Chapter 6
1591 Words
Breakfast felt off.
Conversations still flowed, laughter still rose from different ends of the table. It should've felt normal, but it didn't.
Lyra noticed it as she ate. The women at the table were lively, coupled with the few kids playing around the table.
"Caleb said it had something to do with vampires," the Beta's young wife, Andrea, said casually.
The table went silent. Even the little children paused in their games.
Lyra's hearing perked up immediately and she turned to Andrea. "What vampires?"
Andrea met her gaze, still calm. She had been one of the few people who treated Lyra with ease since she arrived in Darkshadow.
"The letter that came," Andrea started, slightly lowering her voice, "was from the Sanguine Court of vampires. Apparently some young vampires were attacked by the same creature that attacked you. Didn't the Alpha tell you?"
"Andrea, that shouldn't be discussed here," one of the women scolded.
Andrea immediately looked down, realizing her mistake. "I just thought she should know.." she mumbled.
Lyra noticed the edge in the woman's tone. She didn't want to be discussing pack matters in front of her— an outsider.
"And why shouldn't she discuss it? If it concerns me and the pack, then I have every right to know as the future Luna."
“You are not Luna yet, Lyra. And until you are, you do not speak over my pack in my house.”
The women turned to the source of the voice behind Lyra and lowered their heads immediately.
"Alpha," Andrea greeted but Killian paid no heed to it as he kept his eyes trained on Lyra's back.
"Unfortunately," Lyra said, placing her spoon down gently, "I was also raised to lead."
She tilted her head slightly to face him. "..and you would just have to deal with that, Alpha."
Small gasps erupted from the women at the table.
"She really said that.." someone whispered.
Lyra pushed back her chair a little, ready to stand and leave when Killian placed a hand on her shoulder.
Not to hurt, but enough to show who held power.
"Walk with me." He said and turned on his heels, walking down the nearby hallway.
For a moment, Lyra remained seated as though she was testing his command.
What would happen if she didn't comply?
But then her eyes met with Andrea's pleading eyes. "Just go," she mouthed.
Lyra begrudgingly stood up and followed him, barely throwing a glance back at their interrupted breakfast.
As soon as they left, the quiet dining room became as it was before. As if nothing had happened.
Lyra could hear them in the distance as she followed Killian further down the hall.
Killian walked ahead without speaking or even sparing a glance behind himself. His shoulders stiff as his fists remained clenched.
Only the sound of their footsteps bounced off the walls.
Then he stopped.
Absentminded as she was, Lyra almost bumped into his back. "So are we just going to stand–"
Killian turned around sharply, moving towards her. She slowly found herself backing away till her back hit the wall.
"You.." Killian started.
Lyra slid to her left, trying to escape but he blocked her by placing a hand on the wall.
"I need breathing space."
"Quiet!" Killian cut her off, his low voice booming through the quiet hallway.
“You don’t challenge me in front of my people.”
Lyra held his gaze, unflinching. “Then don’t undermine me in front of them either.”
His eyes darkened slightly. “You are not in a position to demand anything from me.”
“And yet I’m expected to stand beside you?” she shot back. “You can’t have it both ways.”
Silence stretched between them for a second.
“You’re here as a guest–”
Lyra scoffed, cutting him off, “is that what helps you sleep at night?”
“Enough," he said, his voice low. “You’ll learn when to speak and when to keep quiet.”
Lyra’s lips curved slightly. “If I’m expected to stand beside you,” she said, “then don’t think I'll be silent.”
Her hazel eyes clashed with his deep greens, fighting a silent battle.
Footsteps came in from the other end. "Alpha, there's been a..." The head warrior trailed off as he took note of the position they were in.
Killian looked at him briefly and returned back to Lyra. "This discussion isn't over," he said and moved back, releasing her from the caged position.
He held a gaze a moment longer then turned away, leading his warrior out of the area.
Later that afternoon, Lyra sat by the edge of the lake.
