Lyra's POV “What are you doing here?” he barked, his voice like thunder, reverberating through the room. “This is not your home anymore!” The venom in his words struck me like a physical blow, and I swallowed hard, unable to find my voice. I had expected this, but nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of it, for the sheer force of his rejection.“Father, she’s still your daughter,” Damian spoke up, his voice firm but calm, stepping between us like a shield. His hand remained clasped around mine, offering support even in the face of our father’s wrath. For a moment, the room was silent. My father’s eyes flicked between us, and I could see the battle raging inside him, the clash between his anger and the love he had once held for me. “No. The moment she decided to disgrace me, to drag my name through the mud in front of the entire pack, that was the moment she ceased to be my daughter!” “Father, please,” Damian started, but our father silenced him with a single, comman
George's POV From the moment I boarded the flight, doubts began to creep in. Was this contract really worth it?Maybe I should have waited for Lyra or stayed back. Another opportunity would come along, but I knew how much this one mattered. It was a rare chance, and opportunities like this didn’t come often.Still, the uncertainty gnawed at me. Why hadn’t Lyra returned home after her stroll? Where could she have gone? My mind spiraled with worry. What if she was in some kind of trouble?I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I tried to clear the growing storm of thoughts. But my heart wasn’t at ease, and part of me wanted to rush to the cockpit and demand the pilot turn back.‘Maybe I’m overreacting,’ I told myself, trying to calm down. It was just for a day. What could possibly go wrong?By the time we touched down in Borea, the evening sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the tarmac. I hadn’t traveled with my secretary this time, after all, Mr. James, another tru
George's POV Supporting each other, James and I scanned for an escape. Retreating back into the hotel and trying to reach the lower floors was out of the question; it was too unstable.Then, I spotted something, a large steel mass that had fallen across from the adjacent building. It looked like a twisted bridge between us and a safer path. It must have been torn off in the blast, but for now, it offered a narrow way across.“They’re focusing on the bigger structures,” I muttered, more to reassure myself than anything. James nodded, and together, we began inching across the fallen mass. Every step made it sway beneath us, my heart pounding in sync with the treacherous rhythm. Adrenaline surged through my veins, sharpening my senses. All that mattered now was survival.We were halfway across when another bomb dropped, shattering what remained of the hotel below us. The force rocked the mass, and it began to crumble, half of it plummeting to the crumbling hotel.I tightened my grip,
Lyra's POV I stayed inside, waiting anxiously Damian to return. When he finally walked in, herbs in hand, I felt a sense of relief I hadn’t realized I needed. He sat beside me, applying the mixture to my wound, the cool, earthy smell seeping into my skin and numbing the sting. We talked quietly for a while, but eventually, weariness overcame me, and I drifted into sleep.I slept deeply, far more than usual. Perhaps it was the safety I felt here, sheltered from human eyes. Or maybe it was exhaustion, the kind that clung to my bones after days of constant travel and vigilance.For the next few days, I hardly left my room. Damian came by often, bringing food and tending to my wound. By the fourth day, the wound had fully healed, a faint scar marking the place where I’d been injured.The walls began to close in on me. Restlessness stirred, and I needed to breathe fresh air, to feel life beyond my room. Damian agreed to accompany me to the garden. Stepping outside was like breaking fre
George's POV We had been confined to the underground camp for weeks. The walls seemed to press in, stifling and relentless, making every breath feel thin and every thought feel heavier. The silence here wasn’t restful, it was a constant reminder of how trapped we were, echoing in the stale, dark air.Sometimes, when night fell, James and I would sneak outside to gulp in fresh air. We’d sit there for hours under the stars, the vastness of the night sky a small comfort against the cramped reality we returned to each morning.Yet lately, something felt off, like a shadow lingering just out of sight.“What are you thinking about?” James asked, his voice soft but edged with curiosity.In the time we’d spent here, James had become more than just another person trapped in this underground prison, he became a friend. The days felt less bleak with him beside me.I glanced at him, hesitating. “Ralph mentioned there were people abducted by the Gapan soldiers, right?”James nodded slowly, his g
Lyra's POV Since discovering that my mother had quietly gone out of her way to gather the herbs I needed, I felt a faint wave of relief wash over me, a fragile thread of hope that maybe things could heal, someday. I rarely leave the castle these days. The thought of stepping outside and facing the prying eyes, the endless questions, the hushed whispers behind my back, left me drained. My baby bump had grown significantly now, so prominent that I couldn’t hide it anymore. I’d stand in front of the mirror, resting a hand over my belly, feeling an inexplicable bond with the life growing inside me. It was strange, wondrous, and yet… beneath that wonder lay an undeniable shadow.The transformation, the curse that had lingered over me like a storm cloud, unbroken. What if this curse affected my unborn child? The thought was a chilling dagger lodged deep within my heart, one I tried so hard to ignore. Yet I hadn’t told anyone in my family about it. How could I?I was ashamed, not only o
