~Lyra~
I paused and turned.
The wolf, he was no longer smiling. His expression had cracked open, revealing something close to hurt. “You really don’t remember anything at all?”
I slowly shook my head.
“You were nine. You have came to join the Royal's annual dance. You found a boy hiding in the hedges. He was being chased—bullied by a few alphas’ sons. Do you remember?”
My breath caught. “…Kai?”
His lips curved into a tentative smile. He nodded.
“Sorry,” I said softly. “I didn’t recognize you… What are you doing here?”
He extended a hand, formal and strangely bittersweet. “It’s good to see you again, Lyra. I’m Kai—King Aldric’s son.”
Shock landed like a thunderclap. I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. I wasn’t sure which word fit better: stunned, dumbfounded, or just plain lost.
Kael and
