Chapter 3

LYRA. 

It took several weeks before the torment finally let up. I knew Anna had grown more enraged with each passing day, the smug, cruel Luna-in-waiting having finally caught on to Alpha Derrick's twisted obsession with me. Scornful glances turned to outright hostility from Anna as her group of bullies became even more creative in their tortures to make my life a living hell.

Yet, nothing terrified me more than Derrick himself. His shadow seemed to follow me everywhere. He lurked in corners, his eyes dark with something far more sinister than affection. I avoided him as best as I could, working tirelessly, keeping my head down, and taking the long way back to my quarters every night.

But I could never avoid him forever.

It happened one quiet afternoon in the kitchens. I was scrubbing pots, the heat from the stoves making my hair stick to my damp forehead. I barely registered his scent until it was too late.

"Lyra," Derrick's deep voice rumbled behind me, sending a chill down my spine.

I stiffened, my hands tightening on the pot. "Alpha Derrick," I said carefully, not turning to face him. "I'm busy. Please excuse me."

He leaned in the warmth of his body smothering. "You always have excuses, little omega," he said mockingly. "When will you learn that you can't escape me?"

I turned slowly, keeping the large pot between us as a flimsy barrier. "I've done nothing wrong," I said, my voice trembling. "Please, just let me be," I begged

Smirking, Derrick's amber eyes gleamed with predatory intent. "Oh, Lyra, you've done everything wrong. You've been teasing me, driving me insane." He reached out; his hand brushed a strand of hair from my face, making me flinch. "Anna does not matter to me any more, not the way you do, but I can give you more of a life if you belong to me.

"No!" I retreated a step back, my heart racing. "I'm not some object for you to use! I'll never—"

His face clouded, and his voice dropped to that dangerous growl. "You don't have a choice, Lyra. You're mine. Whether you like it or not."

With a surge of bravery, I swung the pot between us, and Derrick was forced to step backwards. I didn't wait for his reaction. I bolted out of the kitchen, my legs pumping as fast as they could carry me. My lungs burned, but I didn't stop until I was safely locked in my room, my body trembling with fear.

---

That night, I made a decision. I couldn't stay in the pack any longer. The threats, the beatings, and Derrick's obsession had pushed me to the brink. I had little to pack-a tattered cloak, some bread, and my kitchen knife-and so I waited until the dead of night to make my move.

But escape wasn't as easy. I'd barely made it past the pack borders when two warriors caught me, dragging me back to the pack house despite my pleas.

"Please!" I begged, struggling against their iron grips. "I can't stay here!"

The guards didn't answer, their faces blank as they marched me straight to Derrick's quarters. The Alpha was waiting for me, his expression livid.

"You dare try to leave me?" he thundered, shaking the walls with his voice.

I dropped to my knees, heart pounding. "I can't stay here," I whispered, my face wetting with a stream of tears. "I'm not safe. Please, let me go."

Derrick strode forward, and his hand landed across my face in a brutal slap that sent me sprawling. "You're mine," he snarled, eyes blazing with fury. "You don't get to leave!"

He loomed over me, his chest heaving as I scrambled backwards, my lip bleeding and my vision spinning.

"You've pushed me too far, Lyra," he growled. "If you won't come willingly, I'll make you."

He grabbed a flask from a nearby table, pouring its contents into a cup. The sickly sweet smell of alcohol mixed with something else made my stomach churn. He forced the cup into my hands.

"Drink," he said, his voice no longer sweet and gentle.

"No," I whispered, my head shaking.

Derrick's patience snapped. He grabbed my jaw, opened my mouth, and tipped the liquid down my throat. I choked and gagged on the spiked drink, the burning sensation going down my throat. Everything around me started to blur, my body weighed heavy, and my thoughts were unclear.

"That's better," Derrick murmured, his voice deceptively soft. "Now, be a good girl."

My vision swam, but my instincts screamed at me to fight. I lashed out weakly, my fists connecting with his chest, but my strength was waning.

Derrick's hands gripped my arms, pulling me closer. "You'll learn to submit, Lyra," he hissed.

But before he could take it further, the sound of alarms blared through the pack house. Derrick cursed, releasing me roughly.

“Stay here,” he ordered, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll deal with this, and then I’ll come back for you.”

He turned and went out, slamming the door behind him. I sat there, shaking and dizzy, my mind racing. I couldn't wait for him to get back. Mustering all my will, I struggled to my feet, movements unsteady, and pushed the window open. The cool night air hit my face, clearing my head enough to act.

---

The forest was dark and cold, the trees casting eerie shadows as I ran. My feet were bare, the undergrowth scratching at my skin, but I didn't stop. The adrenaline coursing through my veins kept me moving, even as my vision blurred and my body ached.

I didn't know how far I'd gone when my legs gave out, sending me sprawling to the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I pushed myself up, my breath hitching in sobs.

Then I saw him.

At first, I thought it was a hallucination brought on by the spiked drink. But the figure lying in the dirt was real. A man, his body battered and bloody, his breathing shallow.

I crawled closer, my heart pounding. The man was tall and striking, even in his weakened state. His dark hair was matted with blood, and his chiselled features were marred by cuts and bruises. But it was his eyes—piercing and vivid even as they fluttered open—that froze me in place.

"Help…me" he rasped, his voice barely audible.

I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to keep running. I couldn't let Alpha Derrick catch up with me. But something about the desperation in his gaze, the vulnerability in his voice made me pause.

It was a bad idea, a bad one, but that part of me, the part that was raised with my mother's values, wouldn't let me leave someone to die that I had the power to save. 

And so, I put his life over mine.