Chapter 4: What Kael Was Hiding
1750 Words
Lyra stared at Kael.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The forest seemed to have gone quiet again, but this time the silence didn't feel empty.
It felt like something was listening.
“What did you hear?” Kael asked.
“My mother's voice.”
His expression tightened.
“You're sure?”
“I know my mother's voice.”
Kael looked away.
That small movement told Lyra more than his words had.
“You heard it too.”
“I heard something.”
“That's not what I asked.”
He turned back to her.
“Lyra—”
“You said you didn't know who was after me.”
“I don't.”
“Then how did you know to stop me from following the voice?”
Kael didn't answer.
Lyra stepped closer.
“You know more than you're telling me.”
“I told you I'm trying to protect you.”
“And I told you I don't need you making decisions for me.”
His jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know who I can trust.”
The answer caught her off guard.
Kael looked genuinely tired.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
Lyra studied him.
“Not even the people in your pack?”
“Especially not everyone in my pack.”
She glanced toward the direction of the house.
“Is that why you sent me away?”
“Yes.”
“And the patrol?”
His expression darkened.
“They were killed because someone wanted to send a message.”
“To me?”
Kael didn't answer.
Lyra swallowed.
“So this is my fault.”
“No.”
His answer came immediately.
“You didn't ask anyone to come after you.”
“But they're here because of me.”
“That doesn't make it your fault.”
She looked down.
The mark on her wrist had stopped glowing, but she could still feel a faint warmth beneath her skin.
Kael noticed her staring at it.
“Does it still hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
He nodded.
Then he reached for her wrist.
Lyra hesitated.
“Why?”
“I want to see something.”
She let him take her hand.
His fingers closed gently around her wrist.
The warmth returned.
This time, neither of them pulled away.
Lyra looked at their hands.
The bond between them was strange.
It wasn't just attraction.
There was something quieter underneath it.
Something that made standing beside him feel familiar.
She didn't like how much she noticed it.
Kael looked at the mark.
“It reacts to me.”
“You said you'd never seen it before.”
“I haven't.”
“Then how do you know what it means?”
He released her hand.
“I don't.”
Lyra sighed.
“That's getting frustrating.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then stop treating me like I'm a child.”
Kael was silent.
Finally, he said, “You're right.”
Lyra blinked.
She hadn't expected that.
“You're not what I thought you were.”
She gave him a skeptical look.
“And what did you think I was?”
“Someone who would need to be protected.”
“And now?”
He looked at her for a moment.
“Someone who'll walk into danger just to prove she doesn't need protecting.”
Lyra almost smiled.
“Maybe that's because nobody ever gave me a choice.”
Something softened in his expression.
Before he could respond, footsteps sounded behind them.
Maya appeared between the trees.
“There you are.”
Her eyes immediately went to the blood on Kael's shirt.
“Are you hurt?”
“It's not mine.”
Maya's expression changed.
She looked at Lyra.
“Then whose is it?”
Kael didn't answer.
Maya didn't push.
She simply looked toward the dark forest.
“Can we please go back?”
Lyra nodded.
They started walking.
Kael stayed behind them.
For some reason, Lyra noticed.
He wasn't walking beside her.
He was watching the trees.
Every few steps, his gaze moved into the darkness.
She wondered what he expected to see.
When they reached the guest house, the High Seer was waiting outside.
She looked relieved when she saw them.
“Thank the Moon.”
Kael stopped.
“We need to talk.”
The High Seer nodded.
“Inside.”
Lyra followed them.
The moment they entered, Kael closed the door.
Maya remained near Lyra.
The High Seer looked at Kael.
“You heard it too.”
Kael nodded.
“My mother's voice,” Lyra said.
The woman looked at her.
“Yes.”
Lyra frowned.
“You believe me?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother once told me something similar might happen.”
Lyra's heart skipped.
“What exactly did she say?”
The High Seer hesitated.
“She said that when the mark appeared, you might begin hearing things that weren't meant for you.”
“Like voices?”
“Possibly.”
Lyra's stomach tightened.
“Was it really my mother?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said you believed me.”
