Chapter 44 Next Moves
Chapter 44 Next Moves
Lyra
Bram tilts his head, studying me as though he isn’t sure he heard me correctly. “What do you mean, making a habit of it?”
“What do you think about me leading more missions? Trying to be Song’s leader, even if just temporarily. Long enough to get rid of Kaelen and help rebuild this pack.”
“I think it would be great,” he says simply. “And I’ll support you no matter what you choose to do.”
I throw my arms around him, pressing my face against his chest. “Thank you,” I whisper. “For always having my back. No matter what.”
The pack is still celebrating, voices weaving in and out of laughter. I catch Serena’s gaze across the firelight, and we share a nod of mutual respect.
Children play a game of tag between the scattered pines, chasing one another with bright, carefree shouts. Sparks from the fire drift into the night sky, and I watch as everyone moves comfortably, sharing food, passing cups of water, and savoring the moment.
The party carries well into the night. Voices echo and laughter spills across the yard. As the fire burns lower, one by one, the younger children curl up near their mothers, yawns breaking through their squeals of excitement. The warriors' conversations soften, cups are emptied, and plates are cleared.
Gradually, the shouts and claps fade, and people begin to go home, returning to their own little houses, and those without set up camp in a nearby clearing.
Bram finds my hand, and we leave the yard together, making our way back through the doorway of the crumbling yellow house.
When the door clicks shut behind us, Bram turns toward me, the exhaustion in his eyes replaced by passion.
His strong hands wrap around my waist, pulling me close, tilting my chin, and brushing his lips against mine in a slow, heated kiss before trailing them down my neck. His fingers work at the buttons of my top, peeling layers away as his lips follow every inch of exposed skin. I frantically strip away the rest of my clothing and tug at his shirt, reveling in the feel of his skin beneath my hands.
The rough wood floor creaks beneath us as we sink down together. I trace the planes of his chest, his firm shoulders and then slide my hands down his body to the sharp lines of his abs. Every contour is exquisite, carved like stone, and I can’t get enough.
His lips find my breasts. I tilt back, pressing into him as his mouth devours me, lips and tongue tracing every curve. He sucks one of my sensitive nipples into his mouth, causing me to grind down, feeling his hard cock deep inside of me. The friction of my every movement, exquisite.
Bram lifts his head, his voice rough and filled with lust. “Lyra… you’re driving me wild.”
His confession causes my back to arch instinctively, and my hips move even faster against him, every nerve on fire. A tremor builds low in my stomach, rising faster, and then I shatter, my body spasming around him.
Bram moans, holding me tight, and with a shudder that rattles through us both, he follows, releasing deep inside me. We collapse together, our hearts pounding.
He brushes his thumb across my cheek. “I love you, Lyra,” he whispers. “I'm so grateful we’re both still here.”
I let out a breathless laugh, resting my head against his chest. “We survived another one.”
“Yes we did,” he says, his arms tightening around me. “And we’ll survive the next as long as we’ve got each other.”
The morning light pours through the windows as we enter the meeting house. The benches are filled with warriors, their expressions tense but attentive, conversation fade into a hush as I stand with Bram at the front.
“We did well last night, considering Blue Raven’s bold move to protect Running River,” I begin. “But now it’s time to regroup. We need to figure out our next steps.”
Jorin speaks first, his arms crossed. “We’ve got to find Kaelen before he convinces Alpha Leoric of Blue Raven to enter Song territory, seeking revenge. They know there are survivors now.”
“Jorin’s right,” Serena cuts in. “But we also need to go check on the women and children we left in Running River. If they went to join Kaelen in Blue River fine, but if there are any families left in need of assistance…. Well, we know what it’s like to be off on our own.”
“You’re both right, but we won’t send the whole pack,” I explain. “We can’t risk exposing everyone. We’ll send small groups that will move fast and cautiously. I need eight warriors to go to Blue River and eight to go back to Running River.”
Eager hands raise quickly. I scan the room, counting, assigning. “Jorin, take your group to Blue Raven. Asher, you lead the others to Running River. The rest of you stay here and keep watch for anything unusual. Blue Raven could invade, and we’ll need to be ready for anything today. And Jorin,” I add. “If you find Kaelen, bring him to me alive.”
Jorin nods, needing no explanation. I step back from the group, letting the warriors settle into their assigned teams. The room buzzes with anticipation, the gravity of last night’s fight still lingering, but everyone is determined to complete the day's missions.
“Bram and I will stay behind,” I announce. My voice is firm, “to protect the pack and keep watch while you’re gone.”
Looking over the warriors in the meeting house, their faces showing the aftermath of battle and the strength that carried us out of danger last night, I see strength, capability, and resilience. I feel pride, knowing I guided them through chaos and that they followed without question. This pack has earned my respect, and I’m proud to lead and protect them.
Once Song Pack is secure, we are sure Blue Raven is no longer a threat, and the Running River refugees are safely gathered, my focus will move to my next mission. I’ll destroy Kaelen, track down Tessa, and after that, I will find the silver she-wolf, and I will end her.