She is alive

Lyra jolted awake, her heart pounding as she instinctively looked outside. But before she could make sense of the situation, the sudden appearance of Darius made her flinch back.

"My lady, please do not leave the carriage," the Beta said, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Lyra hesitated, nodding quickly as if in agreement. Yet, beneath his wary tone, she sensed an underlying tension—a moment of vulnerability she could use to her advantage.

An idea sparked in her mind.

Carefully, she grabbed the small bag she had been given, her fingers trembling as she reached for the carriage door. The men outside stood on high alert, their eyes scanning the darkened woods, as if expecting something.

She didn't care what had them so guarded.

This was her chance.

Moving as silently as possible, Lyra slipped out of the carriage and ran.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she darted into the trees, the cold night air whipping against her skin. She had no destination, no solid plan—only the desperate hope that she could find refuge among humans.

They would accept her there, wouldn't they? She could blend in, start over.

But she never made it far.

A sudden force crashed into her, knocking her off her feet.

Ah!

Her body slammed into a tree trunk with bone-jarring impact, pain radiating through her limbs. It took her a moment to register what had happened—until she saw him.

A rogue.

A feral snarl left his lips as he lunged at her, fingers wrapping around her throat with merciless strength.

Lyra gasped, but no sound escaped.

She wanted to scream, to call for help, but her muteness betrayed her.

Instead, she did the only thing she could—she raised her trembling hands in silent plea, begging for mercy.

But the rogue only sneered before ruthlessly slamming her head against the ground.

Pain exploded in her skull, white spots dancing in her vision.

Why?

Who was this man? What had she done to deserve this?

A deep, unsettling dread settled in her gut.

Had she crossed a line she shouldn't have?

Tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks as she mouthed a desperate plea to the stars above.

Please... someone save me.

She didn't want to die like this.

She had spent her entire life being cast aside, seen as nothing but a disgrace to her family—to herself. But for once, after escaping that wretched place, she had dared to dream.

Maybe I can live quietly. Maybe I can survive without being a burden to anyone.

But dreams were just that—dreams.

Perhaps this was how it was meant to end.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she surrendered to fate—

Until a thunderous roar shattered the night.

The ground trembled beneath her, the sheer force of it shaking her very soul. But Lyra was already slipping, her vision blurring, her consciousness unraveling.

And just as everything faded into darkness, the last thing she heard was the sound of chaos exploding around her.

***

Everything felt peaceful, as if the aftermath of the nightmare had melted away, leaving Lyra in a strange sense of ease.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she was safe.But then—a voice.

A faint whisper brushed against her ears, pulling her from the depths of slumber. Her body stirred, but the illusion of comfort shattered the instant pain shot through her back, searing up to her neck.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she winced, her body instinctively recoiling.

And then it hit her.

She was alive.

But why?

She had been certain it was the end—that the rogue's attack would be the last thing she ever experienced. So why was she here? What was this place?

Before she could make sense of anything, a joyful voice broke through her disoriented thoughts.

"My lady is awake!"

Lyra turned her head sluggishly toward the source of the sound. A young woman, her eyes bright with relief, stood by her bedside.

She blinked in confusion, trying to sit up, but the pain gripping her body refused to relent. A sharp whimper slipped past her lips as she collapsed back onto the soft bedding.

"Please, don't push yourself," Penny urged gently, tucking the blankets around her with careful hands. "I'll go inform the physician!"

Before Lyra could react, Penny spun on her heel and rushed out of the chamber, leaving her alone with nothing but the pounding of her heart and the unsettling realization that she had survived.

It took Lyra a moment to gather her thoughts before the door to the chamber swung open. An elderly man stepped inside, followed by Darius and the girl from earlier.

A pin-drop silence settled over the room as the man studied Lyra carefully, his sharp gaze assessing her condition. Then, without preamble, he turned toward Darius, who watched him with barely concealed concern.

"She is fine now," Elric stated matter-of-factly. "But it will take some time for her wounds to fully heal."

Darius gave a slow nod, relief flickering across his features before he turned on his heel and exited the room alongside the healer.

Lyra watched the door click shut before shifting her gaze to the girl who remained behind.

"My lady, did you hear what the healer said? You need rest to recover."

Penny moved closer, standing beside the bed. Though her expression gleamed with relief at seeing Lyra awake, there was something else there—concern.

Lyra pressed her lips together, frustration simmering beneath her skin. Her failed escape weighed on her mind, but rather than dwell on it, she attempted to push herself upright.

"Wait, let me help you."

Penny was quick to step forward, carefully adjusting the pillows behind Lyra and helping her sit comfortably.

Once settled, Lyra's eyes darted around the room, searching for something—anything—that would allow her to communicate.

Penny frowned slightly, watching the way her lady's gaze flitted from object to object. "Do you need something, my lady?"

Lyra hesitated before looking directly at Penny, then gestured toward her bag resting on the small study chair across from the bed.

"Oh, you want your bag?" Penny asked, and Lyra nodded instantly.

Without hesitation, Penny retrieved the bag and handed it to her. Lyra wasted no time, fishing out a small book and pen before hurriedly scribbling something down.

Once finished, she held up the page for Penny to see.

It's nice to meet you, Penny, but can you tell me how I got here?

Penny's breath caught in her throat.

It suddenly dawned on her—the reason Lyra had been so silent. The gestures, the cautious looks…

Her lady couldn't speak.

For the first time, Penny was truly speechless.

Meanwhile, inside another chamber, Casian stood motionless by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkened horizon. Behind him, Darius stood at attention, updating him on Lyra's condition.

"Alpha, are you sure she is the one?" Darius asked, his voice laced with doubt. Try as he might, he still couldn't reconcile the thought of Lyra being Casian's mate.

Casian's jaw tensed. "Do you think I would lie to you, Darius?" His piercing gaze flicked to his Beta, voice edged with irritation. "I made a vow to live a barren life."

Darius swallowed, immediately silenced by the weight of his Alpha's words.

Even Casian himself hadn't fully come to terms with his actions. His entire life had been spent pushing away the very idea of love, of taking another mate. Yet the moment he saw her—an innocent-looking girl standing on that cursed auction stage—something in him fractured.

He had gone there for business, nothing more. But the thought of another man claiming her had made his blood boil, his instincts surging to the surface before he could suppress them. And before he even realized it, she was his.

Casian exhaled sharply and moved past Darius, grabbing his cloak.

"Have you found Rowan?" he asked.

Darius sighed, rubbing his temple as if the mere mention of their Delta gave him a headache. "Not yet, but I'm sure he'll be back—probably dragging trouble with him after the stunt he pulled last night."

Casian's expression darkened.

"I might have been the one on the spot, but I doubt he acted alone." His voice was low, deliberate. "We both smelled more than just him. There were rogues lurking, too."

Darius stiffened at the reminder. Their initial plan had been to track down the threat, but Lyra's unexpected escape attempt had thrown everything into disarray.

Casian's eyes flickered with something unreadable as he turned back to the window.

They had been too distracted. And distractions in their world always came with consequences.

Casian's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door. Before he could respond, the door opened, and Penny stepped inside.

His brows furrowed as he took in the sight of Lyra's attendant standing before him, her hands clasped tightly together. But what truly caught his attention was the anxious look on her face.

"Yes, Penny? Is there a problem?" Casian asked, his voice calm yet laced with authority. However the concern on her face made his brows furrow furthermore.