowing didn't make it any easier to face. She pulled open the door to find Jessy standing on the porch, holding a basket covered with a checkered cloth and wearing a smile so bright it could have powered the sun. "Good morning!" Jessy chirped. "I brought breakfast pastries from the bakery. The ones with the cream filling you love. I thought we could spend the day together, just like old times." The basket smelled amazing, fresh bread and sweet cream, and once upon a time Lyra would have been delighted by this surprise. Now, all she felt was dread. "Jessy, that's so sweet," Lyra said, forcing enthusiasm into her voice. "But I actually have a lot of Luna duties to catch up on today. Maybe we could do this another time?"

Mason had come home from pack business, eaten dinner with her while making pleasant conversation, and then announced he needed to review some territorial reports before bed. "Don't wait up," he'd said, kissing her forehead. "These reports are extensive. I'll probably be a few hours late." "Alright," Lyra had said, playing the understanding wife. "I'll head up to bed then. Good night." She'd gone upstairs, changed into her nightgown, and gotten into bed. But she didn't sleep. She lay there in the darkness, listening to the sounds of the house. The occasional creak of Mason moving around downstairs. The rustle of papers. The clink of a glass being set down. And then, around eleven o'clock, silence. Lyra waited, counting her breaths, forcing herself to be patient. After ten minutes, she heard it. The soft click of the front door opening. The gentle sound of it closing again, barely audible. Mason was leaving. Her heart began to pound as she slipped out of bed and moved to the w