Chapter 007: A New Beginning
896 Words
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Lyra stared at the Lycan King, unable to tear her gaze away from his silver eyes.
His promise echoed in her mind.
"So long as I draw breath... no one will ever hurt you again."
No one had ever said those words to her.
Not her neighbors.
Not the pack she had spent years serving.
Not even Kael.
A strange warmth spread through her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside.
"I appreciate what you did," she said softly, "but I can't go with you."
Draven wasn't surprised.
He had expected resistance.
She had been betrayed by the man she trusted most. Trust wouldn't come easily anymore.
"I didn't ask you to."
Lyra blinked.
"You didn't?"
"No."
He folded his arms across his chest.
"You've had enough people making choices for you."
His answer caught her off guard.
For the first time in days, someone had asked for nothing in return.
Lucian stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"My Lady."
Lyra immediately shook her head.
"P-Please don't call me that."
Lucian smiled kindly.
"As you wish."
Draven glanced at his adviser.
"Prepare camp."
Lucian nodded.
"At once, Your Majesty."
Within minutes, the elite Lycans moved with astonishing speed.
Some gathered firewood.
Others pitched elegant black tents.
A few fetched fresh water from the nearby stream.
Lyra watched in amazement.
An entire camp appeared in less than fifteen minutes.
"You travel like this?" she asked.
Lucian chuckled.
"When one serves the Lycan King, efficiency is expected."
One of the warriors handed Lyra a warm blanket.
She hesitated.
"I..."
"It's clean," the young warrior said nervously.
"Our King ordered us to make sure you don't catch a cold."
Lyra accepted it quietly.
"Thank you."
The warrior looked as though he had just won a great honor.
He bowed before hurrying away.
Draven noticed everything.
Even the way Lyra wrapped the blanket tightly around herself.
She was exhausted.
She had probably eaten nothing since yesterday.
He walked toward the campfire where fresh stew simmered in a large pot.
"Have you eaten today?"
Lyra looked down.
"No."
"I wasn't hungry."
Her stomach chose that exact moment to growl.
Several warriors quickly looked away to hide their smiles.
Lyra's cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Draven simply picked up a wooden bowl and filled it with steaming stew.
He handed it to her.
"Eat."
She accepted it cautiously.
The rich aroma filled her senses.
Vegetables.
Fresh herbs.
Tender meat.
It reminded her of the soups her mother used to make.
After taking the first bite, tears unexpectedly filled her eyes.
Draven frowned.
"Is something wrong?"
She quickly wiped her face.
"No."
"It's just..."
She smiled sadly.
"I haven't had someone care whether I ate in a very long time."
Those words struck every Lycan present.
Draven's jaw tightened.
How neglected had she been?
He silently vowed never to let her feel that loneliness again.
---
Meanwhile...
Back at the Silver Moon Pack...
Kael stood outside Lyra's abandoned cottage.
The herb garden remained untouched.
The little wooden house looked strangely empty.
He hadn't meant to come here.
His feet had simply carried him.
Beta Ronan approached quietly.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
Kael looked at the flowers Lyra had planted herself.
"They're dying."
Ronan didn't answer.
After a long silence, Kael spoke again.
"Did she cry?"
Ronan's expression darkened.
"You saw it yourself."
"No..."
Kael shook his head.
"I mean after she left."
Ronan remembered finding Lyra beside the stream with Mira.
Remembered her broken voice.
Remembered the emptiness in her eyes.
"Yes."
Kael closed his eyes.
A sharp pain pierced his chest again.
His wolf whimpered.
For the first time...
Regret settled deep inside him.
---
That night...
The camp grew quiet.
Most of the warriors had fallen asleep.
Lyra sat alone beside the fire, staring into the dancing flames.
She couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened.
Less than twenty-four hours ago...
She had believed she would become Luna.
Now...
She sat among strangers led by the most powerful Lycan in existence.
Footsteps approached.
Draven sat across from her.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
The fire crackled between them.
Finally, he broke the silence.
"Do you miss them?"
Lyra thought carefully before answering.
"I miss the people I believed they were."
She looked into the flames.
"But I don't think those people ever existed."
Draven nodded slowly.
"That's a painful realization."
She smiled faintly.
"You speak as though you've experienced it."
His expression became unreadable.
"I have."
Lyra wanted to ask more.
But the sadness in his eyes told her not to.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"Why did you search for me?"
Draven looked up at the moon.
"Because the Moon Goddess chose you."
"What if she made a mistake?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"She didn't."
Their eyes met across the fire.
For the first time since her rejection...
Lyra smiled.
It was small.
Barely noticeable.
But it was real.
Draven's wolf stirred happily.
His mate had smiled.
Hidden in the darkness beyond the camp...
A pair of golden eyes watched them.
The figure pulled back the hood covering his face.
A cruel smile spread across his lips.
"So..."
"The Lycan King found her first."
He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
"I must report this to my master."
Neither Lyra nor Draven realized that someone had already begun plotting against them.
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