Lyra’s POVBy the time I became conscious again, the first thing I noticed was the heavy ache in my wrist and the cold, hard surface beneath me. I was still in the torture room, the metallic smell of dried blood was in the air. My wrists were raw where the chains had dug into my skin, but there was no one else in the room. My head pounded, but it was the silence that unnerved me the most.Apart from the pains around my wrist and my pound heading, I was totally okay. There weren't any signs of any bruises or injury inflicted on my body.I tried to adjust in the chair slowly, wincing at the dull pain spreading through my body. My stomach growled, a sign of hunger. ‘What time could it be?’ I thought. My last meal was during the treaty agreement with the Lycan King and I'm seriously starving. Memories of what happened earlier came flooding back. Alpha Cormac had been in here, trying to extract information from me before Nyx took control. But something didn't add up. If Nyx had indeed t
Alpha Cormac’s POVSitting in my office, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the map on my desk with markings of our secret warehouses, a glass of whiskey swirling idly in my hand. My mind raced as I considered my options. The shipment had to be rerouted, and there was no room for mistakes this time. Months ago, the Lycan King, Logan, and his forces had raided three of my warehouses consecutively, seizing and burning everything inside. It wasn’t just a blow to my resources. It was a direct challenge to fish me out and expose me.Going against him was pointless. I just want him out of my business. At this moment, I can't afford to get raided again. The pack elders must not find out I was using the pack fund for my personal business. I could handle them, but Logan was a different story altogether. And if he were to discover I was the owner of those warehouses, I had no doubt he'd use it to his advantage. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't afford to have him breathin
Alpha Cormac’s POV Tapping on my table as I patiently dialed Alpha Thane’s number, the air thick with anticipation as I sat in my office. It had been months since we last spoke, and our relationship had always been one of mutual respect and friendship. Alpha Thane wasn’t the kind of man who made friends easily, nor was I, but he was rational and loyal to those who aligned with his interests.He was the Alpha of the Ironclaw Pack. A pack known for their fearless warriors, the pack's reputation was built on their ferocity. Their wealth and influence were founded on conquering smaller packs and secret illegal business dealings. They also had established relationships with powerful humans. They offered them services as high-stakes protectors, bodyguards, and mercenaries.The call connected after a few rings. “Cormac,” Thane’s deep voice greeted me. “To what do I owe the honor?”“I need a favor,” I replied. “It’s a matter of urgency.”Thane let out a low hum, clearly intrigued. “What ki
Lyra’s POVIt's been three fucking days.Three long, excruciating days. Three days of being locked up in this room. The soft light filtering through the window in the corner of the room gave me a sense of time, though it felt more like a curse than a blessing. Each hour that passed stretched into eternity, leaving me trapped in my thoughts with no escape or attempt at it. The walls around me were suffocating, no matter how luxurious this room was compared to the dungeon.It was way better than the dungeon by all means. I had access to a small bed, bathroom and food but I was getting sick. I stared at the ceiling, my mind wandering to Calantha. Was she safe? Did she manage to flee after she diverted the guards attention away or had they caught her too? My stomach churned at the thought of her being tortured or worse. She had been my only true companion, my confidante, and my protector when no one else had cared. She could only do little when I'm being punished or abused but she
Alpha Cormac’s POV I swirled the whiskey in the cup gently. The whiskey has been the only thing relieving me of my worries for a while now. I felt a faint hint of relief settle in my chest. The shipment had been successfully delivered to Alpha Thane’s warehouse two days ago, and the buyer had to be rushed to complete the transaction without delay yesterday.This wasn’t how I had hoped to handle this shipment. I’d hope to take my time, scout for the highest bidders, or sell it off in a smaller ratio which would also maximize my profit. But time was a luxury I couldn’t afford at the moment. Not when the Lycan King had already raided, some of my warehouses two months ago and he was still out there sniffing around my business. If he discovered this shipment too, there wouldn’t be much left for me to salvage. I was running out of personal funds and including pack funds that have been diverting.I was forced to make quick decisions, something which I detested. Yet, the deal had gone throu
Lyra’s POV “Tell me what you want.” Alpha Cormac’s words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and threatening to burst. I sat frozen in my chair, trying to understand the sudden shift in his behavior towards me. Since have been brought to this pack, he had been nothing but cold and calculating. Threatening to torture me, locking me away like a criminal. And now, here he was, sitting across from me, his piercing gaze softening just enough to make me question whether this was the same man I met days back. What brought about the change?“It could be the mate bond.” Nyx’s voice echoed in my head.Being so close to him and sitting across, I couldn't help but feel an intense urge to be closer. I couldn't give in to the mate bond. My heart pounded in my chest. I could smell his scent and it was driving both I and Nyx crazy.“Could I trust him?” I asked Nyx“What is the worst thing that could happen?” She answered me.“Taking me back to my pack,” I snapped back at Nyx in my head, “You
