Lyra's POVThe next morning, as the sun cast its gentle glow through the windows of the cottage, George approached me with a look of determination in his eyes."I have something important to discuss with you," he announced, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.I nodded, eager to hear what he had to say, though my heart fluttered with anticipation."You see, I'm a businessman," George began, his words carefully chosen. "And while I sought refuge in this secluded cottage to escape the chaos of the city, it's time for me to return."My breath caught in my throat. "So, I get to stay here, right?" I asked, trying to mask the disappointment that threatened to surface. But George shook his head, his gaze unwavering."No, I want you to come with me. I can't bear the thought of leaving you alone in this secluded place."A rush of warmth flooded my chest at his words, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection f
Lyra’s POVEntering the city, the uproar of sounds assaulted my heightened senses, causing my nose to bleed.The relentless sound of vehicle horns, machinery whirring, angry drivers, children's voices, and a lot of other noises overwhelmed me.The mixture of scents, from people, dogs, food, and countless other odours, only added to my disorientation."Are you okay?" George's voice cut through the chaos, his concern evident in both his tone and his eyes."I will be. Let's get to your place," I managed to reply.He handed me his handkerchief to contain the flow of blood from my nose, and with a sense of urgency, he navigated through the congested streets. Each passing moment felt like an eternity until finally, we arrived at his residence.Thankfully his house was situated in a calm neighborhood, a stark contrast to the chaotic streets we had just passed. As the driver opened the gates, my eyes widened in awe at
Lyra's POV Before evening, George had arranged for a cage for my parrot. As we sat down for dinner in the elegant dining room, the ambience was disrupted when I reached for the cutlery. To my horror, the silver utensils burned my skin, emitting a sizzling sound upon contact. I flinched, dropping them immediately. “What's wrong?” George's voice was filled with concern as he noticed my distress. “I believe these are pure silver,” I whispered, my hand throbbing from the burn. George swiftly fetched the first aid kit, tending to my injured hand with a gentle touch. “I'm sorry,” he apologized, but I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. It was I who should have been apologizing for causing him undue stress. After bandaging my hand, George instructed the maids to replace all the silverware in the kitchen with golden ones before the next morning. Despite their confusion, they nodded and left to fulfil his request. “I'm sorry,” I murmured, feeling the weight of my abnormality. “Don't
George's POVIt was as if Lyra had been intentionally pushing me off all day. Despite sensing her mischievous intent, I brushed it off, attributing her behaviour to the headache she had been complaining about.When I awoke in the dead of night, a nagging feeling compelled me to check on her. As I entered her room, the empty bed sent a chill down my spine.My initial thought of her being in the bathroom dissolved into a grim realization, she might have ventured out to shift.My gaze darted to the parrot perched in its cage. "You understand me, don't you? Where is Lyra?" I demanded, struggling to decipher its frantic squawks.A sense of urgency gripped me as I pleaded, "She could be in danger out there. Can you help me find her?"Whether the bird comprehended my plea or not, it promptly took flight the moment I opened its cage. "Well, I guess I'm on my own," I muttered to myself.Without hesitation, I grabbed a large s
Lyra's POVSince our return from the cottage, I've been gloomy, burdened by guilt for stressing George unnecessarily.Replacing all the silverware in the house brought a fleeting comfort but deepened my remorse.The following day, I couldn't find joy in my usual TV shows, my mind consumed by thoughts of my life and purpose.Skipping lunch, I drifted into a restless sleep on the couch, only to be haunted by a dream where my parents watched me fall, offering no rescue. I awoke gasping, heart pounding, the dream's vividness intensifying my already sour mood.George returned in the evening, noticing my uneaten lunch. "Let's go out," he suggested."I don't want to add to your stress," I confessed."Have I ever mentioned being stressed?" George's sincerity cut through my uneasiness.Reluctantly, I accepted his invitation and followed him upstairs. While he freshened up in his room, I did the same.I selected
Lyra’s POVAs morning light seeped through the curtains, I gradually opened my eyes, only to find the space beside me empty. A pang of gloom washed over me, as I realized he must have already left for work.The sound of the door creaking open caught my attention, and I turned to see George entering the room in his pyjamas, a tray in his hands."Good morning, Gorgeous," he greeted me with a warm smile, placing the tray on the bed before leaning down to kiss my forehead.Wrapped snugly in the bedsheets, I couldn't help but question, "What's the occasion?" My eyes scanned the array of dishes on the tray, all meticulously prepared for breakfast."Nothing special," he replied softly, his eyes reflecting sincerity. "I promised to cook for you for the rest of my life, remember?""Well, you're certainly keeping that promise," a hint of sarcasm laced my response as I remarked.His expression softened, and he gently grasped my
