Chapter 45
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Lyra couldn’t ignore the delicious ache between her legs as she walked into the hospital. It had been there all morning, since she said goodbye to Jake in the packhouse lobby, through breakfast with Trisha and Megan, and now as she entered the hospital’s front atrium, scanning for Dylan Rockwell.
“Miss Hart.”
She turned to see Dylan standing near the elevators, his black hair slicked back, a pair of rimless glasses perched on his crooked nose. He had the sagging jowls of a bloodhound and had long gone soft around the middle, but there was something comforting about him. A warm, grandfatherly presence that put her at ease.
“Dr. Rockwell,” she greeted with a smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“My pleasure.” He shook her hand. “When the Alpha suggested it, I thought it was a wonderful idea. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of knowledge that could be useful. He mentioned you plan to specialize in trauma surgery.”
She nodded, surprised that Jake had remembered. Then again, he’d been full of surprises lately.
“Trauma surgery is important here,” Dylan said, motioning for her to follow him. “I’m sure you know–wolves heal fast, but occasionally we come across one who doesn’t. It’s good to have someone with experience in human medical techniques for those cases.”
“I’ve only just finished med school,” she replied. “I still have a lot to learn.”
“Certainly,” he agreed. “But you could always finish your training here. I doubt the Alpha would object to his Luna working at the hospital.”
She frowned. “Would that even be possible, with everything a Luna is supposed to do?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes packs bring someone in to share a Luna’s duties. It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of either. Though here, I imagine it would be more of a battle than in other packs.”
“Because the elders are more traditional?”
He opened the door to a small office and gestured for her to enter. Inside was a desk and a modest couch along the far wall.
“My office,” he said, closing the door behind them. “I’m mostly retired, but I still come in at least once a week for consultations. These days it’s mostly administrative work.” He held up
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his hands. His fingers were thick and starting to twist with age. “No more surgery for me.”
He waved her toward the couch and sat behind the desk.
“As for your question, yes, most of the elders lean heavily on tradition. I think tradition matters, but I’m not nearly as stuck in the past as some of my colleagues.”
“If I stayed, I think I’d want to continue in medicine.” Lyra settled back against the cushions. I’ve really enjoyed it in the human world.”
Dylan studied her for a moment. “So you’re still thinking of leaving?”
She looked away. “I haven’t committed to anything.” But she didn’t want to explain. She couldn’t admit to someone she barely knew that the thought of leaving Jake felt like being skinned alive, slow and painful.
“What does your father think?”
She hesitated. Dylan was still an elder, even if he’d been the only one on her side at the
meeting.
“Lyle’s a good man,” Dylan said gently. “I remember when Mary died. Nearly destroyed him. And then that mess with your brother…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“He wants me to leave,” she said softly. “He says it’s not safe here. Not as Jake’s mate.”
Dylan frowned. “Because of what your mother was?”
Lyra froze. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not stupid,” he said with a sigh. “I knew Mary wasn’t human. It was obvious early in her pregnancy with you.”
“Do you know what she was?” Lyra held her breath.
He raised a brow. “You don’t?”
She shook her head.
Dylan tilted his head. “Lyle never told you?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t exactly admit that the former Alpha had forbidden it.
“This reeks of Drew,” Dylan muttered, removing his glasses. “That man has the sense of a gnat and the heart of a dead snake.”
Lyra laughed despite herself.
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“Mary never admitted she wasn’t human, and I never pressed. Her physiology was close enough to human for medical treatment. But she had this ability… she could read people. Pick up on their emotions, sometimes even their thoughts. She could calm others, subtly. You wouldn’t notice unless you knew to look for it.”
“How did you know to look?”
“I’m a doctor. Noticing what others miss is part of the job. Plus, I spent a lot of time with your mother. She was my patient, but also a friend. At first, I thought she might be a witch, but witches tend to have physiological traits that she didn’t.” He shook his head. “I figured if she ever felt safe enough, she’d tell me. But I don’t think she ever felt that way here.”
“I’ve read some of her journals,” Lyra admitted. “People weren’t kind to her
erous,
“They weren’t,” he said grimly. “Which was a tragedy. She was lovely. Kind, thoughtful. But all anyone saw was her difference. They never appreciated the gift she was. They destroyed her. And I’m afraid they’ll do the same to you.”
Lyra chewed on her lip, his words settling in her chest.
“How are things with the Alpha?” he asked, watching her carefully.
“Good,” she replied quickly. After last night, they were better than good. They were amazing.
He nodded. “I thought so. He seems to want you to feel at home. Especially with the renovations starting on the packhouse this week.”
Her brows drew together. “What renovations?”
He smiled. “Maybe I’m spoiling the surprise. He’s adding ramps to the packhouse and training hall. Modifying the buildings to be more accessible for wheelchairs.”
She blinked, stunned. “Why would he do that?”
“Why else would he do it? For you. For your brother. It’s clear he wants you to stay, and that’s been obvious since he brought you before the elders.”
Dylan leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “I’ll admit, I worried about our young Alpha. He wasn’t ready when he took over, but Alistair insisted… tradition, of course.” He waved a hand. “Christian never liked giving up control, and Drew even less. I wasn’t surprised when Drew called for an elder election. I just wish they’d given Jake and Callan more time to settle in.”
He glanced at his hands. “Jake was young, and Christian pushed him relentlessly. Nothing Jake did was ever good enough. So I was glad, relieved even, to see him stand up for you. And even more relieved to see he hasn’t caved to pressure.” He smiled gently. “I think you’re
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good for him.”
Lyra blushed and looked away.
“But Christian and Drew won’t let go easily,” Dylan warned.
“Was Alpha Christian really my father’s friend?” she asked.
Dylan nodded with a sigh. “They were inseparable. I think Christian would have preferred Lyle as his beta, but Drew was born to the role. Tradition again. Lyle became Christian’s personal guard. They were close… until Mary.”
“What happened?”
“She happened. Another reason I suspected she wasn’t human. Christian immediately. Drew despised her. Royce was polite enough, but the poor m
er
ked brains.
Thank the Goddess Russ got some of his mother’s intelligence. We’d be in trouble if he hadn’t.”
Lyra smiled faintly. Russ might play the fool, but he was sharp.
“Who else might know what my mother was?”
Dylan rubbed his jaw. “The ranked members probably knew, but I doubt they’ll talk. Lyle knows, of course, but I assume he’s been silenced. The witches might know. They were the ones who orchestrated her death. They poisoned her.”
Lyra shifted uneasily. “I can’t exactly ask a witch. There’s been a threat made against the pack–demanding my brother and I leave.”
He pursed his lips. “Not surprising. They clearly saw your mother as a threat.”
He drummed his fingers on the desk. “I can help you speak to a witch, but only if you promise not to mention me. To anyone. Not even the Alpha.”
Lyra inhaled sharply. “Even Jake?”
He nodded. “It would break certain rules. I could face serious consequences.”
She hesitated, uneasy. The idea of hiding something from Jake made her stomach churn.
“I know a witch. She’s associated with the forest coven, but not part of it. She might have answers. I can reach out… if you want.”
Lyra studied him. “Let me think about it. I’m not sure I can keep something like that from Jake. He…” She trailed off, unsure how to explain.
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Dylan smiled. “I understand. He’s your mate. It’s not fair of me to ask. Think about it and let me know.”
She nodded.
“In the meantime…” Dylan rose. “Let’s take a walk through the hospital. I’d like to introduce you to some people.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
