The whispers in the pack were no longer whispers; they had grown into a roaring storm. Lyra could feel the weight of their judgment every time she walked past a group of wolves, their hushed voices stopping as she approached. Even in the privacy of her room, she couldn’t escape the suffocating tension.
Cassian burst in, his amber eyes blazing with fury. “Do you have any idea what they’re saying about you?” he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Lyra turned from the window, her silver eyes weary. “I’ve heard,” she said quietly.
“They’re saying you’re sleeping with Adrian,” he snapped. “Do you think I can ignore that?”
Lyra’s cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. “I was just helping him when he fell—”
“And you landed right on top of him?” Cassian interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He took a step closer, his massive frame dominating the room. “Do you think I’m stupid, Lyra?”
Lyra’s temper flared. “You’re letting rumors control you, Cassian. You know me better than this.”
Before he could respond, the door swung open, and Adrian stepped in, his crimson eyes sharp. “Lyra, you need to know this,” he said urgently.
Cassian turned on him, his anger boiling over. “Get the hell out of our room before I make you an outcast of this pack!” His growl reverberated through the walls, the wolf in him close to the surface.
Lyra stepped between them, her voice firm. “Stop it, Cassian. What is it, Adrian?”
Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver. “Your brother. He was attacked by the Vampire King.”
The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Lyra’s heart dropped, and for a moment, all her frustration with Cassian and the rumors melted away. “Eryon?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “What happened?”
Adrian’s expression darkened. “He’s alive, but barely. If we don’t do something soon, he won’t be.”
Cassian clenched his fists, his anger redirected. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“I’m telling you now,” Adrian shot back. “This isn’t about us. It’s about him.”
Lyra took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I need to go to him,” she said, her determination clear.
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