Within the Forbidden lines
1918 Words
“NOO!”
A scream ripped through the silence of the quiet room before realisation set in. She awoke, gasping. Not like a person waking from sleep, but like one drowning. Clawing at air desperately.
Amara blinked the blur from her eyes. Sweat plastered her nightshirt to her skin, body heated despite the pre-dawn chill. The images… she could remember with stark detail
Her body trembled, something she had come to make peace with in the past five days days she had been in this strange land. Though she has been unconscious for two.
It wasn’t just a nightmare. It was a memory of everything she had lost. She felt weak and exposed as the ever sense of loss pressed against her.
‘At least it wasn’t a panic attack this time.’ She thought. Forcing her hand to stop trembling, using the other.
All attempts to not focus on the tragedy failed. She could hear the screams. Smell the smoke. Feel the heat. All of that overwhelmed her. But she blocked it out… because that was the only way to live without breaking down entirely. So she got down to her routine.
Prepping her bed, brushing her teeth, setting clothes for the day ahead. But just like the last three days this wouldn’t last for long as the Alpha of the pack would come to ask her yet again, to tell him about the incident.
But a creak on the floorboards dragged her from her thoughts as a knock came from the other side of the door.
‘He is here already?…’ She sighed internally.
Dragging herself to the door she paused for a second. Calming her heavily beating heart before she opened the door.
“Hello there, Amara I suppose?”
‘It wasn’t Lucian this time… Had he given up?’ She thought before saying; “Yes… I am.”
“Lovely meeting you. My name is Lyra and I will be one of the people you will be talking to today… Are you familiar with Alpha Derrick? Because he’s here too today.
She hadn’t been in his presence since the day she crossed the border. But she knew enough to know no Alpha is meant to be messed with.
With that, she exited her room. Following this Lyra to the meeting place for today.
×××
Derrick stood in the open room, his stance tense. In as much as he hated to be anywhere near Lucian he knew that this business of the same mate had to be sorted.
“The girl should be down soon. The sooner we get this over with, the faster you can be on your merry way.” Lucian spoke as he stood facing the castle window.
“I do not enjoy being here. There is this stench of unclean wolves in the air.” Derrick sneered, scrunching his nostrils.
“You should do well to mind your words Derrick” Lucian spoke in a low measured tone as he turned towards Derrick. “Remember you are on my territory and if history serves right, you are trespassing.”
Derick chuckled darkly, stepping further into the room. “I go where I please, Lucian,“Especially when someone decides to take what's mine,"
The tension in the room grew. The way Derick and Lucian stared at each other, it felt like a thin thread was holding them from tearing each other apart.
“She fell on my side of the border. I think it's only fair I take her with me," Derick crossed his arms over his chest.
“She’s not yours, Derick." Lucian clenched his fist. “Don’t start something you can't finish." His voice was still calm, but this time with an edge.
“On the contrary, she does belong to me. And if I don’t take her out of here tonight, your pack suffers." The smile never left his face.
Unbeknownst to them Amara had arrived, and she stood at the doorway, a wave of sadness overwhelming her as she watched these two men. They didn’t raise their voices now, but from the way they spoke, it was clear they didn’t need to shout to pass an effective message.
The moment Lucian spotted her staring vaguely into space, her scent hit him like a punch to the gut and he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Dreaming of home, runaway?" Lucian teased.
“Mind your words Lucian” Derrick snapped. “Or you’ll be kissing the floor really soon.”
Lucian strode forward and stood head to head with Derrick “You come into my home and threaten me, my guest” his eyes landed on Amara for just a few seconds, "and also the safety of my pack. Oh, Derick, are you really sure you’re ready for what’s coming for you?”
The smile on Derick’s face faltered slightly at Lucian’s words.
Two Alphas. Kings, ready to lay waste to each other over a girl that appeared mysteriously on both their lands.
Amara turned and exited the room,not wanting to listen to them bicker further. She barely made it down the steps before she heard them going at it again.
Lucian's voice ricocheted off the stone walls like gunfire. "How dare you make demands here? In my packlands?"
Derrick growled back, not intimidated. "I didn't come here to trade words with you. Unlike some people, I have self-control."
"You think showing up here is self-control? If you had that you would have waited for me to send a report."
“And risk getting wrong information? Absolutely not.” Derrick replied.
Amara halted at the edge of the hall, the air thick with testosterone and ego. Her heartbeat quickened, not out of fear, but exhaustion. She had barely slept, her thoughts running wild with images of fire and teeth.
She had lost everything. Not a soul in the world whom she was acquainted with was alive. It was overwhelming and traumatic. To top it off, she had to deal with those two.
