Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Lyra

Being human feels like living with the volume turned all the way up.

Every sound in Kael’s office seems sharper now—the click of polished shoes against marble floors, the low murmur of wolves speaking in controlled tones, the distant hum of the city beyond the reinforced windows. I sit at my desk outside Kael’s office, posture straight, hands folded neatly, doing my best to look like I belong here.

I used to feel like I belonged.

Now I just exist.

Kael’s door opens for the third time in less than an hour.

“Lyra,” he says, voice gentle but firm. “Did you eat?”

I look up from my tablet. “Not yet.”

His jaw tightens slightly. “You’re coming with me.”

“I still have the—”

“It can wait,” he cuts in, already reaching for my coat. “You can’t.”

There’s no anger in his voice. Just concern layered so thick it feels almost suffocating.

I don’t argue.

Since I lost my wolf, Kael has changed in small but unmistakable ways. He walks closer to me. Keeps a hand at my back when we move through the estate. Positions himself between me and everyone else without even thinking about it.

Alpha instincts sharpened by fear.

We leave the office and head to a private restaurant owned by the DeLuca pack. The air inside smells rich and comforting—but different now. I can’t separate individual scents anymore. Everything blends together.

Human senses.

Kael orders for both of us without asking. A perfectly seasoned steak, medium rare, with roasted vegetables and a dark sauce infused with herbs.

“You still remember,” I say quietly when the plate is set in front of me.

He looks at me then, blue eyes softening. “I remember everything about you.”

The words settle warm in my chest.

I cut into the steak, surprised by how good it tastes. Food used to be fuel. Now it’s sensation. Comfort. Grounding.

Kael watches me eat like it’s a victory.

“You need strength,” he says. “Even like this.”

“Like this,” I repeat softly.

He reaches across the table, covering my hand with his. “This doesn’t change how I see you.”

I look up at him. “It should.”

“It doesn’t,” he says simply.

Lunch passes quietly. For a moment, it almost feels normal. Like the world hasn’t tilted off its axis. Like there isn’t a war quietly threading itself through every heartbeat.

Back at the office, Kael refuses to let me out of his sight. I work from the small desk inside his office now, organizing files, taking calls, acting as both assistant and anchor.

When evening falls, he stands and straightens his jacket.

“We’re going out,” he says.

I blink. “Now?”

“Meeting,” he replies. “You’re coming with me.”

The club is one of the most exclusive in the city—private ownership, heavy security, neutral territory. Power hums in the air the moment we step inside.

I’m wearing a long blue satin dress that clings softly to my body, cool against my skin. Kael’s hand rests firmly at my waist as we move through the crowd, his presence unmistakable.

The VIP lounge is dimly lit, bathed in gold and shadow. Kael’s clients are already seated—dangerous men in tailored suits, wolves with sharp eyes and sharper instincts.

The meeting goes smoothly. Words exchanged carefully. Deals hinted at but not fully spoken. I stay quiet, observant, human in a room full of predators.

And then I feel it.

Not scent.

Something else.

A pull.

My heart stutters before my mind catches up.

I look to the far side of the VIP lounge.

Riven Blackmoor sits alone, one arm draped casually over the back of a leather couch, a glass of whiskey resting in his hand. He’s dressed in black, as always, danger coiled lazily around him. His silver eyes lift and lock onto mine instantly.

The world narrows.

But something is wrong.

I can’t smell him.

No smoke. No pine. No night.

Nothing.

The realization sends a chill through me.

Kael’s hand tightens at my waist, sensing the shift in my body before he sees what I see. He follows my gaze.

His jaw sets.

He pulls me closer and presses a firm kiss to my lips. It’s possessive. Protective. Deliberate.

“You look beautiful,” he murmurs against my mouth.

“Thank you,” I reply softly, though my heart is racing.

When I glance back, Riven is still watching. Not angry. Not surprised.

Just… unreadable.

And for the first time since losing my wolf, I don’t know which scares me more.

The fact that he’s here.

Or the fact that I can’t sense him at all.

The meeting wraps up quickly after that. Kael keeps his arm around me as we leave, his presence a shield I cling to.

But even as we walk away, I feel it.

The Moon Goddess isn’t done.

And neither is Riven Blackmoor.