Chapter 56 Rejection Ceremony Hijacked
The front yard was packed with a large crowd.
Every member of the IronFangs MC stood in a wide semicircle, some leaning against their motorbike and others discussing loudly.
There was a large crate of beer in the center and a few of the men indulged while they waited.
Ryker walked out into the center and looked at his pack members for a brief second, imagining what their thoughts were towards him already.
This meeting was long overdue and he couldn't wait to get it over with.
When he raised his hand, the murmurs died instantly and everyone looked up.
“Listen up,” Ryker said, his voice loud enough for all to hear. “As you all know, Lyra, our Luna, was reborn.”
It was a fact and none argued it. But from the look on their faces, they wondered what Ryker had to say.
“She returned with a different body and while this is new to all of us,” he continued. “She remains a member of this great pack. She's not broken or weak, she's just slightly different..”
Someone muttered in agreement and another voice called out, “She survived death!”
Ryker gave a single nod. “Yes. And because of that, I expect every one of you to accept this Lyra the same way you accepted the one we lost.”
There was a pause as he studied their faces. “She remains your Luna.”
That stirred louder reactions from the crowd but thankfully, no one opposed him. Good. Ryker wasn't in the mood to play democratic alpha today. He was stressed out already.
“But that's not exactly why we're gathered here today,” Ryker drew a slow breath. “When Lyra and I were married, our vows were until death did us part.
Lyra died. What stands here now is a reborn woman with a new life ahead of her. It would be unfair to bind her to vows made in a past life.”
The crowd wasn't so quiet anymore.
“Is he divorcing her?" Someone muttered from the front row.
“She deserves freedom,” he went on, trying to keep his voice steady despite the storm inside him. “Freedom to choose her own path. Her own partner.”
His gaze moved, just for a second, to his left.
Dax stood there with arms folded across his chest, bandages still wrapped around his torso and his eyes fixed on him.
Ryker lifted his hand again. “I know there have been rumors. About Lyra and my brother.” His voice hardened. “They’re false. Lyra has been faithful to me from the moment I met her. If she chooses now to take a lover, she has broken no rules and committed no sin.”
Even Dax seemed stunned by his last words.
“Lyra,” Ryker called, turning slightly. “Come forward.”
Lyra stepped out from behind him but she wasn’t empty-handed.
A large duffel bag hung from her shoulder and in her other hand, she held a single motorcycle key.
Ryker's eyes dropped to the key, then the bag. Confusion was clearly drawn across his face, but he said nothing. He stepped toward her, reaching for her hands.
This was it. This was the moment she'd cease to be his own.
He inhaled deeply and began. “Lyra,” he said loudly, gripping her fingers. “Today, I, as Alpha of the IronFangs MC and your mate, hereby reje—”
“No!”
Her voice drowned his as she snatched her hands from his grasp.
Ryker blinked at the interruption. “Lyra, what are you doing?" He whispered harshly.
“I’m not willing to divorce you,” Lyra said. “And I’m not willing to stop being your mate.”
Ryker stared at her, stunned. “Stop this,” he said under his breath. “It’s already done.”
“I knew you’d say that,” she shot back. “I knew you’d decide everything on your own again and ignore how I feel.”
“This is what we both want,” he argued, frustrated.
“Did I tell you that?” she demanded.
He hissed quietly but he didn’t answer.
Lyra turned to the crowd, her voice shaking. “Ryker is my mate. He’s my husband and I still love him. I’m not willing to let our marriage go.”
People looked around, confused.
“Lyra,” Ryker said sharply, “This isn't what you want. I will reject you, that’s final. You’re free.”
“Then if you reject me,” she said, lifting the duffel bag slightly, “I’ll leave the IronFangs and never return. This is all that belongs to me. This key is for my bike. I’ll ride so far away you’ll never find a trace of me again.”
Ryker’s head snapped toward Rex, who stood directly behind Lyra. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Rex lifted his hands slightly. “I tried to stop her, Alpha.”
Ryker turned back to Lyra, disbelief clear in his eyes. “This doesn’t make any sense. You don’t want me.”
“That’s the lie you keep telling yourself,” she replied. “I want my husband, I want my mate back and I want my life here. I'll either have all that or nothing.”
He was speechless.
“So what’s it going to be?” Lyra pressed, voice breaking now despite her attempt to be brave. “Reject me and lose me forever, or let us continue our marriage?”
“Lyra!” Dax stepped forward. “Did he force you into this? Did he give you an ultimatum?”
Rex snarled immediately. “Back off, Dax. You have no idea what's going on here.”
Lyra shook her head. “Ryker didn’t force me. But I know the truth now and I'd be a fool to let my mate go.”
Before anyone could stop her, she dropped the bag and went down on her knees.
The entire crowd gasped as she bowed, her forehead touching the ground in a full, undeniable submission.
“She's publicly accepting him as her master, that can't be reversed," someone muttered, baffled.
“Lyra!” Dax shouted. “You can’t do this. You’re letting him claim you again!”
She didn’t move.
Ryker stood frozen, angry and awed all at once.
The sight of proud and feisty Lyra, on her knees, bowing complete and surrendering, shattered something inside him.
This was an ancient symbol of accepting one's master. And it couldn't be reversed.
He crossed the distance in two steps.
“Enough,” he said hoarsely.
He reached down, hands trembling, and lifted her up, pulling her against his chest before she could resist. She clutched his jacket, sobbing now, her strength finally giving way.
Ryker's heart broke at the sight of her crying. Did she really think he'd refuse her after that move?
His arms locked around her as he bowed his head and kissed her forehead. He didn’t care who saw. He didn’t care about pride or Alpha image.
Rex turned to the stunned pack. “Meeting dismissed!”
No one moved, still wondering how a rejection ceremony had changed so quickly.
“What are you looking at?” Rex barked. “Meeting dismissed!”