Chapter 17
Lyra's POV
I pushed open the apartment door, and before I could even take off my shoes, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
Kael's breath washed over me, carrying the faint scent of alcohol mixed with his usual cologne as he pulled me into his embrace, his lips urgently finding my neck.
"You're finally back," his voice was low and suggestive, his fingers already beginning to trace restless patterns along my waistline. "I've been waiting for you for so long."
I stood there rigidly, feeling the urgency in his movements as his hands slipped beneath my clothes, his rough palms grazing against my skin.
I knew exactly what he wanted—he wanted me pregnant again, to completely heal Mira's uterus.
"Lyra," he murmured in my ear, his voice carrying a certain satisfaction, "I'm actually glad you've finally recognized your place. You see, even though Mira and I are together now, there's still a place for you by my side."
His words dripped with condescension, as if he had bestowed upon me some magnificent favor that I should gratefully accept.
But I knew better than ever that his current urgency stemmed not from love, but from the pressing weight of time.
He needed to get me pregnant as soon as possible, needed to use the life force of my unborn child to repair Mira's uterus and silence the elders who questioned her position as Luna.
At tonight's banquet, I had noticed the expressions on several elders' faces—they were clearly displeased with Kael's sudden announcement of Mira as Luna.
In werewolf tradition, the Luna wasn't merely the Alpha's mate; she needed to be capable of bearing heirs. If Mira continued to fail at conceiving, the elders' doubts would only multiply, and Kael's own position would be undermined.
So he was desperate now, so desperate that he couldn't even be bothered with basic pretense.
Kael's movements grew increasingly rough as he practically tore away my jacket, his fingers fumbling urgently with the buttons of my blouse.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to resist, not to reveal any hint of what I truly felt.
I needed him to lower his guard, to believe I had completely surrendered.
Just as he stripped off my top and his fingers touched the zipper at my waist, his movements suddenly froze.
I opened my eyes to see his gaze momentarily vacant, his pupils slightly dilated, as if he were staring at something I couldn't see.
It was the mental bond between werewolf mates—Mira was calling to him.
In the next second, Kael abruptly released me and quickly began straightening his clothes.
"Sorry, I just remembered there's some urgent business I need to handle," his tone had returned to its usual calm, even carrying a hint of apology, though that apology felt hollow and perfunctory. "I'll make it up to you properly when I get back."
With that, he hurried out of the apartment, the door slamming shut behind him with a dull thud.
I stood there, bare-chested, staring at that closed door, a sardonic smile curling at my lips.
Mira really couldn't contain herself, could she? Just after announcing her new status at the banquet, she was already this impatient to summon Kael away.
After ensuring Kael wouldn't return anytime soon, I dressed myself and began searching through the apartment.
I carefully examined Kael's desk drawers, closet, even his nightstand, hoping to find some clue about what he had mentioned in that surveillance footage, or any evidence related to the Blood Moon Cult.
But I found nothing. The documents were all ordinary business contracts, the bills were routine expenses—not even a single suspicious receipt.
Kael had hidden this information well, or perhaps he simply hadn't left any evidence in this apartment at all.
I sat on the sofa, contemplating my next move.
Perhaps the most direct approach would be to find an opportunity to search through Kael's phone.
After all, his phone must contain contact information for those people, records of his communications with the Blood Moon Cult.
Just as I was lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang. I walked over and opened the door to find Sera standing outside, her face filled with anxiety and concern.
"Lyra!" She practically rushed in, grabbing my hand. "Are you okay? I looked everywhere for you after the banquet. You just left like that—I was so worried."
I ushered her inside and poured her a glass of water. "I'm fine, Sera, really. I just needed some time alone."
Sera took the glass but didn't drink, her eyes fixed intently on mine, her voice urgent and confused.
"Lyra, what exactly happened? How could Kael suddenly choose Mira as the pack's Luna? This is all too sudden—I can't make sense of it."
I fell silent for a moment, unsure how to explain.
This matter involved too much; I couldn't tell her the truth, couldn't drag her into this dangerous vortex.
"It's... complicated, Sera. The bottom line is, things between Kael and me are over."
Sera was clearly unsatisfied with this answer. She opened her mouth to press further but ultimately swallowed her words.
She knew me well enough to understand that I wouldn't easily share what I didn't want to discuss.
So she prepared to change the subject, attempting to dispel the somewhat melancholy atmosphere, but I seized the opportunity.
"Sera," I looked at her, asking earnestly, "have you noticed any unusual behavior from Kael recently?"
Sera froze, clearly not expecting this question.
She furrowed her brow, sinking into recollection, and after a long moment, spoke with some hesitation: "Unusual behavior... now that you mention it, there is something."
She paused, organizing her thoughts.
"Bran mentioned to me before that during some of his patrols, he saw Kael a few times at some remote locations near the border, and Kael wasn't alone—he was talking with someone wearing a mask. Bran said their behavior seemed rather furtive, like they were plotting something."
Bran Torven, Sera's newlywed husband.
My heart lurched, my entire body immediately on alert. From what Sera was saying, this was definitely not an ordinary business meeting.
"When Bran told me about this, I didn't think much of it," Sera continued. "I told him it was probably just one of Kael's business associates, but now that you're asking..."
She looked at me, worry evident in her eyes. "Lyra, is Kael involved in something bad?"
I didn't know how to answer her.
If I confessed everything now, not only would I expose my identity, but I would also put Sera in danger.
So I simply shook my head, denying her speculation.
"Sera, thank you for telling me this," I gripped her hand, looking earnestly into her eyes. "But I need you to promise me something—don't tell anyone about our conversation today, especially not Kael. Can you do that?"
Sera hesitated but eventually nodded. "I promise, Lyra. Although I still don't know what's going on, I've always trusted you."
"And," I continued pressing, "the place where Bran saw Kael meeting with that masked person—where exactly was it?"
Sera furrowed her brow, trying hard to remember. "I can't say the exact location—Bran only mentioned it in passing—but I remember he said this happened twice, both during his regular shift days."
She thought for a moment. "Oh, right—it was always on the 16th of each month. That's his night patrol schedule."
The 16th of every month. I silently committed this date to memory.
Today was the 20th, which meant there were less than four weeks until next month's 16th. That would be my opportunity—I could secretly follow Kael that day, find the location where he met with the masked person, and perhaps discover a lead to the Blood Moon Cult.