Lyra's POV
Fate was supposed to be kind. That's what everyone always said.
As the daughter of an influential family in the Moonstone Pack, I had been told since childhood that I was special. My parents believed that the Moon Goddess had blessed me with a great destiny, a life filled with love, power, and happiness. And according to them, that life would be with Killian.
Killian, the strong, handsome Alpha of our pack. The man who was supposed to be my fated mate. The man I was destined to marry.
But fate had never asked me what I wanted.
Because if it had, it would've known that my heart never beat for Killian. It had always belonged to Stefan.
I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, my wedding dress shimmering under the candlelight. The delicate silver embroidery curled like vines along the soft fabric, the lace sleeves clinging to my arms. I looked like the perfect Luna-to-be. Elegant. Beautiful. Ready for the life ahead of me.
But inside, I was drowning.
"Lyra," Mia's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You look breathtaking."
I turned to face her. My best friend stood behind me, her green eyes gleaming as she adjusted the small silver hairpin in my dark curls.
Mia had always been stunning, tall, confident, with golden-brown hair that shined in the light. She was my closest friend, my sister in all but blood. And yet, today, something about her gaze unsettled me.
"Are you ready?" she asked softly, tilting her head.
No. I wanted to scream no.
I wanted to rip off this dress and run far away. Away from the expectations. Away from the marriage that felt like a trap. Away from the man who, despite his perfect smile, sent shivers of fear down my spine.
Instead, I forced a smile. "Of course. This is what I was meant for."
Mia's lips curved slightly. "Yes, it is."
Her words should have been comforting. Instead, they felt like a door locking shut.
A sudden knock echoed through the room. "Lyra?"
My heart jumped at the sound of his voice.
Stefan.
Mia's expression darkened for a split second before she turned toward the door. "You shouldn't be here, Stefan. It's bad luck for the bride to see another man before the wedding."
"I need to talk to her," he insisted, his deep voice filled with urgency.
Mia hesitated, then glanced at me. I nodded, and with a sigh, she stepped aside, allowing Stefan to enter.
The moment he walked in, the air in the room shifted.
Stefan wasn't as large as Killian, but he was just as strong. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his stormy blue eyes filled with something that made my heart ache. He wasn't just my mate's beta. He was my first love.
And right now, he looked like a man about to lose everything.
"Lyra," he breathed, stepping closer. "You don't have to do this."
My fingers curled around the fabric of my dress. "Stefan, "
"You don't love him." His voice was quiet but firm. "You love me. You've always loved me. Tell me I'm wrong."
I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come out. Because he was right.
But fate didn't care about love.
"Stefan," I whispered, my throat tight. "It doesn't matter."
His jaw clenched. "It does."
He reached out, his rough, warm hand cupping my cheek. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I leaned into his touch.
For a moment, I imagined a different world. A world where I could choose him. Where we could run away together, free from all the expectations placed upon me.
But that world didn't exist.
I pulled away.
"Stefan, I can't." My voice cracked, but I forced myself to stand tall. "Killian is my fated mate. The Moon Goddess chose him for me."
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "Did the Moon Goddess ask you if that's what you wanted?"
Silence.
Stefan shook his head. "You're making a mistake, Lyra. He's not who you think he is."
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
He hesitated, his gaze flickering to Mia, who was watching us like a hawk. Then, he took a deep breath. "Just… promise me something."
"What?"
"If you ever realize that you need me," Stefan said softly, his voice almost breaking, "I'll be there. No matter what."
My heart shattered at his words.
I wanted to tell him the truth. That I already needed him. That I would always love him.
But instead, I nodded.
Stefan gave me one last, lingering look before stepping back. "Goodbye, Lyra."
Then, he was gone.
Mia let out a low sigh. "You're doing the right thing," she murmured.
I forced a smile. "Of course."
But deep inside, I wasn't so sure anymore.
The wedding was a grand affair.
