Donovan woke Lyra up far too early, insisting that he needed to look at more of the journals. She reluctantly agreed, which was how she found herself sitting on Megan’s couch with three journals in front of her and Donovan, nursing a cup of coffee she had grabbed at the café, along with little chocolate donut bites that would hopefully appease Megan’s constant cravings.
Megan lounged in a chair, her feet propped up on an ottoman, watching a video on her tablet while Donovan and Lyra poured through the journals.
Dr. Rockwell seems surprised by how well the pregnancy is going. He said cross–species pregnancies are incredibly difficult, but maybe I’m lucky. Maybe my kind are stronger than the werewolves realize, not that the doctor knows what I truly am. He thinks I’m just human, and sometimes I wish I could tell him otherwise. He’s such a nice guy, the only doctor willing to see me for my pregnancy since most claim they don’t know ‘human’ medicine. It’s not like human and werewolf pregnancies are that different.
We’re going for the scan tomorrow, but something tells me it’s a girl. I already have the perfect name picked out. Lyra. I just love the way it sounds. I said it to Lyle the other day and he just rolled his eyes. He wants to name her Daphne. What a terrible name. Luckily, I get to pick the girl names and he picks the boy names. So I win!
“Dad wanted to name me Daphne,” Lyra told Donovan with a smile.
“I like Daphne,” Megan said.
Donovan rolled a shoulder. “It’s a good name, but I can’t picture you with it.”
Lyra turned the page to the next entry.
Royce and Delia are really the sweetest. After we found out I’m having a girl, they surprised me with the most beautiful blanket. It’s pink, green, and purple. It’s gorgeous. Delia is going to have a little boy any day now. I hope he gets her red hair!
Luna Charlotte just had her boy, and Lyle says Christian is over the moon. A little boy named Jacob. I want to see him, but Lyle says we should wait. He’s never said it outright, but I get the impression that I make Christian uncomfortable. Charlotte knows though she and she is still really kind. She asks me all kinds of questions, like she really wants to understand what I can do. I know Royce told Delia and she’s never acted differently toward me. Drew, of course, doesn’t even try to hide his dislike. At least his mate, Holly, is cordial. She stops to chat for a few minutes when she sees me, but Drew just glares. He’s such an ass. Even Lyle can barely stand him, but since he’s Christian’s beta, Lyle says we have to deal with it.
1/5
།ཇོ་བའིསི་རྟ!
+25 Ports
Lyra jumped off the couch, barely able to contain her excitement. Donovan and Megan both looked up in surprise.
“We forgot about Royce!” she cried.
Donovan raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. “Um… Russ’s dad?”
“Right,” Lyra said, sitting back down and smiling. “They told Royce too. It says it right here. Charlotte, Holly, and Delia all knew as well. Royce or Delia would probably tell us.”
She looked up expectantly, but no one matched her enthusiasm.
“Royce and Delia are in Europe,” Megan said quietly. “And you know Royce. He’s terrible at keeping in touch with his kids when he’s off on his trips. Delia is only slightly better. I don’t think Russ has heard from them in a couple of weeks.”
Lyra’s shoulders sagged, her smile fading. “Well, unless we can convince Charlotte or Holly to tell us, I guess we’re still stuck.”
“Neither of them will go against their mate,” Megan said, sitting up slightly. “I wish it wasn’t like that. I wouldn’t keep my mouth shut even if Callan told me to.”
“We all know that,” Donovan muttered, rolling his eyes. “You couldn’t keep your mouth shut if your life depended on it.”
Megan hurled a throw pillow at him, which he easily caught and tossed back.
Lyra set the journal down and rested her elbows on her knees. “There has to be someone who knows something. Someone who will tell us.”
Megan muted her video while Donovan fidgeted with the page in his journal.
“I could try to talk to Holly,” Megan offered. “Invite her over for lunch and baby talk. She’s really excited about her first grandbaby, so I’m sure she’ll accept.”
“How are you going to ask her though?” Donovan frowned. “You can’t just casually say, ‘Oh hey, remember Mary Hart? Was she really human?‘ That would raise a lot of suspicion.”