Lyra's POV As I prepared to retire for the night, I was in the bathroom when I caught a whiff of George's scent, signalling his presence in my room. The gentle squeaking of my parrot confirmed it. I emerged from the bathroom and saw him standing. "Hey, looks like you're ready for bed," George remarked. Unable to find the right words, I simply hummed in response and turned my attention to the dressing mirror."I don't want us to argue, though it seems inevitable. We should try to resolve things before bed," he continued, taking a seat on the couch."I agree. But this is something I need to do," I replied, smoothing oil onto my skin.There was a moment of silence as if George was waiting for me to finish. When I stood up, he patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to join him."I only want what's best for you, and I need to be sure I can protect you out there. I don't know what might happen," he explained calmly."I understand, but I need to learn to navigate this world on my o
Lyra's POVI fought the urge to let my wolf take over and forced myself to take a deep breath."If you don't leave now, I'll have security throw you out," the receptionist threatened, her tone sharp.I swallowed, feeling my anger rise. "I beg your pardon," I retorted, trying to keep my voice steady."Maybe we started on the wrong foot," I continued, attempting to calm the situation. "I'm here because I need a job, and I noticed you're hiring."The receptionist raised an eyebrow, still chewing her gum. "So, you're poor?" she remarked, her words laced with disbelief."I'm not you, honey," I responded, making her visibly annoyed."What?" she sputtered."Also, I'm not a fake or whatever you think. I just want to be doing something," I added, trying to maintain my composure."Nobody asked," she muttered, blowing a bubble with her gum."I give free answers to fools," I replied calmly, refusing to be provoked.Enr
George's POV I barely slept for two hours. My mind churned relentlessly, teeming with questions and possibilities that refused to let me rest. When morning came, I felt more drained than rejuvenated. Yet, the urgency coursing through me pushed me to my feet.“You’re up early,” Ellen’s voice broke the silence as she stepped out of her room.“Yes,” I replied, my words clipped with impatience. “Can we go now?”Ellen chuckled softly, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm raging within me. “Good morning to you too,” she teased.I paused, realizing how brusque I sounded. “Sorry, I must be rushing you,” I muttered, scratching my head. My exhaustion and eagerness had left me frayed, my emotions too raw to hide.“I understand,” she said. “But you need to rest more. I have to grab something before we leave.”I opened my mouth to protest but thought better of it. “Okay,” I said instead, swallowing my frustration.“Help yourself to the kitchen and make some breakfast,” she added casu
George's POV When I pulled up in front of the house, my hands clenched the leather steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The pressure grounded me, but the churning in my gut refused to settle. I wanted to storm inside, to confront my mother, to demand the truth behind her lies. But there was something heavier weighing on me, something that demanded I prioritize my time. And Vera, if I lingered too long, I risked dragging her into something she didn’t deserve.I didn’t even realize she’d been talking until her voice cut through the fog in my head.“I said, goodnight. Please take care,” Vera repeated gently, a hint of worry in her tone.Her words pulled me out of my thoughts, and I managed a stiff nod. Without another word, she turned and disappeared inside.I exhaled slowly. Then, steeling myself, I started the car and drove toward the outskirts of the city. The sun had dipped below the horizon. Darkness crept in quickly, but I barely noticed.The journey felt end
George's POV I arrived at Vera’s school, knowing her schedule well enough to catch her before she left. Just as I parked, I spotted her getting into a car to head home.Without hesitation, I stepped on the gas, overtaking them and forcing the driver to pull over abruptly. From an outsider’s perspective, it might have looked like an attempted abduction.I approached her window and rapped on the glass. She hesitated before rolling it down, her eyes narrowing as they met mine.“Get out,” I commanded, my tone leaving no room for debate.Without a word of protest, she obeyed, stepping out of her car. I opened the passenger door to mine, gesturing for her to get in. She did, her movements stiff but compliant, and I drove off without another word.“I was planning to come see you,” she stammered after a moment, her voice faltering under the tension in the air.I ignored her, my focus fixed on the road. The silence between us was heavy, the only sound was the hum of the engine. After a while