Alpha Cormac’s POV I swirled the whiskey in the cup gently. The whiskey has been the only thing relieving me of my worries for a while now. I felt a faint hint of relief settle in my chest. The shipment had been successfully delivered to Alpha Thane’s warehouse two days ago, and the buyer had to be rushed to complete the transaction without delay yesterday.This wasn’t how I had hoped to handle this shipment. I’d hope to take my time, scout for the highest bidders, or sell it off in a smaller ratio which would also maximize my profit. But time was a luxury I couldn’t afford at the moment. Not when the Lycan King had already raided, some of my warehouses two months ago and he was still out there sniffing around my business. If he discovered this shipment too, there wouldn’t be much left for me to salvage. I was running out of personal funds and including pack funds that have been diverting.I was forced to make quick decisions, something which I detested. Yet, the deal had gone throu
Lyra’s POV My breath hitched when I saw Alpha Cormac step inside. His presence filled the room instantly, commanding attention even in silence. I sat up straighter on the bed, unsure of what to expect and why he was here. “What are you doing here?” I blurted out in shock.Alpha Cormac’s expression remained unreadable as he stepped closer, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken, but he had a warm look. His intoxicating smell filled the air, making my hormones stirred up. He didn’t answer my question right away. Instead, he walked over to the edge of the bed and, to my surprise, sat down beside me. The mattress dipped under his weight, the proximity making it impossible to ignore the pull of the mate bond between us. He turned to face me, his gaze softening and warmer than usual. “Relax, I'm not here to hurt you or do anything you don't like,” he answered.“I wanted to see if you’d made a decision,” he added. I hesitated, my fingers twisting the
Lyra’s POV My breath hitched when I saw Alpha Cormac step inside. His presence filled the room instantly, commanding attention even in silence. I sat up straighter on the bed, unsure of what to expect and why he was here. “What are you doing here?” I blurted out in shock.Alpha Cormac’s expression remained unreadable as he stepped closer, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken, but he had a warm look. His intoxicating smell filled the air, making my hormones stirred up. He didn’t answer my question right away. Instead, he walked over to the edge of the bed and, to my surprise, sat down beside me. The mattress dipped under his weight, the proximity making it impossible to ignore the pull of the mate bond between us. He turned to face me, his gaze softening and warmer than usual. “Relax, I'm not here to hurt you or do anything you don't like,” he answered.“I wanted to see if you’d made a decision,” he added. I hesitated, my fingers twisting the
Alpha Cormac’s POV I swirled the whiskey in the cup gently. The whiskey has been the only thing relieving me of my worries for a while now. I felt a faint hint of relief settle in my chest. The shipment had been successfully delivered to Alpha Thane’s warehouse two days ago, and the buyer had to be rushed to complete the transaction without delay yesterday.This wasn’t how I had hoped to handle this shipment. I’d hope to take my time, scout for the highest bidders, or sell it off in a smaller ratio which would also maximize my profit. But time was a luxury I couldn’t afford at the moment. Not when the Lycan King had already raided, some of my warehouses two months ago and he was still out there sniffing around my business. If he discovered this shipment too, there wouldn’t be much left for me to salvage. I was running out of personal funds and including pack funds that have been diverting.I was forced to make quick decisions, something which I detested. Yet, the deal had gone throu
Lyra’s POV “Tell me what you want.” Alpha Cormac’s words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and threatening to burst. I sat frozen in my chair, trying to understand the sudden shift in his behavior towards me. Since have been brought to this pack, he had been nothing but cold and calculating. Threatening to torture me, locking me away like a criminal. And now, here he was, sitting across from me, his piercing gaze softening just enough to make me question whether this was the same man I met days back. What brought about the change?“It could be the mate bond.” Nyx’s voice echoed in my head.Being so close to him and sitting across, I couldn't help but feel an intense urge to be closer. I couldn't give in to the mate bond. My heart pounded in my chest. I could smell his scent and it was driving both I and Nyx crazy.“Could I trust him?” I asked Nyx“What is the worst thing that could happen?” She answered me.“Taking me back to my pack,” I snapped back at Nyx in my head, “You
