Chapter 53 Blotted Truth
Lyra stood frozen, the words echoing over and over in her head like a fucking chant.
“A rejection ceremony,” she mumbled, astonished.
Everyone knew what that meant. It wasn't just a divorce; it was an ancient ritual, and it was irreversible.
Ryker would reject her before the entire pack. She would cease to be his mate, his Luna, his wife in every sense that still mattered in their world. The bond that was a part of their lives would be severed like it meant nothing.
Her chest felt tight, like something heavy was sitting on it, pressing the air out of her lungs.
Dax was the first to break the silence.
“Hey,” he said gently, touching her arm. “It’s okay. You didn’t want the marriage again anyway, right?”
Lyra swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.
“What do you mean you don't know? Ryker has taken lovers in the past. He even picked Sierra over you!”
“I know all he did, Dax, but…”
“But what?” Dax insisted.
“I can’t… I can’t explain how I feel.”
He sighed softly, studying her face. “Ryker is just trying to control you. He’s using the fact that you’re married to keep you tethered to him forever. Once it’s dissolved, you’ll be free.”
Free.
The word didn’t feel comforting. It felt terrifying.
Dax lifted his hand and cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek as he looked into her eyes.
Lyra couldn't deny the desire she saw in his eyes.
She stepped back abruptly, pulling away from his touch.
“Dax,” she said quietly but firmly. “I’m grateful you saved my life. Truly. But I don’t know what this is.”
His hand fell to his side. “We don’t have to give it a name,” he replied. “Not yet. You're going through a lot right now, and I can wait.”
She shook her head. “No. My life is already too complicated. I don’t want to make it worse. Ryker might not be what I want, but I don’t know what I do want. I’m confused, and I can’t do that to you.”
“Lyra,” he said softly, “I’m not forcing you. You don't have to figure out anything. I’ll wait until you're ready.”
Her throat tightened. “But you’re Ryker’s brother. You’re my brother-in-law. This is forbidden.”
Dax let out a quiet breath and smiled faintly. “Who made the rules?” he asked. “You’re reborn. You can do whatever you want now.”
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. His smile was sad this time.
“I still care about you, Lyra,” he said. “No matter how you feel. I just want you to get rid of my brother before he destroys your life again like last time.”
Then he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.
Lyra remained where she was, staring at the empty space he left behind.
Her legs felt weak.
Ryker is going to dissolve our marriage.
The thought finally landed fully, sinking deep into her chest.
She didn’t know whether to feel relieved, furious, heartbroken, or all three at once. Her emotions were a tangled mess she couldn’t begin to sort through.
Without thinking, she moved.
She flung the door open and stormed down the hallway, straight toward the garage. The only thing she knew was that she needed air and her motorbike, something loud enough to drown out her thoughts.
As she reached the garage, she slowed down when she saw that Rex was already there.
She stood near the far wall, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. A dark bruise was already blooming along her forearm.
Lyra knew that was from the shove earlier, and her heart dropped.
“I’m sorry,” she said immediately, her voice very low. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Rex didn’t look at her. “Whatever,” she muttered. “It’s fine.”
“No,” Lyra insisted, stepping closer. “It’s not fine. I’m really sorry for everything I said. I didn’t mean any of it. I was angry and—”
“Whatever you’re going through,” Rex cut in, finally turning to face her, “it has nothing to do with me or Ryker. You need to figure your shit out and stop blaming people who actually care about you.”
The words hit harder than Lyra expected.
Then Rex turned to leave.
“How can you say you care?” Lyra blurted out. “When you left me with Oscar to die? You left me out there with a vampire and came back home!”
Rex froze.
Slowly, she turned around. “What did you just say?”
Lyra’s chest tightened. “Dax told me everything, okay,” she said bitterly. “He said you and Ryker came back, and he alone went to find me.”
Rex scoffed, disbelief flashing across her face. “That’s a lie.”
Lyra blinked, confused. “What?”
“I came home,” Rex admitted, “because I thought maybe you’d escaped and found your way back. But Ryker didn't. He went right into the vampire territory to save you.”
Lyra stared at her.
“That’s not… that’s not what Dax told me,” she whispered.
“I don’t know what Dax told you,” Rex snapped, “but Ryker risked his life for you. Have you seen the scars he came back with?”
Lyra shook her head slowly, shame crawling up her spine.
“He crossed the river,” Rex continued. “He almost died at the border, and yeah, he doesn’t talk about it. All he’s done since you returned is hide his pain and pretend he’s fine. And you hate him because of a story you didn’t even bother to question.”
Tears burned Lyra’s eyes.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “I really didn’t. I thought you both abandoned me.”
“We all did what we could,” Rex said flatly. “If you can’t see how much Ryker loves you, then the joke is on you.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Lyra standing alone in the garage.
Lyra sagged against the wall, her knees threatening to give out. What had she done? How did she push Ryker so far that he was now willing to let her go?
“Fuck,” she breathed. “He’ll never forgive me.”