It was a few meters behind the pack house and stretched wide. And of course, it didn't lack the livelihood of the pack members.
Andrea had insisted she come. Something along the lines of "to cool off from breakfast."
Lyra rolled her eyes, adjusting the sheer fabric over her swimwear. She had her curls up in a bun, her mind going back to the hallway. To Killian.
Her chest tightened as anger surged through her once more at the thought of being treated as less in front of others.
As if the council back at her pack hadn't done enough.
Arms wrapped around Lyra's shoulders from behind, making her go tense. She almost threw the person over her shoulder until she heard their voice.
"You actually came!" Andrea giggled, her bubbly voice on high volume near Lyra's ear.
Lyra relaxed, gently prying Andrea's arms off her body. "It was getting hot inside so yea,” Lyra shrugged, looking back at the lake.
More pack members seemed to gather. Well, except the men who had their work cut out for them. Lyra looked at Andrea, suddenly remembering the event of the morning.
“Andrea, I want to know what happened with the vampires.”
Andrea froze and then shot her a pleading look, “I really shouldn't…”
Lyra crossed her arms, letting out a sigh. “If I'm expected to be Luna, I shouldn't be kept in the dark about matters like this.”
Andrea bit her lower lip thoughtfully. She did have a point there. “Fine,” she agreed, “but you didn't hear it from me.”
Lyra smiled, making a closed zip gesture with her mouth and fingers.
Andrea looked around them cautiously to make sure no one would eavesdrop. “I don't know everything but Caleb said the vampires found bodies…”
Lyra frowned and sat up straighter, "what? Those young vampires were killed?"
Andrea nodded, "they also said that it didn't look like a normal attack."
"What do you mean?"
"Like they were fed on." Andrea's face twisted in disgust. She let out an uneasy laugh, “Can you imagine vampires being fed on by something else and then putting the blame on us?”
Lyra stiffened, her mind taking her back to when her escorts were killed. “Did he say what it looked like?”
Andrea tried remembering when she noticed the men coming towards the lake and the thought was long gone. "Looks like we have company.” Andrea wriggled her shoulders, standing up to go get them refreshments.
Lyra sighed, looking at her friend's retreating figure. She turned back to the lake, dipping her feet in slowly and then she fully submerged herself under the waters.
She whipped her hair up as she resurfaced. A small smile was plastered on her face as the water cooled her body.
Killian's eyes kept darting towards Lyra's form in the lake. The way the droplets on her caramel skin glistened in the sunlight. How her bun had loosened, allowing her curls to get soaked in the water.
Caleb paused in his ramblings as he noticed Killian's divided attention. He followed his line of sight and chuckled, “looks like I'm being a distraction."
Killian turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow, "what?”
Caleb smirked, gesturing towards Lyra with his eyes. “We'll catch later." he patted Killian on the shoulder as he left in search of Andrea.
Killian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. As if sensing his presence, he saw Lyra staring at him. He gestured for her to come with a nod of his head but she ignored him, swimming towards the other end of the lake.
Killian's jaw tightened as he watched her swim farther away from the others.
Most people rushed to obey him, pack member or not. But Lyra did the opposite.
It was irritating. And strangely, intriguing.
He let out a low sigh, stepping into the waters to follow her.
Lyra reached the secluded part of the lake. Few to no people were there. She turned around to look how far she'd gone when she found Killian directly behind her.
"What is wrong with you?" she shrieked, placing a hand to her chest.
“Tell me,” he came closer. "Do you enjoy challenging me?"
Lyra scoffed, moving away from him slightly. “You make it easy, so why not?"
Killian's jaw ticked, "you've swam too far. The water here is deeper.”
"I can handle my–" Lyra was pulled under the water in a split second.
Killian's brows furrowed as his eyes remained where she was floating.
"This is not the time to play disappearing games," he muttered under his breath.
No response.
The water suddenly became still.
Too still.
Then the surface turned red.
"Lyra!"
- Writer
