Chapter Twenty-Six — Lyra’s POV

“How is he doing now?”

I stepped back into Kaine’s room when I saw Salome exit alone. About an hour ago, when she had arrived, she’d insisted I leave while she worked. I’d reluctantly obeyed, swallowing my pride—there was a far more crucial matter at hand. Though she hadn’t said a word, I could feel her silent judgment, her eyes accusing me of what had happened to Kaine and the pack.

“He’s healing,” the healer responded without glancing at me as she focused solely on folding and stowing her equipment in her bag.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Kaine had been in critical condition when we returned to the pack this morning. I’d summoned the healer immediately, but his injuries, laced with magic, were beyond her expertise. She’d suggested calling Salome, and without hesitation, I did.

“She administered a potion to slow the spread of silver in his system and aid his healing,” the healer continued, her tone softening as she finished organizing her things. “But he still needs time. It’s going to be slow, but he’ll recover.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips, but it was hollow, forced. I nodded in acknowledgment, but my heart wasn’t at ease. Kaine was strong—stronger than anyone knew. But until he opened his eyes and spoke to me again, I wouldn’t allow myself to stop worrying. Not for a second.

“What about you?” Her question broke through my thoughts, and I reluctantly pulled my gaze away from Kaine’s to meet hers. “How’s your wound?”

I lifted my shirt slowly, exposing the stitches in my stomach, which had almost completely healed. “All better,” I answered softly, offering her a grateful smile. “Thanks to you.”

She nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. “Good. I’ll come by tomorrow. But if he wakes before then, send for me.”

“I will. Thank you.”

She turned to leave, but I didn’t watch her go. Instead, I slipped myself into the chair beside Kaine’s bed, the cool metal pressing into my skin as I settled into it. The room felt quiet, too still, with only the rhythmic sound of his shallow breathing breaking the silence.

Leaning forward, I assessed his face. He looked pale and drawn. Beads of sweat slicked his forehead, and damp hair clung to his skin, a visible sign of the dark magic coursing through his veins. My gaze trailed lower to his chest, and my heart dropped at the sight of the deep scars and stitches that marked his skin.

A lump formed in my throat as I thought about the hell he’d endured in the last forty-eight hours. First, the fight with the wolf Hecate had sent after him. Then his confrontation with Dominic, defending his claim to the Alpha position. And despite it all—despite the blood and the pain—he still came for me. For Leo and I.

I reached out, my fingers hovering just above the jagged claw marks carved into his chest. My breath caught in my throat as tears burned the back of my eyes. I couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not without telling him everything I had left unsaid.

A single tear slipped down my cheek, tracing the curve of my jaw. I barely wiped it off when I heard a soft voice call out to me.

“Mommy.”

Leo’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, and I immediately dabbed at the tear, pushing my emotions aside to focus on him. I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his small frame silhouetted by the dim light in the room. My face softened, and I gave him a warm, reassuring smile, gesturing for him to come closer.

“Are you okay?” I asked, pulling him to me and kissing the top of his hair. I didn’t want him to see the traces of tears on my face. I didn't want him to feel any fear about Kaine’s condition. I couldn’t let him lose hope, not when I was barely holding on to mine.

“How’s your wrist?” I asked, already checking both of his slender wrists. “And your neck?” I added, titling his chin gently to the side to inspect the tender area where Hecate’s knife had pressed. Leo was without a scar, at least physically. And a wave of relief washed over me.

“I’m fine, Mummy,” he replied, his voice steady though his eyes were full of concern. After my routine check, I couldn’t stop myself from pulling him closer again to hold him a little longer. “Is Daddy going to wake up soon? He promised we’d finish building Alpha Fenris together.”

A bittersweet laugh escaped me, but it was laced with tears that refused to fall. My gaze shifted to Kaine, still unconscious, his chest rising and falling with slow, uneven breaths. His breathing was too shallow, too slow, but the healer had assured me that it was to be expected. Even so, a knot of worry tightened in my chest.

I swallowed the thick knot in my throat before answering. “Your father is a strong man, Leo. And he always keeps his promises.” I had to believe that, even though doubts lingered in my mind.

A quiet moment passed between us as we both watched Kaine, his body battered and broken, but he was still here. Still fighting.

I stood from the chair, giving Leo’s hair a gentle ruffle as I tried to steady myself. “I need some air. Why don’t you stay with your father for now?”

