Chapter 80 Don't change
~ Lyra's POV ~
My head remained buried in my book for a very long time, my attention locked onto the pages as I worked through line after line until I finally mastered the denied access spell.
I barely noticed the passage of time as the symbols and incantations settled into my mind, but when I eventually lifted my gaze, the light outside had already softened into evening. Only then did I decide to give myself some rest, my eyes aching slightly from the strain.
My thoughts, however, refused to rest. They drifted to Kael. He had been occupying my mind more than usual, especially over the past few hours, and it was not simply because I missed him.
There was a lingering worry lodged deep in my chest, an unpleasant and persistent feeling that something was wrong. I had tried to push it away repeatedly, but just like a stubborn fly that would not leave rotten meat alone, the thoughts kept circling back, resurfacing when I least expected them.
Almost as if I had summoned him with the intensity of my thoughts, his familiar scent reached my nose at the exact moment the door opened and he walked in.
I lifted my head to look at him, and my jaw dropped instantly. I sat up without thinking, my eyes widening as I set my pleasantly surprised gaze on him. He looked absolutely drop dead gorgeous, the kind of handsome that stole the air from my lungs.
He was dressed in a tailored suit that fit his body perfectly, every line and seam crafted to accentuate his figure, making him look as though he had stepped straight out of a painting. Every accessory he wore complemented his appearance flawlessly, drawing attention to how well groomed and strikingly handsome his face was. The overall effect was overwhelming in the most delicious way.
Both of his hands were occupied. In one, he held a bottle of wine along with two glasses, and in the other, he carried a wrapped package whose contents were still a mystery to me.
“Whoa, you look like the man of my dreams,” I said, not even realizing when the words slipped out of my mouth.
“I am the man of your dreams, baby,” he replied with a proud smile, one that made it clear he knew exactly how much he affected me.
“Of course you are. You did not cease to torment me,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips as I recalled how many times his eyes had woken me from sleep. Back then, they had been filled with hostility rather than acceptance.
“Torment you?” he asked, clearly confused.
“Yep. You have literally been showing up in my dreams for as long as I can remember,” I explained, deliberately keeping it surface level and avoiding any deeper details.
“Are you for real?” he asked, looking as though he could not believe I was being serious and not just teasing him.
“Yes. I never saw your face though, just the golden eyes of your wolf,” I said. My gaze then drifted to his hands as curiosity took over. “What do you have there?”
“Wine, glasses, and this,” he said, extending the wrapped box toward me. “You have to open it to find out what is inside.”
I took the box from him, carefully placed it on the bed, and began to unwrap it, my anticipation building with every layer of paper I peeled away. When I finally opened it, my breath caught.
“A dress,” I exclaimed when I saw the neatly folded black dress inside. Even without taking it out, I could tell it was expensive and exquisitely made. A matching pair of black heels sat beside it, delicate and elegant, as though they had been lifted straight out of a fairy tale. I reached in and lifted the dress from the box, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. “Wow, it’s beautiful. Who is it for?” I asked, lifting my eyes back to him, my curiosity burning brighter than ever.
“You, of course,” he answered, and my eyes widened as they slowly circled back to the dress, then again to him, my surprise impossible to hide.
“Me?” I asked, needing to hear it again to be sure I had not imagined it.
He nodded without hesitation. “Just because you cannot attend the annual feast with me does not mean you do not get to dress up for it. Go try it on. I want to have my first dance with my queen,” he said, and I grinned from ear to ear, my excitement overflowing and refusing to be contained.
“Okay. I will be right back,” I said to him, already turning toward the bathroom as my heart raced with anticipation. I disappeared inside and began to change into the dress and shoes he had given me.
They both fit me perfectly, as though they had been made specifically for my body. I knew instantly that there was no way he had chosen the sizes on his own. He must have had help from Kaitlyn, and the thought alone made me smile even more.
When I was fully dressed and finally looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. For the first time, I truly felt like a queen.
The dress transformed me completely, making me feel elegant, powerful, and breathtaking all at once. It was the first time I had ever worn something so beautiful and so expensive.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Kael’s jaw dropped instantly. His eyes roamed over me with unmistakable surprise and deep satisfaction, and the intensity of his gaze made my pulse flutter.
“Oh my goodness, you look divine,” he praised softly. “The moon goddess knows I deserve nothing but the best, and she gave me nothing short of that. You look absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart,” he continued, and I felt a warm blush creep up my cheeks despite myself.
“Thank you. I feel gorgeous too. The dress is beautiful. I love it,” I said sincerely. He smiled, then turned his attention to the wine, opening the bottle and pouring two glasses. He handed one to me with a gentle flourish.
“To a beautiful future,” he said in a firm but hopeful tone, lifting his glass before drinking the wine in one confident gulp.
I drank mine more slowly, savoring the smooth and sweet taste as it slid down my throat. When I finished and lowered the glass, he bowed slightly in a playful yet respectful manner and extended his hand toward me.
“May I have this dance, my queen?” he asked.
“Of course, Alpha,” I replied, placing my hand in his. “But I don't really know how to dance.”
“That is not a problem. I will teach you,” he said reassuringly.
“But there is no music,” I pointed out, glancing around the quiet room.
“There is music in my head, and we will dance to that,” he answered, sliding his hand to my waist and pulling me gently closer to him.
As we began to sway softly, different emotions washed over me in waves. There was warmth, comfort, excitement, and a quiet sense of belonging as we moved together to a melody only our hearts could hear and understand.
“Of all the things I have achieved this year, meeting you was the best,” he said quietly. “Thank you for giving me a chance at happiness once again.” With those words, he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my lips, one that lingered just long enough to make my heart ache pleasantly.
A sudden gasp broke the moment, and we both turned toward the door at the same time. That was when we realized Kael had not closed it after entering.
Taren stood at the doorway with the food trolley, his usual routine interrupted. The shock on his face was unmistakable, and he immediately stepped back, retreating to give us our privacy once more.
“I was too excited and did not realize we had company,” Kael said with a soft, almost sheepish laugh. “I want to do this again at the end of the night. Don’t change. My last dance today belongs to you,” he added before releasing me and walking out of the room, leaving my heart pounding and my smile lingering long after he was gone.