Chapter 7 – The Alpha’s Mistake
1557 Words
Snow continued falling long after Lyra left the festival grounds.
The cold wind bit against her skin as she walked blindly through the forest path behind the pack house, her silver cloak dragging softly across untouched snow. Distant music and laughter still echoed faintly from the celebration, but with every step, the sounds became weaker.
Farther away.
Just like her mate.
Her chest ached so badly it almost felt physical.
“You replaced me tonight.”
The words repeated endlessly in her mind alongside Kael’s answer.
They were blessing the future heir of Black Hollow.
Not nephew.
Not child.
Heir.
Lyra stopped walking beneath the towering pine trees, her breathing uneven.
For years, she had defended Kael against every whisper about heirs and bloodlines.
She endured cruel gossip.
Pity.
Humiliation.
Because she believed their bond was stronger than pack expectations.
But tonight…
Tonight Kael himself destroyed that belief.
A sharp pain suddenly pulsed through her chest.
Lyra gasped softly, grabbing the nearest tree for support.
The mate bond.
It burned strangely tonight.
Unstable.
Like something inside it was fraying.
Tears finally blurred her vision.
Not loud sobs.
Not dramatic grief.
Just silent tears slipping down her face beneath the moonlight while snow fell around her.
“Luna?”
Lyra immediately straightened.
One of the younger patrol warriors stood several feet away looking alarmed.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
Lyra wiped her face before he could fully notice.
“It’s fine.”
The warrior hesitated awkwardly.
“The Alpha is searching for you.”
Of course he was.
Now that the entire pack witnessed her humiliation.
Lyra inhaled slowly.
“I needed air.”
The young wolf lowered his gaze respectfully.
“Should I tell him where you are?”
For a brief moment, she almost said no.
Almost asked for a few more minutes alone.
But exhaustion suddenly settled deep into her bones.
“No,” she murmured quietly. “I’ll return myself.”
The warrior bowed before disappearing back toward the festival grounds.
Lyra remained motionless beneath the snow for several seconds longer.
Then finally—
She turned back toward the pack house.
—
The festival had grown even louder by the time she returned.
Bonfires blazed brightly while drunken warriors shouted hunting songs into the cold night. Couples danced near the central firepit while elders drank spiced wine beneath decorated tents.
Yet the moment Lyra stepped back into the crowd—
Silence followed her.
Not complete silence.
But enough.
Enough for her to hear whispers spreading like poison.
“That’s the Luna…”
“Did you see the ceremony earlier?”
“Poor thing.”
“I heard Alpha Kael considers the child his heir already.”
Lyra kept her head high.
Even as humiliation clawed mercilessly at her chest.
A few wolves immediately bowed respectfully when she passed.
Others looked away awkwardly.
Pity.
Moon Goddess, she hated pity.
Before she could escape into the pack house, someone caught her wrist gently.
“Lyra.”
Kael.
She looked at him calmly.
Or at least tried to.
Snow dusted his dark hair and broad shoulders while tension radiated visibly from his entire body.
“You disappeared.”
The words came sharper this time.
Not concern.
Frustration.
Lyra slowly pulled her hand free.
“I told you I needed air.”
“You vanished without guards.”
“I wasn’t aware Black Hollow territory became dangerous overnight.”
Kael frowned deeply.
“This isn’t a joke.”
“No,” she whispered. “It isn’t.”
For a moment, neither moved.
Festival lights flickered around them while distant laughter echoed through the snow-covered grounds.
Kael’s expression softened slightly.
“The ceremony upset you more than I expected.”
Lyra stared at him in disbelief.
“More than you expected?”
Kael exhaled heavily, lowering his voice.
“You know why I did it.”
“Do I?”
“Yes.” His jaw tightened. “The elders needed reassurance about the future of Black Hollow.”
“And standing beside your Luna no longer reassures them?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“But it’s what you showed them.”
Kael looked frustrated now.
“Lyra, this isn’t about replacing you.”
“Then why did it feel exactly like that?”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Kael ran a hand through his hair.
“You’re overthinking this.”
The words struck like a slap.
Lyra laughed softly.
Not because anything was funny.
Because she suddenly realized how impossible this conversation truly was.
“You know what hurts the most?” she asked quietly.
