Lyra's POVThe fire did almost nothing to make me warmer, but I sat next to it anyway. My legs were stretched out. I was alone near the edge of the makeshift camp and my arms wrapped protectively around my belly. The vampires moved like shadows around me, dismantling and preparing for whatever came next. Their silence unnerved me more than their snarls ever could. They didn’t eat food, didn’t talk much, and only came alive during the hunt.Lisa’s voice broke my thoughts. “Hungry?” she asked, her grin sharp and unsettling. She held out a bowl of something I couldn’t identify. It smelled sharp and bitter, like crushed leaves and dirt.I shook my head quickly. “No, thank you,” I said, my voice tight. My stomach churned at the thought of eating anything they prepared.Lisa’s grin widened. “You need to eat. For the babies,” she said, shoving the bowl closer to me. Her tone was playful, but her eyes shone with something darker. “Don’t insult me by refusing.”Reluctantly, I reached out an
Lyra's POVRylan swung down from his horse with practiced ease, his sharp eyes scanning the camp. The sight of him, broad-shouldered and fierce, sent a surge of hope and relief through me. For a moment, I forgot everything—the vampires, the danger, even my fear—and my feet moved instinctively toward him.“Rylan!” I shouted, my voice trembling. But before I could take more than a few steps, a cold, unyielding hand gripped my arm, halting me. I turned to find Lisa staring at me with an amused smirk, though her grip was anything but playful.“What do you think you're doing, pretty preggy girl?” She asked in that slightly funny but chilling way. “Not so fast, Lyra,” Raphael’s deep voice cut through the tension, smooth but laced with authority. He stepped forward, his presence commanding as always. The faint moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto me. “You have no right to leave,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “Not until I say so.”My hear
Rylan's POV “Get back, Lyra.”I commanded softly.She looked from me to Raphael and then did as I said. “If you're leaving with her, you're fighting to claim her,” Raphael said. He was smiling now. .“Fine. I'll fight if that's what you want,” I agreed without any argument. Cassian stepped forward, his hand tugging mine. “I'll do the fighting, let me do it, Rylan,” he said, sizing up Raphael. “True, you're too important to want to do this, let either of us do it,” Finn said in agreement. I scoffed. “I'm not going to get killed.”They weren't having it. “Only the Alpha fights or we put a knife to her throat and the war begins,” Raphael said. His eyes glowed wickedly. If he tried to hurt Lyra, I'll kill him and the bunch of vampires he had with him, a war would start that would wipe them all out wherever they are, but the war won't bring back Lyra. I couldn't let them hurt her. “I'll do it. Send the vampire.”“Two of them, just you.”“That's unfair!” Finn yelled. But the vamp
Rylan's POVAs we got closer, I saw the looks on their faces. I saw the look of disapproval on the faces of some and the look of excitement on the faces the others. Alexis was in the crowd too. But as we came closer, her figure vanished from the crowd and I knew she was running away. She hadn't expected that I'd be back so soon and with Lyra.I hadn't expected to meet her back at the camp. She'd made a bluff about wanting to leave with those who trusted her.“I see you're still here, Alexis.” I called. She came back to the crowd now, having no other choice. “Welcome back, Rylan.”I ignored the greeting.“I'm wondering why you sent Lyra away,” I said as I walked towards the crowd. Finn looked for food for Lyra and she found a spot to sit and eat while she watched us. “I was helping,” she said, her voice breaking. “I thought it was the only way to keep the rogue pack safe. She was—she was too much of a risk.”“A risk?” I repeated, my tone sharp. I could feel the tension in the cro
Damian's POVEloisa was still in the cell. I'd make sure she was thrown in with her faithful maid, Ilena. Her betrayal was one I couldn't stand. Not only had she tried to get some of the men to become loyal to only her so she could use them when she wanted, she'd also tried to go and murder Lyra. My mate and the woman carrying my unborn babies. That was something I couldn't forgive. I walked down the dark corridors and stopped by the burglaries. “I see you're at peace here. No scheming.”The words left my lips with unplanned contempt and Eloisa came to her feet. The light in the corridor was too faint to fully show her full face, but Roy sprang up, my wolf abilities coming to life. “Damian…”“Why did you do what you did?”I asked her, not giving her time for pleasantries."I don’t know," she said, her voice choked. "I was so blinded by my own anger, my own jealousy. I didn’t care about anything else. I was wrong, Damian, I know that now."I studied her for a moment longer. Eloisa
Damian's POV As we got deeper into the woods, I became more worried. There'd been no sign back at the Blood Nest pack to suggest that there was an attack going on. I hadn't expected the attack in any way because human hunters never went so far. They did all they could to protect their boundaries and try to make sure detected vampires and werewolves didn't come to their city, but coming all the way into the woods to attack a rogue pack was something that'd not happened in a long time. The thought of Lyra being in the middle of such chaos made me worry so much I started to fidget. She was carrying my children, our children. Whatever grievances we had, I could not let her fall into harm’s way. I turned to the men riding with me, their faces grim and determined.“We ride hard,” I ordered. “There’s no time to waste but it looks like we are going too slowly.”The forest blurred past us as we sped toward the rogues’ camp. My thoughts were a storm. Lyra had always been stubborn, there was
