The Alphas Room
1830 Words
The atmosphere inside Silver Fang Pack shifted the closer the Blood Moon Gathering came.
Tension crawled through the estate like a living thing.
Warriors doubled patrols around the territory. Elders whispered behind closed doors. Pack members openly stared whenever Lyra passed through the halls, no longer bothering to hide their curiosity—or their resentment.
Everyone knew something terrible was coming.
And everyone knew Lyra stood at the center of it.
She sat quietly inside the library late that evening, curled into one of the massive chairs near the fireplace while snow drifted softly beyond the tall windows. An open book rested forgotten in her lap.
She hadn’t read a single page.
Her thoughts were too loud.
Trial by dominance.
Separation laws.
The Blood Moon Gathering.
Every possibility ended the same way in her mind.
Kael getting hurt because of her.
A soft creak sounded near the doorway.
Lyra looked up immediately.
Kael.
Relief spread through her so quickly it almost embarrassed her.
The alpha stepped into the room wearing black training clothes, dark hair still damp from snow outside. His silver eyes found her instantly, softening in a way they only ever did for her.
Mine.
The bond wrapped warmly around her chest.
Kael crossed the room slowly before stopping beside her chair.
“You’re hiding.”
“I’m reading.”
His gaze dropped toward the untouched page.
“You’ve been on the same chapter for twenty minutes.”
Traitorous bond.
Lyra sighed softly.
“I didn’t realize you were keeping track.”
“I keep track of everything involving you.”
The quiet honesty of it made her chest tighten.
Kael studied her carefully for a moment before his expression darkened slightly.
“You haven’t slept.”
She looked away.
“I’m fine.”
“Lyra.”
That tone.
Gentle but firm.
Impossible to ignore.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the book.
“What if they challenge you?”
Kael’s jaw hardened instantly.
“They won’t win.”
“But what if they hurt you?”
He crouched beside her chair then, massive frame folding down until they were eye level.
The movement startled her slightly.
Even kneeling, he still looked overwhelmingly large compared to her.
Kael reached up slowly, brushing pale strands of hair behind her ear.
“No one is touching me.”
“You don’t know that.”
Silver eyes held hers steadily.
“And no one is touching you.”
Emotion flickered painfully through her chest again.
Always protecting her.
Always choosing her.
Even now.
Kael’s thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.
“You’re shaking.”
Only then did she realize he was right.
Fear had settled so deeply inside her body she didn’t notice it anymore.
Kael went very still.
Then suddenly:
“You’re moving into my room.”
Lyra blinked.
“What?”
His expression remained calm.
“You’ll stay with me from now on.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“In your room?”
“Yes.”
Her face immediately burned.
“But—”
“It’s safer.”
“That’s not the point!”
A faint smirk touched his mouth for half a second.
“It’s a very important point.”
Lyra stared at him in disbelief.
“You can’t just decide that!”
“I already did.”
Impossible male.
Kael stood smoothly before holding a hand out toward her.
“Come on.”
She hesitated.
“Kael…”
His expression softened slightly.
“You won’t be alone anymore.”
And somehow…
That was the sentence that destroyed her resistance.
Because loneliness was the only thing she’d truly known her entire life.
Slowly, Lyra placed her much smaller hand into his.
The bond flared warm instantly.
Mine.
Kael’s fingers tightened carefully around hers before leading her from the library.
The estate halls remained quieter tonight, though wolves still watched openly as the alpha escorted the runt omega upstairs.
Whispers followed them anyway.
But Kael never slowed.
Never loosened his grip on her hand.
Like he wanted the entire world to see exactly where she belonged.
Inside his suite, warmth from the fireplace wrapped around them immediately.
Lyra stood awkwardly near the center of the room while Kael closed the doors behind them.
The realization hit her all at once.
She was sleeping here.
With him.
In the same bed.
Her pulse raced instantly.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
The bond exposed everything.
“You’re nervous.”
“A little.”
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
“A little?”
Lyra looked horrified.
“You can feel how nervous I am?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god.”
Kael actually laughed softly.
The sound sent warmth spiraling through her chest.
“It’s cute.”
“That’s not helpful.”
His silver eyes gleamed faintly with amusement before he moved toward one of the large wardrobes.
“Your things were already moved.”
She stared.
“You already planned this?”
“I plan everything.”
That sounded disturbingly believable.
Kael pulled open another door connected to the suite.
“A bathroom was prepared for you too.”
Lyra stepped forward carefully before stopping completely.
The room was beautiful.
White marble counters. A massive bath surrounded by candles. Soft cream-colored towels folded neatly nearby.
It looked luxurious.
Too luxurious.
“This is excessive.”
“You deserve comfort.”
The simple response stole her breath for a moment.
No one had ever spoken to her like that before.
Like she deserved good things.
Kael leaned lightly against the doorway watching her expression carefully.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
His mouth twitched faintly.
“Liar.”
Later that night, Lyra stood frozen beside the massive bed while Kael removed his shirt near the fireplace.
