LYRA
The full moon was only three nights away, and with each passing hour, the weight of Ronan’s decision pressed harder on my chest. The arranged marriage to Matias was not just a threat to my freedom; it was a death sentence for the life I had quietly built with Caspian. I couldn't let it happen.
Caspian and I met in our usual spot by the old willow tree, deep in the woods where the scent of pine and earth masked our secret rendezvous from prying wolves. The tree’s twisted roots seemed to hold our secrets as tightly as they held the soil. Tonight, the air was thick with urgency—we were out of time.
“We’ll leave the night before the full moon,” Caspian said, pacing in front of me. His broad shoulders were tense, and Kilo, his wolf, was restless beneath the surface. I could feel the ripple of energy in the air. “By the time anyone notices, we’ll be long gone.”
“And then what?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Where will we go?”
Caspian stopped pacing and turned to face me, his dark eyes softening. “Anywhere. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter.”
His words should have reassured me, but the enormity of what we were planning loomed over us like a stormcloud. Leaving the pack wasn’t just running away from an arranged marriage; it was abandoning my ties to the only home I’d ever known. The Red Crescent Pack might have treated me as an outsider, but it was still my pack. My father’s legacy—however tainted—ran through my veins.
Astra growled in the back of my mind, her voice a sharp reprimand. They don’t deserve your loyalty, Lyra. You owe them nothing.
Caspian’s hand brushed against mine, pulling me from my thoughts. “I know it’s a lot to ask,” he said, his voice gentle, “but this is the only way. We can’t fight Ronan, and Matias… he won’t let you go once you’re his.”
I shivered at the thought of Matias Dawnwood. The Silver Howl Alpha was powerful, and his reputation for ruthlessness preceded him. He’d accept the marriage not because of any feelings for me, but because it would cement his control over our struggling pack. To him, I was nothing more than a pawn.
I nodded, steeling myself. “We’ll do it. The night before the full moon.”
Relief flashed across Caspian’s face. He pulled me into his arms, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. His scent—cedar and smoke—wrapped around me like a protective shield.
“I’ll come for you,” he murmured into my hair. “Be ready.”
The days that followed were agonizing. I went through the motions, enduring Sage’s pointed remarks and Ronan’s cold commands, all while counting down the hours until I could escape. Astra paced in my mind, restless and eager to leave, her instincts sharper than ever. She sensed the change in the air, the promise of freedom just out of reach.
On the eve of the full moon, I packed a small bag with the essentials—clothes, a few keepsakes, and a pendant that had belonged to my mother. The rest of the night, I stayed on edge, waiting for the signal from Caspian. Every sound made my heart race, every shadow felt like it held a pair of prying eyes.
Finally, as the moon hung high in the sky, I heard it—a soft howl in the distance. Astra perked up immediately.
It’s time, she said, her voice steady and resolute.
I slipped out of the house, careful not to make a sound. The packhouse was quiet, its usual hum of activity silenced by the late hour. My heart pounded in my chest as I crept through the woods, following the path to the willow tree. The night was alive with the sounds of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves, but my focus was razor-sharp. Caspian was waiting for me.
When I reached the tree, he was already there, his form illuminated by the moonlight. He looked up as I approached, a small smile breaking through his tense expression.
“You made it,” he said, pulling me into a tight embrace.
“Of course,” I replied, my voice muffled against his chest. “I’m ready.”
Caspian pulled back, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Let’s go. The sooner we’re out of here, the better.”
We turned toward the path that would lead us out of the pack’s territory, but a sharp rustling in the bushes made us freeze. Astra’s hackles rose, and Kilo’s presence flared in Caspian’s mind.
“Who’s there?” Caspian growled, his voice low and threatening.
From the shadows, Sage stepped into view, her expression twisted with triumph.
“Going somewhere?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery.
Behind her, Ronan emerged, his face dark with fury. My blood ran cold as the realization sank in. They knew.
“Did you really think you could betray your family and get away with it?” Ronan’s voice was low, deadly.
Astra’s voice was a snarl in my mind: Run. Now.
