The guards stared.
Not normal looking. The kind that made Lyra's skin crawl. "Ms. Steele." The bigger guard's nose twitched. "You brought... company."
"My nephew. Family emergency." Lyra kept her voice cold, professional. "Is that a problem?"
"No, ma'am. Just... unexpected."
But his eyes never left Kai. Searching. Confused.
Kai squeezed her hand once. Nervous.
"We're expected," Lyra said firmly. "Alpha Blackwood is waiting."
The guard spoke into his radio, voice low. Listened. Frowned.
"Go ahead. But the boy stays in sight at all times."
"Naturally."
They walked through the door.
Immediately, everything felt wrong.
Pack members in the hallway froze mid-conversation. Heads turned. Whispers started like wildfire.
A woman carrying files actually dropped them, papers spreading everywhere. Her eyes locked on Kai.
"Something's off," she muttered to her partner.
"What do you mean?"
"That child. Can't you feel it?"
The friend stared. "Feel what?"
"I don't know. Just... wrong. But also familiar?"
They weren't alone.
Every wolf they passed responded the same way. Confusion. Unease. That itchy feeling of almost-recognition.
Kai pressed closer to Lyra's side.
A young pack member—maybe nineteen—stumbled backward when Kai looked at him.
"Dude, you okay?" his friend asked.
"His eyes. For a second they were—" He shook his head hard. "Never mind. I'm losing it."
"You look pale."
"Something about that kid makes my wolf nervous."
Lyra's heart beat. The cover was holding, but barely. Kai's nature leaked through despite her best attempts.
They turned a corner.
Three pack fighters blocked the hallway, massive and intimidating. Their boss stepped forward, nostrils flaring.
"Stop."
Lyra stopped. "Problem?"
"You." He pointed at Kai. "Come here, boy."
"No." Lyra stepped between them. "He stays with me."
"I need to verify—"
"Verify what? He's a child."
"A child who smells wrong." The warrior's eyes glowed orange. "Human but not human. What is he?"
Kai's hand trembled in Lyra's grip.
"He's my nephew," Lyra said dangerously. "And if you take one more step toward him, we'll have a problem."
The warrior's lips pulled back, showing teeth. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise."
Shadows flickered at the edges of Lyra's view. Just a hint. Just enough.
All three warriors stepped back, wolves recognizing attacker.
"What are you?" the leader breathed.
"Late for a meeting. Move."
They moved.
Lyra walked past, back straight, heart racing.
"Mama," Kai whispered. "They know something's wrong."
"I know, baby. Just a little further."
But the effects were getting stronger.
An older woman actually gasped when they passed. "Blessed moon. That boy—"
"What about him?" her friend asked.
"He has the Alpha's chin. The exact same—" She blinked hard. "No. That's impossible. I'm seeing things."
They kept going.
Every step felt like marching through enemy country with a target on their backs.
Pack members crowded in doorways, watching. Whispering. Sensing.
A little girl—maybe seven—tugged her mother's sleeve. "Mommy, why does that boy make the air feel funny?"
"Hush, sweetheart."
"But he does! Like ghosts are following him!"
Her mother pulled her away quickly, throwing nervous looks over her shoulder.
Kai's breathing got faster. "Too many people staring."
"I know. Almost there."
They reached the main stairs.
Silas waited at the top, clean as always. His eyes found Kai and something flickered across his face.
Calculation. Recognition. Satisfaction? "Ms. Steele." He fell smoothly. "I wasn't informed you'd bring a guest."
"Last minute situation. I hope it won't be a problem."
"Everything's an issue in this house." His gaze pinned Kai. "What's your name, young man?"
"Kai," her son answered quietly.
"Kai." Silas repeated it slowly, tasting it. "Interesting name. How old are you?"
"Five."
Something flashed in Silas's eyes. Math going. Conclusions forming.
"Five. Precisely five, I imagine." His smile sharpened. "This complicates things, Ms. Steele."
"Does it?"
"Indeed." He leaned closer, voice dropping. "The Alpha's been... restless lately. Unexpected visitors might cause unfortunate reactions."
"Then it's good I'm expected."
"Are you?" His eyebrow raised. "I wonder."
Tension sparked between them.
Kai coughed—small, wet, wrong.
