Chapter 3 A Proposal No One Expected. ( part 1)
557 Words
Chapter 3
A Proposal No One Expected
Lyra's POV (Part 1)
Morning arrived, but I wished it hadn't.
For the first time in eighteen years, I hated seeing the sun rise.
I had spent most of the night crying beside the stream before finally returning home long after midnight. My dress was stained with mud, my feet were sore, and my eyes burned from endless tears.
The moment I stepped through the front door, my mother wrapped me in a tight embrace.
She didn't ask where I had been.
She didn't ask why I was crying.
She already knew.
"My baby..." she whispered, gently stroking my hair. "Come inside."
I broke down all over again.
"I don't understand, Mom," I sobbed. "Why didn't the Moon Goddess answer me? Did I do something wrong?"
She cupped my face, tears glistening in her own eyes.
"No, Lyra. You have done nothing wrong."
"But everyone else heard their wolves."
"I know."
"They found their mates."
"I know."
"So why not me?"
She couldn't answer.
The silence hurt more than any words could.
---
The next morning, I refused to leave my room.
Outside, I could hear people passing our cottage.
Their voices were low, but not low enough.
"That's the house."
"The girl without a wolf."
"I heard the Moon Goddess rejected her."
"What if she's cursed?"
Every whisper was like another knife twisting in my heart.
I buried my face in my pillow and prayed the voices would stop.
A soft knock came at my bedroom door.
"Lyra?"
It was Ella.
"You don't have to talk," she said gently. "Can I come in?"
I wiped my eyes.
"Okay."
She entered carrying a small basket filled with fresh bread and berry pastries.
"I figured you hadn't eaten."
"I wasn't hungry."
She sat beside me.
"You have to eat something."
"I'm fine."
She gave me a look.
"No, you're not."
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she reached for my hand.
"You know... I don't believe the Moon Goddess abandoned you."
I laughed bitterly.
"The whole pack does."
"I don't care what the pack thinks."
"I do."
I looked away.
"They looked at me like I wasn't one of them anymore."
Ella's eyes filled with sadness.
"They're afraid because they've never seen anything like this."
"Maybe they're right."
"About what?"
"Maybe I don't belong here."
Ella immediately shook her head.
"Don't ever say that."
Before I could reply, another knock echoed through the house.
This one was louder.
More formal.
My father opened the front door.
A deep voice spoke.
"On behalf of Alpha Marcus, we request an audience with the Willow family."
My heart skipped.
The Alpha?
Why would the Alpha send guards to our home?
My mother looked at me nervously.
My father swallowed hard before opening the door wider.
Three warriors stood outside wearing the Alpha's crest.
The captain bowed respectfully.
"The Alpha King requests your presence at the Alpha Mansion immediately."
A chill ran down my spine.
Had I done something wrong?
Was I being punished for what happened during the ceremony?
I looked at my parents.
They seemed just as confused as I was.
The captain spoke again.
"There is an important matter the Alpha wishes to discuss."
I had no idea that with those words...
My life was about to change forever.
- Writer
