All Chapters of A MATE WORTH HATING : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

LYRA’S POV Even before I wake up, I can hear the sounds of boots outside as some of the pack members begin clearing the aftermath of the attack. Leaving the shabby, broken-down room that I'm using as my quarters, I step into the morning air. It is cold and heavy with dew, but the bodies moving around make my blood heat up with the need to help. "Did you even get any sleep?" I ask Keyon as I approach where he stood overlooking the work that's happening. "It was either these or I seek Ronan out and kill him in his sleep." He says casually before shooting me a smirk. I shake my head at him as I shoot him a smirk of my own. "I was up last night with Elder Rowe compiling a list of things we would need for rebuilding, and I've written up a list of some wolves we think are capable of leading the workers in the rebuilding." I tell Keyon. "Goddess." I hear him swear under his breath. "Give me a second, Ra." I watch him walk off toward a group of wolves who are trying to pull debris out

RONAN'S POV "Alpha, this paste will sting." The healer informs me. I only nod at her. We are on the seventh bruise when I hear a series of "Luna" from the wolves by the door. "She's here." Raith immediately perks up, his voice all too happy to see his mate. "Ours." He corrects. "Yes. Ours." I agree with him. Her scent fills the tent as she comes in, her stride sure but gentle. Anyone who saw her walk in here would think she is coming to have a friendly chat with me. But I know better. Her face is devoid of any emotion even as she watches the healer put her damn cooling balm, the kind that stings more than I'd like to admit, on the bruise that her best friend inflicted. The healer finally finishes up and leaves. The tent stays quiet for a long minute before Lyra finally speaks. "Why did you attack Keyon?" She asks. "Oomf." I feel Raith's happiness quell at that question. I know she hasn't come here to check up on us, but it still stings that she can't care to ask even afte

LYRA'S POVBy evening what happened at the command post has spread like wildfire. I am already receiving and overhearing think pieces about what I did, but only two things bothered me in the moment.The welfare of the Blackthorne soldier and-"How do we resolve this without hurting our relationship with Silverclaw?" Elder Rowe stresses in a corner with other commanders as they deliberate over what one of the commanders had called an avoidable situation."Alpha, don't you have any input to add to what is being discussed here?" One of the commanders asks.I ignore the bite in his tone simply because I don't want to escalate the matter by punishing a commander for insubordination.But if he kept this up…"I've already given my input about the matter." I say calmly. "I'll have a letter sent to both packs, and the four offending wolves will face council punishment.""You didn't think to deliberate with us before you came

RONAN'S POVI could tell my compliment unsettled her by the way she looked at me as if I had grown a second head.We stood in awkward silence for a while before I broke it."Thank you for defending him," I told her honestly."Defend," she scoffed under her breath, taking a seat at her desk."I didn't do it for you.""Yet, you did," I pushed."You don't know how long they've waited for their Luna.""You don't understand how happy your decision made them."Lyra gave me an irritated look, and immediately I felt the bond come alive with anger, more like it was brewing, but that was the most I'd felt from her in three days."You sound overly pleased for someone who is thanking me on behalf of his pack," she told me in a mildly irritated tone.Well, I was pleased.Elated, if I was being honest.Her decision that day was a step forward in our relationship and would have positive results for both of our packs.So yes, I was very pleased indeed.Although I was never going to admit that."Well,

RONAN'S POVIt had been a few minutes since Lyra had run out of my tent, and I had spent those few minutes obsessing over what might have gone wrong.A few answers came to mind, but none of them provided a logical reason for why she would have reacted that way.I couldn't get over the stricken look on her face and the immense feeling of horror, followed by anger and self-loathing, that I had felt across the bond as she fled.I had almost gone after her the second she left, but the heavy mental wall she threw up between us told me the last person she wanted to speak to was me.I pulled at my hair in frustration before propping the sword back against the chair. How was I supposed to find out what was wrong with Lyra without talking to her directly and upsetting her further?I was still lost in thought when a guard stepped inside to inform me that Commander Spencer was here with another warrior to see me. The man was relentless, and he was the last person I wanted to deal with right now.