Leo nodded, settling into the chair beside Kaine’s bed, his small hand resting gently on his father’s. I left the room without a word, needing the space to breathe and wrestle with my emotions. The weight of everything was too much to bear at that moment, but I needed to remain strong for Leo.

I walked through the pack house courtyard, stepping into the open air. The scent of blood and smoke still lingered, heavy in the atmosphere. As I made my way to the pack grounds, I saw pack members working together, hauling logs, bricks, and building materials to help reconstruct the town hall. Despite the tragedy that had torn through our pack, their resilience was evident. They still managed to smile, to band together, and rebuild what had been lost.

But as I watched them, a pang of guilt twisted in my chest for those who had lost loved ones. If I hadn’t returned to Crescent Valley, if I hadn’t come back into their lives, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe the pack wouldn’t have suffered the way they had. I couldn’t shake the feeling that, in the end, I had brought nothing but chaos and pain to the people I cared about.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me until a voice broke the silence.

“Lyra.”

I startled, blinking back to reality. Turning, I saw Jonathan standing there, a log of wood resting over his shoulder, no doubt for the town hall rebuild.

“Jonathan,” I greeted, folding my arms across my chest, feeling a little off balance. “Are you part of the building crew?” I nodded toward the group of people, laughing as they worked and carried materials around the site.

“Actually,” he replied with a small smile, shifting the log to rest more comfortably on his shoulder, “I just went to grab some more wood. We’re trying to give the town hall a new look. Hopefully, we don’t have to chop down every tree in the woods to pull it off.”

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “Hopefully,” I muttered, the weight of the day still pressing on me.

There was a brief silence as Jonathan regarded me for a moment. Finally, he broke the quiet. “How’s Kaine?” he asked.

I nodded in affirmation. “He’s doing a lot better now.” At least, I hoped so.

“That’s a relief,” Jonathan said with a smile. “I miss our hunting escapades together.”

“I’m sure he does, too,” I replied, my voice soft.

Another wave of silence fell upon us, but this time, it wasn’t just between Jonathan and me. I glanced over at the pack, noticing that many had turned their attention toward me, their gaze full of curiosity.

I turned my gaze back to the town hall, where a girl—about fifteen, with wide eyes and an eager expression—came running toward me, a hammer in her hands. She stopped in front of me, breathless, and extended the tool toward me.

“Elder Zephyr says you can join us. The more, the merrier,” she said, flashing me a bright, hopeful smile.

I looked from the girl to the pack, and my heart skipped when I saw Zephyr standing at the edge of the group, smiling and nodding at me in silent approval. For the first time since my return to Crescent Valley, the people didn’t look at me like an outsider. There was no judgment in their eyes, only something close to admiration.

“Jonathan was just telling us how you single-handedly defeated the Blackwood Alpha,” the girl continued, her grin wide and full of awe. “Everyone’s calling you a hero.”

A small laugh escaped me, but it was tinged with disbelief. I shook my head, fighting the lump in my throat. “No, I’m no hero. The real hero is the Alpha. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t even be here.”

She smiled, pressing the hammer into my hand before spinning on her heel and dashing back toward the town hall. Jonathan gave me a small, approving nod, his hand resting briefly on my shoulder. “Told you,” he said. “Come on, let’s go.”

I followed him for a few steps, but my attention was pulled toward the woods on the edge of the pack grounds. There, standing just beyond the trees, was Isolde. The moment our eyes met, she turned sharply and disappeared into the woods, leaving only a rustle in the underbush behind.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I paused, my heart heavy with the weight of the sight. “Why don’t you go ahead, Jonathan?” I said quietly, pressing the hammer into his hand. “I’ll join you in a bit.”

I followed the trail Isolde had taken, her scent lingering faintly in the air like a taunt. I slowed to a halt, my eyes scanning the surroundings, every sound and movement prickling at my senses. Her scent was here, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Must be nice being the hero.”

Her voice cut through the silence and I spun around to Isolde leaning lazily against a tree. Her posture was casual, but her eyes were not. They burned with something corrosive and bitter that no longer surprised me, but saddened me. She gave me a slow, deliberate once-over, her lips curling in a half smile. “You look…well,” she said, her voice dripping with a cold indifference. “For someone who just battled the infamous Thane Blackwood, I’d expect you to look a lot…worse.”