"Enough!" Lyra screamed.
They both turned at once, the room snapping silent.
Lyra crossed her arms. "You called me here for a reason. And I’m sure it wasn’t to listen to who could piss further. Certainly not to experience this d**k measuring contest."
Derrick smirked. Lucian ignored.
“Great.”
Lyra chimed in again, now breezy and bemused. "Well, it seems you could listen after all. Look, you even scared the lady away. If you boys don’t mind, I’ll be joining her now."
The woman leaned against the far pillar, arms crossed, half a grin on her lips. She looked about Amara's age, sharp-eyed, wearing layers of midnight blue. Her presence was oddly calming. Both Alphas didn’t seem to care much as she exited the hall. Before they continued.
She made her way to Amara then said; "Sorry about the shouting. Alphas and their inflated egos, right?"
“The Alphas I’ve come across aren’t this wild.” Amara sighed then asked, "Who are you? I couldn’t get that earlier."
"My name is Lyra like I said earlier. A Seer, traveler, occasional peacekeeper." She held out a hand. "You looked like you needed rescuing."
Amara took it.
"Come on," Lyra said, jerking her head toward the exit. "Let them puff their chests in peace."
Gratefully, Amara let herself be led out of the building entirely.
They walked along the outer corridor, Lyra said nothing for a while, just letting the silence breathe between them.
Finally, Amara spoke. "Are you really a seer?"
Lyra gave her a sidelong glance. "Depends. Are you going to ask me to predict if you're doomed or if you’ll find money in your dress tomorrow?"
Amara huffed a laugh. "Neither. Just wondering what you're doing here."
"Well, despite the hate both Lucian and Derrick have for each other, it’s clear whatever had them summon me was important. And indeed it was… Sorry, we couldn’t make any headway before they started arguing. But you understand we need answers… The circumstances which brought you here are beyond bizarre.”
Amara hadn’t really gotten a briefing on where she was or what it meant for her to be here, but talking to Lyra helped add pieces of the puzzle to get an idea of what was going on.
They found a bench near the building’s exterior. Amara dropped onto the seat with a sigh; " Why are they going through so much trouble for me?"
"It’s a bit more complex than that. You see, no one has been able to cross the border and you just did. So if one person can, what about others? That’s the main concern… Then there’s the mate issue too."
"Well… that makes sense."
"If it’s worth anything, I’m sorry about your loss, all of it. Must be a lot to experience on your own."
Amara looked down at her hands. They still smelled faintly of smoke. Or maybe it was just in her mind. But the fear she felt when it happened was no different from what she felt each time she thought about the incident.
Her hands trembled lightly as she said; "I saw it again last night. The beast. Every time I wake up hoping all this was just some nightmare. But…" her voice broke as tears streamed down her face.
"It isn’t."
They were quiet for a beat.
Then Lyra broke the silence this time. "The beast, the fire, the Alphas, they're pieces of a puzzle. Even I don’t know what that puzzle might be, but I know if you help us, we’ll get answers… Maybe not all of them, but some."
Amara stared at her. "That's not comforting."
"Wasn't meant to be. Just being honest."
Despite everything, Amara laughed. She hadn't realized how badly she needed that honesty without pity. And as silly as it sounded… without pressure.
They stayed there until dusk deepened. Lyra promised to stop by her room later, said she'd bring something stronger than tea. Amara welcomed the company and anything to keep her awake longer.
If there were a miracle herb that could stop her from sleeping entirely, she would take it in a heartbeat. But reality was never that kind.
She returned to her room, letting the tiredness settle in her bones. The walls were cold, the window was cracked open to let in a breeze. It felt peaceful, if only for a breath.
She closed her eyes for a second to escape from the sensory overload, but there was no relief behind those eyelids. The horror of the scene replayed, somehow even worse than when she was asleep.
She headed to the box of roots given to her, but they were severely lacking. So she couldn’t whip up anything that could help. Her mind drifted back to the days of plenty, when she was surrounded by all the herbs she could think of, and now…. This? She felt lost. For the first time in her life, her dad wasn’t here to make it all better.
A knock pulled her out of her thoughts.
She smiled, already imagining Lyra with that grin and sarcastic warmth.
She opened the door and it wasn’t Lyra.
Lucian stood there. His jaw was tight, eyes unreadable.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
Amara didn't respond immediately.
The corridor felt too quiet. Her heart thudded like it knew what he wanted to say. They were mates after all, so she stepped aside.
He entered slowly, gaze drifting over the modest room, then settling on her again.
- Writer
