Lira stared at the feral wolf as all the sound around her faded. Her body felt so heavy, she hadn't even realized that she was on the ground. Her hands were hanging useless at her sides.
'Move. Move. Why can't I move?'
Kyren glanced at Lira, pale-faced and on her knees. Shit! Shit! Shit! He had to do something quickly before she got injured or worse.
Kyren forcefully shoved it to the side and called out Lira's name. there was no response. The wolf lunged again, this time at Lira. It missed. Lira managed to dodge.
"Hey!" Kyren boomed out. "Over here." The wolf came at him again, faster this time. Kyren braced himself and struck; one firm hit to its side.
The wolf skidded away. Immediately it tried to rise. Kyren had to kill it.
He shifted and the world sharpened instantly. He could hear Lira's heart thudding and the feral wolf snarling.
It probably didn't notice the shift. Kyren stepped forward on all fours, his posture low but controlled.
He growled and the feral wolf jerked its head toeards him. Kyren circled around it, leading the attack away from Lira.
The feral wolf suddenly lunged towards Kyren and he met it head on. His weiht was steady and his claws gripped the dirt as he shoved the smaller wolf sideways.
The feral wolf tumbled, rolled and scrambled back up in a shaking tangle of limbs. It wasn't as strong as he thought.
The wolf darted again and Kyren dodged. He then struck with with a controlled swipe, tearing the flesh.
The impact sent the rabid wolf sprawling again. In one calculated move, Kyren tackled the feral wolf and pinned its neck to the ground. It thrashed violently but Kyren pressed harder, until it weakened then stop.
Lira gasped upon seeing what happened. It was sickeningly familiar.
Two wolves ran to the scene but stopped in their tracks. Kyren's iron-gray wolf form was very similar to Alpha David's.
When Kyren was sure it wouldn't move, he got up and shifted back. The two Sentries did the same and crouched into a kneeling position.
"Rise." Kyren commanded. "How did you know?"
"We received a report from someone in the neighborhood. A wolf in one of the houses turned feral and attacked his wife." One of the sentries replied. "We've already sent healers her way, but if the Moonborne is here..."
Lira felt bile rise up to her throat as the feral shifted back into its human corpse. It had mangled limbs and a bloody face, Gerald's bloody face.
"Dad!" she screamed and rushed forward.
Kyren grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. "Don't look" he chided softly.
Lira struggled against him sobbing painfully. He held her tighter and said, "One of you should go to the house while the other finds the closest healer."
The sentries nodded and left silently. Kyren continued to hold her and run his fingers through her auburn locks.
"This is the second time." She croaked.
"It'll get better."
Lira shook her head. "It won't"
Kyren assumed she meant that it was the second time Ironwood had a feral wolf that year.
But to Lira, it was the second time her parent had died in front of her and the second time she watched a loved one kill another loved one.
Lira's parents knew what she was from the moment she was born. Her eyes glowed a pale blue as a newborn and she had a scent different from everyone else.
They had wanted her to live normally with them at Blackwater pack. But when the moonstone broke, they knew it was their duty to take her to the main Temple of Selene at Ironwood.
They were attacked by a lone zombie wolf on their journey but they were able to escape.
Unfortunately, Lira's mother got infected and she soon turned on her beloved husband and child. Gerald had no choice but to subdue her in front of Lira.
********
That afternoon, Lira was sitting somberly in the temple gardens.
"Were you training?" Donna asked in her soft voice.
Lira flinched and turned to look at her.
"You don't have to. You've had a very rough morning. Retire to your quarters and rest."
"No, your Grace," Lira replied in a raspy voice. "I barely knew him. I barely visited him. I barely saw him. It's Hilary who should…" She trailed off.
"Your pain is still valid." Donna sat beside her.
"Please let me stay here, your Grace."
Donna nodded, got up and left.
Lira realized that she had lost her parents. And she almost lost Kyren too.
If her father had been a little stronger or if Kyren had made one misstep he'd be dead.
All because she couldn't do anything. Just like when Priscilla turned too. Well if Donna and Kyren were right, then she'd inevitably lose him too.
With her mind swimming with dismall thoughts, Lira mechanically got up and sat on the floor infront of the dolmen. She began to light it up again and again.
********
After having another meeting with his father and the pack beta, Kyren set off for the temple. The pack members were panicking.
No one knew who would turn feral next.
Donna suggested holding a memorial service for Nathan, Priscilla and Gerald and giving out free talismans after the ceremony.
She suggested that Lira officiate it so it can hold more weight. Kyren disagreed. He couldn't imagine her doing something like that sfter havibg such a visceral reaction to his death.
Kyren walked to the temple gardens knowing Lira would be there. One look and he coud alreadu tell she had trained all day.
The sun was already setting.
As he walked closer, his heart started to beat faster. Lira turned upon hearing his footsteps and he could swear that her tired green eyes looked brigher than the entire garden.
He involuntarily straightened his back as her gaze fell upon him. He took a few steps forward and her scent filled his nose. It was different.
He shuddered as a foreign feeling took over his body. His mind was racing yet it kept coming back to one word.
Mine.
Kyren chuckled. "Of course this would happen."