Lyrs'a POVThe new reality breathes around us like a living thing, each pulse sending ripples through the quantum fabric I've rewritten. But as the dust settles, I begin to see the true cost of our salvation. Nothing is quite as it should be—everything carries an echo of what it once was, like a song played in the wrong key."They're calling them the Altered," Xander reports, materializing beside me in a swirl of probability. "People changed by the reset. Some can't even maintain a stable form anymore."Below us, in what was once the Grand Nexus, a gathering of survivors demonstrates his point. A former werewolf alpha phases between wolf and human forms uncontrollably, each shift bringing new hybrid configurations. A Fae queen's wings have become living portals, showing glimpses of other dimensions with every beat."How many?" I ask, though part of me doesn't want to know."Thousands. Maybe millions. The reset didn't just change reality—it rewrote people at their quantum level. Some a
Lyra's POVIce-blue eyes pierce the darkness, their intensity making me cringe. I stumble backward, my feet tangling in an unseen root. As I fall, a massive white wolf emerges from the shadows, its pristine fur marred by splatters of crimson. The coppery scent of blood fills my nostrils, growing stronger as the creature approaches, lips curled back to reveal razor-sharp teeth. The hunger radiating from it is palpable. No, not hunger – ravenous, all-consuming starvation.I should be terrified, but I can't look away."Wake up," I command myself, recognizing the dreamscape but unable to escape its grip. "Wake up, Lyra..."The wolf's gaze is too intelligent, too predatory. I brace myself for the attack, but instead, it begins to shift. Fur recedes, limbs elongate, and suddenly, a man stands before me. Moonlight caresses his muscular form, and I find my eyes trailing up his body, drinking in every sculpted plane and curve. His voice cuts through the forest like a blade as I reach his face.
Lyra's POVNo. This can't be happening. I must be losing my mind. Indeed, I can't identify my mate just from his scent."Good evening, everyone," the man says, sending shivers down my spine. "I'm Xander Blackthorn, the—""We know you!" Dad beams just as Mom emerges from the kitchen, my birthday cake in hand. Dad jumps up to shake Xander's hand while Mom hastily sets down the cake, barely giving it a second glance in her rush to greet our esteemed guest. I force a smile, but the whirlwind of emotions in my chest makes it impossible to focus on anything but the overwhelming desire pooling in my stomach. As my family fawns over him, laughing and joking, I catalog every detail of his appearance.His hair isn't just brown; it's a rich chestnut that sparkles under the lights. His eyes are a mesmerizing hazel, with flecks of gold that catch the light. His smile is genuine, reaching his eyes and lighting up his whole face. He radiates kindness and warmth – everything my abrasive sister Elara
Lyra's POVA glacial chill seeps into my bones as the stalker's words echo in my ears. My grip on the phone loosens, but I can't bring myself to let it fall. All the pent-up frustration—from years of being stalked and discovering my mate is with my sister—comes crashing down on me like a tidal wave. With a strangled cry, I hurl the phone across the room.The resounding crack as it hits the wall silences the chatter from the dining room. Mom's worried voice carries up the stairs, "Lyra, honey, are you alright?""Yeah," I manage, my voice sounding foreign to my ears. "I just need some air."I bolt from the room, desperate to escape the suffocating walls of the house. The cool night air hits my face as I stumble into the backyard, seeking refuge in our old gazebo.Collapsing onto the weathered bench, I draw my knees to my chest. In the distance, a line of cars winds up our driveway. For a moment, panic spikes through me – has my stalker brought reinforcements? – but then I recognize the
Lyra's POVXander's grip tightens, eyes blazing with an emotion dangerously close to hatred. I wrench myself free, stumbling backward, but he matches each of my retreating steps with an aggressive advance. The space between us crackles with tension.Despite his anger, the mate pull thrums stronger than ever. It's intoxicating, making me light-headed even as alarm bells scream in my mind. I squeeze my eyes shut as he closes in, his face mere inches from mine. My heart pounds, torn between longing for a kiss and bracing for a verbal assault.But neither comes—instead, the sharp click of heels on stone cuts through the night. My eyes fly open to see Xander retreating, moving towards a figure emerging from the shadows.Elara. Of course."Is everything alright?" she asks, her saccharine tone belied by the sharp look in her eyes. "Lyra? What's going on here?""Nothing," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.Xander smoothly interjects, "Lyra was feeling overwhelmed by the party. I came
Lyra's POVAs I grip the sink's edge, my lungs burn, starved for air, and my knuckles white. The world blurs at the periphery of my vision, threatening to fade entirely. Every fiber of my being screams to flee, to escape the auditory torture. Yet I remain rooted in place, an unwilling voyeur to my sister's passion and heartbreak.I feel tainted, Unclean. A sudden wave of self-loathing finally propels me back to my room. I slam the door with enough force to rattle the walls, harboring a dark hope that the sound might shatter their intimate moment. Of course, it doesn't. Hot tears stream down my face as I scrub at them furiously, angry at my weakness."Why didn't it work?" I snarl at Nova, my wolf, not bothering to mask my rage. "You're supposed to be the expert on this mate business. Why didn't our rejection take?""I... I don't know," Nova whimpers, her confusion palpable. "It should have. That's how it always goes for those who renounce their mates. I can't explain why it failed with
Lyra's POVThe silence on the other end of the line stretches, taut as a bowstring. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a booming echo in the quiet of my room. I'm about to hang up when his voice slithers through the receiver, low and insidious."My dear Lyra," he purrs, "I think it's time we take our relationship to the next level."A chill runs down my spine. "What are you talking about?" I manage to croak out."I want you to take some photos for me," he says, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. "Explicit ones. I want to see all of you."Bile rises in my throat. "You're sick," I spit out. "I'm not doing anything for you, you perverted creep!"He chuckles, the sound grating against my nerves. "Oh, Lyra. Always so feisty. It's one of the things I love about you.""Love?" I practically shriek. "You don't know the first thing about love. This is harassment, plain and simple. I'll call the police if you don't leave me alone!""Go ahead," he taunts. "Tell them you've receive
Lyra's POVThe dense and dark forest materializes around me. Mist curls between ancient trunks, obscuring the path ahead. My bare feet sink into the damp earth, leaves whispering against my skin as I move forward, drawn by an unseen force.A twig snaps behind me. I whirl, heart pounding, to find myself face-to-face with a massive white wolf. Its fur gleams in the moonlight, starkly contrasting the crimson staining its muzzle and chest. Those intelligent blue eyes bore into mine, filled with hunger – not for flesh, but for something far more primal.I should run. Every instinct screams at me to flee. But I'm rooted to the spot, mesmerized by the creature's otherworldly beauty and my inexplicable pull towards it.The wolf's lips curl back, revealing sharp teeth. When it speaks, the voice that emerges is deep and commanding, sending shivers down my spine."Take off your clothes," it growls. I need to see you—all of you."My hands move of their own accord, fingers fumbling with the buttons