The sun was dipping below the horizon when the distant sound of hooves echoed through the pack’s compound, causing heads to turn and whispers to ripple through the gathered wolves. Lyra, caught mid-conversation with one of Cassian’s guards, turned toward the commotion. Her silver eyes widened in shock as she saw two figures dismounting from their horses at the compound’s gates.
“Mom? Dad?” she whispered, her voice trembling with surprise.
Isla and Draven strode through the entrance, their presence commanding despite their travel-worn appearance. Isla’s dark hair, streaked with strands of silver, framed a face that lit up the moment her gaze landed on Lyra. She quickened her pace, her arms outstretched as she closed the distance between them.
“Lyra!” Isla exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace. Tears welled in her eyes as she held her close. “Oh, my darling, you look so well,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. She pulled back slightly, her hands resting on Lyra’s shoulders as she studied her. “And the news of your pregnancy… oh, Lyra, I couldn’t be happier for you!”
Lyra hesitated, her smile faltering as she glanced over Isla’s shoulder at Cassian. He stood a few steps away, his arms crossed and his expression guarded. The sight of him seemed to dampen her mother’s joy, and Lyra looked away, her voice barely audible. “It’s… complicated, Mom.”
Draven, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward. His piercing amber eyes, so similar to Lyra’s, swept over the scene. He took in the guards hovering near Lyra, the tension between her and Cassian, and the strained look on his daughter’s face.
“Complicated doesn’t even begin to describe this,” Draven remarked, his tone dry but sharp. He turned to Cassian, his gaze narrowing. “Why are you treating my daughter like a prisoner?”
Cassian bristled at the accusation, his jaw tightening. “I’m protecting her,” he said firmly. “She’s carrying my heir. Nothing matters more.”
Draven stepped closer, his imposing frame towering over Cassian. “Protecting her,” he repeated, his voice low and steady, “or controlling her? There’s a fine line, Alpha.”
The tension between them crackled, the weight of unspoken challenges heavy in the air. Lyra’s breath caught as she glanced between them, her chest tightening with apprehension. But before either man could say more, Isla stepped between them, her voice calm but resolute.
“We didn’t come here to argue,” she said, her sharp gaze flicking between her husband and Cassian. “We’ve discovered something—something that might be our only chance to stop the King for good.”
Her words hung in the air, silencing the tension. All eyes turned to Isla, the gravity of her statement sinking in as she gestured for them to follow her.