Hundreds of pack members filled the ceremonial grounds, dressed in their finest attire. White flowers lined the path leading to the altar, their scent mixing with the crisp evening air.
Killian stood at the end of the aisle, dressed in royal blue and silver. His golden eyes locked onto mine as I walked toward him, his lips curling into a charming smile.
To everyone watching, he was the perfect alpha, strong, kind, and powerful.
To me, he was a stranger.
Stefan was nowhere in sight.
With each step, my heart screamed at me to turn back. To run.
But I didn't.
I reached the altar, my hands trembling as Killian took them in his. His grip was firm. Almost too firm.
I glanced up, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes. Something dark.
But then, he smiled again, and the moment was gone.
The elder began the ceremony. Words of unity. Of fate. Of destiny.
Then came the vows.
Killian spoke his first, his voice smooth and confident. He vowed to cherish me, to protect me, to love me for all eternity.
And then, it was my turn.
My hands trembled as I opened my mouth. The words felt like poison on my tongue.
"I, Lyra, take you, Killian…"
My chest tightened.
To be my mate.
To be my alpha.
To be the man I would spend the rest of my life with.
I glanced at the crowd, searching for him.
But Stefan was gone.
And with a final breath, I whispered the words that sealed my fate.
"…until death do us part."
And I never realized how soon that death would come.
Chapter Two
Lyra's POV
The moment the ceremony ended, the weight of my decision pressed down on me like a heavy stone.
I was now Lyra, Luna of the Moonstone Pack.
The title sounded grand, powerful. But all I felt was a creeping sense of unease.
Killian's grip on my hand was firm as he led me through the crowd, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He greeted the pack members with a confident smile, his voice deep and reassuring. Everyone adored him, admired him, worshipped him.
But none of them saw what He did.
The glint of possession in his eyes.
The way his grip tightened whenever I shifted slightly, as if he feared I might run.
"Smile, my love," Killian murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "You don't want our pack to think their new Luna is unhappy on her wedding day."
I forced my lips into a smile, even as my stomach twisted.
The reception was extravagant, filled with laughter, music, and endless toasts. Yet, I barely tasted the wine in my glass, barely heard the congratulations whispered around me. My thoughts were consumed by one thing.
Stefan was gone.
He hadn't returned after our conversation. I searched the crowd, my heart aching for a glimpse of him, but he was nowhere to be found.
Had I lost him forever?
"Lyra," Mia's voice pulled me back. She appeared at my side, her eyes sharp as they flickered toward Killian, who was distracted by a conversation with one of the elders.
"You're pale," she whispered. "You need fresh air."
I nodded quickly, grateful for the excuse. "I'll step outside for a moment."
Killian turned toward me, his brow lifting. "Where are you going, my love?"
I swallowed, keeping my voice even. "Just for some air. I won't be long."
His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded. "Don't wander too far."
I barely managed a small smile before slipping away.
The night air was crisp as I stepped onto the balcony, the distant howl of wolves echoing through the darkened forest.
I exhaled shakily, gripping the railing.
I had made my choice. I had spoken my vows. There was no turning back.
So why did it feel like I had just sealed my own fate?
A rustle behind me made my heart jump.
I turned sharply, only to freeze.
Stefan stood in the shadows.
His blue eyes burned with a mix of anger and something else, something raw.
"You left," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind.
"You married him," he said flatly.
Guilt twisted inside me. "I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice, Lyra." His voice was cold now, laced with something unfamiliar. "You just didn't pick me."
Pain sliced through me. "Stefan, please, "
"Don't," he cut me off, stepping forward. "Don't act like this hurts you. You chose Killian. You stood there and vowed to be his. You belong to him now."
I don't want to.
The words clawed at my throat, desperate to escape. But what was the point?
He was right.
Stefan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You know, I came here to warn you."
I frowned. "Warn me?"
