C2 The Heir

Silence lasted exactly three seconds.

Then the valley exploded.

"What did he say?"

"The Heir?"

"Which heir?"

"What's happening?"

The crowd erupted into confusion.

Wolves pushed forward.

Elders began shouting over one another.

Several warriors moved toward Lyra as if she had suddenly become dangerous.

The silver symbols covering the sacred stones continued glowing beneath everyone's feet.

Panic spread quickly.

No one understood what they were looking at.

Lyra understood even less.

Her collarbone felt like it was on fire.

The crescent-shaped birthmark hidden beneath her dress pulsed violently.

She pressed her hand against it.

The heat only intensified.

"Make it stop," she whispered.

The elderly seer remained on his knees.

His entire body shook.

His eyes were fixed on her as if he were staring at a ghost.

"The mark..." he breathed.

"Oh Moon Goddess..."

A nearby Alpha grabbed him by the shoulder.

"What does it mean?"

The old man didn't answer.

His face had gone completely pale.

Across the valley, Kael had stopped walking away.

For the first time since the rejection, his attention returned fully to Lyra.

The strange symbols reflected in his golden eyes.

Confusion replaced his earlier certainty.

"What is this?" he demanded.

Nobody answered.

Because nobody knew.

A loud crack echoed through the valley.

The sacred platform split down the middle.

Several wolves stumbled backward.

Fear swept through the gathering.

The symbols flashed one final time.

Then everything went dark.

The silver light vanished.

The valley became still.

The strange pressure hanging in the air disappeared.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Except hundreds of wolves had witnessed it.

No one could pretend otherwise.

Lyra's knees nearly gave out.

The burning sensation beneath her collarbone faded to a dull ache.

The crowd continued staring at her.

Some looked frightened.

Others looked suspicious.

Most looked confused.

The old seer slowly climbed to his feet.

His hands trembled.

"End the ceremony."

The command stunned everyone.

"But—"

"Now."

The authority in his voice silenced further objections.

Within minutes, wolves began dispersing.

No one left quietly.

Whispers followed Lyra everywhere.

Questions.

Rumors.

Speculation.

Every conversation seemed to include her name.

She hated it.

More than anything, she wanted to disappear.

"Lyra."

She turned.

Mira hurried toward her.

Concern filled her face.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

The answer came immediately.

"I don't know what's happening."

Neither did Mira.

That much was obvious.

"Maybe the elders know something."

Lyra laughed bitterly.

"If they do, they aren't telling me."

Her chest tightened.

Not from the mark.

From something else.

Something worse.

Across the valley, Kael stood surrounded by his Beta and several warriors.

Even from a distance, she could feel his gaze.

Watching.

Studying.

Questioning.

Not once did he approach her.

Not once did he apologize.

The rejection bond was gone.

Yet somehow the pain remained.

She looked away first.

"I'm leaving."

"Lyra—"

"I need to go home."

Home.

The word tasted wrong.

But she didn't have anywhere else.

Mira looked like she wanted to argue.

Instead, she simply nodded.

"Come find me tomorrow."

Lyra forced a weak smile.

Then she walked away.

The journey back to Silver Moon Pack took almost an hour.

By the time Lyra reached the main packhouse, she already knew the news had spread.

Wolves stared openly.

Several stopped talking when she passed.

Others didn't bother.

"The rejected mate."

"Imagine being rejected in front of everyone."

"I heard the Alpha called her unworthy."

The words followed her all the way to the house.

By the time she stepped through the front door, humiliation sat heavily in her chest.

Unfortunately, things got worse.

Her aunt was waiting.

Selene Vale crossed her arms.

Disappointment was written all over her face.

"You embarrassed us."

No greeting.

No concern.

No comfort.

Just accusation.

Lyra stared at her.

"Hello to you too."

Selene's expression darkened.

"Do not take that tone with me."

The familiar anger rose inside Lyra.

For years she had tolerated this treatment.

Tonight she didn't have the energy.

