The Silver Lycan

Chapter 8

Lyra stirred, her body aching in places she didn’t know could ache. Her throat felt dry, and a faint dizziness lingered as she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, her stormy gray eyes adjusting to the light.

As she turned her head, she froze. Sitting in the chair beside her bed was Blake, his head tilted back, eyes closed, and arms crossed over his chest. His raven-black hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his strong jawline was relaxed in sleep. Even in such a casual state, he looked effortlessly commanding, like the future alpha he was.

Lyra’s heart gave a small flutter, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. She tried to move as quietly as possible, hoping not to disturb him. But even the slight rustle of the blanket was enough to make Blake’s sharp gray eyes snap open.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low and slightly husky from sleep. He straightened immediately, his gaze scanning her face with concern.

Lyra winced slightly as she pushed herself up. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Blake shook his head, standing and moving to her side. “Don’t worry about that. How are you feeling?”

“Thirsty,” she admitted, her voice raspy.

Blake grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table and handed it to her. “Here. Drink slowly.”

She took the glass with a small smile of thanks, sipping the cool water gratefully. As she drank, memories of the previous night came rushing back—the rogue, the fight, the claws. Her grip on the glass tightened as her thoughts spiraled.

Blake noticed her tension immediately. “Lyra,” he said softly, his voice grounding her. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She set the glass down and looked at him. “I was just thinking about what happened." She passed. "All I could think about was protecting Blaire. She’s like a sister to me.” Her fist tightened, "She is family. You are my family. I can't take it if any of you gets hurt."

Blake’s expression softened, and he pulled the chair closer to her bed, sitting down. "Hey, it's over now." He held her hands, and added to assure her, “You did protect her. You were incredible out there, Lyra. What you did…” He paused, his gray eyes searching hers. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And to think that you don't have your wolf yet. You did a great job protecting Blaire.”

Lyra’s gaze dropped to her hands being held by Blake, the memory of her claws flashing in her mind. “I don’t even know how I did it. It was like something inside me snapped, and I just… changed.”

Blake caressed her cheeks, and again placed a reassuring hand over hers. “Whatever it was, it saved you and Blaire. You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Just focus on resting and recovering. When you have rested, we will figure it out.”

As the mention of Blaire's name sinks into her mind, Lyra’s eyes widened. “Blaire! How is she? Is she okay?” She tried to swing her legs off the bed, but Blake immediately stopped her, his strong hands gently holding her shoulders.

“Lyra, stop,” he said firmly. “Blaire is fine. She’s with my mom, and you know how protective she is. You don’t need to worry about her.”

“But I need to see her,” Lyra insisted, her voice filled with concern.

Blake shook his head. “Not right now. You need to rest. As much as Blaire wants for you to see her, she wouldn’t want you pushing yourself like this.”

Lyra hesitated, torn between her worry for Blaire and the exhaustion weighing her down. She looked at Blake, his gray eyes steady and unyielding, and finally nodded. “Okay. I’ll rest. But only if you promise to let me see her later.”

Blake’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Deal. But only if the healer clears you.”

Lyra leaned back against the pillows, her body relaxing slightly. “Thank you, Blake. For everything. For taking care of me.”

Blake’s expression softened even more, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. The gesture was so unexpected that Lyra’s breath hitched slightly.

“I’ll always take care of you,” Blake said quietly, his voice filled with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lyra.”

The sincerity in his words left her momentarily speechless. She looked at him, searching his face for any hint of insincerity, but all she saw was genuine concern and something deeper that she couldn’t quite name.

“You should sleep,” Blake said after a moment, his voice gentle. “You need it.”

Lyra wanted to protest, but the weight of her exhaustion was too much. She nodded, her eyes growing heavy. As she drifted off, she felt Blake’s hand still holding hers, a comforting presence anchoring her.

Even as sleep claimed her, one thought lingered in her mind: with Blake by her side, she felt safe.