CASSIAN’S POV
The pack doctor’s hands trembled as he dabbed antiseptic over the raw marks on my neck.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my jaw clenched so tight it ached, my eyes fixed on the wall in front of me.
Every touch of the cotton swab sent a fresh wave of pain through my raw skin.
But the physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation burning in my chest.
Kael.
The name was a curse on my tongue.
Kael Hart.
The dying Alpha.
The man who should have been dead by now.
And he’d pinned me against the wall like I was nothing.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Darius stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, his eyes wide with shock.
“Is it true?” he gasped.
“Is Lyra really in the Bloodmoon Pack?”
I turned my head slowly, fixing him with a glare so sharp he flinched.
He opened his mouth to speak again, but the look on my face shut him up immediately.
“Alpha, I…”
“Not now, Darius.”
He nodded quickly and fell silent, hovering by the door.
I turned back to the doctor.
“Hurry the fuck up.”
The doctor flinched, his hands shaking even more.
“Yes, Alpha.
Forgive me.
I’m almost done.”
He worked faster, dabbing the wounds and wrapping fresh bandages around my neck.
I could smell his fear, the sharp scent of a wolf who knew he was one wrong move away from being torn apart.
Finally, he stepped back.
“That should be all, Alpha.
I’ll take my leave now.”
I waved him off without a word.
He practically fled out of the room.
Just as the door swung shut, Jared walked in.
His gaze lingered on me, his lips parted in shock.
“What happened?” he asked, his eyes scanning my injuries.
“Who did this to you?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Rowan.
That bastard had me locked up for days.”
Darius stepped back in, his eyes wide.
“What?
But why?”
“Because of Lyra.” I shook my head.
“I thought he hated her.
I was wrong.
And now they have the Bloodmoon Pack backing them up.”
Darius’s face paled.
“Bloodmoon Pack?
Alpha Kael’s pack?”
I nodded slowly.
He sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair.
“First there were rumors that Lyra was in the Bloodmoon Pack.
Now Moonveil has Alpha Kael’s support?” He shook his head.
“What the hell is going on, Cassian?
This doesn’t make any sense.”
I went quiet, anger boiling inside me.
I could still feel Kael’s hand around my throat, still hear his cold, commanding voice as he said those words.
“Lyra is getting married,” I finally said.
“Kael is claiming her as his Luna.”
“What?!”
Sabrina’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
She barged in, her eyes blazing, her face twisted with fury.
Darius and Jared exchanged a glance.
Then they stood and left without a word, closing the door behind them.
“You’re kidding, right?” Sabrina stood before me, her hands on her hips.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the invitation card.
I slammed it on the table in front of her.
“This was sent this morning.”
Sabrina grabbed it, her eyes scanning the elegant script.
Her expression shifted from disbelief to horror almost immediately.
“Marriage?” Her voice cracked.
“Lyra is getting married to Alpha Kael?
The same Lyra we both know?”
“Yes.” I laughed bitterly.
“And we’re expected to attend.”
“This doesn’t make sense.” Sabrina tossed the invitation into the trash can.
“It makes no fucking sense!”
“It doesn’t.” I shook my head.
“But there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“So you’re just going to let it happen?” She stared at me, her eyes wild.
“Lyra can’t be the Luna of Bloodmoon Pack.
It can’t happen!”
“Then what do you suggest?” I asked, my voice flat.
“Go there and stop the whole thing before it happens?”
She smiled.
It was a cold, dangerous smile.
“Why not?”
I laughed.
“You must have a death wish.
We’re talking about Bloodmoon Pack.
You’ll be dead before you get close.”
Sabrina looked down at the trash can beside her.
She crouched, pulled out the invitation card, and carefully smoothed it flat.
“How hard can it be to get in?” She looked up at me, her eyes glinting.
“We’re invited guests, after all.”
I stared at her, and something shifted in my chest.
She was right.
We were invited.
And if we were invited, we had access.
And if we had access…
Maybe this wasn’t over yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KAEL’S POV
I leaned back in my chair, my fingers drumming absently against the armrest.
The office was quiet except for the steady rhythm of my beta’s voice as he delivered his report.
“We’ve increased the western border patrols as you requested,” my beta, Axel, said, flipping through his notes.
“We’ve had three incidents this week.
Rogues have been testing the perimeter.
Nothing the guards can’t handle, but it’s worth noting.
The eastern territories are quiet.
Too quiet, if you ask me.
I’d recommend sending a few scouts to…”
I nodded along, but his words faded into background noise.
My eyes were fixed on the open door.
Lyra was outside, crouched in the middle of the courtyard.
A group of pups had gathered around her, their eyes wide with curiosity.
She laughed at something, the soft, musical sound drifting through the doorway and making it impossible to focus.
One of the pups, a tiny girl with pigtails, handed Lyra a flower.
Lyra accepted it with exaggerated reverence, pressing it to her chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.
She looked so…
free.
So unburdened.
Nothing like the broken woman I’d met at Silvercrest.
“Alpha?” Axel’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Can you hear me?
Alpha?”
I snapped back to attention.
“Yeah.
I can hear you.”
Axel turned and looked at the open door.
“Should I close it?”
“No.” The word came out too quickly.
Axel raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
He sat across from me, setting his notes aside.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
I went quiet because I hadn’t.
Not a single word.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my pills, and swallowed one down with a sip of water.
Axel watched me, his expression shifting to concern.
“Does she know?” he asked quietly.
“About the sickness?” I nodded.
“She already knows.”
“Not that.” Axel leaned forward.
“Does she know about the cure?”
I looked away, my grip tightening around the edge of the desk.
Axel’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t tell her?
You finally have her here, and you’d rather let your wolf keep fading than tell her she might be your only chance?”
“The only cure,” I shot back, “is to mark my fated mate and complete the bond with her.
She’s my wife, Axel.
Not my mate.”
“But still,” Axel pressed, his voice urgent.
“Her birth chart matched yours.
Doesn’t that count for something?”
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
“Axel…”
“This isn’t the time for pride.” He stood abruptly and began pacing the room.
“Once your wolf gives up completely, you die.
Did you forget that?
The healer gave you five years, Kael.
Five years.
It’s been six.
You’re living on borrowed time.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I snapped.
“Then why won’t you tell her?
Why won’t you let your wife know that she might be the only person who can save your life?”
“What?”
The familiar voice cut through the room.
My head snapped toward the entrance, and my heart stopped.
Lyra stood there, her eyes wide, her lips parted in shock.
She was still holding the flower the pup had given her, but her hand had dropped to her side.
“Lyra.”