Chapter 10: When Her Pain Became His
737 Words
They didn’t grab her this time.
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They waited.
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Lyra knew the moment she stepped out of her cabin.
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Too quiet.
Too still.
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No whispers.
No movement.
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Wrong.
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She kept walking anyway.
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Because stopping meant fear.
And she didn’t do that.
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The path narrowed near the trees.
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That’s where they were.
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Stepping out one by one.
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Blocking her way.
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Four.
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No smiles this time.
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No mocking.
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Just purpose.
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“Move.”
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Lyra didn’t slow.
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“You’re coming with us.”
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She stopped.
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“No.”
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That was enough.
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They moved.
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Fast.
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Lyra struck first.
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Her fist connected with the closest one’s jaw.
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He staggered back.
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But the others were already on her.
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A hand caught her arm.
Another locked around her waist.
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She twisted.
Kicked.
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Broke one grip—
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Then another caught her from behind.
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Too many.
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They forced her down.
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Her knees hit the ground.
Hard.
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“Hold her.”
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Lyra fought harder.
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Her breath sharp.
Her body straining.
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“Get off—”
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Something pierced her side.
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Sharp.
Fast.
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Lyra froze.
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Not pain.
Not exactly.
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Cold.
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Spreading.
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“What… did you—”
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Her voice cut off.
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Her strength slipped.
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Her fingers loosened.
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Her body felt heavier.
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“Don’t fight it,” one of them muttered.
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Lyra tried to move.
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Nothing responded the same.
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Her vision blurred slightly.
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The world tilted.
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Then—
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The pull hit.
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Violent.
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Her chest tightened so hard it hurt.
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A gasp tore from her throat.
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It wasn’t just her.
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She knew that instantly.
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Across the pack—
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Kael stopped mid-step.
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The force slammed into him.
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Sharp.
Unforgiving.
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His breath hitched.
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His hand pressed against his chest.
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This wasn’t the flicker.
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This wasn’t unstable.
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This was pain.
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Hers.
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His eyes darkened instantly.
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“Lyra.”
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Back on the ground—
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Lyra struggled again.
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Weaker now.
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Her limbs felt slow.
Heavy.
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But the bond—
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The bond was screaming.
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Loud.
Clear.
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Wrong.
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“Keep her down.”
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They forced her forward again.
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Her hands hit the dirt.
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Her vision dipped.
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Then—
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“Stop.”
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The word cut through everything.
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Cold.
Final.
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The grip on her tightened for a second—
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Then loosened.
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Too late.
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Kael was already there.
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His presence hit first.
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Heavy.
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Dangerous.
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“What did you do?”
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No one answered.
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One of them stepped back.
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“We were told—”
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“By who?”
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Silence.
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Kael’s gaze dropped to Lyra.
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Still on the ground.
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Barely holding on.
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Something shifted in him.
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Not control.
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Not patience.
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Something darker.
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“Move.”
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They let her go instantly.
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Stepped back.
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Like prey.
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Kael stepped forward.
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Dropped to one knee beside her.
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His hand hovered for a second—
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Then touched her.
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The moment his skin met hers—
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It snapped.
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The bond.
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Not flickering.
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Not broken.
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Whole.
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Violent.
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Lyra gasped.
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Her eyes opened slightly.
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For a second—
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Everything aligned.
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Clear.
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Real.
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Then—
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It tore apart again.
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Gone.
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Kael’s jaw tightened.
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That wasn’t normal.
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That wasn’t anything he understood.
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He stood slowly.
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His gaze shifted to the wolves.
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Cold.
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“You’re done.”
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No one argued.
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No one moved.
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Because this time—
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He meant it.
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Kael looked back at Lyra.
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Then bent down.
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Lifted her into his arms.
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Her head fell slightly against his chest.
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Unconscious.
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The bond flickered once more.
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Weak.
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But there.
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Kael turned.
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Walked away.
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Leaving silence behind him.
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Because now—
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It wasn’t just a secret anymore.
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It was dangerous.
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And everyone had seen it.
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- Writer