Her words carried a sharpness that would have affected me every other day, but I barely flinched. I stared into her eyes, and I realized she just wasn’t there anymore…the woman I’d once known was gone. Anger festered in me, but it was eclipsed by something heavier. Grief.

“I just have one question, Isolde,” I said, my voice low, filled with the weight of grief. “Why? I want answers, and I think you owe me that much. After everything—everything we went through together, how was it so easy for you to hand me over to the very people who wanted me dead? Did I mean so little to you?”

Isolde pushed away from the tree, her eyes blazing with something I could finally name. I’d seen it countless times since I returned, but back then, I couldn’t, wouldn’t , identify what it was. But now, I know. It was hate. Raw, seething, and unfiltered.

“Why?” she scoffed, her tone dripping with mockery. “There you go again, playing the self-righteous act. You think you’re so perfect, Lyra—that everything in your life just falls into place. Kaine, the pack, everything.” Her words were sharp, cutting, with a spitefulness she no longer bothered to hide. “Do you have any idea what it felt like? Watching him look at you like you were the only thing in his world?”

“So, it is true,” I said quietly, the pieces falling into place. Dominic had been right. “You have feelings for Kaine.”

“I loved him,” she snapped, her voice cracking as tears brimmed in her eyes. “But you were always so wrapped up in your perfect little bubble that you never noticed how much I was hurting, how much I tried to remain happy for you when all you did was yap about him every chance you got. And then, when you found out he was your mate—” she laughed, the sound hollow. “That was the day my heart shattered. But even then, I stayed. I swallowed it because that’s what you do for the people you care about. Only that you never cared enough to see.”

Her confession hit me like a tidal wave. Memories rushed back—years of laughter, tears, and everything in between. And yet, I’d missed it all. I hadn’t seen her unhappiness. I hadn’t seen her pain. I couldn’t speak. Words failed me, and silence became the only response I had to the weight of her confession.

“Do you know what hurts the most?” she continued, a tear sliding down her cheeks. “Even after you left, after all these years, the whole time, his heart was with you. You were gone, yet he never stopped looking for you. Thinking of you. I gave him everything I had—everything—and he never saw me. And you,” she spat, her voice trembling. “You never appreciated what you had. You just…expected it.”

“That’s not true, Isolde. You know that,” I refuted, shaking my head.

She laughed, a bitter, soulless sound. “Oh, but it is.”

“So what?” I snapped, anger rising in me like a tide. “You couldn’t stand to see me happy? I was your best friend, Isolde!”

“No!” she shot back, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “You were a self-centered girl who thought the world revolved around you. And because you were so blinded by your own selfishness, you never saw the cracks in our relationship. You never saw me beyond the facade I put up every single day.”

She took a pause, wiping at the tears streaming down her face and taking a steadying breath. Then she continued, her expression darkened, her voice lower, colder. “At some point, I realized that I couldn’t stand in your shadow forever, watching you have everything I wanted. It was time for a change. I deserved happiness, too. So, I decided to take it.”

“By betraying me?” My voice wavered, her words bearing down on me. It felt like a knife twisting deep into my gut. The woman I had trusted with my life—the girl I’d grown up with—had torn it all apart because she couldn’t stand to see me happy.

“You didn’t just hurt me, Isolde,” I said, my voice quieter now, heavy with the gravity of what she’d done. “You hurt the entire pack. You hurt my son—a child, Isolde. And now Kaine is fighting for his life because of you.”

Her expression didn’t falter. If anything, it hardened. A cold, cynical smile spread across her face, and it made my stomach churn.

She didn’t care.

Not about the pack members who had died because of her. Not about my son. Not about Kaine.

She just didn’t care.

My heart felt like it was splintering under the weight of her betrayal. For the first time, I looked away, blinking back the tears threatening to spill. Somehow, the pain of her treachery cut deeper than any blade, sharper than a thousand needles piercing my skin. What made it worse—what twisted the knife in my gut—was the emptiness in her eyes. I took a shaky breath, steeling myself, swallowing the lump in my throat. Slowly, I turned back to her, my resolve like iron.

“You don’t get to play the victim here, Isolde,” I said, my voice quiet but steady, laced with an authority that made her flinch. Her anger flared, bright and sharp, but I didn’t waver. “Despite all your scheming, all your betrayals, you’ve already lost. Not just Kaine, but me, and the entire pack. You’ve burned every bridge, and now you’re standing alone in the ashes.”

