The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 32 - Honey for Flies

Ryan

I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking beneath me as I stared at the ceiling. Five days had passed since the attack on Lyra, and still, the doubts about her lingered. They left a bitter, acrid taste on the back of my tongue. Every time I was near her, my heart raced in a mix of desire and rage. I wanted her, every inch of my body screamed for her, but my mind... my mind kept me claiming what I craved. The curve of her hips, the way her hair cascaded down her back, it all called to me.

Her deceit... it held me back.

From that night in her dorm room, I could still feel the ghost of her lips on mine, the taste of her on my tongue. It was intoxicating... maddening.

I'd tried to push her away, to forget her, but she was a stubborn woman, and she'd wormed her way under my skin. Forever an itch I couldn't scratch.

I'd given her a chance, I'd given her a home, and she'd repaid me with lies and deceit. I wanted to hate her, I wanted to cast her out, but I couldn't. I was drawn to her, and I knew just as sure as the sun would rise, I was going to get burned. I'd made a vow, to protect my pack, to avenge the wrongs done to us, and Lyra, she was a complication, she was a distraction. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not with the enemy at our doorstep, but every time I looked at her, every time I heard her voice, I felt my resolve wavering.

A knock at the door disrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I called, straightening in my seat.

Liam entered, his brow furrowed. "You wanted to see me, Alpha?"

I nodded, gesturing for him to sit. "It's about Lyra."

He settled into the chair across from me, his eyes searching mine. "What about her?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She's been lying to us, Liam. She doesn't have a wolf."

His eyes widened. "What? How do you know?"

"The soldier we captured told me." I shook my head. "I don't know what to think anymore."

Liam leaned forward, his voice gentle. "Ryan, I know it's hard, but you have to remember, Lyra's been through a lot. Maybe she had her reasons for not telling us."

I scoffed. "What reason could justify lying to her Alpha, to her pack?"

"Fear, perhaps? Of rejection, of not belonging?" He shrugged. "I'm not saying it was right, but I think you should talk to her, hear her out."

Jumping up, I threw my hands in the air. "I want to trust her, Liam, I do. But how can I, when she's kept something like this from me?"

He rose, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Give her a chance to explain. Don't write her off just yet."

I nodded, my jaw tight. "I'll think about it."

Liam headed for the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "For what it's worth, you are keeping a secret yourself... your dragon. When will you—"

My voice carried an ice cube on every word, "That is between you and me and no one else. Do you understand?"

Liam mocked bowed his head. "Yes, sir, Alpha, sir." His eyes met mine, a challenge in their depths. "That still doesn't change the fact that I think she cares about you. "Don't let secrets get in the way of what you two might become." With that, he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

Sinking back into the chair, the weight of Liam's words settled heavy on me. Doubts I'd tried to bury clawed their way back into the light. How could we become anything when Lyra didn't have a wolf? Technically, she could enter the Luna trials without one, humans were allowed to enter, though none of them had ever won, and Lyra, without a wolf, was just a step ahead of them.

Sinking back into the chair, the weight sank like a anchor into my mind. Doubts I'd tried to bury clawed their way back into the light. How could Lyra and I become anything when she didn't have a wolf? Technically, she could enter the Luna trials without one, humans were allowed to enter, though none of them had ever won, and Lyra, without a wolf, was just a step ahead of them.

That was if she even wanted to try...

Too many questions. Not enough answers.

A talk with Lyra was unavoidable. Needed it, really, even if I didn't want to hear whatever excuse she'd come up with.

Wolf and dragon both screamed for me to be with her...though I wished they'd shut up for once. The only thing keeping my head above water was the thought of Conner, out there digging up dirt on our enemies. Maybe he'd find something, some clue that'd explain... something.

Hell, everything was a mess after that confession. Hurt, confusion, anger... they swirled around me like a toxic storm. The fragile bridge of trust, built between Lyra and myself, was now a pile of splinters.

Could it ever be fixed? I had my doubts...

***

Lyra

I walked from my dorm at Harbringer University to the Cells, each plodding step waded through the mud of my mind. For five days, I'd visited that former pack member of mine, hoping to find answers... some reason why he'd try to destroy my chance at a fresh start.

And more importantly, who'd sent him.

The guards gave me their usual quizzical looks as I approached. Nothing I wasn't used to.

"You here to see him?" One asked, rubbing his chin.

I nodded.

"Lift the cloth."

I'd brought Jacques some blueberry muffins I'd made fresh in the common room. They were still warm. I lifted the white linen that covered the basket and the guard took a deep sniff.

"Hmm. Think you can bring some for us next time?"

"Each of you can have one now." I wasn't stupid. I'd brought extra for a reason. Keeping the guards on my good side was the only way I could keep visiting Jacques.

And hopefully get some answers.

When I first began visiting him, he ignored me completely, treating my presence as an inconvenience. But I persisted, bringing him treats to munch on while I prattled, believing that even the smallest act of kindness could break through his silence.

By the third day he reluctantly reached out and took an apple from my hand, munching on it greedily while I told him about my classes. That happened the fourth day as well. He even laughed when relayed a joke Whitney had told me: 'Why did the werewolf break up with the moon? Because it was always so full of itself.'

Each of the guards plucked a muffin from the basket and then moved aside to let me through.