Lyra waited.
She tried to do exactly as Kael said—she really did. The door was locked. The room was quiet. But the howling outside grew closer, threading fear into her chest like thorns.
Her fingers twisted in the blanket.
He said he'd come back, she told herself.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Lyra?" Mira's voice drifted through the wood. "It's me. Alpha Kael asked me to check on you."
Relief washed over her instantly.
"Oh," Lyra breathed. "Okay."
Her hand hovered over the lock.
Kael hadn't said not to open it. He'd just said to lock it.
Maybe he trusts her, Lyra reasoned. Maybe I'm being silly.
She unlocked the door.
Mira smiled when it opened—warm, gentle, familiar.
"There you are," she said. "You looked frightened earlier."
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Lyra said quickly. "I'm sorry if I did."
Mira stepped closer. Too close.
"You didn't," she said softly. "You're just… special. People notice that."
Lyra's cheeks warmed. "I don't like attention."
"Neither did I," Mira replied. "At first."
She reached out, touching Lyra's wrist.
The contact sent a sharp pulse through Lyra's veins. The air shifted—barely noticeable, but wrong.
Mira's smile faltered for half a second.
"You feel that?" Mira asked.
Lyra swallowed. "Feel what?"
"The power," Mira murmured. "You don't even hide it."
Fear crept in.
"I don't know what you mean."
Mira leaned closer, voice dropping. "Your old pack is looking for you."
Lyra froze.
"They said you ran," Mira continued. "That you stole something valuable."
"That's not true," Lyra whispered. "I didn't take anything."
"Oh, sweetheart," Mira said gently. "You are the valuable thing."
Lyra stepped back.
The hallway lights flickered.
Vines cracked through the stone floor.
Mira cursed under her breath.
"Easy," she said quickly. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just need to know how much you can do."
"I want Kael," Lyra said, panic rising. "Please."
"You shouldn't," Mira replied. "He can't protect you from what you are."
The ground trembled.
Water seeped through the cracks in the walls.
Mira's eyes widened—not with fear.
With greed.
"She was right," Mira whispered. "The elder was right."
A roar split the air.
The door at the end of the corridor exploded inward.
Kael stood there, eyes glowing silver, aura lethal.
"Step away from her."
Mira spun. "Alpha—"
Kael crossed the distance in a blink, yanking Lyra behind him. She clutched his shirt, shaking.
"You disobeyed me," he said softly, but the words weren't anger—they were fear barely contained.
"I'm sorry," Lyra whispered. "I thought—"
"I know," he said. "That's why this is not your fault."
Kael turned to Mira, voice like thunder.
"You brought outsiders into my territory."
"I was trying to help the pack!" Mira snapped. "Do you know what she is?"
"Yes," Kael said. "And you will never speak of it again."
Guards poured in.
Mira screamed as she was dragged away. "They're coming for her! You can't stop it!"
Silence followed.
Lyra's knees buckled.
Kael caught her instantly, pulling her into his chest without thinking.
She clung to him.
"I didn't mean to," she sobbed. "I ruin everything."
"No," Kael said fiercely, holding her tighter. "They ruin you. And I will not allow it."
She looked up at him, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"You stayed," she whispered.
"Always," he replied.
Outside, the forest stirred.
Roots coiled.
Water flowed against stone.
Lyra's power was waking.
And Kael realized the truth he had been avoiding—
Protecting her would mean war.