Her laugh was bitter and sharp, like broken glass. “What now? Are you going to run back to the pack? Have them hunt me down? Kill me?”

“No.” My answer was calm, and it made her sneer falter. “I’m going to let you live the rest of your life carrying the weight of the consequences of your actions. Every betrayal, every life you’ve destroyed—it’ll sit on your chest, suffocating you every single day. And when the regret comes, because it will, it’s going to tear apart.“

Her face twisted with rage. “To hell with you!” she spat, voice rising to a near scream. “You think you’re noble, Lyra? You're nothing but a selfish bitch. A sorry excuse for a mother!”

She lunged, her claws aimed straight at me in a desperate, furious attack. But I was stronger now, not just physically, but in resolve. My instincts kicked in, and I sidestepped the attack, catching Isolde’s wrists with a steady hand and holding her in place.

“ Enough, Isolde!” I snarled, my voice echoing with a ferocity that made her freeze. “Leave Crescent Valley. Leave the pack. And never return. Because if you do, I promise you, Isolde—I’ll make sure your suffering is a thousand times worse than death.”

I shoved her away, releasing her with a force that sent her staggering back. She hit the ground, glaring up at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. For the first time, I saw fear there, but not the kind that made me feel victorious. It only deepened the ache in my chest, the sharp grief of knowing this was the end of something we once cherished.

For a long moment, we stared at each other, the years of friendship and trust between us lying in ruins. Everything we had, everything we were, had been reduced to rubble by her choices.

With one last look, I turned away, the weight of grief settling in my chest. I hadn’t just lost a friend—I had lost a sister.

******

The next few weeks were filled with rebuilding the pack, forging new alliances, and strengthening old ones. Despite the tragedy that had struck Ironclaw, a sense of unity blossomed in the town. Things began returning to normal, with a shared resilience born from the tragedy.

One day, I visited Mr. Randolf, who was reconstructing the diner that had been destroyed in the Blackwood raid. To my surprise, he included me in the redesign, saying, “This place could use a touch of modernization.” He asked me to oversee the reconstruction, as his age no longer afforded him the energy he had once had. He told me he trusted my judgment on the matter. The diner, older than I was, had always been a fixture in town, but it took the raid to finally spark a change.

As the builders dismantled the old countertop, nostalgia hit, and my thoughts briefly drifted to Isolde and Dominic—the ones I once trusted. But I quickly shook the thoughts off. Isolde had left as I asked, and Dominic had vanished without a trace. Either way, they were both part of the past now.

Most of my days were spent at the diner, overseeing its reconstruction, which was progressing well. In the evenings, I was with Leo, either taking him to the pack grounds where the children played and listened to moonlight tales from the older women or staying indoors, talking about the things that fascinated him.

Today was just like that. I sat beside Leo’s bed, watching his chest rise and fall as he drifted off to sleep. We had been laughing over a silly scenario—what if all the food we ate could talk—before he finally dozed off. I kissed his hair gently and then quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind me.

As I moved through the living room, I gathered up his scattered toys. My gaze landed on the completed puzzle of Alpha Fenris, and a faint smile tugged at my lips. After tidying up, I took a shower and then headed to bed.

I was already deep asleep when I felt the bed dip under someone’s weight. I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who it was. The familiar scent of cedarwood and a faint trace of smoky sandalwood told me everything.

A kiss pressed to my forehead, and I turned in the bed to rest my head on his chest. “How did the meeting with the Betas go?” I mumbled, my eyes still closed.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” Kaine said, his voice soft. “I thought I was being gentle.”

“You were,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m just a light sleeper.” I finally opened my eyes, lifting my head to meet his gaze. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over Kaine’s face. He smiled at me, his hair a tousled mess falling over his forehead. He’d been working tirelessly to broker an alliance between the Ironclaw Pack and the Blackwoods.

When a werewolf kills an Alpha, there’s an immediate shift in power. Having killed the Alpha of the Blackwood pack, I inherited his status. It made sense to assume leadership, given my connection to the pack—my real father was a Blackwood and a Beta. But I had no interest in leading a pack that had caused me nothing but pain. That’s where the political meetings came in.

An alliance needed to be formed between the two packs to maintain peace, and with a new leader, that became possible. Of course, there were still many hurdles to overcome—like the resistance within Ironclaw, especially from those who couldn’t stomach an alliance with the pack that had killed some of our own.

