Chapter 91 I've got your back
~ Lyra's POV ~
For the past few weeks, my days had always been filled with something to do or at least something to look forward to with genuine enthusiasm. If I was not brimming with excitement over learning and understanding my magic, then I was eagerly anticipating the chance to see either Taren or Kael. There had always been a spark of expectation waiting for me at the end of each day, something that made waking up feel worthwhile.
Today, however, was drenched in gloom. There was no excitement stirring in my chest, no enthusiasm pushing me forward, and no motivation to do anything at all, let alone learn.
I was not looking forward to seeing anyone. Not a single soul crossed my mind in a pleasant way. The only thing I wanted was to stay hidden within these walls and quietly mourn the good days that already felt like they belonged to another lifetime.
It felt as though my entire world had collapsed in on itself, leaving nothing but rubble behind. There was no hope whispering to me that it could ever be rebuilt or made whole again.
I didn't know how I was supposed to continue living with this kind of pain lodged so deeply in my heart. I had never been heartbroken before. This was my first time experiencing it, and I had no idea what to do with myself or how to survive it.
Lunaris had been mostly quiet ever since our shocking discovery. On a normal day, she was my constant companion, always present with her thoughts and reassurances, but today her silence made sense. She was in pain just as much as I was, and neither of us had the strength to comfort the other.
Three knocks reached my ears, and I already knew who stood on the other side of the door. It was Taren. It was already evening, which meant it was time for dinner. My appetite had been nonexistent throughout the day, but somehow he had still managed to coax me into eating a little during breakfast and lunch.
With a lazy wave of my hand, I opened the door and allowed him inside. He greeted me as he always did, but this time I noticed something different. There was a trace of excitement in his voice and an unmistakable, though almost imperceptible, smile tugging at his lips.
“I have good news, my lady, but I am not allowed to tell you,” he announced after setting the trolley exactly where it was supposed to be.
“Why not?” I asked, frowning deeply. His statement struck me as strange, and unease stirred in my chest. “What is stopping you from telling me?”
“Well, it was announced this afternoon, and Alpha told me not to tell you,” he explained. “I suppose he wants to break the news to you himself.”
At the mention of that title, my mood immediately soured.
“I am not interested in whatever he wants to say,” I replied sharply, turning my face away as irritation twisted my expression. “I don't even want to see him.” It was no longer just his presence that unsettled me. Even hearing his name was enough to make my stomach churn.
“Are you sure about that?” Taren asked quietly, and there was something in his tone that made the question feel heavier than it sounded.
I turned my attention back to him and saw uncertainty written clearly across his face.
“Why do you think I am not sure?” I asked, my brows knitting together in confusion and irritation.
“It’s just a question,” he replied, and I could not tell whether he was being serious or merely probing.
“I am very sure,” I said flatly, my voice devoid of emotion.
“Alright,” he conceded, then paused before continuing. “But I still think you may want to hear what he has to say. At least hear him out and let him explain himself. Things are not really as they seem.” His expression shifted completely as he spoke, the lightness disappearing and giving way to a seriousness that made my chest tighten.
That was when I remembered that he had told me he needed some time to carry out his investigations and then get back to me. The memory surfaced slowly, pushing through the fog of my thoughts, and suddenly my heart began to thud harder against my ribs.
“What do you mean?” I asked, sitting up a little straighter. “Did you find out anything?” My voice betrayed the sudden urgency that had taken hold of me. Without hesitation, he nodded his head twice, his expression serious and deliberate.
“I did promise to investigate and report back to you,” he began, “and although I could not gather as much as I hoped, I will tell you everything I was able to uncover.” As he spoke, my heart started beating wildly, as though it sensed something coming, something I had not prepared myself for.
I forced myself to remain calm, even though every nerve in my body felt tightly wound. I didn't take my eyes off him for a second. I needed to hear every word he had to say. Somewhere deep inside me, a fragile spark of hope flickered, whispering that maybe, just maybe, there was something in his findings that could make this pain easier to bear.
“The woman whose voice you heard last night has left the pack house,” Taren said, then paused briefly. “But that is not the most interesting part. From what I heard, she left this morning in tears, bitterly complaining that Alpha humiliated her by chasing her away from his room.”
I tilted my head slightly, confusion washing over me. “He chased her away?” I asked, shifting my position on the bed as I tried to make sense of his words.
“Yes,” he replied. “That is what I heard. And although I cannot confirm every detail, I also heard that Alpha admitted he did chase her away because he did not know how she gained access to his room in the first place.”
That made me frown immediately.
“That does not make any sense,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “They came in together. I am very sure of that.” The memory of the previous night replayed vividly in my mind. I would have doubted Kael’s presence entirely if I had not stepped outside and moved toward his room to confirm it for myself. Even though I did not hear his voice, his scent was unmistakable to me. I knew it too well to be wrong.
“That is exactly why I told you that you should hear him out,” Taren said gently. “Too many things are not adding up. I know you are angry, and I want you to hold on to that anger until you are certain it is right to let it go. But at the same time, you should make room for a fair hearing.”
Before I could respond or argue, Lunaris’ voice echoed softly in my mind.
“Listen to him,” she said, her voice tired but sincere. “What he is saying makes a lot of sense.”
I did not have the strength to argue with her.
“Alright,” I said at last, turning back to Taren. “I will hear him out, but that does not mean I am going to forgive him.” I made sure my tone was firm, not wanting him to misunderstand my resolve. What he said next, however, caught me completely off guard.
“I would not even want you to forgive him that easily.”
“Why is that?” I asked, startled.
“Because most of the time, we do not value the things that come easily to us,” he explained calmly. “When we work hard for something, we cherish it and do everything we can not to lose it. Make him work to earn your forgiveness, but only if you think he truly deserves it.”
For the first time that day, I felt a small weight lift from my chest. The heaviness was still there, but it had eased just enough to let me breathe. Under different circumstances, I might have laughed.
“It is your Alpha we are talking about,” I said quietly. “Should you not be on his side?”
He rolled his eyes without hesitation.
“Of course I am on his side,” he replied. “But if he decides to hurt you, I will not stand by idly or side with him. You can be certain of that. I will stand firmly with you in moments like this. I've got your back, my lady.”