The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 31 - Enemy Mine

Ryan

The silver wolf vanished like smoke. Swallowed whole by the night, he left behind a thick scent of citronella-enough to choke a grizzly. He must've used it to mask his scent. Didn't matter, I'd find out what he was doing on my land eventually. At the moment, I couldn't distinguish his aroma from the stink of damp earth, rotting leaves, and the blood pooling from the wounded Wolfsong soldier.

I stood over Lyra's attacker, crimson leaking from his wounds and staining the forest floor. A ragged wheeze escaped his chest. He was muscular. A bit older than myself. Yet, only the Moon Goddess knew if he'd see another dawn. He was naked, like me, but Lyra hadn't noticed one way or the other. Her attention taken up by the large gash in the man's side.

I darted my eyes between him and Lyra, a little pang of jealousy hitting my gut as she gently touched his shifted form. His ragged breaths grew a bit stronger as Lyra knelt beside him, her hands trembling as they hovered over his injuries. After a beat, the rogue's eyes fluttered open, clouded and distant. "Lyra..." he croaked. His voice was damn hard to hear over the rustling of leaves.

"Yes, Jacques. I'm here," she murmured, anguish and confusion warring in her voice. "Why did you attack me? Did..." Her breath caught, and she swallowed hard. "Did my father send you to... hurt me?"

Her question was a storm cloud filled with rain. I sensed the buried pain in her voice. In a surge of sympathy, my gut twisted. Her agony felt like my own. The soldier coughed. A thin trail of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. "No..."

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction, a flicker of relief in her eyes.

But it died as quickly as it came when the attacker continued, "We were sent to Wolfsong lands to..." His beady eyes fixed on me, and he beckoned me closer.

I leaned in, every sense on high alert.

With a twisted grin, he rasped, "Lyra has no wolf."

The words were a punch to the gut, shattering the last sliver of hope I'd clung to. Lyra was wolfless. Not a mistake, not a trick... the truth. It slammed into me like a frigid wind, stealing my breath.

I fought for control. My jaw clenched so tight it ached. I wouldn't let this bastard see the devastation ripping through me. Lyra... she'd lied. Not just a little one, but a damn whopper. It made everything else feel like a cruel joke. Paint me the fool once again.

Her head snapped up. Eyes wide with fear. "What did you say?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

The rogue's lips twisted into a pained smile. "You heard me," he rasped. "Your secret's out."

I forced my features into an exaggerated expression of surprise, my eyebrows shooting up to my hairline. "Lyra, what is he talking about?" I asked, my voice carefully controlled.

She shook her head, her eyes pleading with me to understand. "Ryan, I can explain_"

"Explain what?" I cut her off, my tone harsher than I intend. "That you've been lying to me? To everyone?"

Lyra recoiled as if I'd physically struck her, her face contorting with a pain that twisted her features. "It's not like that, Ryan," she whispered, her voice low with anguish. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment, and I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. But I couldn't let it distract me from the truth that was staring me in the face.

The rogue laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made me want to end him. "Don't bother denying it," he spat. "I've known for years. All the wolves of Wolfsong have."

"We'll discuss this later," I said, my voice cold and distant. "Right now, we need to get this back to the pack for questioning."

Lyra nodded, her head hanging between her shoulders. She knew there was no escaping the truth any longer. It was out there. Bare and exposed like a snake on a flat rock, waiting for the eagle to land.

I strode toward the pack's territory with a heavy heart. Lyra walked beside me silent as a grave.

Once we reached the outskirts of the village, I dismissed her with a curt nod, a tick pulsing in my jaw.

She didn't leave on my command. Merely stood there, feet planted like they would take on roots. "Ryan... I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," she said, arms open, begging for understanding. "I was afraid of your reaction... afraid you would kick me out of the pack that was just starting to feel like home..." She squared her shoulders and met my gaze. "If you want to turn me away, then do it. I will leave tonight."

I drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly to keep my expression neutral. Heart twisting at the thought of her leaving me. As much as I wanted to send her away, I couldn't. "I won't do that." I forced warmth into my voice, but my heart sank as I realized I'd never know if Lyra would have confessed on her own.

I extended a hand to her, offering a reassuring smile. "You have a place in my pack. I promise." My words were steady, but inside, disappointment churned alongside a deep-seated distrust.

As I watched her walk away, a storm raged within me. Yet another betrayal and along with it, the gnawing doubt about her honesty. How could I trust her when she withheld something so fundamental?

Once I reached the outskirts of the village, I mind-linked with Conner as a few pack members came and took the rouge to the Cells. "I need you to gather information discreetly about Wolfsong's involvement." I linked, "See what you can find out about why they'd send their soldiers disguised as rogues to attack Lyra."

Conner: "I'll be swift and thorough, Alpha." He promised before cutting the link to slip off into the night.

Alone under the moonlight, I paced, my thoughts a tangled mess. On one hand, I was determined to protect Lyra, to shield her from whatever threats lurked in the darkness. But on the other, the doubts planted by her omission... her lie, took root and festered, chipping away at my feelings.