Kaine let out a deep sigh. “There was a breakthrough today. The Betas are already planning a formal gathering to celebrate the alliance. But first, I’ll need to address the pack, show them that it’s better to keep the peace than to be at war. Because in war, everybody loses.”

I smiled at him, leaning up to kiss his lips. “You're a great leader, Kaine. And a good man.”

He returned my smile, before pulling me in for a deeper kiss, one that quickly turned into something more, a thing of passion—raw and pure. Our clothes were discarded haphazardly as we lost ourselves in each other for the rest of the night.

Sated, I lay beside him, naked, my head resting on his chest, my fingers tracing circles along his skin. I could sense he was wide awake, his arm resting behind his head. The slow, uneven rise and fall of his breath told me something was making him uneasy.

“What’s on your mind?” I whispered.

His reaction was to climb out of the bed abruptly and take a few paces back and forth before stopping. “I’m tired of waiting,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

I sat up in confusion. “Waiting for what?”

“Waiting for the right moment… I don’t know when that’s going to come. And every day that passes, with this box in my pocket…” He let out a frustrated breath.

My brow furrowed. “What box, Kaine?”

He bent over to reach for his jeans. As he pulled something from his pocket, he hesitated, staring at it for a moment before turning back to me. “I don’t know if this is ideal—doing this at two a.m. in your room with our clothes all over the place.” His hand was holding a small black box. My heart skipped a beat. “But I am tired of waiting.”

Kaine dropped to one knee, but then paused, muttering to himself. “No, it’s the other…” He shifted to his left knee and opened the box, revealing a silver ring.

I gasped quietly, my hands covering my mouth.

I love coming home to you,” Kaine started softly, his eyes gleaming with warmth and affection. “I love having you wrapped in my arms, watching as you drift off to sleep. I love waking up to the sight of you every morning,” he paused, his smile deepening, lighting up his entire face. Instantly, tears welled up in my eyes. “I want to make a family with you, Lyra—an official one, with you and Leo. And I want you to move into the packhouse with me,” he laughed softly before adding, “It’s starting to feel a little lonely now.”

A laugh bubbled up in my chest, and a tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away, overwhelmed by his words.

Kaine grinned and continued, “So, what do you say, Lyra Winters? Will you be my Luna?”

I knelt in front of him, my heart swelling, and kissed him deeply. When I pulled away, I smiled into his eyes, my voice barely above a whisper. “How could I say no?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven — Lyra’s POV

Dear Journal,

I never believed in fate. To be honest, I never used to believe in a lot of things before I met him. When a werewolf finds her mate, it’s a moment forever etched into her memory—like a nail driven deep, impossible to remove. That’s exactly how it felt the day my eyes locked on Kaine Thornfield. In that instant, a primal connection was forged, resonating deep within my soul.

Before that day, finding a mate was the last thing on my mind. I would have been content to go my entire life without one, as long as I had my best friend and my father by my side. But then I met him, and my entire world shifted. Suddenly, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining a future with him—quiet evenings spent watching our children play in the courtyard, both of us smiling, fulfilled, and whole. It was magic, like stepping into one of those fairy tales they told us under the moonlight. But fate had a way of shattering illusions.

It’s strange to think that everything we’ve built started in chaos—a storm of emotions, misunderstandings, and pain. My father once wrote in his journal: Sometimes, the tests we face are not meant to break us but to make us stronger. I didn’t understand what he meant then, but now I do. What Kaine and I share is far from perfect, but it’s real.

We’ve been tested in ways neither of us could have imagined. And every time we face a new challenge—every time we fall apart only to piece each other back together—we grow stronger. He may have broken me once, but he also taught me what it means to love someone with everything I have.

After everything we’ve been through, I know we’re fated to be together. Now, we’re learning to trust again, to forgive, and to love each other in ways we never thought possible.

I decided to take a page from my father’s life and start a journal. Like him, I wanted to capture the good moments, to hold onto them when life grew uncertain. But more than that, I wanted to confront my own shortcomings. In some ways, Isolde was right. I had been so consumed by my own happiness that I failed to see how deeply my best friend was hurting. This journal would be my mirror—a way to reflect, to grow. It would help me become a better friend, a better mother, and even a better person.

