Chapter 24
Lyra felt like she was floating as she lay against Jake, her blood still thrumming with the heat of release. She had never come like that before, never been able to give herself that kind of
pleasure.
“You okay?” Jake murmured into her hair, his fingers trailing lazily down her back.
“Never better,” she whispered, turning her face into his chest.
He chuckled, brushing a kiss over the top of her head. “I don’t want to let you go, but I’ve got to get over to the training center for a warrior meeting.”
“No,” she mumbled into his chest, burrowing closer. “You’re staying right here.”
He laughed again, his chest rumbling beneath her cheek.
“Everything okay with the warriors?” she asked, pulling back slightly to look at him.
He frowned. “We think there were witches along the border the other day. I just want the warriors on alert.”
“Witches?”
He nodded. “We haven’t had issues with them since I was a kid.”
“What kind of issues?”
He hesitated. “From what I remember, a witch killed a pack member. My dad killed her in retaliation. It stirred up a lot of unrest until a treaty was negotiated.”
Lyra frowned, her mind flashing back to her mother’s journals. “That pack member… was my mom.”
Jake blinked. “What?”
“It happened when we were five, right?”
He nodded slowly, suspicion tightening his features.
“My mom was pregnant with Donnie. She was afraid she’d lose the pregnancy and went to a witch for help. But the witch poisoned her with silver instead. That’s why Donnie doesn’t have a wolf. That’s how my mom died.”
Jake sat up, shifting her onto his thighs. His face had gone pale. “Are you serious?”
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She nodded. “I found it in her journals. My dad confirmed it.”
Jake looked past her, clearly trying to process the revelation.
“Jake.”
His eyes snapped back to hers.
“Your dad sent her to the witch. He didn’t know she’d do that. According to my dad, he felt
awful about it.”
Jake gently shifted her off him to stand, pacing a few steps away. “Goddess. My dad really screwed your family over, didn’t he?”
Lyra stood, moving closer. “He’s spent a long time trying to make things right.”
Jake looked at her, then let out a dry laugh. “Look at you. Actually defending him.” He crossed the distance between them and wrapped her in a fierce hug. “How did I get so lucky?
Lyra had never truly understood the phrase heart bursting until now. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest.
“I need to go,” he murmured, kissing her hair.
“I should see Megan anyway,” she said, stepping back.
Jake smiled. “She’ll want every detail.”
“She lives for it,” Lyra muttered. She reached up to touch her hair and winced.
Jake grinned. “Don’t. I like you messy.”
“I like me functional. Where’s the bathroom?”
“I’ll show you.” He laced their fingers and led her out.
He opened the door to a small powder room. “I have to run. You okay getting home?”
She nodded. “I’ll call
my
dad.”
He gave her a quick kiss and disappeared down the hall.
Lyra looked into the mirror and groaned. Her hair was wild, her lips swollen, and a trail of hickeys dotted her neck. She looked
thoroughly ravished.
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She finger–combed her hair, wetting it slightly until it looked semi–presentable. The marks on her neck were beyond saving.
With a sigh, she headed downstairs,
**
Megan was on the couch in the sitting room, Russ on one side and a woman Lyra didn’t recognize on the other. Callan was in an armchair nearby,
The room went silent when she entered.
“How’s Jake?” Callan asked.
“Fine. He went to the training center.”
Callan nodded. “We should get over there too.”
Russ gave her a knowing look. “Looking a touch more disheveled than when we left you.”
Heat crept up Lyra’s neck. She glared at him.
“Oooo,” Megan squealed, clapping. “I need all the details.”
“Go easy,” Callan warned. “She had a rough morning.”
“I bet she did.” Megan wiggled her eyebrows. The woman beside her giggled.
Callan sighed. “Best of luck with these two.” He gestured to Russ, and the men left the room.
“Come sit,” Megan said. “You haven’t met Trisha yet.”
Lyra sat in a nearby chair, smiling at the blonde beside Megan. “You must be Russ’s mate.”
“I am,” Trisha said, her light brown eyes warm. “I’ve been hearing all about you. Even more now that you’re Jake’s mate.”
“Introductions done,” Megan said, waving a hand. “Let’s talk about what happened upstairs.”
“You mean Jake punching a hole in the wall?”
“No! Callan and Russ already told me about that. I want to know about the hickeys and the hair situation.”
Lyra flushed. “Not talking about it.”
“Uh–huh.” Megan leaned forward. “Did he growl? I bet he did. Hot, right?”
* Chapter 24
Lyra gave her a flat look. “Do you ever shut up?”
“Almost never.”
“I bet Jake’s a growler,” Trisha said thoughtfully. “He looks like it.”
“Right?” Megan nodded eagerly.
Lyra groaned. “There’s two of you now.”
“You should feel honored to be in our good graces,” Megan teased.
“At least someone likes me. The elders definitely don’t.”
Megan’s smirk vanished. “Yeah, I heard. Cal said it got ugly.”
“Threatening to remove the Alpha?” Trisha shook her head. “That takes balls”
“Old, shriveled ones,” Megan muttered with a face.
“They think I’m a threat. That I’ll make Jake weak.”
“Bullshit,” Megan snapped. “You’ve been back five minutes and already have him punching walls and shifting uncontrollably. That’s not weakness. That’s power.”
Lyra blinked. “Not exactly comforting.”
“It should be.” Megan pointed at her. “You’d think they’d come this hard at anyone they weren’t afraid of? Come on. They’re terrified of what you represent. You’re different. You represent a change that they are terrified of. In just a matter of days, you have Jake wanting to change things in this pack. That’s power, whether you realize it or not.”
Lyra frowned. “You really think that?”
“I know that.” Megan tilted her head. “I know you’re scared, but if you let them chase you off now, then they win and Jake loses. And I don’t get to gloat when my best friend becomes Luna. So don’t screw this up for me.”
Lyra laughed, despite herself. “Glad to know your priorities are solid.”
“They are. I prioritize drama and vindication.”
“You’re a menace.”
“I try.” Megan’s grin faded slightly. “But seriously, Lyra. Don’t run. Not again.”
Lyra looked away, a weight pressing on her chest. “I wish it were that simple. I still have to think about Donovan. About doing what’s best for him.”
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“You can do what’s best for him here. When you’re Luna, you can make the changes that need to happen for him.”
“I wish it were that easy.” Lyra shook her head. “I wish I could just make people accept him. Make things easier for him, but you know as well as I do that it’s not that simple.”
“But maybe it’s not that complicated either,” Trisha offered. “Maybe you start small. Start getting Donovan out of the house more often. I’ve barely seen him out for the four I’ve
years
been here.”
“Yeah,” added Megan, “let’s get Donnie out. Let’s make the pack see him and realize he’s not any different than everyone else just because he has that chair.”
Lyra considered that for a moment. “I would have to convince Donnie that’s a good idea too.”
“I’ll get him to do that.” Megan smiled. “He loves me more than you anyway. He always does
what I want.”
Lyra rolled her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that.”
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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.
