chapter 44 Mysterious Woman(2)
Lyra's POV
I blinked, confusion washing over me. "I'm sorry, do we know each other? After the memory loss, many faces are... blank to me."
"Oh, of course. Your 'accident.' How terribly unfortunate." She emphasized the word 'accident' with just enough inflection to make it sound deliberate.
As she spoke, she raised her hand to brush back her hair, revealing a delicate bracelet on her wrist. The moonlight caught the intricate engravings, and she seemed to position it deliberately for my notice.
"He gave this to me," she said, . "He's always so thoughtful. Especially lately, our relationship has become much more... intimate."
Who‘s he?
My stomach twisted with an inexplicable unease. Though I couldn't remember this woman, every instinct screamed that she was a threat. My wolf paced restlessly within me, hackles raised.
"That's... lovely," I managed, standing from my chair. "I'm very happy to meet you, but I think I should return to my seat."
Her smile widened, revealing perfect teeth. As I turned to leave, her voice followed me, pitched low enough that only I could hear:
"Don't get too comfortable with the Blackthorne family's warmth, Lyra. Once the trial period ends, everything will return to its proper place."
The words sent ice through my veins, though I couldn't understand why. I hurried back toward where Caleb was waiting, my heart pounding.
---
As I approached our seats, I noticed a figure across the stadium who seemed to be watching me. A man with brown hair and kind eyes kept glancing in my direction.
When Caleb returned with drinks, I leaned closer to him. "That man over there," I whispered, nodding toward the stranger. "He keeps looking at me. Do you know who he is?"
Caleb followed my gaze. "He's here? What's he doing in Moon Shadow Bay?"
The tension in his voice made me study his face more carefully. "I'm sorry, what? Do you know him?"
The brown-haired man noticed our attention and raised his glass in a polite salute, offering me a particularly warm smile.
"Have I met him before?" I asked. "He seems... familiar somehow."
"That's impossible," Caleb said quickly. "Northern Territory wolves rarely come to Moon Shadow Bay. You've never seen him before."
"Why are you nervous about him? Is he dangerous?"
"No, no, Just territorial instincts. Nothing to worry about."
His discomfort only made me more curious about the mysterious stranger, but before I could ask more questions, excited voices drew our attention to the gambling area.
---
The moonstone gambling tables glowed with a silvery-blue radiance as the ritual betting got underway. I encountered yet another person who seemed to know me. When I asked her name, she hesitated before saying she was Joey.
Joey seemed to instantly grasp what had happened to me. "Are you okay, Lyra? I’m so sorry I didn’t go out with you that day, look what danger you ended up in," she said, her voice catching as she took my hand. "They said you were attacked by rogue wolves." It was clear everyone knew something terrible had befallen me, even if the details remained a mystery.
I reassured Joey that I was doing better, though a few scars still lingered on my face. After some gentle persuasion, she finally relaxed, and began chattering about the latest gossip from the academy.
"Oh, did you hear about Derek Hawthorne? He's walking with a limp now. Whatever happened to him after that incident left him pretty banged up."
"Derek Hawthorne? Of course I remember that name." It's just that I can't recall his face.
Joey's eyes widened. "You don't remember? He's the Hawthorne family creep who harassed you! Dorian really gave him what he deserved—broke several of his bones from what I heard."
The name hit me like a physical blow. Pain exploded behind my temples, and my vision blurred for a moment. I gripped the table edge, fighting waves of inexplicable terror. Caleb reached out and steadied me.
"Don't say that name. The name of the alpha heir," he warned.
"Hey, hey, sorry!" Joey said quickly, noticing my distress. "Let's talk about something else. Want to try the moon gambling? This competition is special—winning depends purely on luck and the Moon Goddess's favor."
"Why not? I'd like to try. Caleb, could you help me place a bet?"
I noticed Joey's expression shift to surprise as she looked between Caleb and me, but at his subtle gesture, she remained silent.
"Are you sure you want to participate?" Caleb asked, his tone careful. "This isn't just a normal game. The stakes are 'moon oaths.'"
Joey explained that this was the most primitive betting game. Even the opponents you gambled against were randomly selected, as dictated by the Moon Goddess. If you won, you could ask the other party to fulfill one request; if you lost, it would be the other way around. All of this was conducted under the moon's oath and could not be violated. But I couldn't care less about all that.
"I'm sure," I said.
I reached into the selection bowl and drew out a betting slip at random, then chose the Blue Moon team from the available options.
"Interesting choice," Caleb murmured.
The competition horn sounded, and the first round began. I watched with growing excitement as the athletes moved with supernatural grace across the field, their wolf abilities on full display.
In the decisive moment, the Blue Moon team pulled off a stunning victory. The crowd erupted in cheers, and I found myself jumping up and down.
"I won? I actually won?" I couldn't believe it.
"Who was I betting against?" I asked Joey, still caught up in the excitement.
Joey checked the records. "You drew the Blackthorne Alpha heir."
I looked down at the slip in my hand, where an elegant signature was scrawled in silver ink.
Dorian Blackthorne.