Chapter 22
Lyra had never liked Drew Selby, but today sealed it. She didn’t just dislike the man, she hated him. How could he sit there, pushing his own agenda without any fear of pushback from the other elders? He clearly wanted his daughter to become Luna, with no regard for what Jake wanted or what was best for the pack.
“Drew,” Dylan said calmly, “we need to think carefully about what you’re implying. You’re suggesting the Alpha reject his mate.”
Drew nodded, casting a disinterested glance at Dylan. “For the betterment of the pack. He needs a suitable Luna at his side.”
“Wolves die from losing their mates,” Dylan countered. “You’re asking our Alpha to deliberately weaken himself because you don’t approve of Lyra’s heritage. You’re all ignoring the fact that fated mates strengthen one another. If we want our Alpha at his strongest, we need to accept his mate.”
“How can you say a weak mate will make our Alpha stronger?” Drew shot back.
“How can you say I’m weak?” Lyra snapped, finally unable to hold her tongue. She had planned to remain quiet, but listening to them talk about her like she wasn’t in the room was too much.
“My daughter is a skilled warrior,” Drew said, his jaw clenched as he turned to her. “She runs patrols, trains others, and contributes to this pack’s safety. What have you done? You disappeared for eight years because some people were mean to you as a child.”
Heat rushed to Lyra’s face. Her hands clenched into fists beneath the table. Even Jake’s steady hand on hers couldn’t calm her.
“Dad,” Callan said, speaking up for the first time, “that’s not fair. You don’t know what it was like for Lyra or Donovan.”
“I know what this pack needs,” Drew argued. “And it’s not her.”
“I disagree,” Dylan said. The elders turned toward him. “I agree with the Alpha. We must follow the will of the Moon Goddess.” He looked directly at Lyra. “Do you want the Alpha as your mate?”
Lyra opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She thought of the last two nights in the woods. Of walking with Jake, hand in hand. The ease of their conversation. The way he had stayed beside her while she shifted, talking her through the pain until she thought she might die from it.
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“I…” She hesitated, searching for the right words.
“She’s not even sure,” Drew scoffed.
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Rina leaned forward, adjusting her glasses to look at Lyra over the rims. “I’m torn between Drew’s concerns and what the Alpha and Dylan are saying. But I see something in you.” She studied Lyra for a long moment. “There’s potential.”
Lyra saw the words leave Rina’s mouth, shimmering like gold before they vanished. She blinked in surprise.
“Potential?” Alistair echoed, looking at Rina.
Rina nodded. “Yes. I didn’t see it until she spoke. Even if she isn’t certain about being Luna, she hasn’t backed down from Drew.” She turned to him. “And Drew, dear, please stop being
such a dick.”
Drew rolled his eyes, ignoring her. “I don’t know what potential you think you see…”
“Stop,” Alistair cut in, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alpha Christian, what are your thoughts?”
Lyra’s stomach dropped as she turned toward Jake’s father. His black hair was streaked with gray, and his eyes were the same sharp green as Jake’s. He folded his hands on the table, glancing between Jake and Lyra before looking back to Alistair.
“I agree with my son,” he said quietly. “This is his fated mate, given by the Goddess. I’m shocked this is even being discussed. A fated mate has never been up for debate. We must accept the will of the Goddess.”
“Even you must admit this is a unique case,” Parker said. “It requires deeper consideration.”
“No one questioned my mate,” Christian said. “Why are we questioning my son’s?”
“Because your mate was a full–blooded werewolf,” Drew muttered. “Not some half–breed.”
Jake growled low beside her, and this time Lyra squeezed his hand to soothe him.
“No one can make me reject my mate,” Jake said, his voice sharp, eyes turning black.
“We can’t,” Alistair agreed solemnly. “But if we determine your mate isn’t in the pack’s best interest, we can remove you as Alpha.”
The chamber fell into heavy silence. Lyra could hear the blood rushing in her ears as she looked around the table.
“You wouldn’t go that far,” Russ murmured, though his tone lacked conviction.
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“We’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the pack,” Drew said coolly.
Jake’s grip tightened on her hand, almost painfully, but she didn’t flinch.
“It takes a unanimous vote to remove an Alpha,” Christian said softly, tracing the table’s edge with his finger. “Do you have that vote?”
Eyes flicked around the room.
“I would not vote to remove Alpha Jake over this,” Dylan said.
“Nor would l,” Rina added.
Parker tapped the table thoughtfully. “I’d need more certainty that Miss Hart is unfit before casting that vote. Breeding aside, I don’t know enough about her.”
Christian’s mouth curved slightly. “Then you don’t have the votes.”
“If it’s proven that Lyra isn’t a fit Luna, would your votes change?” Drew pressed.
“I would reconsider,” Parker replied.
Dylan studied Lyra for a long moment. “If I were convinced she would harm the pack, I’d agree.”
“Anything is possible,” Rina said. “But it would take a lot to convince me to go against the Goddess.”
Lyra’s heart sank. They could be persuaded. She had feared this all along, that the elders would never accept her. Now it was confirmed.
She hated herself for letting the past few days sweep her up in Jake and his promises. He might want to change things, but how could anyone fight against so many?
“I suggest we give it time,” Alistair said. Lyra forced herself to listen. “Let the Alpha and Lyra spend time together. Let her decide what she wants. She may choose to leave, and the problem will resolve itself.”
Drew pursed his lips. “Two weeks, then.”
“Two weeks?” Lyra echoed. “That’s not enough.”
“I think it is,” Alistair said.
“A month,” Jake said firmly.
“A month takes us past the deadline,” Parker said. “You were to be mated by the start of
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June.”
“I agree,” Rina added. “Two weeks is sufficient.”
“What if I disagree?” Lyra demanded. “Since it’s my choice, shouldn’t I have time to decide?”
“That’s not how this works,” Drew said. “We can’t wait on your whims
“They’re right,” Dylan said gently. “The pack has waited long enough. We can’t afford further delays.”
“I still think we should prepare for the possibility that Lyra isn’t a good fit” Drew added, leaning back. “I want Alpha Jake to continue spending time with Kylie, She should be prepared to take on the role of Luna if needed.”
Juno growled inside Lyra’s mind as jealousy surged through her. The thought of Jake spending time with Kylie, getting close to her, made her want to scream,
She was vaguely aware of the other elders murmuring their agreement, of Jake trying to object only to be quickly silenced.
A high–pitched ringing filled her ears. She could barely follow the conversation as Juno snarled over and over in her mind, the sound feral and furious.
Before she even registered that the meeting had ended, Jake was already at her side, his arm steady beneath hers, guiding her out of the room.
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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.
