Suddenly, Fenris slammed his claws against the carriage brake, sending the bone-wheeled transport lurching to a halt.
Heat-suppressant vials on the dashboard rolled to Lyra's feet.
At some point, Fenris had started keeping heat-dampening medicine in his carriage every day, because Selene's cycles were unpredictable and her scent grew distressed during travel.
In recent years, Selene spent more time with him than Lyra did. So everything around him was prepared for Selene's comfort. There was even moon-sage incense burning in the carriage. Fenris forgot that Lyra was allergic to it—that it made her throat close and her omega instincts spiral into panic.
But none of that mattered anymore. She didn't want him anymore. How he lived had nothing to do with her.
Lyra looked at Fenris quietly, waiting for his answer. For the first time, the Alpha who always wore a mask of gentleness let his true coldness show through. His dominance pressed against her like ice water.
"Lyra, you've been fighting this bond for two years. Do you really want the severance?"
Her answer was firm, despite the way his Alpha voice tried to curl around her spine. "Absolutely."
Fenris suddenly smiled with sarcasm, his fangs catching the light. "Fine. I'll grant your wish."
Soon, Fenris took her to the Council Registry Hall. He presented their bond-marks to the Elder Scribe and emerged quickly from the stone building. Each of them was holding a Moon-Count Notice—the formal acknowledgment that bond severance had been requested.
The Elder Scribe had explained, "There is a thirty-day moon-count waiting period. After thirty days, the bond severance becomes recognized by pack law."
As soon as they walked outside into the territory's central square, Fenris said, "I've already gone through the process with you. Don't keep talking about severance. Even I get tired of hearing it."
Then his communication stone pulsed with Selene's scent-signature. She said she felt unwell. Her illness seemed to be acting up again—the mysterious weakness that had plagued her for years, that no healer could quite explain.
Fenris didn't hesitate to climb into his carriage and drive away. The dust from the bone-wheels snapped Lyra back to reality and made her laugh quietly.
In Fenris's eyes, she was just being emotional—an omega having a tantrum. He thought this bond could never end. But oh, he was so wrong. This severance was something Lyra was determined to get.
To avoid later trouble, Lyra didn't return to their shared den that night. She stayed at a neutral waystation and arranged passage out of New Metro territory for the next day—a border-crossing to Ironcrest, where different laws held sway.
Early the next morning, she went to the territory gate.
As soon as she arrived, she received a message through the pack-link from Fenris: [There's going to be a Moon-Market tonight. Get ready.]
She didn't reply. In thirty minutes, she could board the border caravan. She would finally leave this cruel territory.
Just as she boarded and the caravan was about to depart through the warded gates, the protective barriers suddenly shattered. A group of Pack Guards in black leather rushed in, their wolves half-shifted and snarling.
Fenris then walked in slowly, one clawed hand in his pocket, and stopped in front of Lyra. His Alpha presence flooded the enclosed space, making the other passengers whimper and bare their throats. "Lyra, come home with me. I'll forget what you did today."
Lyra's heart sank. She had underestimated him. She didn't expect him to come directly to the border gate, to make such a public display of dominance.
She said firmly, fighting against the instinct to submit, "Fenris, we are severing our bond. We are in the moon-count period, remember?"
Fenris smiled lightly, raising his eyebrows. "Lyra, you're so naïve. Do you have a severance mark? If not, we are still bound by pack law." He continued, his voice dropping into command register, "Before I get angry, come back with me."
Lyra didn't move. "No."
The caravan became completely silent. No one dared to speak. Even the border guards looked away, unwilling to interfere in what pack law deemed a mate-dispute.
At that moment, Selene walked in. She naturally helped Fenris adjust his rank-collar, her delicate omega fingers lingering on his throat. "Fen, you forgot to wear your Alpha sigil this morning. I brought it for you."
While doing this intimate gesture, she looked at Lyra with clear provocation, her scent deliberately mingling with his in a display of closeness.
Fenris's expression stiffened. He explained, "Selene was sick last night, so I stayed with her in the healer's den. Don't misunderstand."
Lyra showed no reaction at all.
In the past, she would have questioned him. She would have been hurt by the scent of another omega clinging to her mate. But now, she was too tired of it all. She didn't care anymore.
"It doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with me. If Alpha Blackthorn has nothing else to do, please leave the caravan. Don't waste other travelers' time."
Lyra's calm attitude made Fenris's dominance flare with anger. He lowered his voice and threatened her, his Alpha command bleeding through, "Lyra, I heard you're looking for an Elder Advocate to petition for your brother's case."
Lyra's face tightened. She looked up and stared at him.
Seeing her finally react, Fenris smiled faintly. "In New Metro territory, without my permission, no Elder dares to take your petition. No Council member will hear the Stormvale name."
It was clearly midsummer, but Lyra felt like her heart had fallen into an icy pit.
Her body trembled. Tears streamed down her face. "Fenris… are you threatening me?"
Fenris bent down and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, his touch possessive rather than tender. "Lyra, as long as you come home with me obediently, I'll handle your brother's case. I'll speak to the Council myself."
Hearing this, Lyra laughed coldly. Back then, Fenris had said the same thing. He promised to take care of her brother. He said everything was under his control—that his influence with the Pack Council would protect Kael. But things resulted with her brother caged in silver chains, his life and bloodline honor ruined on falsified scent testimony.
She was no longer the Lyra from two years ago. "Fenris, I won't believe a single word you say anymore."
Fenris sneered and turned to Selene behind him. "Spread the word to every Elder and Advocate in New Metro territory. Anyone who dares take the Stormvale bloodline's petition will never survive in this territory again. Their hunting rights will be stripped. Their dens will be seized."
Then he looked back at Lyra. "Lyra, I'm the only person you can trust now. Either come home with me and I'll pretend nothing happened, or keep fighting me."
He added, his Alpha voice wrapping around her like chains, "You choose."