Kael’s expression tightened.
“You don’t even realize what you’re doing to me.”
Something flickered across his face then.
Guilt.
Real guilt.
But before he could answer, another voice interrupted.
“Alpha Kael!”
Selene hurried toward them through the snow, clutching the infant tightly against her chest. Panic filled her pale face.
“The baby has a fever.”
Kael reacted instantly.
“What?”
“He won’t stop crying.”
Without hesitation, Kael stepped toward her.
His entire focus shifted immediately.
“Did you call the healer?”
“She’s preparing herbs now.”
Kael carefully touched the infant’s forehead, concern darkening his expression.
“He’s burning up.”
Lyra stood frozen beside them while Kael’s attention completely left her once again.
Selene looked near tears.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s alright,” Kael said firmly. “I’ll handle it.”
And just like that—
He forgot the conversation entirely.
Forgot her entirely.
Again.
Kael turned briefly toward Lyra.
“I’ll speak with you later.”
Then he disappeared into the pack house beside Selene.
Leaving Lyra alone in the snow.
Something inside her chest finally cracked completely.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Quietly.
Like glass breaking beneath too much pressure.
—
Hours later, the festival finally began dying down.
Lyra sat alone in her chambers staring blankly into the fireplace while flames flickered across the dark room.
Kael never came back.
Of course he didn’t.
Mara quietly entered carrying warm tea.
“You should sleep, child.”
Lyra smiled faintly without looking up.
“I’m not tired.”
The older woman sighed softly before placing the tray nearby.
“The entire pack is talking about tonight.”
Lyra closed her eyes briefly.
“I assumed they would.”
Mara hesitated carefully.
“Alpha Kael made a mistake.”
The simple honesty nearly broke her.
Because nobody else dared say it aloud.
“He didn’t mean to hurt me,” Lyra whispered.
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t.”
Tears burned behind her eyes again.
Mara moved closer gently.
“You’ve spent years protecting that man from everyone else’s judgment.” Her voice softened. “But who protects you, Lyra?”
No one.
The answer came instantly.
Before Lyra could respond, a sudden knock sounded at the chamber door.
Mara frowned. “At this hour?”
Lyra inhaled slowly.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Kael stepped inside.
Exhaustion lined his face while tension radiated heavily from his posture.
Mara immediately bowed and left the room silently.
The moment the door shut behind her, silence consumed the chambers.
Kael looked at Lyra sitting near the fire.
For several long seconds, neither spoke.
Finally—
“The fever broke,” he said quietly.
Lyra nodded once. “That’s good.”
More silence.
Kael stepped closer slowly.
“You’ve barely looked at me tonight.”
The statement almost made her laugh again.
“You barely looked at me during the ceremony.”
Pain flickered briefly across his face.
“Lyra…”
“No.” She stood abruptly. “Tell me honestly, Kael.”
His brows furrowed.
“When you stood beside Selene tonight…” Her voice trembled faintly despite her efforts. “Did it feel wrong to you at all?”
Kael froze.
And that hesitation—
That tiny hesitation—
Destroyed her.
Because if the answer were truly simple, he would’ve responded immediately.
Lyra looked away before he could see the tears gathering again.
Moon Goddess.
How had they fallen this far?
Kael stepped toward her carefully.
“You’re still my mate.”
But the words no longer sounded reassuring.
They sounded defensive.
Obligated.
Like he was trying to convince himself as much as her.
Lyra swallowed painfully.
“Do you know what everyone saw tonight?”
Kael remained silent.
“They saw a grieving widow beside a protective Alpha.” Her voice broke slightly. “And they saw a Luna standing alone.”
Kael’s expression darkened with guilt.
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“But it happened.”
Silence stretched heavily between them.
Then Kael finally whispered the words she had been dreading most.
“The pack needs stability right now.”
Lyra stared at him.
And suddenly understood everything.
This wasn’t only about grief anymore.
Or duty.
Or compassion.
Kael truly believed he was protecting the future of Black Hollow.
Even if it slowly destroyed their bond in the process.
The realization hollowed her out completely.
Slowly, Lyra stepped back from him.
For the first time in five years…
She no longer felt emotionally safe with her own mate.
And judging from the look in Kael’s eyes—
He finally realized it too.
- Writer