“I believe you heard her. That doesn't mean the voice was actually hers.”
Lyra looked at Kael.
He was watching the High Seer carefully.
“What does that mean?”
The High Seer sat down.
“Moonborn blood is different from ordinary wolf blood.”
Lyra sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it's important.”
“Then explain it.”
The woman folded her hands.
“Moonborn wolves were believed to have a stronger connection to the Moon Goddess. They could sense things other wolves couldn't.”
“Like what?”
“Memories. Emotions. Sometimes voices.”
Lyra frowned.
“Memories?”
The High Seer nodded.
“Your mother was able to do it.”
Lyra's eyes widened.
“You knew?”
“I saw it happen once.”
“What did she see?”
The High Seer looked away.
“A place.”
“What place?”
“She wouldn't tell me.”
Lyra leaned forward.
“You're doing it again.”
“I know.”
“Every time I ask something, you give me half an answer.”
“Because some answers are dangerous.”
Lyra's frustration rose.
“I think not knowing is becoming more dangerous.”
The room fell silent.
Kael looked at her.
For once, he didn't disagree.
The High Seer sighed.
“Your mother believed someone would eventually find you.”
“Who?”
“We still don't know.”
“Then how do you know they found me now?”
The High Seer looked toward the window.
“Because of the message.”
Lyra remembered the words carved into the tree.
We found you.
A cold feeling settled in her stomach.
“What happens now?”
Kael answered.
“We move you.”
Lyra looked at him.
“Where?”
“Somewhere they won't think to look.”
“No.”
His eyebrows drew together.
“Lyra.”
“You can't keep moving me around without telling me anything.”
“It's not negotiable.”
She stood.
“Then maybe you shouldn't have brought me into this.”
Kael stared at her.
“You think I wanted this?”
“I think you decided what was best for me before asking me what I wanted.”
His expression hardened.
“You don't understand what I'm trying to prevent.”
“Then make me understand.”
Kael opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The High Seer watched them both.
Finally, Kael said quietly,
“Someone tried to kill your mother.”
Lyra went still.
“What?”
“Twenty years ago.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Why?”
Kael looked at the High Seer.
She nodded reluctantly.
“Your mother discovered something.”
“What?”
“We don't know.”
Lyra stared at them.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“I know.”
“Then why would someone want her dead?”
Kael's eyes met hers.
“Because whatever she discovered had something to do with the Moonborn.”
Lyra's heart began beating faster.
“And now they think I know it?”
“Maybe.”
“Do I?”
Neither answered.
Lyra laughed bitterly.
“That's unbelievable.”
Kael stepped toward her.
“Lyra.”
She backed away.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I've spent my entire life thinking my mother died because she was sick.”
Her voice trembled.
“And now you're telling me someone might have killed her?”
Kael's expression softened.
“We don't know that.”
“But it's possible.”
“Yes.”
Lyra looked down.
For years, she'd accepted her mother's death because she'd had no reason not to.
Now, suddenly, every memory felt uncertain.
The room became too small.
“I need some air.”
She turned toward the door.
Kael moved aside.
He didn't stop her.
Outside, the night was colder.
Lyra walked a short distance from the house and sat beneath a tree.
She stared at the ground.
Her mother's face came to mind.
The way she used to braid Lyra's hair.
The songs she'd hum while cooking.
The way she'd always check the doors twice before going to bed.
Had she really been afraid?
Had she known someone was coming?
Lyra closed her eyes.
A faint scent of lavender drifted through the air.
Her eyes opened.
“Mom?”
No answer.
Then, very softly—
Don't trust him.
Lyra's heart stopped.
She turned.
Kael stood several feet away.
Watching her.
His face had gone pale.
“You heard it again,” he said.
Lyra slowly stood.
“Yes.”
“What did it say?”
She stared at him.
For the first time, she didn't know whether she should tell him.
Because the voice had given her a warning.
And it was about him.
“Nothing.”
Kael studied her face.
He knew she was lying.
But he didn't call her out.
Instead, he said,
“Then we have a bigger problem than I thought.”
Lyra frowned.
“What?”
Kael looked toward the forest.
“Because I heard it too.”
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