Silas's eyes sharpened. "The boy's sick."
"Family matter."
"Everything's a family matter until it becomes pack business." He straightened. "Follow me. But Ms. Steele? Whatever you're planning, I hope you've thought it through."
"I always do."
"Somehow, I doubt that."
He led them through halls Lyra remembered too well. Past rooms where she'd lived. Past memories that wanted to drown her.
She kept her face blank. Morgan Steele had no past here.
More pack members emerged. Curiosity drawing them like moths to flame.
An old man grabbed Silas's arm. "Who's the woman with the child?"
"Security consultant."
"Liar." The old man's eyes narrowed. "I can smell deceit from a mile away. And that boy—"
"Is none of your concern, Elder Marcus."
"Everything in this pack is my worry! That child carries—" He stopped. Sniffed harder. "Blackwood blood. I'd stake my life on it."
Silas's jaw stiffened. "You're mistaken."
"I'm never wrong about bloodlines. Never." Elder Marcus stared at Kai. "Whose son is he?"
"A guest's nephew. Nothing more."
"Then why does every wolf in this mansion feel like something terrible is about to happen?"
"Paranoia."
"Instinct!" The elder's voice rose. "Mark my words, Silas. That boy's appearance here will change everything."
Silas pulled away. "Noted. Now if you'll excuse us."
They kept walking, leaving the muttering elder behind.
"That was close," Lyra whispered.
"Close?" Silas laughed quietly. "Ms. Steele, close would be an improvement. Every wolf here senses wrongness. They just can't name the source." He looked at Kai. "Yet."
They reached a familiar passage.
The Alpha's office waited at the end.
Lyra's stomach twisted. Behind that door sat the man who destroyed her. The man who'd rejected her while she was pregnant with his child.
The man who had no idea his son was about to walk through his door.
"Wait here," Silas directed. "I'll announce you."
He disappeared inside.
Lyra knelt beside Kai. "You okay?"
"Scared."
"Me too."
"Will he be mean? My father?"
The question broke her heart. "I don't know, baby. But whatever happens, I'm here."
Kai nodded, trying to be brave.
The office door opened.
Silas called. "The Alpha will see you now."
They walked in.
And Lyra's world shrank to one person.
Ronan Blackwood sat behind his desk, reviewing papers. He looked up— And everything stopped.
His eyes landed on Lyra first. Confusion flickered. That same almost-recognition from before.
Then his eyes dropped to Kai.
Time froze.
Ronan's face went through a dozen feelings in three seconds. Confusion. Shock. Impossible math.
His eyes locked on Kai's face. The shape. The features. The eyes.
Those ice-blue eyes that reflected his own.
Papers slipped from Ronan's hands. "Who..."
His voice came out choked.
"Ms. Steele," Silas said easily. "And her nephew, Kai. As discussed."
But Ronan wasn't listening. He stood slowly, never breaking eye contact with Kai.
"How old are you?" The question came out rough.
"Five," Kai answered.
Ronan swayed. Caught himself on the desk.
"Five." Not a question. A realization. A horror.
His eyes snapped to Lyra. Searching. Desperate.
She saw the moment his wolf recognized something. The moment instinct overrode logic.
"Where's his mother?" Ronan asked, voice shaking.
"Family situation," Lyra deflected. "She couldn't come." "His mother." Ronan stepped around the desk. "Where is she?"
"Alpha, perhaps we should discuss business first—"
"WHERE IS SHE?" The Alpha order cracked through the room.
Kai flinched.
Ronan saw it and something in his face crumbled. He dropped to one knee, making himself less dangerous.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." His voice gentled. "What's your full name?"
"Just Kai."
"No last name?"
"Mama says last names are complicated."
"Your mama's right." Ronan's hands shook. "Can you tell me... what does your mama look like?"
Kai tilted his head. "Pretty. Sad sometimes. Strong always."
"Does she have dark hair? Brown eyes?"
"Yes."
Ronan made a sound like he'd been hit.
"Alpha?" Silas stepped forward. "You look unwell."
"Get out."
"What?"
"Everyone out! NOW!" The order sent Silas scrambling for the door.
It slammed behind him.
Leaving Ronan, Lyra, and Kai alone.
The silence was overwhelming.