George's POV For months, we lived in that fragile peace, surviving day by day, watching as hope flickered yet never fully ignited. Thankfully, after relentless battles and pleas, other nations intervened, pushing back the horrors of a hot war. Gapan was finally free.But freedom came at a cost. The land was scarred, streets that once held life now echoed with loss, buildings lay crumbled, and the toll on people’s lives weighed heavy. Leaving the country immediately was out of the question; we were trapped amidst the remnants of what used to be, waiting as time stretched painfully slowly.Though resources were scarce, we managed to feed ourselves, rationing what little we had, just enough to keep us going. Ralph and the others made the choice to relocate to the government camps, temporary shelters set up for those like us, displaced and waiting for a return to something resembling life. But in those camps, desperation hung. The high rate of anarchy and robbery was no surprise; hun
George's POVDear George,I wish I could tell you this in person, but it wouldn’t make any difference.I’m not human, and your world is no place for a werewolf.Don’t try to find me. The feelings I had for you have faded. Just live your life.LyraMy hands trembled as I held the letter, reading and re-reading her words as if I could somehow twist their meaning into something different. Something that made sense. But each time, the ink seemed colder, more final, as though her goodbye had settled into the paper long before I even held it.I couldn’t breathe. How could any of this be real? I wanted to blame her words on the time I’d been away, but the letter itself seemed old, its edges frayed.I forced myself to stagger to her room, praying for any sign that she had meant to return, that she hadn’t left everything behind. But nothing had changed. Her clothes hung untouched, her familiar things all in place, frozen as though she'd just stepped out. The thought that she might have left
Lyra's POV Four years later…The morning sunlight poured over the balcony of our grand new castle. Today was a special day, my husband was returning from the human world after days of being away.I stepped onto the balcony, letting the breeze carry the sweet scent of blooming roses from the gardens below. My eyes caught Kael in the courtyard, wielding his wooden sword with a ferocity that made me smile. He attacked invisible foes, his movements clumsy but full of determination.“Victory!” he shouted, lifting his sword to the sky, his laughter echoing through the grounds.I couldn’t help but laugh softly. This was my world now, a fairytale I never dreamed possible. With a full heart, I turned back inside to where my newborn baby girl, Athena, lay sleeping in her cradle. She was a picture of perfection, her tiny fists curled by her head, her white hair glimmering in the morning light, just like mine. As I stood by her side, I couldn’t decide who to thank, fate, the ancestors, or si
George's POV With everything seemingly settled, we finally had the time to rest. I decided not to travel for a while, I needed to step back from the whirlwind of drama and just be with Lyra.We explored endlessly, venturing into parts of the packs I’d never fully appreciated before. We wandered through lush forests, marveled at cascading waterfalls, and soaked in the serenity of it all. Every moment with her felt like reclaiming a piece of my soul that had been missing for far too long.I had missed her more than I could put into words, and being in her presence again filled me with a happiness so overwhelming, it was almost unbearable. We decided to escape the noise entirely and camp in the woods, just the two of us.With a shared excitement, we packed only what we needed and set off. When we reached the perfect spot, I built a fire, its flames crackling warmly as I skewered the meat and began roasting it over the heat.After the meal, we drank wine, its warmth spreading through us
Lyra's POV “Damian? Is that really you?” My heart pounded as I rushed to him, disbelief clouding my thoughts.There he was, standing before me, battered and bruised, his body showing the toll of the pain he'd endured. His eyes were tired, his breath shallow, but he was alive.He was holding Kael, his arms trembling slightly from the weight. My heart clenched at the sight of them both, my legs nearly giving way beneath me.“You’re alive!” I cried out, my voice cracking with relief and joy. I threw my arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. In that moment, nothing else mattered. I took Kael from his arms, holding him as if I were afraid I might lose him again.Tears of joy welled up in my eyes, falling freely down my cheeks as I clung to them both.Damian’s smiled weakly. “Maximus wanted to manipulate you into coming here. He killed one of his soldiers, poured my blood all over him, and sent him to you.”“What?” My breath caught in my throat, the shock almost unbearable. “T
