Chapter Twenty-Five — Lyra’s POV

Clarity. A powerful clarity coursed through me, sharp and consuming, as if I were seeing the world for the very first time. It was electric—pure, raw energy crackling along my veins, filling every part of me with a sense of rightness I’d never known. It was as if, until now, I’d been looking at life through a clouded window, only half-alive, unknowing of what I was meant to be. My senses sharpened, each sound, each scent, hitting me with the force of a thousand memories. I could feel the heartbeat of the earth beneath my feet, the hum of the air around me, and the fire burning just beneath my skin. There was a profound understanding within me, as if I were piecing together the fragments of myself that had been buried too long.

“Mommy…” Leo’s trembling voice sliced through my spiraling thoughts, his tone raw with fear and desperation. My head snapped up and my stomach twitched at the sight before me. He wasn’t chained to the tomb anymore. Hecate had him pinned against her, her hand gripping a dagger that she pressed cruelly to his throat.

I shot to my feet, my senses razor-sharp as anger ignited in me. I took one step forward, but froze when she pressed the blade deeper into his delicate skin.

“Let him go!” I growled.

Hecate’s lips twisted into a venomous sneer. “You broke our deal, Lyra. Did you really think you could just walk away without suffering the consequences of your actions?”

“It’s me you want, Hecate. I broke the deal, leave him out of this,” I uttered in a desperate attempt to convince her to let him go.

My gaze darted to Leo’s wrist and I realized that the gash where blood had pooled from was healing. For a moment, relief slammed into me. But then I looked up to see Hecate still holding him, and the relief vanished.

“Your son heals fast, doesn’t he? One of the many gifts of being a hybrid, Lyra.” She tilted the knife, a sadistic glint in her eyes. “But your precious pup can’t heal from a severed jugular, can he?”

“Stop!” I screamed, my eyes wide with fear. “What the hell do you want, Hecate? Haven’t you done enough?!”

“Enough?” she scoffed. “I offered you a taste of true power, power so immense it could bring the entire supernatural world to its knees. You could move mountains with a thought, crush armies with the flick of your wrist, heal wounds with a single breath—”

“Heal?” I cut her off, my heart clenching as my gaze shifted to Kaine, who still lay sprawled on the ground, his breaths shallow and ragged. His skin had turned deathly pale, and his bloodied hands still clutched the hilt of the dagger in his chest. I could heal him, I thought. I have the power now.

Hecate’s cruel laugh echoed through the air, slicing through my spiraling thoughts. “Even with all this power you feel, you still want to save him?” she sneered. “Let me enlighten you, Lyra. The strength you feel—it’s not yours. It’s Kaine’s life bleeding out, fueling your newfound might. He’s teetering on the edge of death. If he survives, this power you cling to will vanish, leaving you nothing but a weak, pathetic werewolf. Is that what you want? To be trampled on again?”

“I don’t care about being a hybrid, or wielding power. None of it matters to me!”

“Well, that’s a shame,” she said, looking truly disappointed. “I stabbed him with a silver dagger, and as long as the knife remains in him—”

I didn’t wait for her to finish. My body moved on instinct, and in a heartbeat, I was at Kaine’s side. Gripping the hilt of the dagger, I yanked it free. He groaned out in agony as blood gushed from the wound. But it wasn’t red. It was black.

Panic seized me as my gaze snapped back to Hecate. “What did you do to him?” I demanded.

“You didn’t wait for me to finish, Lyra,” she chuckled deviously. “Impatient as always,” she taunted. “Removing the dagger is only going to slow the spread of the silver coursing through his veins. But it’s not going to stop it.”

My stomach twisted, a sickening wave of dread crashing over me.

“He’s a lost cause, Lyra,” she continued, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “You need to accept it, and embrace the new deal I’m going to offer you.”

I snarled, launching myself over the tomb, but a shimmering barrier flared to life, slamming me back. “You’re delusional if you think I’m going to be making any more deals with you!”

Hecate tilted her head, her expression a mixture of mockery and menace. “Unlike Lyra Winters, I’m a woman of my word. That’s why I’m offering you a second chance.”