Today marked my first entry: my mating ceremony. After everything Kaine and I had been through over the past month, we wanted something simple, intimate, but the pack had other plans. To them, this wasn’t just a union—it was a moment to be immortalized in history. They said there were a thousand reasons to celebrate, and so, our quiet dream of privacy turned into a grand celebration, far beyond anything we could have imagined. It wasn’t what we planned, but maybe it was exactly what we needed—a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is still joy to be found.

The ceremony became the talk of the town for weeks. It was set to take place on the next full moon, just a month after the ordeal that nearly cost us everything. With such an ambitious plan and so little time, the entire pack sprang into action. Preparations began the moment we announced our engagement.

The town hall was rebuilt faster than anyone could have imagined. Hunting crews were sent out to capture the wildest and largest animals for the feast, turning the task into a competition. The prize? A reward from the Alpha himself. The pack’s excitement was infectious, and it wasn’t long before I found myself swept up in the chaos of it all.

Amidst the whirlwind of planning, I hadn’t given much thought to what I would wear. I’d always pictured myself in a flowing white dress, my hair adorned with petals and flowers, laughing and chatting with my best friend as we prepared for the big day. But I didn’t have a best friend anymore, and I didn’t have a dress either.

Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me. The day before the ceremony, I rummaged through some old boxes in the attic and found the dress my father’s wife had worn for her own mating ceremony. It was simple—a plain white dress with pleated edges—but it would do. In that moment, I realized that what mattered most wasn’t the dress or the flowers, but the promise of what lay ahead.

On the morning of my mating ceremony, I woke up to find the most beautiful dress I ever laid my eyes on. Hanging by the window was a gown—pure white and simple, yet beautiful. The fabric flowed gently, almost like it was made of light. The dress had a fitted bodice with delicate lace along the edges, and the skirt fell softly to the floor in smooth, graceful folds. There was a note attached to it, which read, “You deserve a dress as beautiful as you.”

I barely had time to process the sight before me when I heard his voice behind me.

“Do you like it?”

I turned to see him standing by the doorway, his eyes watching me intently.

I was speechless for a moment, my fingers brushing over the fabric. “How did you find the time to get me a dress?” I asked, my voice laced with surprise.

Kaine shrugged his shoulders. “I made the time. So, do you like it?” he asked again, walking toward me.

I glanced back at the dress, a smile spreading across my face as my heart warmed. “I love it, Kaine.”

A satisfied nod was his reply before he took a step forward, as though ready to pull me into his arms. But I stepped back, wedging a hand between us. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”

“That’s nonsense,” he muttered with a grin. Without hesitation, he reached out, wrapping his arms around me, as he pulled me into him, and placed a kiss on my lips.

Our mating ceremony was nothing short of magical. Bathed in the full moon’s light, Kaine and I exchanged vows—promises to cherish one another, even on the days we were hardest to love. As he leaned in to mark me, a smirk played at the corner of his lips, and the mischievous glint in his eyes reminded me of the previous night, when he had marked me in secret places only he knew about.

But this was the moment that bound us, marking our official union. Once it was completed, the pack roared in approval. I turned to see Leo, standing with the others, clapping his hands, his bright eyes shining with excitement. My heart swelled with love for him. This was the life we would build for him—one where he would be safe, where he would grow strong, and one day, lead the pack himself.

*****

In the dawn of the morning, when the pack’s celebration had faded into the night, Kaine and I lay in bed together, watching the sunrise from his open terrace. Our legs were tangled, and the soft white sheets of the king-sized bed the pack had prepared for us were wrapped around our bodies. The weight of yesterday had lifted, leaving the two of us in our peaceful haven.

I lifted my head from his chest to meet his gaze. He smiled, then reached into the bedside drawer, pulling out a small black box tied with a red ribbon. He placed it gently between us and said, “This belongs to you.”

Curious, I sat up, pulling the sheets around my naked body, and opened the box. My breath caught when I saw the slender silver band inside, a tiny wolf’s paw etched in its center. It was a symbol of love and loyalty. The memory of the first time he gave it to me came rushing back—my eighteenth birthday, during one of our secret midnight escapes into the woods. He’d fastened around my wrist and said, “So you’ll always have a part of me, no matter where you go.”

Tears formed in my eyes as I stared at it. “How…how did you find it?”

