Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Lyra’s POV
The training field looked different at night.
During the day it was full of noise—wolves sparring, weapons clashing, Kaelia shouting encouragement or insults depending on the moment.
But now the clearing was quiet.
Moonlight poured over the grass in pale silver, and the only sounds were the soft rustle of the forest and the distant murmur of guards along the walls.
I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake the tension from my muscles.
“Again,” Draven said.
I groaned softly.
“We’ve already done this drill five times.”
“Six.”
“That’s worse.”
He stood across from me in the center of the practice ring, arms folded, expression calm in that frustratingly patient way he had whenever he was teaching.
“You’re improving,” he added.
“That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“It was.”
“Well now I’m suspicious.”
His mouth twitched faintly.
“Focus, Lyra.”
“I am focused.”
“You’re talking.”
“That helps me think.”
“It distracts you.”
“Only when you keep knocking me over.”
Draven tilted his head slightly.
“That happened once.”
“Three times.”
“You exaggerate.”
“You have witnesses.”
“There are no witnesses.”
I gestured dramatically at the empty field.
“Exactly.”
He stepped forward slightly.
“No fire tonight.”
“I remember.”
“Instincts only.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
His eyes narrowed slightly at my tone.
“You enjoy testing my patience.”
“It’s a talent.”
“Not one I recommend.”
I settled into a loose stance, shifting my weight the way he’d taught me earlier.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s get this over with.”
Draven moved first.
Fast.
I barely had time to react before he closed the distance between us, reaching for my arm.
But this time I was ready.
I twisted sideways, slipping out of his grip.
His eyebrow lifted.
“That was better.”
“I learn quickly.”
He lunged again.
This time I tried to sweep his leg the way Kaelia had shown me earlier that week.
It almost worked.
Almost.
Instead he caught my wrist, pivoting smoothly—
And suddenly my balance disappeared.
The ground tilted beneath my feet.
“Wait—”
My boot slid on the dirt.
For a split second I thought I was about to hit the ground.
Then strong hands caught me.
Draven’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upright before I could fall.
The movement stopped us both.
Too close.
Much too close.
My breath caught.
His hand was still at my waist, steadying me.
The warmth of his body pressed lightly against mine.
And our faces—
Were only inches apart.
Neither of us moved.
The night air suddenly felt very still.
“You should watch your footing,” Draven said quietly.
His voice sounded different.
Lower.
Rougher.
“I was watching it,” I murmured.
“Not well enough.”
“Well you distracted me.”
“How?”
“You keep attacking.”
“That’s the point of training.”
“Still distracting.”
For a moment neither of us spoke.
I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
My pulse started racing in response.
Draven’s eyes flicked briefly down to my lips.
Then back up again.
The tension between us snapped tight.
Like a bowstring pulled too far.
My heart thudded painfully against my ribs.
If either of us moved even a little—
If he leaned closer—
I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen next.
Draven’s grip on my waist tightened slightly.
“Lyra…”
My name sounded almost like a warning.
Or a question.
I swallowed.
This was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
The memory of Kaelia’s words flashed through my mind.
Alpha bonds are complicated.
And Mira’s voice echoed faintly behind it.
The vessel burns tonight.
Everything about this moment felt dangerous.
Not just because of the fire inside me.
But because of the way my heart was reacting to him.
I forced myself to breathe.
Then slowly I stepped back.
Draven’s hand slipped away from my waist.
The sudden space between us felt colder.
“That was… close,” I said lightly, trying to sound casual.
“Yes.”
“You caught me.”
“I did.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
The silence that followed stretched longer than it should have.
Neither of us seemed entirely sure what to do with it.
Finally I cleared my throat.
“Training,” I said. “We should probably keep training.”
Draven watched me for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
“Yes.”
But he didn’t move immediately.
And even when we reset our stances again, something had changed.
The air between us felt different.
Charged.
Every step felt more deliberate.
Every movement more aware.
I tried to focus on the drills again, but my mind kept drifting back to the moment before.
The way his hand had felt at my waist.
The way his eyes had looked at me.
Eventually Draven lowered his hands.
“That’s enough for tonight.”
I blinked.
“Already?”
“You’re distracted.”
“So are you.”
His expression didn’t change.
“Go get some rest.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
I turned toward the path leading back to the keep.
But before I could leave the clearing completely, I glanced back.
Draven was still standing in the center of the ring.
Watching me.
The same tension from earlier lingering quietly in the space between us.
Neither of us had crossed that line.
But the moment we almost did—
Still hung in the air like a spark waiting for dry wood.