THE CHASED MATE

Chapter Fourteen

Ethan was not a man to take rejection lightly. His bruised pride burned like a wildfire, and he wasn’t about to let Lyra slip away without a fight. Over the next few weeks, he began to sow seeds of discord throughout the pack, his silver tongue and calculated charm working to undermine Kael’s position.

It started subtly—small, seemingly innocent comments about Kael’s leadership during training sessions or questioning decisions Kael made for the pack’s security. Ethan knew how to manipulate, how to play on the insecurities of those around him.

“You ever notice how much time Kael spends with Lyra?” he said to a group of hunters one afternoon. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but shouldn’t our Beta be more focused on the pack?”

The hunters exchanged uneasy glances, the seed of doubt taking root.

Meanwhile, Ethan wasn’t done with Lyra. He began showing up wherever she was—during patrols, at training, even at her secluded spots in the forest. His presence was a constant reminder of her past, a shadow she couldn’t seem to escape.

“You think he’ll stick around when things get tough?” Ethan asked one evening, leaning casually against a tree as Lyra sharpened her blade. “Kael’s not like us, Lyra. He doesn’t understand what it’s like to fight for survival.”

Lyra didn’t look up, her grip tightening on the blade. “Go away, Ethan.”

Ethan chuckled, his voice dripping with mock pity. “I’m just trying to help. You deserve someone who gets you. Someone who won’t run when he realizes how broken you are.”

The words hit their mark, stirring the fears Lyra had tried so hard to bury.