“I went looking for you that night,” he said softly, his voice filled with quiet affection. “I found the bracelet in the woods. I had it polished every year, hoping that one day, I’d be able to give it back to you when you returned.”

He gently wiped away the tears from my cheeks with his thumb, then kissed my forehead before fastening a bracelet around my wrist.

“Kaine…” My voice came out in a whisper. “I never thought we’d get here.”

“Neither did I,” he whispered, cupping my face. “But I never stopped hoping because I knew my life could never be whole without you in it. You complete me, Lyra.”

My heart swelled, overwhelmed by the depth of the love I felt for him. As I leaned forward to kiss him, I felt a profound sense of belonging, knowing that this was exactly where I was meant to be. “I love you, Kaine.”

He kissed me back, slow and tender, his hands roaming over my body like he was memorizing every inch of me. “And I love you, Lyra. More than anything.”

I cupped his cheeks, deepening the kiss as I bit down on his lower lip. Kaine responded eagerly by sliding his tongue into my parted lips. I sucked on his tongue, drawing a low moan from him as he murmured my name. His fingers tangled around my messy hair, while his other hand pressed against the small of my back, pulling me closer.

The kiss was insistent, the sound of our lips meeting filling the room with an urgency that made it imposing to believe we’d been in this same situation less than an hour ago—and over three times in the earliest hours of the morning. Yet, we kissed as though we hadn’t touched each other in months, hungry and desperate like it was the very first time. I couldn’t get enough of him, and neither could he.

In one swift motion, Kaine yanked the sheet from my body, tossing aside the last barrier between us to join the pile of discarded clothes scattered haphazardly across the room. A cool breeze swept in, brushing against my skin, and I shivered. Kaine’s hand slipped around my waist, gently pressing me down to the bed as his lips claimed mine with renewed hunger. His kisses trailed down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

Heat spread like wildfire through my body when his mouth found the sensitive spot just below my ear, his teeth grazing the skin before soothing it with his tongue. My fingers dug into his shoulders, craving his touch in the places that would unravel me completely.

Sensing my growing desperation, he chuckled low in his throat and pulled back slightly to gaze at me with an intensity that made my breath catch. Impatient, I wrapped my hands around his neck, drawing him back to me as I captured his lips in a fierce kiss. He chuckled again, but this time, he put me out of my despair by cupping my left breast. A soft gasp escaped me when his fingers brushed my nipple. But he didn’t linger there a moment longer. His hands trailed lower, grazing along my thighs in a slow, torturous tease that left me trembling with anticipation.

“Kaine…” I whispered hoarsely, my voice ragged with frustration and need. “Please…”

“Please, what?” he murmured against my lips, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “What would you like me to do, Lyra?”

“Fuck me, Kaine.”

Without hesitation, he obliged, pushing his index and middle finger into my core. A sharp cry tore through my lips as pleasure surged through me, my body arching into his touch. His mouth closed over my breast, his teeth grazing my nipples as his fingers moved inside me with a rhythm that brought me to the edge far too quickly. Just as my climax threatened to shatter through me, I caught his wrist, stopping him.

With a sly smile, I pushed him back onto the bed. Kaine smirked, his eyes dark with desire as I wrapped my hand around his shaft, guiding me into him. I bit my lower lip as he filled me, stretching me, and I settled on top of him. His hands found my breasts, squeezing them as I began to move. His moans spurred me on, driving me faster and harder as I bounced on top of him. My pleasure built to a peak, and soon, my climax ripped through me. As my body was trembling, Kaine gripped my waist, steadying me so that he could thrust inside me from below. My walls clenched around him, drawing a guttural groan from him as he followed, his release shuddering through him.

Spent, I collapsed onto his chest, both of us panting heavily against each other.

Kaine wrapped his arms around me, kissing my hair as he whispered. “Points for that one, Lyra.”

We both chuckled softly, the warmth of the moment enveloping us. In that instant, there was nothing but Kaine, our bodies and souls entertained as they were always meant to be. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in years, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid to love him with everything I had, and I wasn’t afraid of what would come. Because now, I knew—whatever the future held, we would face it together.

It was the beginning, or rather, the continuation of something beautiful. Within the next year, our love blossomed into a new chapter as I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl we named, Elysia—a name that symbolized the haven we had found in each other. And every night, I would drift off to sleep in Kaine’s arms with a smile on my face, and the comfort of knowing that I would spend forever with him.