LOGINZANEI used to believe myself unshakable. Unmovable. I would have sworn a month ago that nothing—not lust, not love, not a Weston princess with a wicked smile—could weaken me. And now look at me.She nearly stabbed me. And all I can think about is the sound she made when the blade went through her hand. I let my guard down around someone I knew had been compromised, simply because I was too blinded by hope to see the truth.I have never been this reckless, and now she must bear the consequences of my mistake.Bloody hell. Every time I close my eyes, I see her fall to the floor… the pain on her face….I stalk down the hall, Rion’s footsteps a steady shadow behind me until he breaks the silence through the mind link.“If anyone can handle this, it’s the Banshee.’ His voice echoes in my mind. ‘She knows magic. And she knows Lyra.’ It sounds like he’s trying to convince himself as much as he is me. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I continue down the hall to my office. Rion is right
LYRAI can't stop.My entire body shudders as I hold him. His heartbeat pounds steadily beneath my cheek, warm and reassuring, while my own feels like it's trying to claw its way out of my chest. Every instinct I possess is screaming at me to let him go—to run.The athame feels impossibly heavy in my hand, hovering behind Zane's back.‘Do it.’ Aurora's voice slices through my skull.No, no—I squeeze my eyes shut so hard that the tears spill onto Zane's shirt. He rubs slow circles over my back as though he can soothe whatever is tormenting me.“I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe.” He murmurs against my hair.Goddess. Don't fucking say that.My fingers tighten around the bone handle until my knuckles ache.The blade begins to descend behind Zane’s back.No—It takes everything in me—every last bit of my willpower—to shove my left hand between him and the blade.The steel meets flesh.The athame drives straight through my hand.Agony explodes through my entire arm. A scream tears itself
LYRA I turn to my side, facing Zane, as my arm slips beneath my pillow. My fingertips brush against the bone handle of the athame below my head. Aurora’s voice is loud once again, reminding me of what needs to be done. Louder and crueler than before, laughing as though she already knows I've lost. I grip the handle tightly, but freeze when Zane slowly reaches up. His bright eyes lock onto mine, while his skin still has that faint glow of his Alpha power. A large hand lands on my cheek, his thumb rubbing soft circles against my skin, and just like before, the urge to use the weapon simply… vanishes. I close my eyes and try to relax into his gentle touch. “Ly, what did she do to you?” I stiffen, the words on the tip of my tongue, but my voice won’t cooperate. Zane sighs and places another kiss on my forehead. When he pulls away, he looks like he wants to insist. His mouth opens, but ultimately he just nods. “When you’re ready,” he gives me an encouraging smile, while
LYRA Finally, I get some peace when I slip into the bathroom, leaving an overprotective Ellie hovering in my room. I click the lock into place, before sagging against the door, sliding down until I’m nothing more than a trembling bundle on the cold tile. Fuck me. How did I get here? How did I go from a terrifying lycan to this? A sad, shackled little pup, unable to even feel the presence that once burned in my mind. At this point, I’d rather lose control again. I’d welcome the beast. Anything would be better than this. This crazy mix of my erratic thoughts and Aurora’s fucking voice in my mind. Even over a distance, the bitch is commanding me. She’s constantly whispering what to do, filling my head with images and instructions. She told me that she would give me what I need. Which she has. And goddess, I’ve already started planning how to obey her. It’s been hours since Zane left, but he needs to come back. Aurora needs him to come find me, and when he returns, I’ll do it. I
ZANE Rion’s eyes widen, flicking between Selene and me. “He could have an entire army by now,” he says slowly, his voice heavy with realization. “Do you think he could have infiltrated witch covens?” I ask Selene. “I doubt it,” she seems thoughtful. “He did the last time, didn’t he?” Rion watches Selene’s reaction closely. “Yes,” she confirms, “but that was centuries ago. The coven I lived with before taught us that witches have evolved. They’ve learned from generations of mistakes. These days, it's much harder to deceive a witch with magic.” “What if he got a witch alone?” Rion asks. She shakes her head, before continuing. “Even if Khaíros waited around their borders, witches never leave their covens alone anymore, they are always in groups. And if one doesn’t sense the trickery, the others will.” Despite her reassurances, we do not relax. “Lone witches?” I question her, thinking of all the sorceresses who are known for living in caves, practicing nature-base
ZANE Never in my life have I wanted to kill someone as much as I do right now. That witch has gone too damn far. I do not know what she did to Ly, but I do know Lyra is not herself. And it has everything to do with those silver chains around her wrists. How the hell did I not notice them before? I did not even feel them when she was pounding her fists against my back on the walk home… but now that I see how deeply they are embedded in her flesh. How does she bear it? The silver is searing into her skin—and she hasn’t said a word. Is it because she can’t? Or is she numb to the pain? That witch put something in those bands. They are manipulating Lyra’s behaviour, that much is certain. But does that mean Lyra is trapped in her own mind? Is she aware of her actions? Of what she is saying? Is she conscious in her mind? Gods, for her sake, I hope not. I exhale slowly as I make my way down the stairs. She was so convincing… the hatred in her eyes, the sharpness in her words, th
ZANE The following morning finds me seated behind my desk at pack headquarters, my office bathed in pale morning light, a neat stack of reports laid out before me. I should be focused. I am focused—at least, that’s what I tell myself.The pack is thriving. Better than thriving.Our ventures in the
LYRAI exhale slowly, trying to figure out how the hell to say it.Just thinking about that bastard makes my gums itch, my jaw tightening like my canines are already pushing forward. That familiar, ugly rage bubbles in my chest, and I force it down with everything I’ve got.Zane watches me closely.
LYRAI’m fucking up today… A lot.Even more than usual.Maybe it’s the dream that threw me?Maybe it’s that even Nessa, the one cadet I actually formed a bond with, is icing me out. The fact that everyone did the obstacle course in pairs, and Nessa decided to rather be a third fucking wheel than sp
LYRAHis hand moves from my chin, traces the curve of my ribs, and his fingers explore down to my hip. His grip suddenly changes, grasping my hip hard enough to bruise. And it feels fucking good.Every touch sharpens the ache building deep inside me.Suddenly, his control snaps, and he pulls my han