Lyra's POV “What's funny?” he growled.I stepped closer, my heart pounding but my face betraying no fear. “I’m not afraid of whatever you plan to do with me. But you’ll tell me my son is safe, won’t you?” My voice remained calm.“He’s safe.” His words were short.“How can I trust you?” I demanded, my voice sharper now.“Because I’m Maximus, and I said so.” He shouted the last part, his anger flaring, his fists clenched at his sides.“Don’t you ever raise your voice at me again,” I said, my tone low.For a moment, he stared at me, his nostrils flaring as if measuring the weight of my words. Then, with a brutal motion, he seized me by the neck, his fingers tightening like a vice as he slammed me against the cold wall. “I own you,” he snarled.I gasped for air, the pressure around my throat suffocating. My vision blurred as I coughed violently, struggling to breathe. My hand trembled as I reached up, my fingers finding the sharp, cold edge of the large pin I had hidden in my hair.Wit
Lyra's POV My mother had been revived, her stillness betraying the depth of the miracle that had brought her back. She slept soundly, unaware of my thoughts, as I slipped out of the room, my heart pounding with a heavy mix of anticipation and dread. My father was out, and I knew he would be consumed by his business all day, an opportunity I couldn't afford to waste.With quiet determination, I made my way to my room, my hands trembling slightly as I dressed. My hair, usually unruly, was pinned back meticulously, strands carefully tucked away. I chose a leather jumpsuit. A large, hooded cloak followed, draping over my shoulders, a shield from prying eyes.Everyone was busy, their attention scattered, distracted by their own affairs. It was the perfect moment to escape.I slipped through the door unnoticed, my heart racing as I entered the woods. The occasional rustle of leaves was the only sound, and even when I encountered a few werewolves, I bent my head and pulled the hood tight
Lyra's POV “Mother, please, calm down,” I implored, my arms wrapped around her in a desperate attempt to comfort her. The door swung open abruptly, and my father stepped in. His eyes were wide, scanning the room. When his gaze landed on me, he hurried forward, his expression tight with worry.“Are you okay?” His voice was strained. “Was the process broken?”I shook my head, still clinging to my mother. “I’m fine, father. But what’s happening? Why does everything feel so wrong?”His gaze shifted, briefly looking over my shoulder before locking onto me again. “What about George?” “George is not with me,” I said, my voice faltering with confusion. “Father, please, tell me what’s going on.”“Maximus. He attacked last evening.” The words hit me like a blow. “He wasn’t even focused on the pack.”I felt my heart tighten in my chest. “Is that why the pack is empty?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Yes,” my father confirmed, his voice like gravel. “They all used the secret b
Lyra’s POVThey all stood abruptly, distancing themselves from the table as the tension thickened in the air.“What did you do?” Mrs. Elizabeth’s voice cracked, her eyes wide with disbelief and anger.“Oh, nothing, mother,” George responded, his tone cool. “You did this to me. If you’d only accepted Lyra, none of this would’ve happened. But guess what? I love who I am now, and I love it even more than anything you could’ve ever forced on me.”I took a deliberate sip from my drink, my eyes never leaving the scene before me. The raw fear flickering across their faces, mixed with the wonder of it all, it was almost tangible, like I could reach out and touch it.Vera, though, she was different. While the rest of them were caught up in their whirlwind of emotions, she seemed... fascinated, almost like an observer from another world, savoring every word, every reaction, as if it were some strange but thrilling show.“Why? Why? Why?” Mrs. Elizabeth sank back into her seat, her hands clutchin
Lyra's POV I was stunned to learn about this. For so long, I believed I was just an ordinary Alpha's daughter. But now, to think that George and I were part of a prophecy, it was nothing short of shocking. It wasn't even entirely about us, yet somehow, our love made it come true.We talked for hours, sharing our thoughts and fears until the sky surrendered to night. When it came time for the breaking ritual. Ellen prepared a strange, glowing liquid. Its ethereal shimmer sent a chill through me as she instructed me to submerge myself completely, much like the first ritual I’d endured.By midnight, I lay on the floor, surrounded by a strange white substance. To my surprise, there was no pain. Instead, I drifted into a restful dream where I found myself standing face-to-face with Due, my wolf. It felt like we had been separated for an eternity, and the moment we reunited, it was as though a missing part of my soul finally clicked back into place.When I woke the next morning, everyt
Lyra's POV “Finally, the couple that defied fate,” she greeted.“We were lucky,” George replied.Ellen’s smile deepened as she opened the door, ushering us inside her dimly lit space.“What can I do for you?” she asked, her voice calm as we sat.“Well, I’m sure you’ve already guessed,” I began, glancing briefly at George. “George now has a wolf. I’ve broken the rules, and I want the transformation reversed. I want to remain a werewolf.”The room fell silent, and Ellen’s smile vanished. In its place was a piercing, almost predatory stare. “Is that so?” she said, her tone eerily flat.Something in her voice shifted, darkened, and I felt the weight of her presence grow oppressive.Without warning, she giggled. The sound was sharp and jarring, making me flinch. “Of course,” she said suddenly, her voice bright. “That is very easy. I’d gladly do that. But…” She paused, “…we’ll have to wait until midnight, when the moon is out.”“Okay,” I said, nodding.“In the meantime, can we ask questi