"What exactly did I do?"

Her aunt laughed harshly.

"What did you do?"

She pointed toward the door.

"The entire kingdom is talking about our family."

"I didn't reject myself."

Selene's eyes narrowed.

"You should have known your place."

The words hit harder than expected.

Because part of Lyra had spent years fearing they were true.

Her aunt stepped closer.

"Do you know how humiliating this is?"

"No."

Lyra's voice shook.

"Tell me."

Selene opened her mouth.

Then stopped.

For the first time, she seemed to notice the devastation in Lyra's expression.

The moment passed quickly.

"Go to your room."

Lyra laughed.

The sound surprised even her.

"No."

Her aunt blinked.

"What?"

"I'm tired."

Years of frustration boiled beneath the surface.

"I'm tired of being blamed for things I can't control."

Selene's face hardened.

"You ungrateful—"

Lyra walked away before she could finish.

For once, she didn't care about the consequences.

Her room was small.

A bed.

A dresser.

A window overlooking the forest.

Nothing special.

But it was hers.

The moment the door closed behind her, the walls she'd built all evening collapsed.

The tears came immediately.

She slid down against the door.

Her chest hurt.

Her head hurt.

Everything hurt.

The rejection replayed endlessly.

The look in Kael's eyes.

The disgust.

The disappointment.

The certainty.

The Moon Goddess made a mistake.

She pressed her hands against her face.

The memory refused to leave.

Why?

That question haunted her.

Why had fate chosen her?

Why had Kael hated the idea so much?

Why couldn't she simply be normal?

Hours passed.

Outside, the pack gradually settled into silence.

The moon climbed higher.

Eventually her tears stopped.

Exhaustion replaced them.

Lyra climbed onto the bed.

Sleep sounded wonderful.

She closed her eyes.

The darkness felt comforting.

For a few minutes.

Then the burning returned.

Lyra sat upright.

Pain shot through her collarbone.

Not as intense as before.

But enough to alarm her.

"What now?"

The room was empty.

No answer came.

The mark pulsed again.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a strange sensation swept through her mind.

Like someone opening a door she never knew existed.

Her breath caught.

The room suddenly felt crowded.

Not physically.

Mentally.

An unfamiliar presence brushed against her thoughts.

Lyra froze.

Her pulse accelerated.

"What is that?"

Silence.

Then she heard it.

A voice.

Soft.

Female.

Ancient.

The sound didn't come from the room.

It came from inside her head.

Lyra jumped off the bed.

Terror shot through her.

"No."

Her voice came out as a whisper.

"No, no, no."

The voice returned.

Clearer this time.

"You can hear me."

Her blood turned cold.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

Only silence.

Then amusement.

"Interesting."

Lyra backed away from nothing.

Her heart pounded wildly.

The room remained empty.

No intruders.

No hidden wolves.

Nothing.

Yet she knew she wasn't imagining it.

The presence remained.

Watching.

Waiting.

"After all these years."

The voice sounded emotional.

Almost relieved.

Lyra's hands trembled.

"What do you want?"

A pause followed.

Long enough to make her think the voice had disappeared.

Then came the answer.

"I don't want anything."

The presence moved closer.

Not physically.

Mentally.

Like warm moonlight touching her consciousness.

Fear mixed with confusion.

"What are you?"

The voice laughed softly.

Not cruelly.

Almost affectionately.

"You really don't know."

The burning mark beneath Lyra's collarbone glowed faintly.

Silver light illuminated the dark room.

Her breathing became uneven.

Every instinct screamed that something impossible was happening.

The voice spoke again.

This time with unmistakable certainty.

"My name is Nyx."

The room seemed to tilt.

Lyra grabbed the edge of the dresser.

The strange presence remained inside her mind.

Patient.

Powerful.

Waiting.

Then Nyx said four words that shattered everything Lyra thought she knew about herself.

"I am your wolf."

Lyra stared.

Then stared some more.

Because there was absolutely no way she was having a conversation with a wolf.