Megan looked affronted. “I know how to be subtle, Donovan.”
“You’re as subtle as a freight train,” he shot back, just as Megan launched the pillow at him again.
The elevator doors opened at that moment, and as Donovan tossed the pillow back, it caught Megan on the side of the head. Callan stood in the doorway, watching them with a blank expression.
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< Chapter 37
“I don’t want to know,” he muttered, walking away without another word.
**
+25 Points
“This is terrible,” Lyra groaned, flopping onto the grass as sweat dripped into her eyes.
“It’s only your second real training session,” Halle said. “Yesterday barely counted. You looked like death warmed over, and then the alpha stormed over and dragged you away.”
“He was overreacting,” Lyra muttered, wiping her forehead.
“I wish someone would overreact for me like that.” Halle dropped onto the grass beside her. You could tell he really cares.”
Lyra turned her head to look at Halle, her dark mocha skin glistening with sweat. “You’ll find your mate.”
Halle sighed. “I’m going to be nineteen in a few months. Most of my friends found their mates the day they turned eighteen.”
“I didn’t find mine until twenty–five.”
“Ugh.” Halle scowled at the grass. “I don’t want to be old when I finally find mine.”
Lyra laughed. “Halle, I’m not even old.”
“I don’t know. I think you’re kind of old,” came a deep voice from behind her. “Maybe too old
for me.”
Lyra rolled her eyes and sat up to look at Jake. “You’re a few months older than me, remember correctly.”
if I
He shrugged. “They say memory’s the first thing to go. I wouldn’t be too sure if I were you.”
“I wasn’t saying you were old,” Halle mumbled, staring at the ground. “I just meant I didn’t want to wait that long.”
“You can’t rush a good thing,” Jake said gently. He extended a hand to Lyra and pulled her to her feet, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “How was training?”
“Exhausting. Good thing tomorrow is Sunday. I can finally take a break.”
They said goodbye to Halle and started back toward the pack house.
“When do you want to try shifting again?” Jake asked as they walked.
Lyra shuddered at the thought. “Never.”
3/5
< Chapter 37
Juno growled faintly in her mind.
Jake glanced at her. “I know the last one was rough, but it won’t get better if you don’t keep trying.” He hesitated. “I was thinking about bringing a dose of wolfsbane with us, just in case.
The idea made Lyra’s stomach turn. She had never experienced wolfsbane herself, but she had heard it was awful. The thought of being cut off from Juno left her nauseated. Despite their rocky relationship, her wolf was still a part of her.
“I wouldn’t use it unless I had to,” Jake added quickly. “Only if it got dangerous again.”
She nodded slowly. “I know you’re right. I need to keep trying. But the last time… I thought I was going to die.”
Jake came to a stop and pulled her tightly against his chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared,” he whispered into her hair.
She tilted her head back, meeting his eyes. He rested his forehead against hers.
“I’m just grateful you were there,” she whispered. “I’m glad I didn’t go through it alone. We can try again tomorrow, maybe earlier in the day so I’m not tired.”
He smiled and kissed her gently. “You’re brave, you know. Braver than I’d be.”
His hand slid into her hair as he deepened the kiss. She moaned softly as his tongue brushed against hers.
“Keep it in your pants, Alpha!”
They broke apart, though Jake kept her close. Russ strolled up, smirking as he slapped Jake on the back.
“Good to see the two of you getting along so well,” he said with a chuckle. “Giving the training yard quite a show.”
“Shut up, Russ.” Lyra blushed, hiding her face in Jake’s chest.
“It’s been a while since anyone gave them a show.” Jake chuckled, his voice vibrating against
my kinks.” her cheek. “But I don’t think exhibitionism is one of
She pushed away from him, rolling her eyes. “Good to know.”
Russ made a face. “I wish I could say the same. I’d prefer not to know anything about either of your kinks.”
Jake laughed again, grabbing Lyra’s hand as they walked the rest of the way back to the pack
4/5
Chapter 37
house.
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.