His jaw clenched. "Killian isn't the man you think he is."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What do you mean?" I asked slowly.
Stefan hesitated, then stepped closer. "There's something about him, Lyra. Something dark. He's hiding things. I've seen, "
"Lyra."
The sound of his voice sent ice through my veins.
I turned to see Killian standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
Stefan stiffened beside me.
Killian's golden eyes flickered between us before settling on Stefan with a calm that was far more dangerous than anger.
"Is there a reason my beta is speaking privately with my mate on our wedding night?"
His voice was smooth, but I could feel the tension simmering beneath it.
Stefan straightened. "I was only offering my congratulations," he said evenly.
Killian's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "How thoughtful."
A silent battle raged between them.
I felt caught in the middle, my heart pounding against my ribs.
"Lyra," Killian finally said, his tone gentle but firm, "come inside."
I hesitated. Just for a second.
But Killian saw it.
His fingers twitched at his side, and something dangerous flickered in his gaze.
I swallowed and stepped toward him.
Stefan's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. But he said nothing.
Killian wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. His grip was tight.
"Enjoy the rest of the night, Stefan," he murmured before leading me away.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Stefan was still standing there, his face shadowed, his eyes stormy.
And in that moment, I knew, this wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
Chapter 3
The wedding was over. The music had faded, the guests had gone home, and now it was just me and Killian in our new house. I thought this was the start of something beautiful. But something changed.
At first, it was small. A look, a word, a missing smile. Killian used to hold my hands everyday. Now, he barely touched me. When I spoke, his answers were short, like he couldn't wait for me to stop talking. I told myself it was nothing. Maybe he was tired. Maybe being Alpha was harder than he thought.
One night, I made his favorite stew, the kind he used to say tasted like home. I set the table, lit a candle, just to make things special. But when Killian walked in, he barely glanced at me.
"You're late," I said softly, trying not to sound upset.
He shrugged. "Had things to do."
"Did you eat?"
"Yeah," he said, sitting down, not even looking at the food.
My heart sank. I had waited all evening for him. I had hoped tonight would be different. But he didn't care.
The days passed, and the distance between us grew. He stopped smiling at me. Stopped talking unless he had to. And then, then came the anger.
It started small. A sharp tone, a glare, a harsh word.
One evening, I asked, "Killian, is something wrong? You've been acting different."
His jaw tightened. "You ask too many questions."
I blinked. "I just, "
"Just drop it, Lyra," he snapped, his eyes cold.
My throat tightened. He had never spoken to me like that before. But I let it go. Maybe he was just stressed.
But it didn't stop. It got worse.
One night, we argued. I don't even remember why. All I remember is his voice, sharp as a knife.
"You're weak," he spat. "A useless Luna. No wonder everyone looks down on you."
His words knocked the air out of me. I had always tried to be perfect, for him, for the pack. But to Killian, I was never enough.
Then, the first time happened.
It wasn't much, just a shove. Just enough to make me stumble back, just enough to make my heart stop.
He looked at me for a second, like he was shocked by his own actions. And then he walked away.
I told myself it was a mistake. A one-time thing. But it wasn't.
Each fight, his anger grew hotter, fiercer. His words burned, his hands hurt. Sometimes a slap, sometimes worse. Each time, I told myself it was my fault. I wasn't good enough. I wasn't the wife he needed.
Then, one day, I felt different. My body was tired, my stomach felt strange. And then, two pink lines.
I was pregnant.
For the first time in months, hope bloomed in my chest. Maybe this would change things. Maybe, with a baby on the way, Killian would soften. Maybe he would love me again.
So, that evening, I waited for him by the door, my hands shaking with excitement. When he walked in, I ran to him, holding up the test.
"Killian," I breathed. "We're having a baby!"
He stared at the test, his face unreadable. Then, he scoffed. "And?"
I felt the air leave my lungs. "And… and it's our baby. I thought you'd be happy."
