Chapter 61 Hunky Temptation in Denim
Lyra slipped out into the backyard the next morning without telling anyone where she was going.
The cold morning air wrapped around her, and she liked it. Last night was a nightmare.
Ryker wasn't home. In fact, he'd taken night watch the entire night, and she was left with her thoughts all alone in the Alpha's quarters. It was torture.
As soon as the sun came up, she was the first to rouse and head outside. She wasn't even in the mood for breakfast pleasantries in the dining room.
And of course, she was avoiding Dax and Rex.
She dropped onto one of the wooden benches near the edge of the yard and pulled a cigarette from her pocket. For a moment, she only stared at it between her fingers, turning it slowly, remembering all the reasons she had stopped.
She scoffed softly to herself and lit it anyway.
The first drag burned her lungs, and she coughed out loud. But she didn't put it out. She welcomed the sting as smoke curled out of her mouth while she leaned back, eyes lifting to the sky.
“It's bad for me,” she muttered, taking another puff. “Still don’t care.”
That was when she felt that familiar prickle at the back of her neck. The unmistakable sensation of being watched.
She didn’t turn.
“You can stop staring, Rex,” Lyra said calmly. “I know you’re right there.”
There was a brief pause, then the sound of footsteps crunching softly over gravel. Rex crossed around the bench and dropped down beside her, close enough that Lyra could feel her warmth.
Rex smiled, folding her arms loosely. “I know you haven’t smoked since you were reborn.”
Lyra shrugged, smoke drifting lazily between them. “You honestly don’t know me that much.”
Rex laughed, low and easy. “That’s not completely true.” Her tone softened. “But still, I’m glad you’re better.”
Lyra glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “There’s nothing wrong with me, you know.” She exhaled slowly. “I was just mad at Ryker and you. I thought you abandoned me out there. I really thought you left me to die.”
Her grip tightened around the cigarette. “But I guess I was wrong.”
Rex’s smile faded. She leaned back, staring ahead. “Yeah. Maybe I did.” Then she sighed. “But Ryker sure didn’t.”
That earned a short laugh from Lyra, surprised and genuine. She shook her head and stubbed the cigarette out against the edge of the bench. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “For being mean to you. For assuming the worst.”
Rex turned to her then, eyes searching, and before Lyra could overthink it, they leaned into each other. The hug was tight and warm, familiar in a way Lyra hadn’t realized she missed.
Then Rex suddenly pulled back with a sharp curse.
“Damn!” Rex blurted.
Lyra blinked. “What?”
“You’re hot,” Rex said, staring at her like she’d just noticed something alarming.
Lyra smiled faintly. “Thanks. Ryker says the clothes are revealing and all that, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”
Rex shook her head quickly. “No, not the clothes. You.” She reached out, fingers brushing Lyra’s neck. “Your skin is burning. Are you alright?”
Lyra nodded at once. “I’m fine. Really.”
Rex frowned but didn’t push. “Have you seen the doctor?”
“Yeah,” Lyra replied, picking up the cigarette again even though it was done. “He decided to talk to Ryker instead of me.”
“Oh.” Rex straightened. “Well, I’m sure Ryker will handle it.”
“Yeah,” Lyra said, though something in her voice didn’t quite agree.
They sat in silence for a few seconds longer. Then Rex stood. “I’ve got errands to run for Alpha Ryker,” she said, already backing away. “Try not to set anything on fire.”
Lyra smirked. “No promises.”
Rex walked off, leaving Lyra alone again. By the time she finally stood from the bench, the yard had fully awakened. Her cigarette wasn't finished, but she didn't need it anyway.
She headed inside.
She didn’t know where Dax was, and that thought sat uncomfortably in her chest. She hadn’t seen much of him since the rejection ceremony. It worried her more than she wanted to admit.
Sighing, she made her way into the Alpha quarters.
As soon as she opened the door, Ryker was stretched out on the couch, dead asleep.
Lyra stopped short.
He really was a sight for sore eyes.
His shirt was half unbuttoned, chest exposed, rising and falling steadily. One arm was thrown over his head, the other resting loosely at his side. His legs were draped over the arm of the couch, making the fabric pull tight over powerful thighs.
Goodness, he was a sight for sore eyes.
And he was snoring quite loudly.
Lyra smiled despite herself.
Without thinking, she moved closer.
She didn't know why, but she had to touch him. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, heat pooling low in her stomach. Even her breathing was becoming shallow, and she couldn't tell why.
Each day it got worse. Each day, Ryker felt more magnetic, more impossible to resist.
She was acutely aware of how ridiculous she probably looked, staring at him like this, but she couldn’t stop.
She climbed onto the couch, straddling him carefully.
The moment her skin touched his, she gasped at the tingling.
Relief surged through her like a wave. It felt like life itself rushing back into her veins, like something inside her had finally clicked into place.
Her hands trembled as she lifted them, brushing over his face, memorizing the familiar lines, the roughness of his jaw.
“He's so beautiful,” she muttered.
Maybe that wasn't quite the right word to define Ryker. Maybe he was ruggedly handsome and rough-looking. But every part of him appealed to her.
When she looked past the rough beard and tattoos, he looked every bit like the object of every girl's wet dreams.
His chin was perfect, his jaw was perfect. Even his eyes, when he was mad, were enough to turn her into jelly.
“His lips,” she muttered, her fingers softly grazing his lips.
It was a touch so soft that he didn't even stir.
She drank in the sight of him, unable to tear her eyes away. Every part of her wanted this man in the most savage way.
Lyra wasn't thinking of thought. No, she was thinking fire and brimstone and anger and hard sex. Everything she had no business thinking about.
Her vision blurred as she leaned down instinctively, drawn toward him without logic or reason.
Then suddenly, everything went wrong.
Ryker shifted in his sleep, his forehead shooting forward.
Lyra didn't have time to pull away before his forehead connected right with hers.
Pain exploded between her eyes, and she cried out, clutching her head as she cried out.
“Ow!”
Ryker jolted awake with a snarl, already half upright, eyes glowing faintly as he scanned the room. “What the hell—”
He froze when he saw her on him, hands pressed to her forehead.
“Lyra?”