The night air was thick with tension as Cassian stormed through the camp, his steps heavy and purposeful. His golden eyes burned with fury, and the pack members scattered instinctively, sensing their Alpha’s simmering rage. Conversations fell silent, warriors halted mid-task, and even the injured shrank back as he passed. No one dared to cross his path when he was like this.
Reaching Eryon’s tent, Cassian shoved the flap aside without so much as a pause. The fabric snapped against the frame, the sound loud in the stillness. Inside, Eryon sat near the center, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate movements. He didn’t look up immediately, but his jaw tightened, his annoyance clear.
“Where is she?” Cassian growled, his voice low but dangerous, like the rumble of an oncoming storm.
Eryon set the blade down carefully, finally meeting Cassian’s blazing gaze. His amber eyes remained calm, but there was a tension beneath his neutral expression. “Who?”
“Don’t play games with me,” Cassian snapped, his fists clenched at his sides. “Lyra is missing. She wouldn’t just leave without saying anything. Where is she?”
Eryon stood slowly, his movements deliberate as he faced Cassian head-on. Though Cassian was the Alpha, Eryon’s imposing presence made the air crackle with unspoken challenge. “I don’t know where she is,” he said, his tone even but clipped.
Cassian took a step closer, the space between them shrinking as his anger radiated off him in waves. “You expect me to believe that?” he growled. “You’re her brother. You always know what she’s up to.”
Eryon folded his arms, his calm façade cracking just enough to show his frustration. “She makes her own choices, Cassian,” he said sharply. “If she didn’t tell you, maybe you should think about why.”
Cassian snarled, his wolf straining against his control. “You think this is a joke? She’s my mate! If something happens to her—”
“She’s not yours to control,” Eryon cut in, his voice rising. His words were like a slap, sharp and direct. “She’s doing what she thinks is right. For the pack. For the baby. For all of us.”
For a moment, the two men stood in silence, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Then Cassian’s nostrils flared, his heightened senses catching a faint scent—Lyra’s scent. It lingered near the entrance of the tent, faint but unmistakable. His golden eyes narrowed, and he stepped past Eryon, inhaling deeply.
“You lied to me,” Cassian said coldly, his voice dropping to a deadly quiet. “She was here.”
Eryon shifted, moving to block Cassian’s path. His expression hardened, his posture straightening. “Even if she was, I wouldn’t tell you where she went. She doesn’t need your permission.”
Cassian’s patience snapped, and he shoved past Eryon with enough force to make the other man stumble slightly. His focus was now entirely on the fading scent trail. “If she’s gone to see that bloodsucker, I’ll drag her back myself,” he growled, his voice venomous.
Eryon’s voice followed him, sharp and full of warning. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, Cassian,” he called. “She’s not just your mate—she’s my sister. And if you hurt her, you’ll answer to me.”
Cassian didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the trail as his instincts drove him forward, his wolf snarling inside him. Whatever Lyra was up to, it was dangerous—and he wasn’t about to let her face it alone.