“No,” I spat. “You’re offering me a second chance because you’re desperate. You’re so power-hungry that you’ll destroy anything in your path to get what you want. But what’s the point of all that power if you’re alone?”

“Oh, spare me the moral lecture,” she sneered, her tone ice cold. “I’ve lived my entire life alone. That’s the curse of barrenness, Lyra. But you’re wrong about one thing—I don’t just seek power. I seek control. And with the hybrid by my side, our control will be absolute. So, I’m giving you one last chance.” Her eyes gleamed with dark intent. “Walk away from this—your son, your dying mate, your pack. Join me, and I’ll let your son live.”

“You’re insane—”

“Am I?” she interrupted sharply, pressing the knife tighter against Leo’s neck. He whimpered, a small trickle of blood trailing from the blade’s edge on his skin. Blood seeped out.

“Let him go, Hecate!” I slammed my fist against the barrier. “Let him go!”

The barrier flickered, and then, to my shock, it dissolved entirely, granting me a clear path across the tomb. Without hesitation, I leaped forward, baring my fangs as I lurched for Hecate.

But she moved faster. The blade in her hand dipped lower, the tip piercing Leo’s delicate vein. I halted abruptly, a growl ripping from my throat as I froze, helpless and enraged.

“No,” I whispered hoarsely. “Please, don’t.”

What happened next unfolded in a blur. The sharp sound of a knife slicing through flesh tore through the air. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought it was Leo’s. My vision blurred with panic until Hecate’s eyes widened in shock.

Her lips parted, and she coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth. Her grip on Leo loosened, and in that split second, he broke free, bolting toward me. I caught him in my arms, holding him tightly, but my gaze remained fixed on Hecate. She staggered once, then crumpled to the ground lifeless.

And that’s when I saw him. Thane stepped from the shadow, towering over her body. His eyes were glowing red, and a sinister smirk played on his lips, his fangs glinting beneath it. Dark energy radiated off him, thick and suffocating.

“She has served her purpose,” he said coldly, casting a glance over at Hecate’s corpse. “The curse is broken.”

His gaze shifted to me, his eyes burning crimson as his fangs extended longer than I’d ever seen. With a deliberate motion, he twirled his fingers, revealing his long, sharp claws. There was a terrifying viciousness in his expression, a ruthlessness so raw it seemed to distort the very air around him. He inhaled deeply, a sick satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as the veins in his face bulged, pulsating with dark, unrestrained power.

“You’ve denied me this for so many years, Lyra.” His lips curled in a sinister smile, his voice low and taunting. “Oh, I’m going to derive absolute satisfaction in killing you.” His smirk disappeared, replaced by a sneer that chilled me to the bone, and his voice dropped, hard and venomous as he continued. “But hear me well—it won’t be quick, and it won’t be merciful. I’m going to tear you apart, piece by piece. I’ll rip the heart from your chest and make you suffer every agonizing second until you beg for death.” He paused, his gaze shifting, and I followed it, dread coiling in my stomach as his eyes landed on Leo. “Then I’ll kill your dear son. His screams will be the sweetest melody I’ll ever hear when I slice his throat.” He dragged the words out, savoring them like a fine meal.

A feral growl rumbled in my chest, but Thane turned back to me, unfazed, his gaze burning with unrelenting hatred. “I won’t stop there, Lyra,” his tone was as sharp as a blade. “I’ll go to that pathetic little town of yours and slaughter every single member of your pack. I’ll raze it to the ground until there’s nothing left—no home, no legacy, no memory of you.” He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with a promise of devastation. “I’ll obliterate everything you’ve ever cared about, Lyra. Everything. And when I’m done with you, you’ll be nothing more than a forgotten footnote in the story of my rise. Just a stepping stone to my path of freedom and domination.”

A cold fury surged through me, but before I could move, he took one menacing step forward, his lips curling into a mocking grin that showed his fangs. “Too bad you won’t be around to witness it.”

