LYRA
The air crackled with tension, every sound amplified in the thick silence that stretched between us. Sage stood there, her delicate features twisted into a smirk that made my blood boil. Behind her, Ronan loomed like a shadow, his face a mask of contempt.
I glanced at Caspian, hoping he would say something—anything—to defuse the situation. But his silence gnawed at me, a cold knife twisting deeper into my chest.
Sage took a slow step forward, her arms crossed over her chest. Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "I almost feel sorry for you, Lyra," she said, her voice dripping with false pity. "But you had to know this little game of yours wouldn’t last."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, my voice sharp and trembling.
Her smirk widened, and she tilted her head, as if savoring the moment. "I’m talking about Caspian, of course. About how you thought you could keep him to yourself." She placed a hand on her stomach, her gaze never leaving mine. "But it seems he’s already made his choice."
The world tilted as her words sank in. My eyes darted to Caspian, searching his face for denial, for reassurance. Instead, he froze, his jaw tightening as his gaze dropped to the ground.
"What does she mean?" My voice cracked, and I hated how desperate I sounded.
Sage laughed softly, the sound grating against my ears. "Oh, poor Lyra. Always so naive. Caspian and I… well, let’s just say we’ve been closer than you’d like to believe. And now…" She paused, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. "Now, I’m carrying his child."
"No." The word came out as a whisper, trembling with disbelief. "You’re lying."
"Am I?" Sage shot back, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Ask him yourself."
I turned to Caspian, my chest heaving as I fought to keep the tears at bay. "Caspian," I said, my voice breaking. "Tell me she’s lying. Please."
He lifted his head slowly, his eyes filled with anguish. "Lyra…"
The way he said my name, filled with regret and guilt, shattered the last fragile hope I had. My wolf, Astra, snarled in my mind, her fury a wild storm of betrayal and heartbreak.
"You knew," I whispered, my voice trembling. "You knew this whole time, and you didn’t say anything. You let me believe we had a future."
"It wasn’t supposed to happen," Caspian said, his voice rough. "It was a mistake, Lyra. A mistake I regret every day."
"A mistake?" Sage hissed, her expression twisting into anger. "Is that what you call it now, Caspian? Don’t forget, I’m the one carrying your pup."
"Enough," Ronan barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. His hazel eyes burned with disgust as he turned to me. "You’re pathetic, Lyra. Running away in the dead of night, trying to drag Caspian into your foolishness. Did you really think you could escape your duty to this pack?"
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "I didn’t ask for this," I said, my voice shaking. "I never wanted to be your pawn."
"And now, you’ve proven you don’t deserve even that," Ronan spat. "From this moment on, you are no longer my sister. You are no longer part of this pack. You’re nothing, Lyra."
The finality of his words hit me like a blow. My knees felt weak, but I refused to crumble in front of them. Astra growled fiercely, her presence the only thing keeping me upright.
"You can’t do this," I said, my voice low but steady. "You may think you’ve won, but I won’t let you break me."
Sage laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "Oh, Lyra. You’re already broken."
I turned to Caspian one last time, the man who had once been my anchor, my sanctuary. "Was any of it real?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He flinched, his eyes dark with pain. "It was real, Lyra. I swear it."
"Then why?" I choked out. "Why did you betray me?"
Before he could answer, Ronan stepped forward, his voice a growl. "Enough of this. If you don’t want to marry Alpha Matias, then you better stay out of sight before we think of another way to eliminate you. Leave, Lyra. You’re no longer welcome in this pack."
For a moment, the world stood still. The forest around us seemed to hold its breath, the night heavy with unspoken words.
I took a step back, my hands clenched into fists. My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, but I refused to let them see my tears. Astra stirred within me, her voice cold and steady. We don’t need them. We never did.
Without another word, I turned and ran, the sound of my heartbeat drowning out everything else. The forest closed in around me, the trees blurring into a haze of darkness. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stay.
As the moonlight pierced through the canopy, I felt a surge of power rise within me. Astra’s voice was strong in my mind. This isn’t the end, Lyra. This is just the beginning.
And deep in my heart, I knew she was right. But as the shadows grew darker, one thought consumed me: I would never forgive them.
Not Caspian.
Not Sage.
Not Ronan.
The howl that tore from my throat echoed through the night, a promise to myself and to the world. They would regret underestimating me.
They all would.