He scoffed again, walking past me. "We'll see if it even survives."
His words crushed me. But I refused to cry. I told myself he just needed time. He'd come around.
But he didn't.
The violence got worse. And one night, one awful, terrible night, it happened.
A cruel fight. A shove too hard. Pain that ripped through me like fire.
And then, just silence like that.
I lost the baby.
I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling empty. Like a hollow shell of the person I used to be.
And then, when I thought I had nothing left to lose, I found out the truth.
Killian wasn't just cruel. He was unfaithful.
With Mia.
Mia. My best friend. The one person I had trusted with everything. The one who knew all my secrets, my dreams, my fears. The one who had smiled at me on my wedding day, pretending to be happy for me.
And all this time, she had been sneaking behind my back. Taking what little I had left.
The moment I found out, it felt like the whole world stopped. My hands shook as I held the letter I had found in Killian's study. Mia's handwriting, soft and flowery, filled with words that made my stomach turn.
"I miss you. Last night wasn't enough. When will she finally leave so we can be together?"
I couldn't breathe. My vision blurred. The room spun.
All this time, I had fought so hard to be the perfect wife, the perfect Luna. And for what?
A man who never loved me. A friend who had betrayed me.
I sank to the floor, my hands clutching my stomach, the place where my baby had been. The pain swallowed me whole.
But then, something inside me shifted.
I wasn't just sad.
I was angry.
Furious.
I had given everything to Killian. I had trusted Mia with my whole heart. And they had destroyed me.
But I wasn't going to stay broken.
No.
This wasn't the end of my story.
It was just the beginning.
Chapter Four
Lyra's POV
It started with the tea.
Mia brought it one morning, a steaming cup in a pale porcelain mug, decorated with tiny moonflowers. She smiled like everything was fine, like she wasn't sleeping with my husband.
"I thought you might need something warm," she said, setting it on the side table near my bed. "You've been so pale lately."
I hesitated. My throat was dry, and my body still ached from the fall that had taken my baby. I wanted to tell her to leave. I wanted to scream.
But I didn't.
I just nodded. "Thanks."
She sat down beside me, her long fingers brushing imaginary dust from my blanket. "You should rest, Lyra. Heal. We all care about you."
We.
As in she and Killian?
I took a slow sip of the tea. It was sweet. Too sweet. The kind of sweetness that masks something bitter.
Mia watched me closely.
"You know," she began, her voice syrupy, "everyone's been talking. Worried about you. The Luna hasn't left the house in days. They think it's weakness."
I stared at her. "I just lost my child."
She tilted her head. "And you'll get through it. You're stronger than you think."
That was when I knew.
She didn't come to comfort me. She came to measure how broken I was.
And I played right into her hands.
The days blurred.
I started sleeping longer, waking up groggy and disoriented. I'd forget what I was doing mid-thought. My limbs felt heavy, like my bones were dipped in lead. Everything I ate tasted like ash.
Killian didn't seem to notice, or care. He came and went as he pleased, never looking at me for more than a second.
Once, I found blonde hair on his coat.
Mia's shade. Not mine.
I stopped drinking the tea. Poured it out the window when Mia wasn't looking. But the damage had already begun. Something was changing in me.
And the dreams, gods, the dreams.
Every night, I saw her.
A woman cloaked in moonlight, her hair long and glowing silver, eyes like twin galaxies. She stood in the woods, always just out of reach.
"Lyra," she'd whisper, her voice like wind through leaves. "You were never meant to be his."
I'd wake up breathless, heart pounding, the words echoing in my skull.
It was the fifth day of those dreams when I finally decided to leave the house.
I needed to breathe. I needed space. I needed something that didn't taste like betrayal and poison.
The woods behind the pack house had always been my escape. A place where no one asked anything of me.
I slipped out quietly, unnoticed. Killian was gone. Probably with her.
