ONE

Lyra's POV

“You want me to give you my wife for the Luna games competition?”

I glanced at myself using the mirror that hung right above the sink to my right, wondering when I could finally take a break and sit down. Looking down at my feet, I could feel the scorching gaze of the visitor, whose face I had not mustered the courage to look at.

“My legs hurt,”I groaned under my breath wondering where this meeting was headed.

My limbs were sore from the scrubbing and washing I had stayed all night doing all because the wolf king, the visitor who was seated, was coming to our pack. I could still hear Edmund's voice, “Make sure everywhere is spotless,” he would instruct and then proceed to litter the place with the dirt underneath his shoes.

The dining was set and different meals were placed on it.We never cooked that much food, and if we ever did? I was to make sure not a single piece of food was wasted else, I would be wasted by Edmund.

Reaching out across the table to take the salt bottle, my eyes followed him, gulping as he sprinkled salt on the grilled meat that I had salivated all through the preparation. I would be lucky if I were to lay my hands on the remains.

“You are fully aware that this is what happens, Edmund. It's been on for a couple of years,” the wolf king said, his voice like medicine that soothed my wounds.

My attention returned back to the conversation at hand, forgetting about my hunger and tiredness for a minute. The Luna game competition. He wasn't wrong that the alpha king had a ritual to perform every three years— a ritual that involved a Luna game competition, where every pack had to give up a female, either a daughter or someone, but it had to be a female. I didn’t know much about it, but it was all for the wolf king.

Whoever lady survived the competition was the wolf king’s destined mate. And his visit only meant one thing, it was finally our turn to give up a female and I was curious who was getting picked. I heard Edmund mention his wife and the thought of that made my heart clench. His wife. There was no way he would let Amelia out of his sight.

“But my king, sadly this pack doesn't have anyone who is worthy to compete in your Luna games” Edmund argued.

“I do not take no for an answer, Edmund,” the king said “That is common knowledge,”

“Lyra,” Edmund barked and I jerked. I blinked severally and moved uneasily from one foot to another. “Are you sleeping on your feet?”

I shook my head and gulped. I needed as much rest as I could get and in whatever happened, I couldn't be in Edmund's wrong today.

“Then why did it take you so long to answer your name?” He pushed his chair back and I felt my knees tremble. I waited for a few seconds but he didn't get off his chair. Maybe it was because the Alpha was present. Every other day, Edmund would have taken a few strides across the room and violently strike his palm on my cheek.

“Get out,” He said and I exhaled.

“I will be leaving now sir," I said in a mere whisper, dragging my heavy legs. To me, it was of no point leaving because I was yet to complete my tasks for the day and I would still be called upon when the Alpha King eventually decides to leave. But Edmund had told me to— and his wish is and has always been my command.

“Who is she?” His deep voice sounded in my direction, sending balls of electricity through my entire nervous system. My brain paused for a moment, hoping that he wasn't in any way referring to me, because that was the last thing I wanted— to be noticed by him.

His slender finger pointed in my direction, solidifying my thoughts, “ Stay still, will you?”

“She is just one of the maids,” Edmund shrugged nonchalantly, reminding me once again that I meant nothing more than that— a maid.

“ It's nothing special,” he added, swirling the glass cup in his hand because letting it sit on his lips, gulping the content of the cup.

“You seem to be forgetting that I am not a child Edmund,” he looked handsome when he chuckled, I could already imagine the perfect set of teeth those lips were hiding.

I was still lost in thought when I heard the screeching sound of the chair against the marble floor. It was definitely going to leave a mark, a mark that I would spend the whole of tomorrow trying to get off,

“An ordinary maid cannot have gray eyes and that color of hair. I can clearly see that you are trying to hide the real color of her hair under these poorly done brown tints,” he was in front of me now, his fingers in my hair as he examined it scrutiny. His scent invaded my nostrils— leather and cigarettes, throwing me into a dazed state. I sucked in air, not daring to breathe out and pollute the air.

“Anyone can have all those features you speak about, it is really nothing special or is there something you are implying?” Edmund was fidgeting, I could tell. His eyes were darting everywhere, not fixated on any other place. It might be my ears but I feel like I can hear his heartbeat from here, from fear of the king finding out.

“I am implying that there is more to her than what meets the eye, Edmund. Tell me about her,” he insisted calmly yet I felt the power in his words. Maybe this was what made him different from Edmund, he could command respect without even trying.

Edmund's anger was rising, it was slowly becoming impossible for him to control himself now, there was an edge in his voice when he spoke, “And I insist that she is just a mere maid, Alpha. So you think I would lie to you? Come on now, we are deviating from the topic just because of a mere maid. Where were we? Let's pick up from there,”

His words were rushed as though if he delayed for a second, he could wreck havoc on the Alpha King, and certainly he didn't want to get on his bad side, he needed the alliance with the Alpha King.

Finally, I lifted my eyes to meet his and in the split second they met, an inexplicable emotion surged through me like lightning. More like I could see my future in his eyes. It was something, a connection I had never felt before, I doubt if he felt it too.

“What is her name?” He demanded, pulling away from me.

“It is not important”

“Why is that?” he demanded, almost impatiently, before turning to me, “What Is your name?”

“Um it is…” I swallowed, my eyes fixed on Edmund, for a sign or any form to tell me what to do or whether to reply. I didn’t want any situation that could lead to him beating me up when the alpha king leaves.

“What are you scared of? I am sure he doesn't mind you telling me your name, it's just your name,”

“It is actually, um… Lyra,” I blurt, reminding myself to brace myself for whatever punishment accompanies my actions.

“Lyra….” He mused, as though finding the name intriguing, “ Mmm it has a nice ring to it. It sounds… mystical,”

“Thank you sir, I will take my leave now,”

“No you won't,” he said, immediately turning to Edmund and muttering three words that sent my insides freezing, “I want her,”

There was a deep silence in the entire room, my heart pounding heavily in my chest as Edmund replied, “You can't have her,”

“And why's that?” I looked up at his face as he replied, his eyebrows arched as though up for a challenge.

“Because she is my ex mate and she belongs to me.”