Chapter 51
+25 Points
Lyra walked up the steps into the humid evening air, the book safely tucked into her bag. Her find was full, lost in thoughts of the truth behind her mother, the reality of the gift that she possessed. She was so lost in thought, she missed it. That scent of eucalyptus and mint.
“Lyra.”
Her head snapped up. Jake was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed, his eyes dark. Fury radiated off him. She didn’t even need a special gift to tell her that he was pissed.
He uncrossed his arms, pushing off the tree to walk towards.
“Care to tell me what you’re doing?”
Lyra bit her bottom lip, twisting her hands around the strap of her bag.
He raised an eyebrow. “Leaving pack territory? Visiting a witch?”
“Jake,” she breathed. “I can explain.”
“Explain?” He laughed mirthlessly. “Explain what, Lyra? How you fucking went behind my back? Saw a witch, when you know damn well they just made a threat against my pack over you?” He scoffed, running his hand roughly through his hair. “And you didn’t even fucking pay attention. You ran right past a fucking patrol, Lyra. You were followed out here.”
She swallowed, remembering the feeling of being watched. She hadn’t imagined it.
“And the worst of it all,” he cried, “the patrol that followed you was Kylie Selby!”
Lyra felt the blood drain out of her face, her heart plummeting to her feet.
“She went right to her dad, Lyra!” he yelled. “I have all the fucking elders assembling in my office, wanting to know why my mate, the future Luna of my pack, is out meeting with
witches.”
He grabbed his hair, tugging roughly. “Do you have any idea how bad this all fucking looks?”
Her throat tightened, her eyes burning. “I’m… I’m sorry,” she choked out.
“That’s not going to fix a damn thing,” he snapped back.
She blinked furiously, determined not to cry. “I had to, Jake. She knew about my mother. I had to find the truth.”
He looked at her for a long moment. “Why didn’t you at least tell me? Give me a heads up to
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what you were going to do? Maybe I could have talked you out of it…” He shook his head. “Or at least helped you so you didn’t get fucking caught.”
“I… I couldn’t tell you,” she whispered.
“And why the hell not?”
She swallowed. “I… I just couldn’t.”
”
He turned away from her, pacing away a few steps. “Fucking hell, Lyra,” he muttered. “I hope you found what you needed. I hope this was worth it.” He turned to look back at her. Because we’re going back to a fucking shit storm. If you have any hope of keepin those elders on your side, you’ve probably lost it now.”
She opened her mouth to talk but closed it, not sure what to say.
e of
“Come on,” he said roughly. “We need to shift and get back soon. They’re going to be waiting
for us.”
They shifted in silence, running back through the trees until they reached the edge of the forest. After shifting back, Lyra was picking up her bag when Jake grabbed her hand, tugging her through the trees.
“At least your shifting is getting better,” he muttered as they walked. “You don’t even need my help now.”
Lyra chose not to speak, not sure how to respond. The anger was still rolling off him in waves and if she focused, she could make out the red mist that enveloped him.
He pulled her through the pack house and to the elevator. He dropped her hand as they rode in silence, crossing his arms over his chest as the muscle in his jaw popped.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered just before the elevator doors opened again.
“Save it,” he snapped, not bothering to look at her.
She followed him to his office. She could hear the voices as she approached, her stomach knotting painfully with dread.
Drew, Christian and Alistiar sat on the couch. Parker and Rina each sat in their own armchair while Dylan sat at the table with Callan. Russ stood near one of the windows across the office.
“There she is,” Drew sneered. “The woman of the hour.”
“Shut it, Drew,” Jake snarled.
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“Watch your tone,” Drew retorted sharply, moving to stand.
Christian grabbed his arm, halting his motion.
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Alistair sighed, casting Drew a sidelong look before turning his attention to Lyra and Jake who stood just inside the door.
“Hello again, Lyra,” he said calmly, clasping his hands in front of him.
She nodded. “Hello.”
“I wish we were meeting under different circumstances.” He shrugged. “But here are. Let’s just cut to the chase, okay?”
She nodded.
“Why would a patrol have spotted you leaving pack territory and entering a witch’s lair?”
Lyra swallowed, casting a glance. His face was stone, giving nothing away.
“I had questions,” she started slowly, considering her words. “Questions that I couldn’t find answers to inside the pack. But I learned that a particular witch might be able to help me.”
“Who told you this witch would help you?” Alistair asked steadily.
She didn’t look at Dylan. She didn’t even look away from Alistair, desperate to not implicate the one person in the room who had been trying to help her.
“I read about it in one of my mother’s journals,” she lied, hoping it sounded convincing.
“Of course her mother would know all about witches,” Drew laughed darkly. “Couldn’t trust her anymore than we can trust her daughter.”
“Everyone knows that Mary Hart associated with witches,” Rina said calmly. “It’s what ultimately got her killed.” She looked at Lyra. “Which I think you would do well to remember, dear. Your mother trusted a witch and it got her killed.”
Lyra frowned. “My mother only went to that witch on the recommendation of Alpha Christian.
Everyone in the office froze. The energy shifted palpably, eyes swinging to Christian who visibly paled.
“Why would you say that?” Parker asked Lyra while looking at Christian.
Suddenly she realized she unintentionally let slip information that wasn’t well known. Christian shifted uncomfortably, glancing around.
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“I…” Lyra looked at Jake, who was still impassive, watching the room around him.
“Go on,” Alistair said, glancing at Lyra.
“I read it in one of my mother’s journals,” she finally admitted. “My father confirmed it.”
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“What journals?” Drew snapped his face red. “Maybe we need to look at them, verify this information. You can’t just make baseless accusations about an alpha.”
“He admitted to it,” Jake said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you know that Drew. You were in the room when we talked about it. Said that Mary thought she losing the pregnancy. Lyle was desperate.”
Every head again turned towards Christian, who cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Well, I…” He looked at Lyra, speaking to her. “Your mother had already heard about the witches. She was already set on going. Where she had heard about these things before she came to me, I don’t know.”
The words were wrong, coming out twisted and black. She tried to rack her brain, trying to remember what initially prompted her mother to go looking for witches. Hadn’t someone said something to her about it?
She could see it, a dark haze that moved over Christian’s shoulders. It bent him forward, as he dropped his head into his hands.
“Regardless,” Drew cut in, “Mary is dead because of these witches. The same witches who just leveled a threat against our pack about you.” He pointed at Lyra. “And now you’re running around in the woods, meeting with them in secret. It’s suspicious.”
“What questions?” Rina said abruptly.
Lyra blinked. “Sorry?”
“You said you had questions,” she said calmly. “Questions that no one in the pack could answer. I’m curious what the questions were about. And if you found the answers you were seeking.”
“It’s clearly just a distraction,” Drew snapped. “She was meeting with our enemy in secret. She’s just making up stories and lies to distract us from the truth.”
“Perhaps,” Rina conceded. “Or perhaps she’s telling the truth.”
“Unlikely,” Drew snorted.
“I would like to know too.” Parker rubbed his hands on his thighs, nodding towards Lyra. What questions?”
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She bit her lip, glancing at Jake. He only raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“About my mother. About what she was.”
Rina blinked. “What she was? She was a human, wasn’t she?”
Lyra twisted her hands. “Well… no.”
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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.