The air was cold but crisp. Clean. I inhaled deeply, letting the scent of pine and earth fill my lungs. My head still spun faintly, but for the first time in days, I felt like I could think.
Until I heard the growl.
Low. Warning.
I froze.
A flash of black fur blurred past me in the shadows. A wolf, not from our pack. Bigger. Wilder. Its eyes were glowing red.
Rogue.
My heart stuttered.
I stepped back, stumbling against a root.
Another growl, closer.
I turned to run, and slammed into a body.
Strong arms caught me. My breath hitched.
"Easy," a familiar voice said.
Stefan.
His scent hit me first, cedarwood and smoke. His face was harder now, colder, like the time away had carved away the softness.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, eyes scanning the shadows behind me.
"There was a rogue," I panted. "I, I came out to get air and, "
"You're not safe," he muttered, grabbing my hand. "Come on."
He didn't ask if I wanted to go with him. He just pulled me along, fast and sure, until we reached the edge of the woods.
When we stopped, I realized we were behind the old training grounds, one we used to sneak off to when we were younger. It hadn't changed. The same stone bench, the same rusted targets.
I dropped onto the bench, gasping.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked quietly.
He didn't answer right away.
"You're sick," he said instead, crouching in front of me. "I can smell it on you. Whatever's happening to you, it's not just grief. It's deeper."
I swallowed hard. "You think someone's, ?"
"Poisoning you?" He looked me dead in the eyes. "Yeah. I do."
My blood ran cold.
"You have to leave the pack, Lyra. Tonight. Come with me. I'll protect you."
His voice was urgent. Desperate. Like he already knew time was running out.
I opened my mouth, and felt a sharp pain spike through my skull.
My vision blurred. The trees tilted.
"Lyra?" Stefan's voice sounded far away. Muffled.
I clutched my head, falling to my knees.
Light exploded behind my eyes. And then, everything went black.
I woke up to soft whispers.
"Not yet," a voice said. Feminine. Powerful.
"She's still bound by the old threads."
My eyes fluttered open, but I wasn't in the woods anymore. I wasn't even in the world I knew.
I was lying on a bed of moss, stars glittering overhead, though no sky framed them. Just darkness and pinpricks of light.
The woman from my dreams stood over me.
"I'm sorry, child," she said softly. "You were meant for more than this."
"Who are you?" I croaked.
She smiled, and the world shimmered around her. "I am the beginning. The end. And the chance you never got."
The Moon Goddess.
She reached out, pressing two fingers to my forehead. A warmth spread through me, peeling back the pain, the poison, the fear.
"But you must decide," she whispered. "Soon."
The stars pulsed once, twice.
Then everything went dark again
Chapter Five
Lyra's POV
The world was quiet when I opened my eyes.
Too quiet.
No rustling trees. No voices. Just a soft hum in the air, like silence was holding its breath.
I was back in my room. My real room. The familiar scent of lavender and smoke clung to the sheets. But something was off.
The walls seemed darker. The air heavier.
I sat up slowly, my muscles sore, my head pounding like I'd been hit by lightning.
Maybe I had.
I remembered the woods. The rogue. Stefan's voice. Then the collapse, and the woman.
The Moon Goddess.
Her voice echoed in my mind like a prayer.
You must decide.
But decide what?
My fingers brushed my forehead, half expecting to feel a mark. There was nothing. Just sweat.
A creak pulled my attention to the doorway.
Mia.
She stood frozen in the frame, her hand still on the knob, as if she hadn't expected me to be awake.
"Oh," she breathed. "You're… up."
I didn't answer.
Her eyes flickered, nervous. Watching me like a snake sizing up prey. She walked in slowly, carrying a tray.
"Breakfast," she said sweetly. "You fainted yesterday. The healers said you were dehydrated."
I eyed the cup.
More tea.
This time, I didn't hide my suspicion. "What's in it?"
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
"The tea. What's in it, Mia?"
She blinked. "Just herbs. Calming ones. For your nerves."
My lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I'll pass."
She hesitated. Then set the tray down, her expression slipping for a fraction of a second.
"You've changed," she said quietly. "You're… different."
I met her gaze. "Maybe I finally woke up."
She looked like she wanted to argue, but instead, she forced a small laugh. "Well, I'll be downstairs if you need me."
She walked out fast, too fast.
The door clicked shut behind her.
I waited ten minutes before climbing out of bed.
My legs trembled, but I didn't care. I was done lying still while my life fell apart.
I slipped out of my room and made my way down the hall, staying close to the shadows. If Mia really was behind what happened to me, and the baby, then I needed to know more.
The house was quiet. Empty.
Killian was likely off doing Alpha things, or sleeping in her bed.
I found her room easily. Same place it had always been since we were kids, across from mine.
Her scent hit me before I opened the door, roses and deceit.
I stepped inside.
Everything was spotless. Perfect.
Too perfect.
I began searching. Slowly, methodically. Drawers, under the bed, behind the books. Nothing at first.
Then I found it, beneath a false bottom in her jewelry box.
A small black pouch. Tied tight with silver string.
Inside: dried herbs, a feather stained with something dark, a crystal pulsing faintly with light.
Witchcraft.
Illegal in our pack. Deadly if used wrong.
And next to it, a folded piece of parchment.
I unfolded it with shaking hands.
A spell.
Not just any spell, a binding spell. Designed to weaken someone's spirit. Make them vulnerable. Fog their mind.
There was a name scribbled across the top.
Mine.
My throat tightened.
She hadn't just slept with my husband.
She'd been breaking me. Slowly. From the inside out.
I was still staring at the spell when I heard the voice behind me.
"You shouldn't be here."
I spun around.
Killian.
His golden eyes gleamed like a predator who just caught a deer in his trap.
My hand tightened around the spell, hiding it behind my back.
"I was just, looking for Mia," I lied.
"In her jewelry box?" he asked coolly.
I tried to step past him, but he grabbed my wrist.
His grip wasn't tight, not yet, but the warning was there.
"I don't know what's going on with you lately," he murmured, "but I suggest you remember your place."
I looked up at him, and for the first time, I wasn't afraid.
"You first," I whispered.
Something flickered in his eyes, uncertainty. Just for a second.
Then I tore my arm free and walked past him, my heart racing.
I didn't go back to my room.
I went straight to Stefan.
He lived near the training grounds, in a small stone cottage with ivy climbing the sides. It used to be his parents' house, now it was his sanctuary.
I knocked twice.
The door opened fast.
He looked like he hadn't slept. His eyes locked on mine instantly.
"You're okay," he said, stepping aside.
I walked in.
I didn't speak. I just held out the spell.
His jaw clenched as he read it.
"Mia," he said quietly.
"She's been poisoning me. Binding me. I think she's working with someone else."
"Killian."
I nodded.
He exhaled sharply, then looked at me with something raw in his expression.
"You have to leave," he said. "Tonight."
"I'm not running."
He grabbed my hands. "Lyra, they're not going to stop. You're a threat now. You were never supposed to wake up."
I pulled away gently. "I'm not leaving without a plan. If I go now, they'll come after me, and the pack will believe whatever lies Killian tells."
He stared at me. "Then what do you want to do?"
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I want to expose them. I want the truth out. And I want to burn every lie they built around me."
His lips twitched. "Now that's the Lyra I remember."
For the first time in weeks, I smiled.
But it was short-lived.
Because the moment we sat down, the fire in his hearth flared, high, white-hot, and unnatural.
A voice filled the room. Not spoken. Echoed in our minds.
"The threads have begun to fray. Choose wisely, child. Time does not wait."
The fire died as quickly as it rose.
Stefan and I sat frozen.
"What the hell was that?" he breathed.
I looked down at my hands, trembling slightly.
And whispered, "The Moon Goddess."