Darius I had never been as confused as I was at that moment.
My wolf paced within me, growling to be let out but if I did, I knew the situation would be worse than it already was.
Lyra was everything I wanted in a mate.
She was smart, loving and compassionate.
A clear difference from all the other leeches who wanted me for what they could get and not because they truly cared about me.
“What’s on your mind?” Kieran walked in, a small smile on his face.
As far as I was concerned, there was nothing funny about the situation.
I had almost died saving Lyra and her father had the guts to come in here, my pack and drop that bullshit.
“Everything.” I said, vaguely.
Even though he was my beta, there were things I didn’t want to bother him on because he also carried so much weight that I sometimes feared for his life.
He wasn’t as strong as I was in terms of power and strength but he was as cunning as ever, making sure that pack laws and treaties were followed to the latter.
“What are you going to do about Alpha Ronan?
He can’t get away with this, you know that.
I have seen the way you look at Lyra, you love her don’t you?” “Love isn’t enough to keep things moving.
There are other things that keeps a man and a woman, love the least.
He scoffed, grabbing an apple from the fruit tray before taking a big bite.
He munched on it and the sound irritated me but there was nothing I could do because he was my beta and it was in times like this I needed him the most.
“We could declare war on his pack, consider the treaty null and void.” he said, in between mouthful.
“That’s not going to cut it.
We need something stronger, something that would convince the council of elders to overturn whatever Ronan has done.
That is the only way.” He remained silent, heavy with thoughts but still didn’t fail to grab another apple, biting into it as he did for the first.
“What does Lyra think about this?
What’s her thought on it?” Her face popped up in my head and I almost fell to my knees in all of the feelings I had for her.
Never have i felt this way for another wolf before but ever since she came into my life, she had done something to me that was far beyond what words could describe.
Lyra was my life, and I wasn’t shy to admit it because that was the truth.
“She’s devastated.
Ronan is an asshole, we all know that but we didn’t expect him to pull this card.
I know he’s doing this just for me to be on his side but I can never agree to terms like this because it would only mean Lyra would have to leave my pack.” Kieran shuddered, not in fear but from the fact that the consequences of that was enough to drive me mad and he knew not to even encourage it.
“So what do you want to do?” he asked, taking the last bite of the apple.
The more I stood there, looking out the window, the more worried I became because the last thing I wanted was for Lyra to leave my sight.
If that ever happened, Ronan would wish he never birthed her in the first place.
Her scent wafted into my nose and before I could register what exactly this meant, she walked in, and one look at her face told me everything I wanted to know.
She had this faraway look on her face.” “Damn you Ronan!” I mummured.
“Hey Lyra,” Kieran grinned before walking out of the room.
“What’s wrong?
I told you I needed time.” Damn!
I shouldn’t have said that.
Now, it just felt like I was an asshole with the tone of my voice.
I hadn’t intended for it to sound that way and her eyes told me all I needed to know, she was not happy.
“I…
I’m sorry but I just need to ask you something.” She said in the most calmest voice I had ever heard.
I walked towards her but still kept some distance but that didn’t stop the connection I had for her.
I couldn’t explain it but the closer we got, the stronger our feelings for each other.
I just wanted to reach out and touch her even if it was just her finger tips but I stopped myself.
We needed to find a way to cross the bridge that had suddenly come between us.
“Go ahead.” I simply said.
She closed her eyes for a bit and I could see the internal battle within her, like she was trying so hard not to collapse under the weight of what she was about to say.
“I…
I love you…
I’ve loved you since the night we met at the bar, since the night you claimed me to be yours Darius, I’ve loved you.” Of all the things I expected her to say, that was the last thing I expected.
I stood still, too still even for my wolf as my eyes scanned her face, looking for every sign that she might be pulling my legs but there was nothing like that.
“Lyra…” “I’m not done.” she continued, cutting me off.
She walked towards me, taking my hand on her own as she placed it on her heart.
The steady beat of her heart was enough for me to know that she wasn’t lying.
“I swear by the moon goddess, I no longer have any business with Kade.
Everything my father said was a ploy to draw us away from each other…
Please, you have to believe me.” I hated that Ronan had kept her in this situation where she had to second guess herself.
It was a selfish thing to do but when it came to pack matters, nothing was fair.
“Lyra…
why are you talking this way?
What’s going on?
This can’t be just about Ronan and those baseless accusations he made earlier.” There was something else on her mind, something that weighed her down even more deeper than what we were currently discussing.
I could see it there, heavy in her eyes.
“Just tell me you believe me.” she mummured.
I was one of the most revered Alpha’s in all kingdoms, feared among even other Alpha’s but standing there, looking at the woman I had fallen for, I was completely short of words.
Everything in my head was so messed up at the fact that Ronan and his entire household had conditioned her this way.
They had made her this cowering, shaking mess.
My hands fisted and all that was running within me then and there was the fact that I wanted to smash something or better still, Alpha Ronan’s face.
“I believe you.” As soon as I said that, relief flooded her face, like she had been waiting for those exact words.
I could see it in the small smile that lifted the side of her mouth in such a way that made her even more beautiful.
“Then you will have no problems in answering my next question.” My heart skipped a beat and even though I hated this suspense, I knew it was much better to get it out of the way for now.
“Did you know my mother?” I took a step back, my wolf growling within me at the sudden question because we both knew the answer to that.
“Lyra…” “Did you know my mother?” As I stood there, staring at the woman that had captivated my heart, I knew the worst thing I could ever do at that point was to lie to her.
She deserved the truth and I was going to give it to her no matter what happened next.
“Yes but a long time ago, before you were born.” “How?
How did you know her?” she whispered.
“She…
she saved my life once and I made a promise to her.” I still wasn’t saying everything because I wanted to protect her, that was one promise I made to her mother.
What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her but with the constant pressure of wanting to keep her happy, I knew I needed to be open with her.
“You aren’t saying everything, tell me the truth Darius.
What happened to my mother?
What is that one thing you are keeping from me?” This time around, I closed the gap between us, taking her into my arms as i planted a kiss on her lips.
She struggled, attempting to free herself from my grasp but I held on until she finally melted into the kiss, her lips warm on mine in such a way I would never forget.
“What are you not telling me?” she asked as soon as we broke the kiss.
“Lyra…
there are things better left unsaid.
For your sake and your safety, please don’t push this.” She walked away from me, putting a much wider space between us.
I couldn’t read her mind which infuriated me more than I wanted to admit.
“Please Lyra, you need to believe me.” With one final look at me, she walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her, gone like she was never there.
Ho!
Ho!
I know…
suspense and romance…
My dear lovely readers, what do you think Lyra has on her mind and what do you think Darius is going to do next?
One thing I know is that the stakes just became higher and your favorite characters are just getting started.