WOLVES OF ASH AND FIRE

FANGS IN THE DARK

Lyra's POV

"I should have killed you when I had the chance."

His voice echoes softly, only audible to me. Matthias’s words hang in the air, wrapping themselves around me like a tight knot. I try to ignore the chill that rushes through me. It’s not fear, I tell myself. It’s just the whirlwind of feelings he stirs in me—anger, hate, lust. But there’s a tremor I can’t quite hide—a flash in my chest that hurts every time he talks.

"You won’t," I shot back, pushing myself to face his eyes. My heart pounds, the energy from the previous chaos still flowing through me. "You never do anything that’s truly yours."

The words cut deep, harder than I wanted them to be, but it’s the truth. Matthias, the Alpha, the one I was sworn to, the one I could never escape... he’s always been a guy of control but never of action. He likes to talk. He likes to scare. But when it comes down to it, he never follows through.

His lips twisted, the same cold, calculating smile put on his face, but there was something flashing beneath those black eyes. I can see the tempest developing within him, the layers of feelings he hides beneath his mask of superiority.

"You're wrong, Lyra," he says, taking a step closer. His presence pounds down on me, crushing and obvious. "The day you leave my side is the day I break every law we’ve ever lived by."

The words hit me like a smack in the face, each phrase pushing the message home. There’s no escape from this, no easy way out. Not now. Not ever.

I swallow hard, stepping back, establishing space, but it only feels like a brief escape. "Then break them," I spit, my voice quivering with anger. "Show me who you truly are. Let’s see what you’re capable of if you don’t hide behind your stupid pack."

The energy crackles in the air between us, and I know, deep down, that I’ve pushed him too far. The risk of the scenario isn’t lost on me. But that’s the thing about Matthias. He’s always played it safe. He’s always been one step away from full-blown destruction, but never quite attaining it.

But today? Today, I’m not backing down.

The quiet between us is heavy, suffocating, and it feels like the world is holding its breath. Then I hear it—the sweetest sound. Footsteps. But not the ones I expected.

I turn, my heart missing a beat as I see him—Kieran.

His eyes lock onto mine, and the intensity in his look almost knocks the air from my lungs. It’s like he looks straight through me, like he’s able to peek beyond the barriers I’ve built around myself and reach into the very core of me.

"Stop, both of you," Kieran’s voice is a calm, authoritative force that cuts through the tense environment. "This isn’t the time for this."

I want to discuss. I want to tell him to stay out of this—he has no idea what he’s going into. But his presence, the serene confidence he emanates, has always been a salve to my turbulent psyche. So, instead, I kept quiet, my lips pushed hard together as I watched him come forward.

Matthias doesn’t take his eyes off me, but I feel the shift in the room as Kieran joins it. He always has this power, this ability to disturb whatever delicate balance we’ve managed to establish.

"You should listen to him," Kieran says, his words firm, his gaze never leaving Matthias’ face. "You’re both walking a fine line here."

Matthias sneers, yet there’s a flare of something deeper in his eyes. Something more dangerous. "And what makes you think you can tell me what to do, Kieran?"

I feel the air crackle with the stress between them. Two powerful guys, each clutching a piece of my soul. But I’m not a piece of this game anymore. I won’t let them decide my future, my fate.

"You don’t want to do this," Kieran says again, his stance tight, his hands curled at his sides.

"You’re right," Matthias says, his voice low and laced with danger. "I don’t. But you’ve made a mistake, Kieran. You think you can simply stroll in here and seize her like she’s some prize to be won?"

Kieran’s face stays unaltered, but the edge of his jaw tightens. "I’m not claiming anything, Blackthorn. I’m not a part of your sick games. But Lyra isn’t a piece of your game anymore."

The words hit me like a flash of electricity, the truth sinking into my chest like a stone. Kieran is right. I’ve spent too long becoming a component of their game. A game I didn’t ask for, didn’t want.

But Matthias, Matthias won’t let me leave that easily.

"Enough!" Matthias growled, his words carrying through the room like a demand. The force of it is enough to send a shudder of horror down my spine.

And suddenly, without notice, he moves. Fast. Too quick.

Before I could respond, Matthias took Kieran by the throat, raising him off the ground with a single, smooth motion. Kieran tries, but it’s no use. Matthias is a beast—unstoppable, uncontrolled.

"Let him go!" I screamed, my voice cracking beneath the weight of fear. I grab for Matthias, but he shoves me back, sending me crashing against the hard stone wall.

"Stay out of this, Lyra!" he yells, his voice a loud, gruff tone that echoes in my chest.

I gasp for air, my body throbbing from the collision, but I don’t move. I can’t.

Kieran’s face was becoming crimson, his fingers grabbing at Matthias’ grip, but his eyes were fixed on mine. And there’s something in them, something raw and fragile. Something that says he would sooner die than see me harmed.

"You’re making a mistake," Kieran’s voice was barely a whisper, but I heard it clearly. "Let me go, Matthias. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me."

But Matthias doesn’t listen. He tightens his hold, and I watched Kieran’s eyes flash with pain. I felt a rush of terror rise in my chest, my breath coming in quick spurts.

"Enough!" I scream again, my voice piercing through the cloud of anger and turmoil.

And then it happens.

A thunderous blast resonates across the room, so deafening that I lurch back in wonder. Matthias releases Kieran, who drops on the floor, gasping for air.

I turn around, my eyes sweeping the room, looking for the cause of the noise.

The door is wide open.

And there in the doorway is a man covered in darkness.

"Who’s there?" Matthias demands, his words dripping with malice as he watches the person.

But they don’t answer.

Instead, the person advances forward, displaying a face I never thought I’d see again.

My father.

Calder.

He’s alive.

And the knowledge hits me like a ton of bricks.

This is far from over.

"Lyra," Calder’s voice is frightening, but it’s the smirk on his face that makes my blood run cold. "We need to talk."