Thane lunged, his massive form flying over the tomb in a blur of raw power and murderous intent. Instinctively, I raised my hand, and a shimmering barrier of energy snapped in place. It was as though my thoughts translated directly into magic, a manifestation of my determination to protect myself and my family.

Thane crashed into the barrier with brutal force, snarling as it vibrated under his relentless pounding. I shoved Leo toward Kaine as I tried to hold up the barrier. The moment the barrier shattered, he was on me. His backhand came faster than I could react to, as his claws raked across my face, sending me flying. I hit the ground hard, blood filling my mouth.

As I struggled to my feet, wiping the blood from my lips, I locked eyes with him, and I felt my wolf stir within me. With a snarl, I shifted. For the first time in five years, I felt the bond with my wolf—no longer a wild, uncontrollable force, but a steady presence tethered to my will. Her thoughts mingled with mine, her fury mirroring my own. But I was in control. I was in complete control. I embraced it, letting her meld seamlessly with the magic coursing through me. And when she completed her shift, I felt whole, my wolf and witch side bound together. Every nerve in my body came alive, humming with just one purpose as I faced Thane: to protect Leo and my pack, to end the man who had brought us nothing but torment.

Thane stood before me, a towering mass of dark fur and primal rage. His wolf was massive, easily twice my size, midnight black with gleaming eyes that promised death. He radiated raw, feral power, every muscle ripping with the intent to kill. He was terrifying, in every sense of the word. Yet, I wasn’t afraid.

He moved first, a blur of raw, brutal strength, but I was ready. My instincts were sharper, faster, and I darted to the side, narrowly escaping his blow as I swiped at him with my claws, raking across his flank. Blood poured from the gash, but he barely faltered. He spun to attack again, but my magic flared, and a twisting blaze of fire erupted, hurtling toward him. Thane deflected it, shaking the flames off as if they were an annoyance, his growl deep and menacing. He displayed sheer strength and relentless endurance. But I didn’t let up.

The ground beneath us trembled, and I willed the earth to obey me. At that moment, it felt as though nature itself was my ally, and I had the power to control its very elements. Vines, thick and unyielding, erupted from the ground, twisting around his legs and dragging him down. He snarled, thrashing wildly as his claws ripped through the vines. Before he could break free, I lunged and landed a blow on his jaw, causing blood to spill from his muzzle.

He shook off the blow, blood staining his fur as he charged at me with renewed fury. His size and power knocked me off balance. He retaliated by slashing his claws against my chest, and I shrieked in pain, sprawling across the sand.

I ignored the burning agony in my ribs, pushing myself to my feet as blood dripped from my wounds. Fueled by frustration, I summoned a gust of wind. The storm was wild, whipping into a frenzy, and hitting Thane with a force that sent him flying into the tomb and shattering it. He faltered for a moment, and I seized the moment, leaping onto him with a snarl, my claws tearing into his shoulder. He roared, a sound that shook the earth, his massive frame twisting as he threw me off like I weighed nothing. I hit the ground, the impact rattling through my bones. Even with the elements as my ally, Thane moved as if they were nothing.

I rose again, shaky but determined. I conjured a torrent of blazing energy while he was still trying to pull himself back up, and I hurled it across his face and chest. The force sent him crashing back into the already shattered tomb, and for a moment, I thought I had the upper hand as he lay unmoving.

But Thane was relentless. He rose from the rubble, bathed in his own blood, yet his eyes burned with a murderous resolve. In that moment of surprise, frustration, a feeling of hopelessness crept in, and he charged at me with a speed that shouldn’t have been possible due to all the wounds he had sustained. I couldn’t react in time. His claws tore across my abdomen, ripping my flesh and fur as I staggered back, choking on the taste of my own blood.

I slammed into the ground with such force that it indented beneath me. Pain shot through every inch of my body, and as I struggled and failed to rise, Thane kicked me, sending me rolling across the sand.

My vision blurred, and my breathing became ragged and shallow. I could feel the life slipping away from me as blood poured from the fatal wounds he had inflicted. My shift happened involuntarily as my wolf was weak due to the intense pain and injury she had sustained.

