Chapter 86 The Una’Rah
Pain was what dragged Lyra back to the surface of consciousness.
It was everywhere, searing, burning deep inside her bones.
Her chest felt heavy and her limbs sluggish, as though her body had been dipped in fire and dragged back out.
“Ahh,” she moaned weakly and tried to move, and the world spun violently.
Just as she struggled to get up again, a hand pressed her gently but firmly back down.
“Easy,” a familiar voice said. “Don’t even think about sitting up yet.”
Lyra blinked, forcing her eyes open.
The ceiling above her swam into focus, then the face finally became clear.
“Dax,” she rasped.
He was leaning over her bed, arms braced on either side, looking very worried.
“You’re awake,” he said, sighing in relief. “Thank the gods, I was worried sick.”
She immediately tried to rise again as the thought of Samson quickly came to her mind. “What about him?”
“Who?” Dax asked, frowning. “Don’t tell me you’re worried about Ryker right now.”
“No, Samson—”
“Stop.” Dax pressed her shoulder down carefully. “You’re hurt badly, and you need to rest. You’re not going anywhere.”
“He’s still out there,” she insisted, breath coming faster. “He tried to kill me.”
Dax looked pissed at the thought. “Ryker is taking care of him as we speak.”
That made her finally stay still.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Dax straightened slightly, crossing his arms. “Ryker found you collapsed on the porch before you could get inside. He followed the blood trail straight to the tunnels, and Samson was still there. Apparently, he was trying to run off with some maid from the kitchen.”
Lyra swallowed. “Tracy—”
“She’s alive,” Dax cut in before Lyra could panic again. “And restrained.”
She felt relief at the thought, but as she sighed, the movement left a sharp pain in her chest and she hissed.
“You’re lucky to be alive,” Dax continued grimly. “Silver bullets were lodged in your body. Not just one. That’s why you’re healing so slowly.”
Lyra’s fingers curled weakly into the sheets. “I know what she did was wrong, but please, no one should hurt Tracy,” she said urgently. “She’s pregnant.”
Dax studied her for a long moment, then sighed. “I wonder how you can stay so kind despite everything that’s happening.”
“None of that matters right now. I just want to make sure that Tracy isn’t hurt. She’s a desperate mother trying to keep her family together. Please.”
Dax scoffed at her words and arched his brows at her. “That doesn’t excuse what she did. She poisoned you and sabotaged her Alpha’s efforts to find a criminal.”
“I know she messed up, but please, you have to be merciful. She didn’t have a choice.”
“People always have choices. Always,” he replied coldly.
Lyra sighed and knew it was pointless arguing with him. “Please, could you talk to Ryker to spare her because of the baby?”
Dax shrugged. “Ryker knows. He’s handling it.”
Before Lyra could respond, the door opened quietly and Rex stepped inside.
She looked way better than the last time Lyra saw her. Clearly, she was healing well.
“There you are,” Rex said gently. “You scared us.”
Lyra tried to smile but felt tears prick her eyes. “You should be resting. You’re the one who got stabbed.”
“Come on, I’m fine now. It takes a lot more than that to kill me,” she winked, then got closer to her bedside.
“Thank you for coming,” Lyra said softly.
Rex nodded. “How are you feeling? Ryker said he found you bleeding out. He smelled your scent while we were having dinner and insisted on checking it out. We all thought he was imagining things.”
“I was lucky to escape. Samson wanted to end everything last night. I think he wants to challenge Ryker.”
“Don’t bother your head with all that. Ryker is taking care of him right now.”
Lyra nodded, although she still felt uneasy.
Rex touched her temple. “You’re healing,” she said after a brief inspection, her tone reassuring. “Slowly, but properly. The poison’s nearly out of your system.”
Lyra exhaled shakily. “The pack must be celebrating that Samson almost got rid of me—”
“Don’t say it, Lyra. Everyone is worried,” Rex said simply. “Every single one of them.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Lyra replied. She wasn’t dumb enough to think that the IronFangs wanted her safety.
“Stop thinking that way. We’re your family,” Dax insisted, but she didn’t believe him.
Day after day, she was getting convinced of the Blood King’s words. This wasn’t her home.
The door burst open before Lyra could answer.
A guard rushed in, breathless. “Luna,” he said urgently. “You need to come. Right now.”
Dax spun toward him, angry at the interruption. “Have you lost your mind? She can barely sit up.”
“The pack is in disarray,” the guard insisted. “You have to see it yourself.”
Lyra pushed herself upright despite the pain, ignoring Dax’s protest. “If they need me,” she said firmly, “I’m going.”
Moments later, wrapped in a soft clinic gown, Lyra stepped outside.
The courtyard was crowded with warriors, elders, and pack members gathered in uneasy silence.
At the center was the IronFangs sculpture made of metal scraps and the taxidermy of a wolf.
And bound to it was Samson.
Ropes were tightly bound around his arms, his clothes torn and bloodied, yet his eyes still clearly proved how defiant he was.
Ryker stood before him, looking like he was controlling himself with every bit of his strength.
“What’s going on?” Lyra asked as she moved through the crowd to stand beside Ryker.
When Samson saw Lyra, his lips curled into a cruel smile.
“She’s the reason?” he laughed hoarsely and snarled at her.
Lyra stepped back at his words and stood behind Ryker.
Ryker snapped at him. “She is your Luna!”
“Never! She is nothing to me! And you’re pathetic for doing all this for some half-breed woman.”
Ryker turned sharply to Lyra. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said softly and grabbed her hands. “You’re still recovering.”
Lyra stepped forward anyway.
“You have betrayed your pack, Samson,” Lyra said.
“You don’t deserve to speak with me,” Samson growled. “You’re beneath me!”
“That’s enough! I have no mercy for you,” Ryker cut in.
Then he faced Samson again, his tone cold and final. “Say your last words. You are banished from IronFangs. Forever.”
“You cannot banish me!” Samson spat blood and laughed. “I do not accept your leadership. You are not my Alpha.”
Everyone gasped at his words.
Dax stepped forward impatiently. “That’s enough. You’re banished. Leave now before I put you in a casket.”
Then he ordered the other warriors to bring him down from the sculpture and led him away.
But as soon as he was unbound, he turned to Ryker and said, “These are my last words to you, boy.”
Ryker watched him calmly and didn’t speak.
“I, Samson Eugene of the IronFangs,” Samson declared, “challenge you, Ryker Kael, to an Una’Rah!”
Everyone froze.