Eloisa's POVI could still feel the stinging coldness of the cell even after I was freed. The dampness clung to my skin, a stubborn reminder of the humiliation I had endured. Damian had come to his senses and released me, but his focus was not on me. It was on her. Lyra.Even now, he was out there, risking his life to save her while I sat here, in the pack that should rightfully be mine to rule.I refused to be sidelined any longer. With Damian gone, it was time to take matters into my own hands. My first priority was Ilena. She had been my loyal maid and confidant through all the schemes, whispers, and dreams I had for this pack. It pained me to see her rotting away in that prison, her life reduced to a shadow of servitude.I made my way to the prison block. The guards stiffened when they saw me approach. "Open the door," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument."Alpha Damian ordered—""Alpha Damian is not here," I interrupted sharply. "And as Luna of this pack, my word i
Damian's POV“What did you find, Cade?” I asked, moving over to where the man who'd found something, called. "Here, an unburnt cloth that could belong to the Blood Nest pack and possibly the Luna," he replied, holding out the cloth to me. I took the cloth and sniffed it. It had scent of Lyra on it. The vampires with us looked unsettled. Raphael, their leader, stood a few feet away, his pale face expressionless, though his sharp eyes missed nothing. He and his group had only recently joined us, but their presence was a reminder of the uneasy alliances we had been forced to form."We keep searching," I said firmly. "Lyra might have survived. She’s strong."‘No. She survived,’ I said inwardly, convincing enough to myself.We combed the camp thoroughly, lifting broken beams, pushing aside rubble, and calling out for any survivors. But there was no answer. The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the crackling of the dying embers."Alpha," Cade called out again, kneeling by wha
Lyra's POVThe room was silent except for the soft rustling of the bedding and the quiet hum of Olivia and Mildred as they worked, moving about the room with the same gentle care they always gave the babies. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting in my lap, fingers nervously twisting the fabric of my dress as I stared at the floor. My mind wouldn’t settle.Damian was on my mind."No," I whispered to myself, shaking my head in frustration. "It’s not true. You don’t feel anything for him anymore.""It is true," Snow, my wolf, replied in a calm but insistent voice inside my mind. "You’re still drawn to him. Stop trying to deny it."I bit my lip, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. "I don’t," I muttered, more to myself than to Snow. "It’s only because he’s the father of my babies. And my former husband. That’s it.""Lyra," Snow said, her voice soft but firm. "You know that’s not the whole truth. You still have feelings for him. You’re still attract
Damian’s POVAs I left the nursery, I couldn’t help the anger simmering beneath my skin. My fists clenched at my sides as I stomped down the hallway, my chest tight with frustration. The image of Lyra leaning into Rylan, her trust in him so clear, replayed in my mind like a taunt. It stung more than I wanted to admit.It wasn't just a knowledge that he was in love with her. I could see it now. It didn't make it hurt less. If anything, the more I thought of it, the more exasperated I got over the knowledge of it.The way he looked at her, the way he hovered protectively—it was obvious. But seeing Lyra respond to him like that, seeing her find comfort in his presence, was a slap in the face. I’d hoped, prayed even, that she hadn’t fallen for him. Yet, what I saw in that room spoke volumes.They were already a pair, weren’t they? A couple.They are running the pack together after all. What did I expect?The thought tore at my heart, and I felt a pang of jealousy so sharp it almost brough
Rylan's POVLyra didn't ask for me to keep Damian away from the babies. Later when she said she was calm enough, she asked for Damian to come take a proper look at the babies.But I wasn't sure she'd completely gotten over her anger like she said she had.Standing near the door, I watched Lyra’s body tense, her anger sharp and clear as she confronted Damian again. The same thing she'd said she would not do. She looked so strong, but I knew the pain behind her cold words. I took a deep breath and walked to her side.“Lyra,” I said softly, draping my arm over her shoulders. “You don’t need to do this. Forget that terrible night. Forget what he did. You’re in a better place now.”Her body relaxed against me, just slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for me to feel her leaning into me. I kept my hand there, steady and firm, silently reminding her that she wasn’t alone.Damian turned then, his eyes catching the way we stood together. His jaw tightened, and a frown spread across his
