Goddess Gifted Mate

Breaking the Spell

As they approached the office, Lyra could smell Thane's scent but immediately frowned when she also smelt Freya's. When they entered the office, Lyra narrowed her eyes on Freya and asked, "What's she doing here?" Thane's expression remained neutral, but his eyes hinted at a warning, as he said, "Freya has every right to be here, Lyra. We need to discuss some matters regarding your recent behavior." Lyra stiffened. Had she done something to offend him? She hadn't even seen them since that morning. She left at dinner because she didn't want to feel the pain of seeing them together and do something she would regret. Her thoughts portray feelings in her face, a mix of defensiveness and vulnerability, suggesting she's still struggling to cope with her feelings towards Thane, and the presence of Freya only adds to her emotional turmoil. Freya approaches her and Lyra gets into a defensive stance, ready to fight her. Freya raises a hand and says, "I'm not going to hurt you Lyra. I need a closer look at you if I'm going to be able to figure out which spell is cast on you and break it." Lyra's eyes widened. Was this why her feelings suddenly changed for Thane? Could a witch have put a spell on her? If Freya could break the spell, she could finally think straight. She also hoped that if she did, she could also find her real mate. She relaxes and straightened her stance, letting Freya get closer. Lyra's expression softens slightly as she searches Freya's face for any sign of deception, but her eyes reveal a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, Freya can help her understand what's happening to her and set her free from these strange emotions. Freya examined Lyra and when she found the source of the spell, she smiled, "There you are!" She reached out to the earrings Lyra was wearing and took them off of her. Holding them in the palm of her hand, she recited a spell in her mind and broke the spell on them. As the spell is broken, Lyra's eyes clear, and she looks almost...untainted, her gaze drifting to Thane before refocusing on Freya, a mixture of confusion and curiosity etched on her face as she tries to make sense of the sudden change within herself. Freya smiled and asked, "How do you feel, Lyra?" Lyra furrowed her eyebrows, trying to sift through her emotions. When she finally got them under control, a smile slowly formed on her lips until she was crying with joy. "I've never felt better! Ever since Thane asked me out, it's like a weight has been put on me. Now I feel free and more like myself again!" she exclaimed. It sounded like breaking the spell really lifted a burden off Lyra's shoulders. She seems relieved and happy to rediscover herself and her true feelings, especially towards Thane. Lyra bows her head to her Alpha and Luna and says to Thane, "I'm so sorry Alpha! I never had feelings for you before. But after you asked me out, I couldn't stop obsessing about being with you and being your Luna. It was driving me crazy. For a year, since you broke up with me, I've been trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I knew you weren't my mate and that you would only accept your true mate as your Luna. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't let you go. I would be my normal self when you weren't around, but the second I see you the obsession would take over." She paused and looked up to meet Freya's eyes, "Luna Freya, I'm sorry for the words I said this morning, I didn't mean them. I was actually going to talk to Thane about my struggles with this, but when I saw you with him, I couldn't stop myself." Lyra was genuinely sorry for her behavior and is relieved to finally understand what was happening to her, and to have the spell broken. Her apology to Freya is sincere, and she's willing to take responsibility for her actions. It was Thane that spoke first, "No need to apologize, Lyra. You weren't yourself, we understand that now. I'm looking forward to getting to know the real you, now that the spell is broken." Freya smiled warmly at Lyra, nodding her head in agreement. Thane's understanding and willingness to give Lyra a fresh start is a great step towards healing and rebuilding their friendship. Freya's agreement added to the positive atmosphere, creating a foundation for Lyra to rediscover herself within the pack again. Ryder and Asher were stunned at what they saw and heard. Now they knew why Thane had asked them to join them in the office. They needed to figure out who was manipulating Lyra. This was an act of war, spelling one of their pack members. Freya gestured for Lyra to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of Thane's desk. When she sat down, Freya went to Thane and sat on his lap. She knew that questioning Lyra would stress him out, and she wanted to ease his stress. Freya asked, "Lyra, do you remember who gave you those earrings?" Lyra closed her eyes, taking a moment to reflect on the past, trying to piece together memories that may have been manipulated by the spell. Her brow furrows in concentration as she searches for any details that might lead them to the person responsible. She shakes her head and says, "I don't know. All I remember is coming into my room one day and finding a small box on my bed with the earrings inside it. I live alone so at first I was scared and upset that someone broke into my home and into my bedroom. I searched the whole house and didn't find anyone or anything out of place or missing, so I went back to my room and picked up the box. When I opened it up I fell in love with the earrings right away. I put them on and went about my day as usual. When I was at the bakery shop getting a coffee and a chocolate chip muffin, Thane came in, and the rest is history." Thane furrowed his eyebrows and said, "I remember that day now. I was getting a few dozen breakfast croissants for Willow because she had run out after breakfast. She would have done it herself, but we had a visiting pack here and her and the rest of the staff were swamped. When I entered the shop, I spotted you at the front and something came over me that I couldn't explain. Next thing I knew, I was asking you out." The room fell silent while everyone absorbed both Lyra's and Thane's accounts that transpired that day. Freya finally broke the silence, "That's how the spell was activated. The moment the earrings felt the presence of an Alpha, it got to him first and once he asked her out, it triggered her obsession spell for her." Ryder's voice takes on a thoughtful tone as he leans forward and asks, "So the spell was designed to manipulate both Lyra and Thane, using the earrings as a catalyst to spark the obsession?" Freya nods her head and Asher says, "That raises more questions. Who created the spell, and what's their ultimate goal in interfering with Thane and Lyra's lives?" Asher's words trail off, leaving the question hanging in the air, awaiting the answer that none of them seem to have.