He was on me in an instant, his massive paws pressing against my chest, crushing the breath out of my lungs. He shifted back to his human form, and I saw a smirk of victory on his face.

“At least tonight,” he sneered, his voice a low, menacing growl, “you’ll stop running.” He pressed down on my chest, pinning me in place. I was too weak to fight, too weak to even struggle. The magic had drained me, and the brutal injuries he’d carved into my flesh left me unable to move.

His claws trailed lazily along my neck, and I felt the sharp sting as they found my jugular. “Any last words, Lyra Winter?” he asked, his face twisted in cruel satisfaction.

I opened my mouth, but blood was all that came out, bubbling out of my lips.

“Nothing?” he asked mockingly. “Well, that’s disappointing,” he grinned. ”Let me leave you with my parting words. I’d forgotten what real power felt like. So, thank you for reminding me.”

His claws dug into my neck. And just as I braced myself for the end, a sudden wave of energy slammed into Thane, throwing him off me. I turned my head to see Leo, tears streaking down his small, determined face.

“Leo, no!” I tried to shout, but my voice was barely a whisper.

Thane recovered too quickly, and he charged forward again. This time, not at me, but straight for Leo. “At least your mother will watch as I slit that tiny throat of yours,” he roared as he went for Leo.

Panic seized my heart, a cold grip that gave way to something fiercer, hotter. The thought of Thane killing my son ignited a strength deep within me. Something fierce and unyielding rose within me. And with a howl, I unleashed it all. My magic burst forth, and I launched myself at him with everything I had.

But he had gone before me, and he was quicker. He struck before I could stop him. Thane’s claw ripped through the air slashing toward Leo. Before they could connect, Kaine surged forward, shoving Leo aside, and driving the silver dagger straight into Thane’s chest.

A guttural roar erupted from Thane as he twisted, sinking his claws deep into Kaine’s chest in retaliation.

“No!” The word tore through me, raw and full of rage. Summoning every ounce of power, I hurled Thane into the air, and with a furious cry, I slammed him back down with a force that made the earth tremble. I didn’t stop. Blinded by rage, I lunged at him, my claws tearing into his chest. Deeper and deeper, I dug, until my hand found his heart, beating weakly under my grip.

Even then, on the verge of death, he had the audacity to smirk. Blood bubbled at his lips as he wheezed. “At least I took something from you, Lyra,” he said, his voice dripping with malice and mockery.

Anger exploded in me, sharp and consuming, and with one final decisive motion, I ripped his heart free from his chest, ending the terror that was Thane Blackwood.

A deep, guttural howl tore from my throat, echoing through the battlefield. The Blackwoods, seeing their fallen Alpha, stilled, their gazes fixed on Thane’s unmoving form. One by one, they faltered, their resolve crumbling, until they turned and retreated, disappearing into the shadows of the night.

Bloodied, I collapsed to my knees, my breath ragged, my body exhausted. My gaze shifted to Kaine, lying just a few feet away, and my heart seized at the sight of him, so still, so pale. He was barely moving, barely breathing. I crawled my way to Kaine, and when I reached him, I laced my bloodied fingers in his, tears spilling freely from my face. His eyes fluttered open at my touch, dull and distant, but they softened when they met mine.

“Stay with me, Kaine,” I sobbed, my voice breaking as I cupped his face with trembling hands.

His lips parted, but no words came out, just a pained groan as he struggled to lift his hand. I caught it, guiding it to my cheek, where his thumb brushed weakly against my skin.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my tears falling onto his face, “for all the years I spent trying to hate you, for not understanding. I see it now—why you did what you did, and I want to make up for all the years we’ve spent apart,” my voice quivered as I leaned closer. “So please, Kaine…stay with me.”

A faint, broken smile touched his lips, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Lyra…”

“I’m right here,” I choked out, holding him tighter as if I could keep him tethered to my world—our world.

But the smile faded, and his fingers grazed my face one last time before they fell limp in my grasp. His chest rose, then stilled, and his eyes closed as his lips mouthed words that I didn’t want to believe were his last.

“I love you.”