George's POV After what happened with Sonia that day, shame and guilt weighed heavily on me, clawing at my conscience. I couldn't shake the memory of her deceit. I had thought Sonia had a boyfriend, that she'd moved on, but no, it had all been a calculated ploy to get to me. The realization left a sour taste in my mouth, and I wrestled with the uncomfortable truth of how deeply Lyra would be hurt by my actions.Strangely, Sonia hadn't reached out since that day. Not a single message or call. Her silence was deafening, yet I found myself unwilling to contact her. I pushed the turmoil aside, choosing instead to channel my energy into something more important: finding Lyra.Work had become a low priority; I showed up sparingly, my mind perpetually elsewhere. That evening, after another distracted day at the office, I returned home feeling the weight of my unspoken regrets. Needing an escape from the confines of my thoughts, I decided to sit outside for a while. There was a bench ben
Lyra's POVI gasped, stumbling away from the mirror, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from my chest. I ran out of the room, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.I found Damian, who was standing in the hallway, his brow furrowed with concern. “Did you have a nightmare?” he asked, his voice soft.I shook my head, my hands trembling as I clutched the fabric of my dress. “Something is happening to me,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out.Damian stepped forward, his arms reaching out as though to offer solace. “Relax,” he said. “You should rest, get some sleep.”“No,” I cried out. “You don’t understand!” The panic churned inside me, gnawing at me like a living thing. How could I explain the fear gnawing at my soul, the overwhelming dread that I had come so close to ending the life of my own child?Damian didn’t stop. He pulled me gently, leading me toward my room.“Come on, let’s go to your room, it’ll be okay.” His insistence, even though he did
Lyra's POV I woke from a disturbing dream that left me drenched in sweat, my breaths shallow and uneven. The sun’s rays seeped through the curtains, telling me it was almost noon. My hand instinctively went to my injury. A faint relief washed over me. The poisonous content seemed to have drained out, leaving the wound raw but cleaner.The veins surrounding the injury pulsed in a rhythmic throb. The black discoloration had faded slightly. I sat up slowly, careful not to jar the wound, and dragged myself to the bathroom.The cold water against my skin jolted me fully. After drying off, I slipped into clean clothes.When I stepped out, the scent of warm bread and spiced stew filled the air. In the dining room, I found my mother, her arms wrapped protectively around Kael.“Where’s Father?” I asked as I approached.“He’s gone out with Damian,” she replied. “They went to assess the damage done to the pack.”I nodded, absorbing her words as I sat down. I focused on eating instead of dwelli
Lyra's POV I attacked with every ounce of strength I had, my claws slashing through the air with ferocity. The soldiers pinning Damian to the ground quickly turned their attention to me, their faces twisted in surprise, but I didn't hesitate. With a roar that seemed to shake the very earth beneath us, I struck with the same unrelenting fury that had been building inside me. Damian rose to his feet, shaking off the last of his attackers, his eyes flashing with determination. Within moments, he joined the fray, fighting back with the same intensity that coursed through my veins. In the chaos of battle, the ground around us littered with fallen soldiers, it was only the two of us still standing, our breath ragged, but our resolve unbroken.“I told you to stay inside, right?” Damian’s voice broke through the tension, his words laced with amusement as he wiped the blood from his brow.I couldn’t answer, not in my wolf form. But deep within, a smile curled on my lips. His joking tone,
Lyra's POV I abruptly stood up, my heart racing as I dropped everything I was doing. Without a second thought, I scooped up Kael from his bed, his peaceful slumber shattered by the chaos outside. The mind link was silent, leaving me in the dark about what was unfolding.The sound of a loud bang echoed through the walls, each one closer than the last. Gunshots cracked through the air, followed by agonized screams that made my blood run cold. My pulse quickened as dread coiled tightly in my chest.Flinging the door open, I stepped into an eerily empty hallway as I sprinted to the sitting room. There, I saw my father, his face a mask of grim determination, strapping on his full armor and gripping his sword.“What is happening?” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay calm.“Maximus,” he growled, his eyes hard and focused. “He’s attacking.”Before I could process his words, Damian emerged from another room, a sword in his hand.“Protect the castle with the soldiers,” my
Lyra's POV It’s been over a week since I gave birth, and in this short time, the baby has proven to be an unexpected blessing. Each day, I find myself marvelling at his tiny fingers and the quiet strength in his bright eyes, and with every moment, my heart grows fuller. But while my love for him deepens, so does a shadow of fear I can’t quite shake.My father organised a grand ceremony to celebrate the arrival of his grandson, despite my protests. He spared no expense, filling our halls with guests, music, and celebration. Yet, even amid the joy, whispers circulated among the werewolves in attendance, questions, rumours.Some wondered about my son’s heritage, his father. The curiosity burned in their eyes, and though my family turned a deaf ear, I felt each questioning gaze like a prickling on my skin.I named him Kael, a name that means ‘mighty warrior,’ suited for a fierce and courageous werewolf. But would he live up to the strength that name implied, or would his mixed blood b