Chapter 8
1268 Words
Lyra POV
Evening settled slowly over the Silverfang packhouse, bringing with it the quiet rhythm of the pack’s nightly routines. Torches flickered along the stone corridors, casting soft shadows that danced across the walls. The scent of roasted meat and warm bread drifted faintly through the halls, signaling that dinner had begun in the main hall.
But Lyra Valen remained in her room.
She sat near the window, her arms wrapped loosely around her knees as she stared out at the darkening forest. The fading sunlight painted the trees in deep shades of gold and shadow, but she barely noticed the beauty outside.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Nyx shifted uneasily within her mind.
You should eat, the silver wolf murmured gently.
Lyra shook her head.
“I’m not hungry.”
But Nyx knew that wasn’t the truth.
Lyra had skipped lunch earlier. After the confrontation with Kael in his office, the idea of sitting among the pack members—while whispers and curious stares followed her—felt unbearable.
She reached up unconsciously, her fingers brushing the faint soreness around her throat.
The memory flashed vividly.
Kael’s hand gripping her neck.
His glowing wolf eyes.
And the cruel words that had followed.
Lyra closed her eyes tightly.
“I won’t cry again,” she whispered to herself.
Not for him.
Not for anyone.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Miss Lyra?” came the hesitant voice of one of the maids outside the door.
Lyra didn’t move.
“Yes?”
“Dinner is being served in the hall,” the maid said politely. “The Alpha has requested all pack members to attend.”
Lyra exhaled slowly.
“Tell the Alpha I’m not coming.”
The maid hesitated.
“Miss—”
“I’m not hungry.”
There was a moment of silence before the maid finally replied softly, “Very well.”
Footsteps faded down the hallway.
Lyra leaned her head back against the wall.
Part of her felt relieved.
The other part knew this was only delaying the inevitable.
⸻
Downstairs, the dining hall buzzed quietly with conversation.
The long wooden table had already filled with most of the pack’s senior members. Large platters of roasted meat, vegetables, and fresh bread were arranged neatly along the center.
At the head of the table sat Kael Draven, silent and unreadable.
Beside him sat Selene, who looked perfectly composed as always.
Further down the table were Beta Darius and Elena, Gamma Ronan, Mira, and Kael’s younger sister Isolde
The maid approached nervously, stopping beside Kael.
“My Alpha,” she said quietly, lowering her head. “Miss Lyra says she will not be joining dinner.”
Kael’s eyes lifted slowly.
“She refuses?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Before Kael could respond, Mira spoke from across the table.
“She didn’t eat lunch either,” Mira added casually.
Her words carried a deliberate edge.
“Probably because of someone.”
Several people at the table exchanged subtle glances.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Isolde leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
“Oh?” she said lightly. “So the new Luna has decided she’s too important to dine with the rest of us now?”
Selene smiled faintly but said nothing.
Isolde continued mockingly.
“Or perhaps she expects the servants to bring her dinner upstairs like royalty?”
She lifted an eyebrow.
“Should we start serving meals to her room now?”
The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.
Kael’s patience snapped.
“Enough.”
His voice cut through the room like steel.
Every conversation stopped immediately.
Kael looked toward the maid.
“Bring her down.”
The maid hesitated nervously.
“My Alpha, she said—”
“That was not a request.”
The maid bowed quickly.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Before she could leave, Mira pushed her chair back.
“I’ll go,” she said simply.
Without waiting for permission, she headed toward the stairs.
⸻
Upstairs, Lyra was still sitting by the window when Mira burst into the room without knocking.
“You’re coming to dinner,” Mira announced immediately.
Lyra groaned.
“I already told the maid I’m not hungry.”
“Well,” Mira said bluntly, “Kael doesn’t care.”
Lyra rolled her eyes.
“Of course he doesn’t.”
Mira crossed her arms.
“You should come anyway.”
“Why?” Lyra snapped. “So everyone can stare at me like I’m some unwanted guest?”
Mira studied her carefully.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Because if you stay up here, they’ll think they’ve already won.”
Lyra frowned.
“Who?”
“Selene. Aria. Half the pack that thinks you’ll break after one bad day.”
Lyra’s jaw tightened.
Nyx growled softly.
She’s right.
Mira leaned closer.
“You fought three warriors yesterday without flinching,” she said quietly. “Are you really going to hide in your room tonight?”
Lyra stared at her for a long moment.
Then she stood up slowly.
“Fine.”
But if she was going down there…
She wasn’t going down quietly.
Lyra walked toward her wardrobe and pulled out a dark fitted dress.
The neckline was lower than what she normally wore.
Mira’s eyes widened slightly.
“Oh.”
Lyra didn’t say anything.
She simply brushed her hair back and let it fall over her shoulders, leaving her neck completely exposed.
The faint bruising from Kael’s grip was still visible.
Mira understood immediately.
“You’re not hiding it,” she said softly.
Lyra’s voice was cold.
“No.”
⸻
The moment Lyra stepped into the dining hall, the entire room fell silent.
Every conversation stopped instantly.
Dozens of eyes turned toward her.
And then they saw it.
The marks on her neck.
A visible handprint.
Proof of exactly what had happened earlier that day.
The silence became suffocating.
Kael froze.
His eyes locked on Lyra’s throat.
Shock flickered across his face as realization hit him like a blow.
I did that.
Fenrir growled angrily in his mind.
You hurt her.
Lyra ignored him completely.
She didn’t even glance toward the head of the table.
Instead, she walked calmly to the empty seat beside Ronan, the Gamma.
“Good evening,” Ronan said quietly.
Lyra gave a small nod.
“Good evening.”
Across the table, Mira was watching Kael carefully.
Isolde looked stunned.
Selene’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Dinner resumed slowly, though the atmosphere remained tense.
Every few minutes someone’s gaze would drift back to the marks on Lyra’s neck.
But Lyra behaved as though nothing had happened.
She ate quietly.
Spoke only when Ronan or Mira asked her something.
Ignored the heavy presence of the Alpha entirely.
Kael barely touched his food.
His mind replayed the moment in his office again and again.
The fear in Lyra’s eyes.
The marks his hand had left.
And the way she now refused to even acknowledge him.
Fenrir’s voice was cold.
You did this.
⸻
When Lyra finished eating, she set down her utensils calmly.
“Thank you for the meal,” she said politely.
No one stopped her as she stood.
No one spoke.
She simply walked out of the dining hall with her head held high.
Only when she reached the quiet hallway outside did she finally exhale.
Her chest felt tight, but she refused to let the emotion surface.
Inside her mind, Nyx spoke softly.
You were strong tonight.
Lyra closed her eyes briefly.
“I won’t bow my head,” she whispered to herself.
Not to the pack.
Not to Kael.
Not to anyone
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