Chapter 93
THIRD PERSON POV
The Luna Chamber was in chaos.
The floor trembled beneath Ryker’s fury as he slammed Adam into the wall again, the sickening crunch of bone echoing through the room. Adam groaned, blood dripping from his mouth, his body limp as Ryker’s fists continued to rain down.
“Alpha, stop!” Lief shouted, rushing forward, while Ezren grabbed Ryker’s arm mid-swing. “He’s out cold! You’ll kill him, Alpha!”
Ryker snarled, his eyes glowing with unholy rage. “He touched her. He defiled her!”
Maids and omegas scurried in, some screaming, others frozen in place. The scent of blood and wolflust still lingered, thick and suffocating.
Lyra lay on the bed, her body still limp, and her dress in tatters. Her cheek was swollen from Ryker’s earlier slap. She watched weakly amidst hot tears that had refused to stop rushing down her face.
Ezren and Lief exchanged a look, then glanced at Vera, who lay pale and bleeding on the bed they’d dragged in from the adjoining room.
Their eyes spoke.
They knew.
They had seen Vera and Adam together. Their secret meetings and had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to expose her and her lover. They knew she had plans for Cassie, but hadn’t known she’d be orchestrating this.
They had not anticipated this brutal plan against Lyra.
Now the child was gone. The evidence of her betrayal was erased.
And Lyra was the scapegoat.
Ryker stood panting, his fists bloodied, and his chest heaving as Ezren stepped between him and Adam’s broken form.
“Alpha, I know you’re grieving, but this isn’t justice. This is grief.”
Ryker’s eyes flicked to Vera, who screamed again, clutching her stomach. “My baby!” she wailed. “She killed my baby!”
Lyra’s heart clenched. “No,” she whispered, voice hoarse. “I didn’t…”
Vera’s eyes blazed. “You vile woman! You were jealous! You couldn’t stand that Ryker chose me to be Luna! How could you be so cruel as to kill an innocent child?” Her voice was raw with grief.
“I didn’t do anything. I would never hurt anyone, much less a baby. Ryker already chose you,” Lyra said, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t interfere. I never did.”
“Then explain why throughout the celebration, I was perfectly normal until I drank the grape juice you served!” Vera shrieked. “You poisoned me!”
Lyra’s breath caught. “That’s a lie! You asked for the grape juice. I didn’t even make it. It was handed over to me in the kitchen.” Her eyes widened in disbelief, her face ashen from the gory experience she had just had and what was to come.
“She’s lying!” Vera screamed. “She wanted me gone! She wanted you back, Ryker! She killed my baby—our baby!”
“I didn’t!” Lyra cried. “Why would I kill your child when you wanted to help me escape? What did I stand to gain from that?”
Vera’s face twisted in mock confusion. “Why would I help you escape? That’s insane!”
Ezren stepped forward, his voice low. “Enough. Alvin’s working. Let him do his job. You need to reserve your strength.”
Alvin didn’t look up. His hands were stained with blood, his brow furrowed in concentration. “She’s losing too much,” he muttered. “I need to sedate her.”
Vera’s screams faded as the anesthetic took hold. Her body went limp, and her breathing shallow.
Alvin nodded to Lief and Ezren. “Help me move her.”
They carefully wheeled Vera’s bed to the fireplace, away from the chaos.
Ryker followed, his eyes locked on Vera’s pale face while he carefully brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, his expression unreadable, as her eyes fluttered closed.
As soon as Vera was fast under the sedative, Ryker turned, his gaze landed on Lyra.
Lyra suddenly shrank into the bed as she felt like a blade was shoved into her chest.
Ryker stalked toward her, eyes blazing. “You did this.”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Please…”
Lief stepped in front of him. “Alpha, she’s not well.”
Ezren joined him. “She’s still under the drug’s influence. She couldn’t have—”
Ryker shoved past them, grabbing Lyra by the arm. “You think I’ll fall for your games again?”
Lyra tried to stand, but her legs buckled. Her vision swam. Then—
A scream.
An omega pointed, her face pale. “She’s bleeding!”
Everyone turned, including Lyra. Her gaze swept to Vera in confusion, then across everyone’s faces before it registered in her mind as everyone’s attention focused on her.
Blood trickled down Lyra’s legs, staining the sheets beneath her.
Alvin rushed forward. “She’s hemorrhaging!”
Ryker hissed. “I don’t care what stunt she’s pulling.”
“She needs help!” Alvin barked. “I need to check her wounds!”
Ryker waved a maid over. “Get the guards. Take her to the dungeon.”
“No!” Alvin growled. “She’s not faking this!”
Without waiting for Ryker’s permission, Alvin held Lyra gently and placed her on the bed. His hands are already working.
Her pulse was getting weak.
Then he froze.
His eyes widened.
He looked up at Ryker, then at Lief and Ezren.
“We’re losing the child.”