Chapter 2

LYRA

It’s happening too fast.

Too fast. Too soon. Too fucked.

The very next morning, I am slamming my suitcase closed with far more force than necessary and pulling at the zipper aggressively.

It whines in protest, but I really don’t care right now. If my suitcase explodes mid-drive and showers the Pack SUV in thongs and lace bras, maybe the universe will finally reflect the chaos in my head.

“This is bullshit,” I mutter under my breath while tossing my curling wand into my second bag. “Absolute and utter bullshit.”

Going to his pack?

Why the hell would Zane Wynter, Alpha of the Eclipse Pack and certified menace to my sanity, agree to ‘host’ me?

He doesn’t like me. I don’t like him. Right? There's no way he would want me there.

But here I am, sulking and packing like I’ve been sent away to boarding school by a goddess with a wicked sense of humour.

I look into the large mirror above my vanity, turning around and scanning my outfit. My short skirt clings to my ass perfectly, showing off my long legs, and my top stretches over my boobs.

My make-up is flawless, as always, but when I see my blue eyes glowing, I freeze.

Why the hell is my beast close to the surface now? It can't be just because I'm annoyed?

I have more control than that… I'm sure I do.

I shake my head and focus on my new tattoo. Honestly, it hurt like hell. The artist had to use a silver needle and ink mixed with wolfsbane to stop it from healing, but it was definitely worth it.

And this short skirt shows off the roses on my right thigh perfectly. Granted, the entire picture is not on display, since it goes up over the side of my ass and stops on my hip, but just enough of the tattoo shows to make one wonder about the rest of it.

As I drag a brush through my hair, I try to gain some control over my raging emotions. And when I look in the mirror again, thank the goddess, my eyes have returned to normal.

Even though I'm still pissed.

“Alpha Asshole,” I whisper, wondering exactly what would happen if I were to call him that on day one.

He would immediately send me back, right?

Or would he lock me in some sort of disgusting dungeon?

Put me in a tower guarded by a dragon?

Or just tell me to run and hunt me down?

Who knows?

Stupid, unpredictable Alpha.

The one with intimidating golden eyes that feel like they judge your every move. Which they probably do.

Thick, black hair that I would just love to grab when…

Hell no. What the fuck, Ly?

I try to remind myself why I hate him.

Why I should hate him.

His father attacked Nova's old pack. Nearly killed Alex. He wanted to kill Nova. His entire family is fucked up.

And yet… I tug out the little black lace set from the bottom drawer and gently place it in the second suitcase. Because yes, if I'm staying for an entire month, you best believe I'm not walking in there without ALL my essentials.

I pull out the red lace set that makes my ass look delicious. The blue one that makes my eyes pop. The purple that makes my boobs look amazing. Then the silk robe that barely counts as clothing. My fingers hesitate over the tight gym leggings and cropped tops that scream ‘look at me’ and maybe ‘touch me if you dare.’

What am I doing?

This isn’t a seduction mission.

This is a fucking training camp.

To help me ‘control’ myself.

And yet… I want him to see me.

Why?

Maybe it’s the way he looked at me that night. The night I thought I was going to die. I still feel the chill creep up my spine when I think about it, and my fingers tremble slightly as I start folding the lingerie.

That night in my bedroom haunts me more than the actual battle itself. Which makes no sense. Being so close to death, and then being spared for… goddess knows why. That should bother me more. Only a complete idiot would focus on what came after. Yet here I am.

I should have told Alex about that… or Nova. Probably both. But what’s the point now? That battle is over, and an alliance between our pack and the Eclipse has been formed. Is it really worth causing waves now? Absolutely not.

I groan, throwing myself on my large bed beside my suitcases. Attempting to even my breathing and calm my crazy mind, I close my eyes.

No, you know what? The training outfits… They’re for me. The lingerie is for me. Because I feel sexy and confident as fuck in them.

This isn’t for him. Definitely not for him.

I sit back up and start folding the black lace set extra carefully, laying it on top, before closing the suitcase.

Totally. Not. For him.

I grab my lip gloss and a pair of black thigh-high leather boots.

If I’m going to hell, I’m going in heels.

***

Spring mornings in Durham are always a bit moody – cool, and misty. Like the forest hasn’t finished waking up. Pretty, in that quiet, slightly dramatic way I love.