Lyra's POVThe room was calm, quiet except for the soft voices of Mildred and Olivia as they talked about the babies. I listened, nodding along, but my mind wandered. The boys slept peacefully in their cot, their tiny chests rising and falling, oblivious to the chaos around them.The door creaked open.I looked up sharply, my body immediately tensing. Rylan stepped inside, his expression unreadable, but before I could ask him what he was doing, someone else appeared behind him.Damian.My breath caught, and my chest tightened. The sight of him made my stomach churn. His gaze found mine, and I felt my anger flare instantly. I gripped the arm of my chair, willing myself to stay calm, but it was nearly impossible.“He needed to see the babies, Lyra,” Rylan said, his voice steady.Those words knocked the wind out of me. I felt my anger dissolve, but only slightly. I couldn’t let it fade entirely—not when Damian was standing there, looking at me as if nothing had happened. I clenched my ja
Eloisa's POVDamian wanted to get his babies. And of course their mother too. There was no way he would bring back babies without their mother.He left me behind. He doesn’t care about me or my position here. He’s going to see Lyra. If he brings her back, she's going to take back her place and I will be kicked out of this pack that I’ve worked so hard to take control of. That’s what I’m worried about. What if he comes back with her? What if she manages to worm her way back into his heart?No. Maybe she didn't want him. But what if he found a way to convince her that she still wanted him?What if she takes revenge on me for what I did? I’ve stolen her place, her title. She’s going to hate me for it. And I don’t know if I can handle it. She was always a threat to me, and now, with Damian gone, she could very well come back and take everything. She could ruin all my plans, and I would be left with nothing.I curl my fingers into a fist, clenching them tight as I try to control my breath
Damian's POVI stand in the royal pack house, looking around the room they’ve given me. For a moment, I feel a rush of anger. This is not where I belong. I shouldn’t be here, stuck in this foreign place with Rylan in charge. I’m an Alpha. I should be calling the shots. But as I scan the room, the fact that I’m being treated like an Alpha here is hard to ignore.They’ve brought me food, fitting for someone of my status. A roasted leg of lamb, vegetables cooked to perfection, and bread that’s warm, soft, and fresh. It's not what I would have chosen for myself, but I can’t deny that it’s well prepared. It’s almost as if they’ve tried to remind me of my former standing. I hate Rylan, but even I can’t argue with the care they’ve taken to serve me.The food is good. The treatment is what I’m accustomed to. But still, this isn’t my home. This is Rylan’s home. He’s the one with control now, not me. It burns me to think about it. I’ve spent years leading my pack, the Blood Nest Pack and it's a
Lyra's POV I sat alone in the nursery, staring at the two little faces that were resting peacefully in their cribs. The door to the nursery creaked open, and I turned toward it. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Rylan step into the room. His expression was serious, and there was a weight to his steps, like he was carrying something heavy that he needed to share."Rylan," I greeted, my voice steady but cautious. "What’s going on?"He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes flicking over to the babies, before he met my gaze again. "I need to talk to you about something," he said, his tone firm but calm.I already knew what this was about. There was no need for him to tell me. But I also knew that Rylan had never been one to leave things unsaid, so I didn’t interrupt. I just folded my arms over my chest and waited for him to continue."If it’s about Damian that you let into the pack," I said, trying to keep my voice even, "then you should know by now that I’ve heard. It’s not a secret."R
Rylan's POVThe grand hall of the pack house was empty, save for a few of my trusted men who had been ordered to stand guard. They glanced up as we passed, their expressions serious but unreadable. I was sure they were as alert as I was. Damian had always been a wildcard, and there was no telling what kind of trouble he might stir up if left unchecked.When we reached the center of the hall, I stopped and turned to face him."Damian," I said, my voice firm, "I’m only letting you into the royal pack house because you claim you’re not here for trouble. You’ve made your intentions clear, and I’m choosing to believe you.”He didn’t speak right away, just watched me, as if sizing me up. It was clear he wasn’t intimidated by me, and why should he be? We had been enemies for years, and yet there was still some mutual respect between us."But let me make something very clear," I added, making sure my words cut through the silence. "I’ve already sent men to comb the woods surrounding the pack.
Lyra's POVI was pacing back and forth in my room when Olivia pushed the door open. Her face looked tense, and I could tell something was wrong. The air in the room felt heavy, and I could feel my pulse quickening as I turned to face her.“What is it?” I demanded, unable to hide the impatience in my voice.Olivia hesitated, like she was trying to figure out how to deliver the news. That only made me more anxious.“Alpha Damian’s in the pack,” she said finally, the words tumbling out like they had been too heavy to hold back.For a moment, it was like the floor had dropped out from beneath me. Damian? Here? That didn’t make any sense. My heart pounded as a wave of anger rose in my chest.“What do you mean Damian’s in the pack?” I snapped. “How could that even happen? And why would Rylan let him in?”Olivia flinched slightly at the edge in my tone, but she stood her ground. “From what I’ve heard, he came to see the babies,” she explained quickly. “He told Alpha Rylan he’s here for peace