đș CHAPTER TEN â The Alpha's Wound
The moment they crossed the threshold into the lodge, Lyra felt Kael's strength falter.
His steps slowed. His breaths became shallow. Blood soaked the side of his shirt from the bite on his shoulder, dark crimson dripping down his arm. He tried to hide itâhe always triedâbut the Moonblood glow made the wound look worse, shadows clinging to the edges like poison.
"Sit down," Lyra said urgently, guiding him toward the long wooden bench.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
But when he tried to take another step, his knees buckled.
Lyra caught him before he hit the floor, panic rising like a tidal wave.
"Kael!"
She eased him onto the bench, her hands trembling. "You're not fineâthere was something wrong with that bite. It wasn't a normal wolf wound."
Kael gritted his teeth, sweat beading along his forehead.
"That Darkfang was corruptedâŠ" He winced. "Moonblood venom. It slows healing. Weakens my wolf."
Lyra's stomach twisted. "How do we fix it?"
Kael looked awayâtoo quickly.
"Kael," she whispered, voice shaking. "Tell me."
His jaw clenched.
"It has to be purified."
"That's goodâhow?"
He finally met her eyes, silver glowing faintly.
"The Seer. Only a Seer can pull venom from a living Alpha."
A chill raced through her.
"You mean⊠me?"
Kael nodded once.
"Yes. But it's dangerous. The venom will fight you. It might attack your powerâyour mind."
Lyra swallowed hard. "What happens if we don't try?"
Kael exhaled, slow and controlled.
"I shift."
He paused.
"And I don't shift back."
She stared at him, heart sinking.
The idea of Kael trapped in his wolf form, lost to madness, tore something inside her open.
"No," she said fiercely. "I won't let that happen."
He gave her a tired, broken smile.
"You're getting brave on me."
Lyra knelt in front of him, placing her hands gently on his wounded shoulder. The skin around the bite pulsed with sickly red veins, spreading slowly across Kael's chest.
"Tell me what to do," she said.
Kael inhaled sharply as her fingers brushed his skin.
"The Oath will guide you. Focus on the markâfocus on me. You have to pull the venom out and burn it with your power."
His voice weakened, growing more strained.
"Lyra⊠hurry."
She closed her eyes.
Her mark flared instantly, reacting to Kael's pain.
Silver light crawled up her arm, warm at firstâthen blistering hot. She gasped but didn't let go.
She reached inward, letting the Oath show her Kael's energy.
Suddenly she saw itâ
like two colors inside him:
⥠silver â Kael
⥠black-red â the venom
They were tangled together, fighting.
Hurting him.
Lyra pushed her power toward the venom.
It recoiled, hissing like something alive.
Kael arched in pain.
"Lyraâ" he gasped. "Don't stop."
She forced more energy into the wound.
The venom surged toward her hand, burning cold, stabbing up her arm like ice needles. Lyra cried out but held on tighter.
Kael's hand shot up, grabbing hers, squeezing hard. His eyes glowed wolf-bright, jaw clenched as he tried not to shift.
She pushed harder.
The venom started tearing free from his veins, threads of darkness pulling outward, wrapping around her wrist like smoke.
Lyra screamedâbut she didn't let go.
Kael pulled her closer, pressing his forehead against hers, voice a desperate whisper:
"Stay with me⊠please."
His plea gave her the strength she needed.
With a final surge of silver light, Lyra ripped the venom free. It burst into the air like a cloud of black mistâ
âand she burned it with a flash of pure Seer power.
The room fell silent.
Kael collapsed forward, breathing hard, sweat dripping from his brow. Lyra caught him, pulling him into her arms, tears streaming down her face.
His wound closed before her eyes.
"Kael?" she whispered, shaking.
He looked up at her slowly⊠then gave a soft, exhausted smile.
"You did it," he murmured. "You saved me."
Lyra let out a sob of relief, resting her forehead against his.
But before she could speakâ
He gently cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a tear.
"LyraâŠ" His voice was soft, raw.
"You can't imagine what it does to me when I think I might lose you."
She went still.
The Oath pulsed between themâslow, deep⊠intimate.
Kael swallowed, eyes locked on hers.
"This bond⊠it's changing. I can feel it. And I don't know if it's the Moonblood⊠or you."
Lyra's heart pounded.
But before she could answer, a knock slammed against the door.
"Alpha! The Council is here. They demand to speak about the Seerânow."
Kael stiffened.
Lyra's breath caught.
The Council.
The prophecy.
And the vision of Kael dying.
Everything was about to change.