LYRA’S POV
Kael didn’t look at me.
His gaze stayed fixed on my father, steady and unblinking.
My father leaned forward, his voice heavy with years of worry.
“You may not know this, Alpha Kael, but Lyra went through a great deal in her previous marriage.
She made an unwise choice, and it hurt this family—none of that is exactly a secret anymore.
But the last thing I’ll do as her father is stand by and watch her enter another marriage that costs her sanity.”
The words nearly brought me to tears.
Despite everything—the years of silence, the harsh words we’d exchanged, the distance I’d put between us—they still had my best interests at heart.
They still loved me.
They still wanted to protect me.
I blinked rapidly, willing the tears not to fall.
“With all due respect, Alpha Elias,” Kael said smoothly, “I understand your concerns.
Your daughter has been through a great deal.
I’m not asking you to trust me blindly.
I’m asking for the chance to prove myself worthy of her.”
My father stared at him.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
“And your family?” my father asked.
“Are they aware of this?”
“Yes.” Kael nodded.
“My grandmother fully supports us, and Lyra has met the others.”
My father turned to me, silently asking for confirmation.
I nodded.
“It’s true.
His grandmother loves me.”
“And your mother?” Rowan asked sharply.
“I heard she’s not exactly a fan of Moonveil.”
Kael’s expression flickered, just for a moment.
“My mother passed away.
My father is no longer in the picture.”
I turned, my gaze lingering on his face.
For the first time since I’d met him, he looked genuinely sad.
A shadow crossed my father’s face.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It was a long time ago.” Kael’s voice was smooth again.
“I’ve made peace with it.”
Rowan stepped forward, his eyes narrowed.
“And if we refuse?”
Kael’s expression didn’t change.
“Then I’ll leave peacefully with your sister by my side and make sure she’s safe.
But I’d rather leave with your blessing.”
The room held its breath.
Then Rowan grabbed my hand and pulled me up.
“Excuse us.
I need to speak with my sister.”
He dragged me down the hallway, his grip firm on my wrist.
“Rowan… hold on…” I stumbled after him.
“Please, slow down.”
He didn’t look back, just kept pulling me until we reached one of the rooms.
He shoved the door open and locked it behind us.
“What the hell is going on?” He spun to face me.
“How are you here with Alpha Kael when I’ve been searching for you everywhere?
I’ve had people scouring the territory for days…”
I looked at him—really looked at the brother I’d once been inseparable from.
He had always stood by me, fought for me, and taken the blame when he had to.
He’d been my anchor long before I abandoned him for a man who never deserved me.
“Rowan…” My voice cracked.
“At least say something.” His voice was sharp, but his eyes… he was worried.
“I only asked a simple question, Lyra.
Why the hell are you crying when I should be the one…”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
I wrapped my arms around him and burst into tears.
He stiffened for a moment.
“Lyra, what are you…”
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed into his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Rowan.
I’m so sorry.”
Years of pain, regret, and longing poured out of me as I pressed my face into his chest.
“Five years,” he said, his voice cracking.
“For five years, I waited for your call.
Every single day, I checked my phone, hoping to see a message from my little sister.”
I only held on tighter and cried.
“And you know what’s funny?” He laughed bitterly.
“Despite all the shit you said to me, despite the way you shut me out, I’d have come running.
I’d have dropped everything.
I’d have…”
“I know,” I choked out.
“I was so stupid, so blindly in love, that I pushed away one of the most important people in my life.” I sniffled.
“Can you ever forgive me?
I’ve missed you so much, Rowan.
Every day…”
He let out a shaky breath.
Then, hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around me, rubbing a hand over my back.
“It’s okay,” he murmured.
“I’ve got you.”
I sniffled against his shirt.
“How can you be so kind to me after everything I did?”
He pulled back, looking down at me.
“Because you’re my sister.
And that’s what family does.
We forgive and try to forget… no matter how hard it is.”
I gave a watery laugh.
“That’s a first.”
“Shut up.” He gave me a small smile.
“Now, about Kael…”
We’d only just made up after years of separation.
Keeping the whole thing secret would only cause more arguments.
I took a shaky breath and told him the whole story—the deal, the offer, the verbal agreement Kael and I had made, the flash drive I’d handed over in exchange for my place as his Luna.
Everything.
By the time I finished, Rowan was staring at me like I had horns growing out of my head.
“Are you out of your mind?” he gasped.
“What if his family finds out?
What if Dad finds out?
What if the whole pack finds out this marriage is a sham?”
“It’s not a sham,” I said quickly.
“It’s a partnership.
A business arrangement.”
“That’s a sham.”
“Rowan…”
“He’s the Alpha of Bloodmoon, Lyra.
And you’re…
you’re a divorced Luna from a rival pack.
Do you know how dangerous this is?
If anyone finds out…”
“No one will find out.” I grabbed his hands.
“Kael plans to keep the whole thing from his family.
And he isn’t exactly the kind of man anyone can control or tell what to do.
He’s…
he’s not like Cassian.”
Rowan stared at me.
“You trust him?
Already?”
I paused.
Did I trust him?
I barely knew him, but there was something steady and unwavering in his eyes that made me want to believe.
“He’s not like Cassian.
I can say that much about him.”
Rowan sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“You’ve been here for an hour, and you’re already making me lie to Dad.”
I winced.
“I know.
And I’m sorry.
But please, Rowan.
Just…
trust me on this.
I know what I’m doing.”
“Fine.” He held up a hand.
“I’ll keep your secret.
But I need to know… why are you going this far?
Is it because he cheated?
Or is there something else?”
I fell silent.
Better that than lie to him.
He couldn’t know about the baby yet.
Only the Moon Goddess knew what he’d do if he found out about everything else I’d gone through.
“If this is about what Cassian did to you,” he continued, “I can make him…”
“No.” I shook my head firmly.
“I want to do this my own way.”
“Lyra, how the hell…”
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“I want to see him.”
He opened his mouth to answer.
Then we both heard it.
A loud crash erupted from the living room.
“What was that?” I asked.
We rushed out of the room and froze.
“Is that…?” Rowan breathed.
The man I’d left sitting quietly in the living room was now on his feet, choking the life out of Cassian against the wall.
Kael’s hand was locked around Cassian’s throat.
His face was calm, almost serene, as if he were doing nothing more than swatting a fly.
Cassian’s face had gone purple.
His feet dangled above the floor as his hands clawed uselessly at Kael’s grip.
“Kael!” I screamed.