The night air was cool, brushing against my skin as I stood on the balcony outside my chambers. From this height, I could see almost the entire pack grounds bathed in silver moonlight. Yet, no matter how serene it looked, my thoughts were far from calm. Lyra's presence lingered in every corner of my mind—her laugh, her stubbornness, the way her scent made the beast inside me restless.
She had a hold on me I couldn't shake, and that terrified me more than any enemy.
My wolf growled low inside me. Stop fighting it. She's ours. She's the only one who can tame this storm inside.
I clenched the railing, jaw tight. "You think it's that simple?" I muttered under my breath.
It is, my wolf insisted. You're just afraid of losing control. But haven't you already lost it to her?
Before I could reply, the sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I turned and saw her—Lyra. She was in a simple dress, hair loose around her shoulders, her eyes catching the faint glow of the moon. She looked… otherworldly.
"You're brooding again," she said softly, a hint of teasing in her voice, though her expression was unreadable.
I forced a smirk. "And you're sneaking around the Alpha's balcony in the middle of the night. Not very proper of you, is it?"
She shrugged lightly, stepping closer. "Proper has never been my strong suit."
The space between us seemed to shrink with every breath. My heart pounded harder, my wolf pressing forward, urging me to close the distance. But I stood frozen, battling the dangerous temptation she ignited in me.
"Why are you here, Lyra?" I asked, my voice lower than I intended.
She hesitated for a moment, then lifted her gaze to mine. "Because I can't sleep. Not when I feel you shutting me out."
Her honesty cut deeper than I expected. She always had that effect—tearing down the walls I'd spent years building.
"Maybe it's safer if you keep your distance," I said, though my body betrayed me, leaning slightly closer to her.
"Or maybe," she whispered, her voice trembling but bold, "it's time you stop running from what's right in front of you."
Her hand brushed mine on the railing, a spark rushing through me so fierce I nearly lost my composure. The air between us thickened, charged, as if the moon itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would happen next.
I moved closer, close enough to catch the warmth of her skin. Her lips parted slightly, and I swore the world tilted.
And then—just as I leaned in—the ground trembled. A distant howl ripped through the night, sharp and urgent.
Both of us froze. The tension of the moment shattered, replaced by something darker. Danger.
I narrowed my eyes at the treeline beyond the pack grounds. "That wasn't one of ours," I muttered.
Lyra's face paled, her hand gripping my arm instinctively. "Then who was it?"
I didn't answer. Because deep down, I already knew.
And whoever it was, they had come for us.