Alpha Cormac’s POV I swirled the whiskey in the cup gently. The whiskey has been the only thing relieving me of my worries for a while now. I felt a faint hint of relief settle in my chest. The shipment had been successfully delivered to Alpha Thane’s warehouse two days ago, and the buyer had to be rushed to complete the transaction without delay yesterday.This wasn’t how I had hoped to handle this shipment. I’d hope to take my time, scout for the highest bidders, or sell it off in a smaller ratio which would also maximize my profit. But time was a luxury I couldn’t afford at the moment. Not when the Lycan King had already raided, some of my warehouses two months ago and he was still out there sniffing around my business. If he discovered this shipment too, there wouldn’t be much left for me to salvage. I was running out of personal funds and including pack funds that have been diverting.I was forced to make quick decisions, something which I detested. Yet, the deal had gone throu
Lyra’s POVIt's been three fucking days.Three long, excruciating days. Three days of being locked up in this room. The soft light filtering through the window in the corner of the room gave me a sense of time, though it felt more like a curse than a blessing. Each hour that passed stretched into eternity, leaving me trapped in my thoughts with no escape or attempt at it. The walls around me were suffocating, no matter how luxurious this room was compared to the dungeon.It was way better than the dungeon by all means. I had access to a small bed, bathroom and food but I was getting sick. I stared at the ceiling, my mind wandering to Calantha. Was she safe? Did she manage to flee after she diverted the guards attention away or had they caught her too? My stomach churned at the thought of her being tortured or worse. She had been my only true companion, my confidante, and my protector when no one else had cared. She could only do little when I'm being punished or abused but she
Alpha Cormac’s POV Tapping on my table as I patiently dialed Alpha Thane’s number, the air thick with anticipation as I sat in my office. It had been months since we last spoke, and our relationship had always been one of mutual respect and friendship. Alpha Thane wasn’t the kind of man who made friends easily, nor was I, but he was rational and loyal to those who aligned with his interests.He was the Alpha of the Ironclaw Pack. A pack known for their fearless warriors, the pack's reputation was built on their ferocity. Their wealth and influence were founded on conquering smaller packs and secret illegal business dealings. They also had established relationships with powerful humans. They offered them services as high-stakes protectors, bodyguards, and mercenaries.The call connected after a few rings. “Cormac,” Thane’s deep voice greeted me. “To what do I owe the honor?”“I need a favor,” I replied. “It’s a matter of urgency.”Thane let out a low hum, clearly intrigued. “What ki
Alpha Cormac’s POVSitting in my office, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the map on my desk with markings of our secret warehouses, a glass of whiskey swirling idly in my hand. My mind raced as I considered my options. The shipment had to be rerouted, and there was no room for mistakes this time. Months ago, the Lycan King, Logan, and his forces had raided three of my warehouses consecutively, seizing and burning everything inside. It wasn’t just a blow to my resources. It was a direct challenge to fish me out and expose me.Going against him was pointless. I just want him out of my business. At this moment, I can't afford to get raided again. The pack elders must not find out I was using the pack fund for my personal business. I could handle them, but Logan was a different story altogether. And if he were to discover I was the owner of those warehouses, I had no doubt he'd use it to his advantage. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't afford to have him breathin
Lyra’s POVBy the time I became conscious again, the first thing I noticed was the heavy ache in my wrist and the cold, hard surface beneath me. I was still in the torture room, the metallic smell of dried blood was in the air. My wrists were raw where the chains had dug into my skin, but there was no one else in the room. My head pounded, but it was the silence that unnerved me the most.Apart from the pains around my wrist and my pound heading, I was totally okay. There weren't any signs of any bruises or injury inflicted on my body.I tried to adjust in the chair slowly, wincing at the dull pain spreading through my body. My stomach growled, a sign of hunger. ‘What time could it be?’ I thought. My last meal was during the treaty agreement with the Lycan King and I'm seriously starving. Memories of what happened earlier came flooding back. Alpha Cormac had been in here, trying to extract information from me before Nyx took control. But something didn't add up. If Nyx had indeed t
Alpha Cormac’s POVSearching her body could give us clues if she bears unique tattoos or markings. It could give us an idea, but it could also be a dead end. Left to me, I just want her gone, but my wolf isn’t buying the idea.I had never imagined a day like this would come when me and my wolf would be in battle about picking a side. He wants to keep his mate when all I want is just to get rid of her. Keeping her would only complicate things; right now, I don’t want this to add to my headache. She was not being helpful because she was fabricating details about her identity and where she came from. I wished she could make this easier for both of us, but she’s stubborn and unwilling behind the weak facade she’s portraying just to get at my merciful side, but she got it all wrong.I’m not merciful and I was only being lenient on her because of Steel and the stupid mate bond that keeps trying to awaken a soft spot for her.A mate bond can’t be easily ignored, but the effect on me isn’t m