Seduced By Two Alpha Fires

Chapter 1: The Last Day I sit on the edge of the pack house porch, the cool breeze tugging at the hem of my simple dress. The sun hangs low in the sky, painting the world in soft, golden hues, but I barely notice the beauty of the evening. The weight of the day presses down on me, thick and suffocating, and I can’t seem to escape it. I glance over at the lake, the place where everything seemed clearer—where it felt like time stopped, and it was just Ronan and me. We spent hours by the water when we were younger, laughing, teasing, and dreaming of a future that felt inevitable. He was always there for me when the others said I wasn’t strong enough, or fast enough, or worthy enough to belong. And yet, today—today it all feels wrong. Everything feels wrong. He’s marrying her. I can’t even bring myself to say her name. Alina. The girl he’s chosen. The girl he met only hours ago. I feel the sting in my chest again, but I refuse to cry. Not here, not now. Not when I’m already so close to losing everything. “You’re still out here?” I turn at the sound of his voice, and there he is. Ronan. His figure stands in the doorway of the pack house, tall and strong, his familiar presence making my heart skip a beat. He doesn’t look like the boy who once held my hand on this very porch, laughing with me under the moonlight. He looks different—distant, almost unrecognizable. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the world falls away. But then, I remember. His words from earlier today echo in my mind. Lyra, I’ve made my choice. It’s time for you to accept it. His voice cuts through the memory, and I realize I’ve been staring at him without saying a word. I stand up, forcing a smile that feels like it belongs to someone else. “I—” I clear my throat. “I was just thinking.” I’m not sure what else to say. The words feel stuck, lodged in my throat. What do you say when the man you love is about to marry someone else? He steps forward, and my heart tightens. I want to move closer, to bury myself in his arms, but I hold back. I have to. “I don’t want you to be upset,” Ronan says, his voice softer now. His blue eyes are intense, searching mine for something—anything—that will tell him I’m okay. But I’m not. I’m not okay, and I can’t pretend anymore. “I’m not upset,” I say, my voice tight. It’s a lie, and we both know it. But I don’t want him to feel worse than he already does. He’s made his choice, and I need to respect that. Ronan sighs, running a hand through his hair, and I see the struggle in him. He wants to explain himself, to ease the hurt he’s caused, but he doesn’t know how. He never does. “You know it’s not like that,” he murmurs. “I care about you, Lyra. I always will.” The words sting more than I expect. Of course, he cares about me. But it’s not enough. It was never enough. “You’re marrying her,” I whisper. My words are barely audible, but I know he hears them. He flinches, but quickly recovers, his mask slipping back into place. “It’s complicated. You don’t understand. I didn’t choose this.” A bitter laugh escapes me. “No, of course you didn’t choose it. But here you are.” His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see the flicker of regret in his eyes. But it’s gone as quickly as it came. “You’re right,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry.” I don’t know how to respond. The words “I love you” are on the tip of my tongue, but they feel hollow now, like something I’ve said too many times without meaning. The man I love doesn’t want me. Not enough, anyway. “So, what happens now?” I ask, my voice breaking slightly. “You marry her, and I just… fade away?” Ronan shakes his head, but there’s no certainty in his movements. “No. I never wanted it to be like this, Lyra. I… I care about you more than you know. But my duty—” “Your duty,” I repeat, the bitterness creeping into my voice. “That’s what this is about? Duty? You’ve been telling me for years that we’d be together. That we were meant to be together.” His face hardens, his features drawn tight in frustration. “Things change. I didn’t expect this, but I don’t have a choice.” His voice is low, almost apologetic. “My pack needs me, Lyra. I can’t just walk away from it all.” I blink, my heart shattering all over again. “So, that’s it then? We were just a… a distraction?” I can’t help the bitterness in my words, the hurt that leaks through despite my best effort to control it. “No!” Ronan’s voice rises, his frustration matching mine. He takes a step toward me, but I don’t step back. “I never saw you as a distraction. You’ve always been more to me than that.” I don’t believe him. If I were more to him, he wouldn’t be standing here, telling me goodbye. He wouldn’t be marrying a stranger. “You said you loved me,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I do,” he says quickly, almost too quickly. “I always will, Lyra. You’re… you’re the best part of me. But I can’t choose you.” I swallow hard, my throat tightening with tears I won’t let fall. “So, what happens to me? To us?” Ronan’s eyes soften with regret, but it doesn’t change anything. “I don’t know. But I need you to understand. I have to do this.” I nod, though I’m not sure if I understand anything at all. The weight of his words hangs in the air, thick and suffocating. “I can’t be the reason your pack falls apart,” he adds, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve made my decision. It’s what’s best for everyone.” The air around me feels cold, and I shiver, though the evening breeze is gentle. “If you really loved me, you wouldn’t be doing this,” I say, my voice trembling with emotion. “I do love you,” he insists. “But love… love isn’t always enough.” I want to scream. I want to punch him. I want to tell him that he’s wrong, that he’s making a mistake. But I don’t. Because I know, deep down, that it won’t change anything. I turn away from him, my heart heavy and my mind spinning. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep pretending like everything is fine when I feel like I’m being torn apart. Ronan calls my name, but I don’t stop walking. I can’t.