Her brain stopped functioning immediately.
God.
The male was built like an actual weapon.
Broad shoulders covered in scars and black ink. Defined muscle shifting beneath golden skin. Strong enough to tear apart enemies with his bare hands.
And somehow…
He wanted her.
Heat flooded her face so fast it hurt.
Kael glanced over his shoulder.
The second he noticed her staring, his expression darkened slightly.
“Careful.”
Lyra looked away instantly.
Mortifying.
The bond practically purred with satisfaction from him.
She quickly climbed beneath the blankets, praying darkness hid her embarrassment.
A moment later the mattress dipped heavily beside her.
Her entire body stiffened automatically.
Kael noticed immediately.
“You’re safe.”
His deep voice came softer now in the darkness.
Lyra swallowed hard.
“I know.”
But this still felt intimate in a way she wasn’t prepared for.
She could feel his body heat beside her.
Smell him surrounding the bed completely.
Feel the bond humming warmly between them.
Kael shifted slightly onto his side facing her.
Silver eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight.
“You’re overthinking.”
“You say that like it’s easy to stop.”
“It is.”
She snorted softly.
“For you maybe.”
Kael reached out slowly then, giving her enough time to move away if she wanted.
She didn’t.
His fingers brushed gently along her wrist before settling there lightly.
Grounding.
Protective.
Nothing more.
The simple restraint somehow affected her more than anything else.
“You can sleep,” he murmured.
“How?”
His thumb brushed softly against her skin.
“Because I’m here.”
And terrifyingly enough…
That worked.
—
The next morning, Lyra woke slowly to warmth surrounding her completely.
Strong arms.
Solid chest.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Sometime during the night, she’d curled directly against Kael in her sleep.
One of his large arms wrapped securely around her waist while her face rested against his chest.
Completely trapped.
Completely safe.
The realization made her panic briefly.
Until she felt the bond.
Content.
Warm.
Happy.
Kael was awake already.
“You drool.”
Lyra gasped softly, immediately trying to pull away.
Kael only tightened his arm slightly.
“Relax.”
“You should’ve moved me!”
“No.”
Her face burned bright red.
“This is embarrassing.”
“No,” he murmured against her hair. “This is nice.”
The deep roughness in his morning voice nearly destroyed her.
A knock interrupted them suddenly.
Damien’s voice echoed through the suite.
“If you two are done cuddling, the stylists are here.”
Lyra froze.
“The what?”
Kael finally released her slowly before sitting up.
“You need preparation for tonight.”
Her stomach dropped instantly.
Tonight.
The Blood Moon Gathering.
Two hours later, Lyra sat nervously in front of a massive mirror while several women moved around her inside Kael’s suite.
One styled her long white hair into soft waves braided elegantly back from her face. Another carefully applied delicate makeup that highlighted her crystal-blue eyes.
Lyra barely recognized herself already.
“You’re stunning,” one woman whispered softly.
The compliment made her blink in surprise.
No disgust.
No mockery.
Just honesty.
Kael stood near the windows the entire time, arms crossed while watching silently.
Possessively.
Every time another wolf touched Lyra’s hair or skin, the bond flickered with protective irritation from him.
Damien noticed too.
“You’re acting like they’re attacking her.”
“They’re touching her.”
Damien rolled his eyes dramatically.
“She’s not property.”
Kael’s silver gaze never left Lyra.
“She’s mine.”
The possessive certainty in his voice sent heat flooding through her instantly.
An hour later, the dress arrived.
And Lyra stopped breathing.
Soft silver fabric shimmered like moonlight itself, flowing elegantly down to the floor with delicate embroidery across the bodice. The sleeves draped gently off her shoulders while the fitted waist emphasized how tiny she truly was.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
“I can’t wear this.”
Kael looked up from across the room.
Then froze completely.
Silence filled the suite.
Every female in the room smiled knowingly.
Because the alpha looked utterly wrecked.
Lyra turned nervously toward the mirror.
And barely recognized herself.
Her white hair cascaded in soft waves around pale shoulders. Crystal-blue eyes seemed brighter somehow against the silver gown. Ethereal.
Like something unreal.
Kael crossed the room slowly.
Very slowly.
His silver eyes burned intensely now.
“Mine,” he said quietly.
The single word wrapped around her entire body like fire.
Kael stopped directly in front of her.
Massive.
Dark.
Terrifyingly handsome beside her smaller delicate frame.
And the way he looked at her—
God.
It felt worshipful.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.
Emotion tightened painfully in her throat.
Because he sounded genuinely affected by it.
One of the women smiled softly nearby.
“The northern alphas won’t survive tonight.”
Kael’s expression immediately turned dangerous.
And for the first time—
Lyra laughed openly.
The sound stunned the entire room silent.
Then Kael smiled too.
Small.
Real.
Beautiful enough to ruin her completely.
And suddenly, for just one fragile moment…
She almost believed she could stand beside him after all.
- Writer
