Kael POV
The morning felt off the moment Kael stepped into the dining hall. It wasn’t just the lingering tension from the previous day, nor the unusual quiet among the pack members—it was her absence. His eyes instinctively searched the table, scanning every seat until the realization settled heavily in his chest. Lyra wasn’t there. Again. Selene, seated beside him, noticed the shift in his expression and gently placed her hand over his arm, her touch soft, almost fragile. “She’s probably resting,” she said, her voice laced with feigned concern. Kael didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he pulled his arm back slightly, his gaze still distant. “Did she eat?” he asked, the question slipping out before he could stop himself. Mira answered calmly, “No. She didn’t come for dinner last night ei
