Chapter 25
After lunch, Trisha dropped Lyra off at the house. To her surprise, Lyra found she genuinely liked Russ’s mate. Trisha had a wicked sense of humor that could rival Megan’s, which had made the meal far more enjoyable than she’d expected.
Lyra slipped quietly through the front door, hoping to make it to her room unnoticed. No such luck. Lyle was sprawled on the living room couch, a disassembled motor spread out across
the coffee table in front of him.
He looked up as she walked in. “How was the meeting with the elders?”
She sighed and sank into the armchair across from him. “About as well as can be expected
“So… terribly?”
Lyra smirked. “Basically. They threatened to remove Jake as alpha if he makes me his luna.
Lyle blinked. “Are you serious?”
She nodded and explained what had happened, sparing no detail.
When she finished, Lyle scoffed. “If they think the pack will stand by and let them oust their alpha, they’re delusional. Sounds like they’re just trying to scare Jake into backing off.”
“That’s what Russ thinks too.”
Lyle shook his head. “I always liked Dylan Rockwell. Damn good doctor. Took great care of
your mother. I think losing her hit him hard. He used to stop by all the time that first year after
930
well, after everything. He even changed your bandages himself, right here at the house.”
Lyra blinked. “I didn’t know that. He mentioned treating Mom, but not much else.”
“Dr. Rockwell’s a solid man,” Lyle said. “Never bought into that elitist elder crap.”
Movement in the hallway caught her attention, and a moment later, Donovan wheeled himself into the room.
“You’re back,” he muttered, squinting at her. His eyes narrowed as he rolled closer. “What’s on your neck?”
Lyra slapped a hand over the telltale marks, her cheeks flaming.
Donovan recoiled with a groan. “Ew. Did the alpha do that?”
“Please stop,” Lyle muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Some things a father does not
< Chapter 25
need to know.”
+25 Points
Donovan snorted, clearly enjoying himself. “I mean, I figured he’d mark you eventually, but did he have to make it so obvious? You look like a walking caution sign.”
“I hate you,” Lyra muttered.
“You love me,” he shot back, grinning. “Gross hickeys and all.”
She rolled her eyes, but a small laugh slipped out. Despite the awkwardness, it felt good to be
home.
Lyle glanced up from the motor. “So. What’s the next step?”
Lyra hesitated, her tone sobering. “Jake wants me to start training with some warriors tomorrow. He also wants me to focus on shifting to build up my wolf’s strength.”
“Have you shifted recently?” Lyle asked, eyes dropping back to his work.
“Last night.” She glanced down at her hands. “It was the first time in three years.”
Lyle froze. “Three years? Hell, Lyra. You’re lucky your wolf’s still alive. That shift must’ve been brutal.”
“It was.” She looked up. “Jake was with me. He helped me through it.”
Lyle considered that for a moment, then nodded. “Good. You should listen to him about the training. After three years, your wolf’s got a lot of ground to make up.”
“She’s doing better than mine,” Donovan cut in with a smirk. “Mine’s dead.”
Lyra huffed. “Glad to see your sense of humor’s still intact.”
“It didn’t die. Just the wolf.”
Lyle shook his head. “I’m done with you two. I need to get this fixed before dinner. Go find something to do. And Lyra, brush your hair. It’s a mess.”
**
Lyle was sure I would love it here in his pack, but I’m having my doubts. Alpha Christian has done his best to be welcoming. He introduced me to his mate, Charlotte, and she’s lovely. She showed me around town, but the people here aren’t nearly as friendly. I insisted we tell them I’m human and Christian agrees. He says they’d be even less accepting if they knew the truth.
Alpha Christian did insist we tell his beta, Drew, and his gamma, Royce, who I really am. I agreed because it’s clear Christian trusts them, but I don’t like Drew’s aura. There’s something murky
2/4
< Chapter 25
about it. He doesn’t like me, and he doesn’t bother to hide it. He insists that people like me can’t be trusted, that we’re dangerous, that I’m manipulating Lyle somehow.
I’ve never been ashamed of what I am, but people like Drew are the reason I have to hide it. They’re the reason my people are disappearing, slowly dying out. Soon there won’t be any of us left, and our skills will be lost to the world. And people like him will be glad, happy to see us
gone.
Lyle keeps telling me to give it time. That things will get better. That people will come around. But I see the way they look at me. I see their emotions in the mist. I see the red in their words when they talk to me. I could pull some of the dislike away, but why? That would only mask the truth for my own comfort. It wouldn’t change the reality.
Lyra closed the journal, turning it over in her hands. What on earth did that mean? Mary was clearly saying she wasn’t human.
She climbed out of bed and padded down the hallway, knocking lightly on Donovan’s door. He was lying on his bed reading a book and glanced up as she entered, but didn’t bother sitting
- up.
Lyra sat down in his wheelchair without preamble and read him the passage. Donovan closed the book and rested it on his chest, listening intently. When she finished, he raised an
eyebrow.
“Mom wasn’t human, then,” he said quietly.
“You don’t seem shocked,” Lyra commented.
“The other day, you pointed out that the silver in the tea shouldn’t have killed Mom if she was human.” He sighed. “It got me thinking. Silver only weakens or kills certain types of supernaturals, like werewolves. It can suppress a witch’s power too, especially when used in certain types of relics.”
Lyra blinked. “Do you think she was a witch?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “If she was a witch, would she have gone to another witch for help?”
“She mentioned seeing auras, feelings in a mist, words that have colors.” Lyra shook her head. “I’ve never heard of witches being able to do that.”
“Me neither.” Donovan looked up at the ceiling, rubbing his forehead.
“But I’ve seen it.”
Donovan’s head snapped towards her. “What do you mean?”
<Chapter 25
She sighed. “Recently, I’ve seen a haze sometimes. It’s just a flicker of color around a person, but I just know instinctively what their feelings are. And sometimes words have a color. I’ve seen that too. When they’re golden, I know the person is being honest.”
Donovan was quiet for a long moment. “Do you think…. you inherited something from her?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe. I never felt like I fit into the pack completely. Like I was something other. I thought it was just because of being half–human. But what if it’s not?”
“What if we’re something else entirely?” Donovan said, finishing the thought.
A heavy silence settled between them. The old house creaked as the wind picked up outside.
Finally, Donovan spoke again. “We need to find out what she was. If we want answers about ourselves… about everything… it starts with her.”
Lyra looked down at the journal, the pages still warm from her hands. “Then we’ll start digging. Tomorrow.”
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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.
