chapter 7

GRAY'S POV

The moon cast a silver glow on the path ahead as I walked away from Lyra's room, Her tears echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of the turmoil I had unleashed. I glanced back, seeing her silhouette in the doorway, a picture of vulnerability against the moonlit backdrop.

"I took care of it," I called out, my voice carrying a mixture of assurance and detachment. She looked at me, her eyes a turbulent sea of emotions, but she didn't utter a word. Instead, she closed the door, and I was left standing alone in the chilling night.

"I'll be back," I declared, holding the door before she could shut it completely. She shot me a wary glance, an unspoken question in her eyes.

A smirk played on my lips. "I'll be back, Lyra. This isn't over."

As I walked away, the moonlight filtering through the leaves overhead, a twisted satisfaction filled me. Lyra, the wretched Omega, bowed before me, a clear acknowledgment of her place in the hierarchy. Being with me wasn't just a choice; it was a privilege for someone like her.

The woods surrounded me like silent witnesses to the machinations of a power play. Lyra's submission fueled my ego, and I reveled in the control that I got over her fate. She might have resisted, but in the end, she would succumb to the inevitable.

As I continued through the woods, a lone figure emerged from the shadows. It was the pack member whose memory I had erased. He looked disoriented, eyes searching for recognition.

"Go back to your pack," I instructed, my tone authoritative. He nodded, a blank expression on his face, and retreated into the darkness.

Erasing memories was a power that came with being an Alpha, but it had its limitations. It worked best on the weak-willed, the ones easily swayed. Stronger werewolves could resist the manipulation, but Lyra, in her fragility, was susceptible.

As I walked, my mind played a relentless game of contradictions. Raven was mine, a prize claimed in public. Lyra, despite her initial rejection, would soon find herself drawn into the web I had woven. I wanted them both, a twisted desire fueled by the intoxicating taste of power.

The cabin loomed ahead, a temporary haven where I could strategize my next moves. I wasn't expecting raven until tomorrow, she was completely ignorant of the turmoil unraveling within me. She was a means to an end, a step toward the pinnacle of dominance.

Entering the cabin, I couldn't shake the image of Lyra's tear-streaked face. A surge of guilt flickered, but I extinguished it. Emotions were a weakness, and I had a pack to lead, back home, a delicate balance to maintain.

*******

The cabin offered a temporary escape  from the moonlit night, and as I stepped inside, the silence enveloped me. Lyra's tear-streaked face lingered in my thoughts, I knew I had to push the guilt away. 

Lying on the bed, I removed my shirt, the memory of Lyra's touch lingering on my skin. There was something about her, something that danced on the edges of my consciousness, escaping definition. The way she resisted yet succumbed to the unspoken desires left an imprint on my mind.

A knock echoed through the cabin, disrupting the quietude. I stood up, opening the door to reveal Raven, a seductive smile playing on her lips. Her gaze lingered on my well muscled  and chiseled chest, a flirty remark dancing on the tip of her tongue.

"Well, aren't you looking tempting," she teased, her eyes flickering with desire.

I let her in, and she wasted no time, pressing her lips against mine in a passionate kiss. As we parted, she looked at me with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "You should have called  me to tell me you were coming," I remarked, a playful edge to my voice.

Raven shot me a sly smile. "Surprises are more fun, don't you think? Besides, I wanted to see that look on your face."

As she spoke, her eyes drifted to my bare chest, the implications clear. I chuckled, appreciating her boldness. The night was taking an unexpected turn, and Raven was a welcome distraction.

She continued, her tone turning more serious. "Where were you? Out there in the woods?"

A vague response slipped from my lips. "Just out."

Raven's eyes narrowed, and a spark of irritation flashed in her gaze. "Don't play games with me, Gray. I can smell her scent on you."

I sighed, frustration creeping into my voice. "I bumped into her, Raven. Nothing more."

Her skepticism flared, but before she could press further, I snapped. "I rejected her in front of you. Why wouldn't you believe me when I say it's nothing?"

She sighed, relenting, and then pulled me into another intense kiss. The taste of her lips momentarily pushed aside the weird feeling brewing within me. As we embraced, words hung unspoken in the air, a silent agreement to let the night unfold without unnecessary complications.

In the midst of passion, Raven and I found a temporary escape, a fleeting escape from the intricate dance of power and desire. The cabin echoed with the whispers of secrets, the shadows concealing the complexities of our entangled destinies.

After a moment of shared intimacy, Raven pulled away, her gaze softening. "I missed you," she confessed, vulnerability seeping into her voice.

A conflicted expression crossed my face. "I'm here now," I reassured, though the weight of unspoken truths lingered between us.

As we lay on the bed, tangled in each other's embrace, the moon cast its cold light through the window, indifferent to the intricacies of our lives. 

The night held promises and uncertainties, a tangled web of desires and the pursuit of dominance.

In the silence that followed, Raven's breathing gradually slowed, and her eyes fluttered closed. The cabin embraced us, a place of secrecy and whispered promises. There was no doubt in my mind that she was in all consideration the best choice, the daughter of the Alpha. 

She ran her hands through my chest and I could feel her head rise and fall as she breathed peacefully by my side.  “What?.” I asked her as I noticed her lingering look. 

“I spoke with my father today.” She said,   I could see the glitter in her eyes and I knew exactly what she was getting at.