And when I say goodbye to my family, I don’t cry. That’s not really my thing.

But as I stand at the gates of the Arcane-Oracle Pack, I feel that annoying tightness in my chest, like someone’s pulling on strings just a little too hard.

Nova is standing next to Alex with her arms crossed, and her expression thunderous. The dirty, hot looks she’s giving him could melt steel.

It's unfair, I know. He's just respecting my wishes… to an extent. He knows I want to leave. Though I'd rather go literally anywhere other than the Eclipse pack, but that was Alex’s condition… Zane’s pack or stay put. So here we are.

And Nova is pissed as hell at Alex for letting me go there, when they know I can’t stand the Alpha.

But still, this is really weird to see. Since the day he marked her, I've never seen Alex and Nova disagree. Now she won't even let him touch her. And it looks like it physically hurts him to have her so angry at him. As I look between them, I realise once again just how weird the mate bond is.

I smirk a little, and then I hug them both. Hugging Nova is a mission, though. Her baby bump is in the way, and when we finally figure out a position that is somewhat practical, her arms are stiff around me. But I don’t take it personally. She's not mad at me. She’s fucking livid at Alex. Which I may be enjoying a little too much.

“Don’t take shit from anyone,” she mutters into my ear, then plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

“I never do,” I smirk.

Her jaw ticks when her striking green eyes land on Alex again. He reaches for her slowly, like one would a wild animal. When she doesn’t bite, he tucks one of her brown curls behind her ear, and she relaxes into his touch ever so slightly.

Yeah… it’s a really weird bond.

Next, there’s little Charlotte.

One year old, with Nova's chocolate brown curls, Alex's blue eyes, and a face like a porcelain doll. She looks like a tiny angel.

But with Alex and Nova as parents? Yeah, that kid’s going to grow up and make empires kneel.

First female Alpha heir in fucking history. Already throws her sippy cup like a javelin.

Iconic.

I kneel and kiss her chubby little cheek.

“Be good, okay?” I whisper. She glares at me like she understands. Like she’s considering it… But won’t promise anything.

That's my little girl.

I walk to my mom, Isla. An elemental witch, who pulls me into a quick hug. She squeezes me tight before kissing my cheek briefly and wiping it. Like she's removing imaginary lipstick.

Next, Selene.

My other brother, Nate’s banshee mate. With her hazel eyes and red curls, she's drop-dead gorgeous.

Selene pulls me into a tight hug, and I swear I feel her magic pulse beneath her skin. There’s something dark in her, something beautifully terrifying. And I love her for it.

She sees me. She probably understands me more than anyone else in the family. She knows how the darkness can consume you better than anyone.

Finally comes the tiny chaos gremlin known as Aaron.

My little demon.

Nate and Selene's son. Only a few months older than Charlie, but somehow ten times the drama.

Where Charlotte’s an angel, Aaron is the storm.

He’s already got a crackling, dark aura. It sounds crazy, but sometimes it feels like shadows follow him around. Like he knows secrets the rest of us aren't privy to.

A banshee-werewolf hybrid.

They say he’ll “bring down kingdoms” or whatever the hell that means.

People are scared of him.

I? I adore him.

Beautiful black locks, which he definitely didn't get from Nate or Selene, and dark brown eyes, that I swear shine red sometimes. Creepy as hell, right?

He’s fussy in Alex’s arms, but when I reach for him, he settles against me. A chubby little hand grabs my necklace tightly, like it belongs to him. That same calm I always feel when I hold him settles over me.

“I’m gonna miss you, monster,” I whisper.

He grins, displaying his sharp little teeth. Unsettling. Adorable.

I hug him tight to me and rock him slightly. When I plant a soft kiss on his head, he snuggles against me, laying his head against my shoulder.

My heart breaks a little when I have to give him to Selene.

As I move to the black car already waiting for me, I take one last glance at my family—my messy, legendary, terrifyingly powerful family—and I throw my leather handbag over my shoulder.

A guard opens the back door of the SUV for me, and just before I slip inside, Alex calls to me, "Don’t break anything. And call when you get there.”

I flip him off.

He smirks.

“Proud of you,” Selene says, and that’s the one that sticks as the door closes behind me.

Because, as excited as I am to finally have some freedom, I have no idea what to expect.