The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 91

Ryan

I led Lyra into the woods, our familiar meeting spot. Recent events were ever present and suffocatingly heavy. How would I even begin to tell Lyra everything that happened?

Anger took hold at the thought of being the bearer of such damn bad news. It wasn't fair, but then again, life had a cruel way of never being fair when you needed it most. If it weren't for those blasted Luna Trials looming over us, Lyra would already be standing proudly by my side as my Luna, my equal in every sense. Together, we would govern the Moonshadow pack, our combined strength guiding our people through the shit-storm of our world. The choices we made, the actions we took, none of it would come as a shocking revelation because Lyra and I would face it all together, acting as a united front, an unstoppable team.

Lyra was more than Luna material. Looking at her in the encroaching darkness, she had a glow, a sparkle that didn't dim with the fading of the day. It was as if the very essence of the moon had been woven into her skin.

Her strength compared to my own. She was a survivor, a fighter who had clawed her way through the depths of hell and emerged victorious, bearing the scars of her battles like badges of honor. I was damn proud of how far she had come, of the woman she had become despite the odds stacked against her.

I took a deep breath, the crisp forest air filling my lungs, and tried to steel myself for the conversation ahead. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a bass drum solo that betrayed the nerves. I always tried to appear calm, unruffled. Not so with Lyra. Except for the minor detail of my dragon, she got the true me.

The only thing to do was to lay my cards on the table and let the bones fall where they may. There was no turning back now, no retreating to half-lies and unspoken truths. We'd been through that and it had brought us nothing but mistrust and a whole lotta pain.

"Lyra," I began, my voice thankfully calm and steady despite the sweat that trickled down my back. "I had a confrontation with the Alpha of the Silver Tail pack."

Her eyes widened, and she listened intently as I described the poor conditions and mistreatment the pack members had endured. I could see the shock and sympathy in her expression as I recounted the details.

"I ended up killing the bastard. His disrespecting you, pushed me over the brink. Bedsides, his pack was suffering. They're under my protection now."

She nodded, understanding my decision. I could see the questions in her eyes, but she remained silent, allowing me to continue.

"There's more," I added, hesitating for a moment. "Darian and some other rogues approached me in the woods."

"Darian? The warrior from Wolfsong? And other pack members as well?" she echoed, surprise clear in her voice. "What did they want?"

"They're looking to join my pack," I explained. "They offered information on Wolfsong's defenses in exchange. I'll keep them in Night Moon territory if that helps."

Lyra processed the information, her brow furrowed in thought. I knew she was considering the implications, the potential benefits and risks.

"What did you tell them?" she asked, toeing a stone with her shoe. She refused to meet my eyes; her gaze fixed on the ground. I could sense the tension radiating off her, the unspoken questions in her mind. I'd answer every single one. Even if it took all night.

"I haven't decided yet," I admitted. "I told Conner that I'd let them know my response after the weekend."

She nodded, understanding my caution. I could see the trust in her eyes, the faith she had in my judgment.

"I trust you, Ryan," she said, her voice firm. "Whatever you decide, I know it'll be the right choice."

Warmth spread through my chest, her words filling me with a sense of satisfaction and happiness. I had pleased her and earned her respect. It was a feeling I wanted to hold onto, to cherish.

Lyra went on to give her opinion on my newest soldier. "Growing up, I never heard a bad word about Darian. Everyone always said he was a good wolf, loyal to a fault and dedicated to the pack. For him to renege on his loyalty oath and leave Wolfsong to join another pack, he must've been truly desperate. Something must have pushed him to the brink, made him feel like he had no other choice."

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for a reaction. I could see the unspoken question there, the curiosity about what I thought of Darian's actions. I mulled over her words, trying to reconcile the image of the honorable wolf she described with the man who had come to me, offering to betray his own pack.

"In Moonshadow, breaking the loyalty oath was unheard of, thanks to my father's fair leadership as Alpha. However, I've heard of it happening numerous times in other packs. Some of those individuals ended up being spies, while others became remarkable allies."

"I think..." she said slowly, Darian's right to breathe hanging by her next words. "I think you should trust him... and the others."

I'd do as she requested, but only if...

"Did he ever mistreat you?" My dragon demanded retribution if he had, while my wolf agreed. I hated to bring up Lyra's time in Wolfsong- painful memories and all that- but if Darian so much as breathed foul breath her direction, he was a dead wolf walking.

Lyra shook her head, her voice flat. "We barely crossed paths. He was a warrior, and me? Less than dirt in their eyes."

A wave of relief washed over me, loosening the knot in my stomach. "Oh, good," I mumbled a second before her words sunk in. Realizing how tactless that sounded, I hastily backtracked, my heart aching for her. "Wait, no, I didn't mean that's good you were less than dirt!" I scrambled to fix my mistake. "I meant it's good he never hurt you. Saves me from having to-" My dragon and wolf shouted so loud, that I couldn't finish my thought.

Lyra's lips curved into a small smile. "Whoa there, Mr. Feisty! You seem a bit too eager to sink your teeth into someone's flesh."

Her words evoked not a bloodthirsty image but one of me thrusting into Lyra, my mouth opened and ready to make my mark. It slowly faded as I chuckled, relief washing over me at her positive reaction.

Thank goodness she could take a joke and didn't storm off in a huff over my little verbal misstep. So many other females would have fumed and refused to even let me explain, but not Lyra. She always took a moment to think things through, carefully considering everything before forming an opinion. It was one of the many things I admired about her.

Earning Lyra's good opinion meant the world to me. I wanted her to see me as more than just some hotheaded Alpha. I yearned for her to recognize the man beneath the bravado, the one who would do anything to keep her safe and make her smile. Her approval, her respect - those were precious gifts that didn't come easily and that was I cherished them the most.