~1,000 words | Dark tension, jealousy, slow-burn heat
The door clicked shut behind Kael, and the silence that followed felt wrong.
Too heavy.
Too cold.
Too full of the echo of his last words:
"I always come back to what the moon binds to me."
Lyra pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart thudding far too fast. She didn't know if the reaction was fear, confusion… or something she refused to name.
She paced the room.
Minutes crawled.
The moon outside dimmed behind fast-moving clouds, and the walls seemed to hum with energy—magic she didn't understand but could feel pulsing under her skin.
Then—
A soft knock.
Lyra froze.
"Lyra?" Marwen's gentle voice slipped through the wood. "Child, it's only me."
Lyra exhaled shakily with relief and opened the door.
Marwen stepped inside with a tray of warm broth and herbs.
"You should eat. Stress drains a Seer faster than wounds."
Lyra sat, though her appetite was gone.
"What exactly are Seers? Kael explained… but not everything."
Marwen smiled sadly.
"That man never explains everything. He carries his truths like armor."
Lyra looked down. "He doesn't trust me?"
"He does," Marwen said firmly. "More than he wants to. That's the problem."
Before Lyra could ask what she meant, quick footsteps echoed down the hall.
The door burst open without a knock.
A beautiful woman with long black hair and amber eyes strode inside, her face twisted with fury.
Lyra instinctively rose, heart pounding.
Marwen groaned under her breath. "Not now…"
The woman's gaze snapped to Lyra, sharp as claws.
"So it's true," she hissed. "The Alpha brought a human into our home."
Lyra swallowed. "Kael said—"
"Kael?" the woman snarled, stalking closer. "You call him Kael?"
Lyra stepped back.
Marwen moved between them. "Lysa, leave her be."
Lysa ignored her.
"Do you know who I am, little girl?"
Lyra shook her head, throat tight.
"I am Lysa Thornclaw," she declared. "Beta female. The one who stands at Kael's side. The one everyone thought he'd choose as mate."
Lyra froze.
Mate?
The word hit her like ice.
Lysa's lips curled in a cruel smile.
"But then you arrived. A fragile human with glowing skin and big, scared eyes. And the Alpha suddenly smells like obsession."
Lyra's stomach twisted.
"That's not— we're not— I didn't ask to be brought here."
"Exactly," Lysa sneered. "You don't belong here. You never will."
Marwen stepped forward sharply. "Enough, Lysa!"
But Lysa wasn't done.
She leaned in until Lyra could feel her heated wolf breath on her cheek.
"The others whisper that Kael watches you. That his heartbeat changes when you're near. That the Oath binds him to you."
Lyra felt her chest cave in.
"I didn't choose this."
"Doesn't matter." Lysa's voice dripped venom. "If you stay, you'll get him killed."
Lyra's breath hitched—because deep down, she feared that might be true.
Footsteps thundered down the corridor.
Heavy.
Angry.
The temperature seemed to drop.
And then Kael appeared.
His eyes went straight to Lyra first—silver, sharp, assessing.
When he saw Lysa inches from her, his jaw clenched with lethal fury.
"Lysa."
His voice was soft.
Too soft.
Lysa immediately straightened. "Alpha, I only—"
"You entered her room without permission."
His words were low growls.
"You raised your voice at her."
Lysa's eyes widened. "I only came to warn you! She is breaking the pack's order—"
Kael stepped into the room with the quiet threat of a storm.
"Get. Out."
Lysa flinched, lips parting in shock.
"Kael—"
"Out," he snarled.
The air rippled with power, shadows bending toward him like he commanded the darkness itself.
Lysa stumbled back, hatred burning in her eyes as they flicked to Lyra.
"This isn't over," she hissed before storming out.
Marwen sighed and followed her, muttering about foolish wolves.
Leaving Lyra alone with Kael.
And the anger still vibrating through his body.
Kael shut the door behind him, his breath rough, shoulders tense.
"She touched you?"
"N-No. She just yelled at me."
His eyes flashed silver. "I heard it."
"You heard…?" Lyra whispered.
"Your heartbeat," Kael said slowly. "It spiked. You were scared."
Lyra bit her lip.
"I didn't want trouble."
"You won't have trouble," he said firmly. "Not while I breathe."
He stepped closer, lifting her chin gently with two fingers.
"Do not let anyone here make you feel small."
"But they hate me."
"They fear you."
He leaned closer, his voice a soft growl against her skin.
"They feel the bond even if they don't understand it."
Lyra's breath trembled.
"Kael… is Lysa really supposed to be your mate?"
Kael stilled.
His hand dropped.
His jaw tightened as he turned away.
"No."
Lyra's heartbeat thudded painfully.
"But the pack thinks—"
Kael's head snapped toward her, eyes blazing.
"My wolf has never answered to anyone."
His voice was cold and honest.
"And it didn't choose her."
Lyra's lips parted.
"Then who…?"
Kael looked at her then—really looked at her—with an expression she couldn't read.
Something hungry.
Something tormented.
Something forbidden.
"I shouldn't want to answer that," he murmured.
"Why?"
"Because every truth I give you pulls you deeper into my world… and closer to my death."
Lyra's breath caught.
"Kael—"
He stepped back suddenly, shutting down whatever emotion was slipping through.
"The Darkfangs are moving again," he said. "Tomorrow I'll train you. You need to defend yourself."
Lyra's heart raced.
"Train me? To fight?"
"To survive," he corrected.
"To survive… and to stay alive long enough to break this curse."
His gaze softened just barely.
"Get some rest, Lyra."
And for the first time,
he said her name like a vow.
Then he left—the door shutting softly behind him, leaving her alone with confusion, fear…
…and the sinking realization that she was falling for someone fate had broken long before she arrived.