Ronan looked at Kai like looking at a ghost. "You're impossible. You can't exist."
"But I do," Kai said simply.
"Who sent you? Who put you up to this?"
"Nobody sent me. Mama brought me."
"Your mother—" Ronan's voice cracked. "Where is she? I need to see her. I need—"
The door burst open.
Garrett Blackwood stood there, face red with anger. "What's this about you kicking everyone out? We have pack business to—"
He saw Kai.
All color drained from his face.
"No." The word came out choked. "Absolutely not. This is impossible."
"Father, leave—"
"THAT BOY!" Garrett pointed with a shaking hand. "He has your eyes! Your face! He's—"
"Mine," Ronan whispered. "He's mine, isn't he?"
Garrett's head snapped toward Lyra. Really looked at her.
His eyes widened. Widened more.
Recognition dawned like a horrible sunrise.
"You," he breathed. "Blessed moon, you're—"
He lunged forward.
Grabbed Lyra's wig.
It came off in his hands.
Dark hair fell down.
"LYRA REED!" Garrett roared. "You're living! And you brought this—this bastard—"
Shadows burst from Lyra.
Dark. Ancient. Choking.
Garrett stumbled backward, fear replacing rage.
"Call my son that again," Lyra's voice went deadly, "and I'll show you what five years of becoming a monster looks like."
Alarms blared throughout the house.
Pack members ran toward the office.
Ronan stared between them, mind clearly breaking.
"Lyra?" His voice was small. Broken. "You're alive? All this time, you were—"
"Alive. Changed. Powerful." Her shadows writhed. "And this is Kai. Your kid. The child you never knew existed because you threw me out before I could tell you I was pregnant."
The words hit like bullets.
Ronan fell into his chair, hyperventilating.
Garrett backed against the wall. "Shadow Walker. You're a Shadow Walker."
Pack fighters burst through the door, weapons drawn.
They saw Lyra. Saw the shadows. Saw Kai.
Chaos occurred.
"Protect the Alpha!"
"Shadow Walker in the mansion!"
"Get the child to safety!"
"EVERYONE STOP!" Ronan's Alpha order silenced the room.
He stood on shaking legs, looking at Kai with despair written across his face.
"Is it true?" he asked Lyra. "Is he really mine?"
"Look at him, Ronan. You know he is."
"I have a son." Tears streamed down the Alpha's face. "I have a son and I never knew. Five years. Five years you were alive and I thought—I believed—"
"Believed your father when he said I'd died in the wilderness?" Lyra's voice was ice. "Convenient story."
All eyes turned to Garrett.
The former Alpha's face went from white to red. "She was exiled! Banished! It was the nicest assumption!"
"Kindest?" Lyra laughed bitterly. "You knew I was pregnant. You knew and you still threw me out."
"You were worthless! Wolfless! A stain on this family!"
Kai coughed—wet, dark blood speckling his hand.
Everyone froze.
Ronan moved forward on gut. "What's wrong with him?"
"He's dying." Lyra's voice broke. "Some kind of shadow sickness. Spreading through his blood. And the only thing that can save him is in your Vault."
"The Vault—"
"The Moonshadow Stone. I need it. That's why I'm here."
Silence crashed down.
Ronan looked at his dying son. At the woman he'd ruined. At the impossible situation fate had given.
"How long does he have?"
"Days. Maybe hours."
The Alpha's face went through every feeling. Grief. Rage. Determination.
He turned to his pack. "Clear the room. Now."
"Alpha, she's dangerous—"
"She's the mother of my child. MY SON. And if anyone tries to harm either of them, they answer to me."
Warriors reluctantly filed out.
Garrett stayed, shaking with fury.
"Ronan, you can't seriously consider—"
"Get. Out. Father."
"This is a trick! Can't you see? She's manipulating—""OUT!"
Garrett left, slamming the door.
Leaving the three of them alone.
Father. Mother. Dying kid.
Ronan dropped to his knees in front of Kai.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "For everything. For not knowing. For not being there. For—"
Kai touched his face. "The shadows sa
y you didn't know. They say you're broken like Mama was broken."
"Yes. Yes, I am."
"Can you help me? I don't want to die yet."
Ronan's face fell completely.
He looked at Lyra with desperate, begging eyes.
"What do you need from me?"