Lyra barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lysa's furious stare… the glowing birthmark on her arm… and Kael's face when he whispered:
"My wolf didn't choose her."
She didn't know what that meant.
She didn't know what to do with the heat that rose in her chest whenever Kael looked at her like she was both a weapon and a weakness.
When dawn finally bled over the mountains, Lyra sat up, exhausted.
A soft knock sounded.
"Lyra?"
Kael's voice.
Her heart jolted.
She opened the door to find him leaning against the frame, dark hair messy, silver eyes bright in the morning light. He looked less like a ruthless Alpha and more like a man who hadn't slept either.
"We leave in five minutes," he said. "Training ground."
Lyra blinked. "Now?"
"Now," he repeated. "The sooner you learn to control what's waking inside you, the safer you'll be."
Control what's waking…
Her stomach twisted.
"Kael… what's happening to me?"
He exhaled and looked away. "I'll explain once we test your limits."
"Test my limits? I don't even know what I am."
His eyes flicked back to her, darkening with something unreadable.
"You're the only thing standing between me and a prophecy written in blood," he murmured.
"And you're not ready to hear all of it yet."
Before she could respond, he turned and walked down the hall.
Lyra followed him outside, where the cool morning air cut through her nerves.
Wolves were already awake—some in human form, training; others shifting and sprinting across the valley. They all paused when Lyra passed.
Whispers.
Stares.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Kael shot one glare across the grounds, and the whispering ended instantly.
He led her to a secluded clearing surrounded by ancient stones carved with lunar runes.
"Stand here," he said.
Lyra stepped onto the circle of stones. Immediately, she felt something—an energy in the earth, pulsing softly under her feet like a heartbeat echoing her own.
Kael faced her.
"Show me the mark."
Lyra pulled back her sleeve.
But something was different.
The mark wasn't faint anymore.
It glowed brighter—warm and alive—like molten silver flowing under her skin.
Kael's breath hitched.
"It's awakening faster than I expected."
"Is that bad?"
"Not if we can control it. But if we can't…" His jaw tightened. "It will draw every enemy within miles."
Lyra swallowed hard.
"Okay," she whispered. "Tell me what to do."
Kael stepped close—too close. His heat sank into her skin, his shadow blending with hers.
"Close your eyes."
She did.
"Focus on your heartbeat," he said softly. "Slow it… steady it… feel the ground beneath you."
Lyra inhaled deeply.
"I feel… something. Like the earth is humming."
"That's lunar energy," Kael murmured. "It responds to you."
The air shifted.
Warmth spread up her arm. The birthmark glowed even brighter.
Lyra gasped. "It's burning."
Kael grabbed her wrist gently. "Steady your breathing."
"It hurts—"
"Look at me," he commanded.
Her eyes snapped open.
His silver gaze locked onto hers—intense, grounding, sharp enough to cut through the panic rising in her chest.
"Breathe with me."
He inhaled slowly, his chest rising.
Lyra mirrored him.
The pain dulled.
The glow steadied.
Something pulsed between them—soft, electric.
Kael's expression shifted, his jaw tight, eyes darker.
The air thickened.
"Kael…" Lyra whispered.
He dropped her wrist suddenly, stepping back as if burned.
"We're done."
Lyra frowned. "But I barely started—"
"I said we're done," he growled, turning away.
She stared at him, stunned.
"What did I do wrong?"
His shoulders rose and fell with a deep, frustrated breath.
"You didn't do anything. I did."
Lyra stepped toward him.
"Kael—talk to me."
"No," he said sharply. "Not about this."
"Why not?"
He turned, eyes blazing with something raw.
"Because when you tap into your power, it calls mine. The Oath responds. And I—"
His voice shook.
"I almost shifted."
Lyra froze.
Shifted?
Because of her?
Kael dragged a hand through his hair. "I can't lose control around you. Not when I'm supposed to protect you."
She stepped closer anyway.
"Then teach me. Train me. Don't push me away."
His eyes softened, just barely.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"Then explain it."
Kael inhaled slowly—painfully.
"When the Oath awakens, the Alpha and the Seer draw power from one another. It amplifies everything—strength, fear… attraction."
Lyra's breath caught.
Attraction.
"You mean… you feel something when I—when we—" She swallowed. "Is it the magic or—"
"It doesn't matter," Kael cut in harshly.
"Because anything I feel for you, or anything you feel for me…"
His voice broke, rough and low.
"…could get us both killed."
Lyra's heart twisted.
"But what if we're stronger together?"
Kael's eyes went wild for a moment—like his wolf was clawing at the surface.
"You don't know what you're saying, Lyra. If I lose control… if the Oath pushes too far…"
He stepped back, trembling.
"It could force a bond neither of us can undo."
"A bond?" she whispered.
"An eternal one," he said quietly.
"Wolf-mated. Soul-bound. Life-tied."
Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
"And you don't want that?" she whispered.
Kael closed his eyes, agony flickering across his face.
"I want too much," he admitted.
"And that's the problem."
Before she could take a single step toward him—
A distant howl cut through the air.
Then another.
Then—
BOOM.
A shockwave rippled through the gro
und beneath their feet.
Kael's eyes snapped open, all emotion replaced by deadly focus.
"They found us."
"Who?" Lyra breathed.
Kael grabbed her hand, pulling her close.
"Darkfangs. And they're coming straight for you."