Echoes of the Past

The SUV sped down the dark highway, the city lights looming in the distance like distant stars. Lyra sat in the backseat, her mother's frail body resting against her shoulder, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest a bittersweet reminder that she was alive—barely.

Ethan sat in the driver's seat, his knuckles white against the steering wheel, his jaw set in an unyielding line of tension. Logan, seated next to him, cast quick glances at the rearview mirror, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of pursuit.

"She's burning up," Lyra murmured, brushing damp strands of silver hair from her mother's face. "We need to get her help."

Ethan's voice was low, tight. "We're almost there. Hold on."

Lyra pressed a kiss to her mother's forehead, her chest aching with guilt and helplessness. She had thought bringing her back would bring relief, but all she felt was the heavy weight of unanswered questions.

Her mother stirred weakly, her voice a whisper. "Lyra… you shouldn't have come for me."

Lyra swallowed hard. "Don't say that. I had to."

Her mother's tired eyes fluttered open, filled with something that looked eerily like fear. "They won't stop. Vivian… she won't stop."

Ethan's eyes flickered in the rearview mirror, his gaze locking onto Lyra's. "She won't get another chance."

Lyra nodded, but deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. Vivian wasn't just after her anymore. This was bigger—something darker, something ancient that lurked beneath the surface of everything they had faced so far.

And Damien…

Lyra clenched her jaw at the thought of him. His face haunted her, his words still echoing in her mind.

"You don't understand what you're walking into, Lyra."

She had seen the hesitation in his eyes tonight, the flicker of something that resembled the man he used to be. But she couldn't afford to dwell on it now.

The tires screeched as Ethan pulled into the underground parking lot of Midnight Crest Tower. The moment the vehicle came to a stop, pack medics were already there, rushing to pull Lyra's mother from the car and onto a stretcher.

Lyra followed closely, her heart pounding in her chest. "She needs a healer now."

The medic nodded. "We'll do everything we can, Luna."

Lyra watched as they wheeled her mother down the hall, disappearing into the sterile glow of the infirmary. The cold emptiness left behind made her stomach twist painfully.

Ethan's hand found the small of her back, grounding her. "She's in good hands."

Lyra turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if we're too late?"

Ethan's dark eyes softened, and for a moment, the ruthless Alpha was gone, replaced by the man who had stood by her side for centuries. "Then we fight harder."

Midnight Crest Tower – War Room

The dim glow of the monitors cast an eerie light across the war room, highlighting the tense expressions of everyone gathered. Logan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Amelia tapped furiously at her keyboard, scanning the latest data they had pulled from the wreckage of the fortress.

Ethan stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding. "Tell me something good."

Amelia sighed, rubbing her temples. "The good news? We destroyed most of their facility. The bad news? They were already moving before we got there." She gestured to the screen. "Look at this."

Lyra leaned in, her eyes narrowing as lines of encrypted messages scrolled across the monitor.

"They're planning something bigger," Amelia continued. "Something called The Ascension."

Lyra's stomach dropped. "Ascension?"

Logan exhaled sharply. "That sounds… ominous."

Ethan's gaze darkened. "What does it mean?"

Amelia shook her head. "I don't know yet. But it's connected to Lyra. And to you." She glanced between them. "Vivian's obsessed with your bond, and this… whatever it is, it's tied to it."

Lyra swallowed hard. "If they can't control us separately, they'll try to use us together."

Ethan's fists clenched at his sides. "Then we stop them before they get the chance."

Logan smirked grimly. "Easier said than done, boss. Vivian's got eyes everywhere. We need a new approach."

Lyra squared her shoulders, determination replacing fear. "We go on the offensive."

Ethan shot her a sharp look. "You're still healing."

Lyra lifted her chin. "I don't care. We can't afford to sit back and wait for them to strike again."

Ethan studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. But we do it smart."

Lyra exhaled in relief, but the tension in the room remained thick.

Amelia glanced up from her screen. "I might have a lead. There's an old contact of mine—goes by the name Grayson. He used to run with the Blood Pact before he went underground."

Ethan's brow lifted. "And you trust him?"

Amelia shrugged. "Not even a little. But he might have what we need."

Lyra looked at Ethan. "It's worth a shot."

He nodded. "Fine. We'll set up a meeting."

Logan pushed off the wall. "Guess I should dust off my negotiation skills."

Ethan smirked. "Or your weapons."

Later That Night – Lyra's Suite

Lyra sat by the window, staring out at the city below. The weight of everything pressed against her chest, threatening to suffocate her. Her mother's face, Damien's warning, Vivian's threats—it all circled in her mind like vultures waiting to descend.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, and Ethan stepped inside, his presence filling the room.

"You should be resting," he said softly.

Lyra shook her head. "I can't. Too much to think about."

Ethan crossed the room, sitting beside her on the couch. He didn't say anything, just reached out and took her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in slow, soothing strokes.

Lyra leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. "Do you think we'll ever get a moment to just... breathe?"

Ethan pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "When this is over. And it will be over."

Lyra closed her eyes, allowing herself this small moment of peace, knowing it wouldn't last.

Because the Blood Pact was still out there.

And they wouldn't stop until everything she loved was gone.