ghkgkh

Chapter 01 | Lyra

Lyra | 17 years ago

A loud sigh escaped Alpha Josh's lips as he looked up from the papers in front of him. He was handsome, in his forties, though he looked thirty at most. He was my best friend's father—and also the reason behind my wet, erotic dreams.

I avoided him like the plague, but it was impossible not to be in his office when I needed permission for the pack's healer to craft a jewel for me. Yes, the pack healer.

"What? Why do you want to hide your scent from your mate? Have you lost your mind, Lyra?" he asked, his eyes widening.

I looked down, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. Beside the desk, the Beta and the Gamma let out impatient sighs, crossing their arms with that air of superiority they always reserved for me. To them, I was a nuisance—a mistake the Alpha had chosen to carry for far too long.

"I don’t want a mate, Josh," my voice came out low but steady, though my hands were hidden in the folds of my clothes so he wouldn't see them trembling. "No one in this pack is capable of loving me."

The Beta let out a short, bitter laugh, and I felt my face burn with shame.

"And who could?" he muttered, not caring if I heard him. "You’re the daughter of those who betrayed us, Lyra. You’re a monster we’re feeding."

"Exactly," I said, looking at him before turning back to Josh, who observed me with an unreadable expression. "Everyone here sees me as someone hateful. They think I’ll betray the pack just like my parents did, or that I’ll kill my mate at any moment. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. I don’t want some poor soul to be forced by the Goddess to accept me, only to spend his life torturing me or making me a laughingstock."

I felt a tightness in my chest, but I kept going. If I didn't say it now, I never would.

"It hurts me. It hurts to know that even after eight years, I’m still the trash you picked up in the forest. So, if I can't have the jewel to hide my scent and avoid this fate, I’m leaving. I’ll pack my things and disappear. I’d rather live as a common human, without magic and without a pack, than stay here waiting for the day I’ll be rejected by destiny itself."

The Alpha stared at me, swallowing hard. I watched him pinch the bridge of his nose before glancing at the two men still by his side. Josh couldn't take it anymore. I saw the vein in his neck bulge even before he opened his mouth.

"Get out! Both of you!" His roar made the office walls tremble.

It wasn't just the shout; he slammed his Alpha aura over the Beta and the Gamma like a shockwave. The weight was so crushing that even I, though I wasn't the target, felt my knees weaken. The two men cast looks of pure hatred at me but didn't dare challenge him. They left, slamming the door behind them, leaving a silence that buzzed in my ears.

Josh rose from his leather chair and walked around the desk. My heart raced, thumping against my ribs like a caged bird. He knelt in front of me, bringing himself down to my level, and placed his hands on my knees with a gentleness I didn't expect. His touch was warm, protective, and smelled of the forest and power.

"Lyra, look at me," he requested, his voice soft now. "You are a beautiful woman. You are intelligent, a fighter who puts many of these males to shame, and the most competent person I know. Any wolf in this pack would be the luckiest soul alive to have you by his side."

I gave a sad little smile, feeling the bitterness in my throat.

"I wish you were damn right, Josh... but you know you aren’t. They all hate me. It doesn’t matter if I’m pretty or if I fight well; to them, the cursed blood I carry will always weigh more than any quality I have."

A stubborn tear escaped and rolled down my face. Before I could hide it, he wiped it away with his thumb and pulled me into an embrace. I fell apart. I buried my face in his shoulder, feeling the fabric of his shirt and the heat of his body. I cried softly, letting out all the fear I had been carrying since I was nine years old.

"Thank you..." I whispered between sobs. "Thank you for finding me that day."

"It wasn't me who found you, Lyra," he murmured against my hair, his voice vibrating in my chest. "It was my wolf. He was the one who found you."

He pulled back slightly, holding my face, and sighed as if he had made a difficult decision.

"I will personally speak to the healer. I’ll ask him to camouflage your scent."

A huge smile began to grow on my face, but I still needed more. I needed total security.

"And the barrier too? Please, Josh. Like I asked him before... I never want to know who my true mate is."

He nodded, giving a half-smile as he stood up.

"And the barrier too. Consider it your birthday present."

I jumped up and hugged him tight, nearly suffocating him with joy. Gratitude overflowed so much that, without thinking, I planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

"You’re the best! Thank you!"

I let go and skipped out of there, feeling as if a ton of weight had been lifted off my back. I would finally have my freedom, even if it meant hiding who I was forever.