The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 24

Ryan

I strode away from the dank cell. The guard's desperate pleas fading behind me as I ascended the stairs. Still, his words lingered in my mind.

"I'll let you go after midnight," I had promised him. But even as I spoke, a flicker of disgust curled in my gut. Disgust at the way he had tried to bargain with Lyra's secrets as if they were his to trade. Yes. He'd 'go' all right. I'd release him into the forest and there, he would replace his ending.

And what he knew of Lyra would die right along with him.

And in no form or fashion would I lose any sleep over it.

I would over Lyra's... omission, though. Lots of it.

Her lie wasn't just about the past. It was a ticking time bomb under our future. Every shared dream, every thought of a life together... crumbled into ash because she had no wolf. Never far from the surface, images of our moments in the woods danced through my mind.

The sensation of her warm flesh against mine- exquisite torture. The way her breasts had molded perfectly into the palms of my hands. Her nipples hardening at the softest tug. It was enough to make any wolf lose control.

Then there were my daydreams- our naked bodies intertwined, writhing in the water...

I willed my hardness to go soft, scoffing at my belief that we had moved past the lies and secrets.

Apparently not.

What if Lyra was a spy after all? Maybe her story about her dad and stepmom kicking her out was just a lie to make me trust her... to feel sorry for her... maybe even love her.

The idea ate away at me, a nasty little worm of doubt. Was it all a lie? A trick to gather intel on my pack and replace out our weaknesses? To tear down everything I'd fought to build back up after my father's death?

Thinking about it made me sick, made me doubt all our good moments past and present. I ran every look, every touch through my mind, searching for some sign I'd missed. A slip, a flicker in her eyes that showed her true goal all along. Fury built within me with each step, a red-hot rage that threatened to take over...

I forced myself to breathe, to uncurl my fists. I couldn't let anyone see me like this. I needed remain calm. In control.

I yanked open the door to my office and let it click shut behind me. Leaning against the cool wood, I let out a measured breath.

"Ryan?" Liam sat on the edge of my desk, his brow furrowed with concern. "You alright, Alpha?"

I waved a dismissive hand, moving to my desk. "Fine. Just dealing with pack business."

Liam snorted. "Right. Tell another one walking." He hopped off the desk, and sat in the chair opposite. "Come on, talk to me. Is this about Lyra?"

My jaw clenched at her name. "Among other things." I walked to the window, staring at the path that led to Harbringer University. It was empty this time of night. Lonely.

"What's on your mind, Liam?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's Whitney. Did you know she switch schools from Emberwood to Harbringer? With no distance between us...I just... I can't do this anymore, Ryan. Setting a date for the mating ritual, the pretense... It's suffocating me."

"You want to call it off?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." He stood and began to pace. "We have zero in common. She's a nice enough she-wolf, and I thought I could make it work for the pack, but..."

"But you're miserable," I finished for him, turning to face him fully. "Liam, you don't have to sacrifice your happiness for the pack. We'll replace another way to secure the alliance with Silver Tail."

He nodded, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders. "I just feel like I'm letting everyone down. And with Lyra..."

My heart stuttered at the mention of her name. "What about Lyra?"

Liam met my gaze, his expression sympathetic. "Her enrollment at Harbringer... I heard that was what she had always wanted. To be accepted, to belong somewhere."

"Lyra's always wanted to belong somewhere, huh?" I leaned against the window frame, crossing my arms. "Funny how she never mentioned that to me."

Liam's brow furrowed. "Alpha, I know you're trying to move past what she did and—."

"She lied to me, Liam. About everything." I wasn't ready to spill her biggest secret to him, but I was this close. First, I wanted to see if she'd come clean herself. If not... well, then she wasn't the kind of person I'd started to forgive. "Maybe she had her reasons." Liam stepped closer, his voice softening. "Just like you have your reasons for keeping your own secrets."

I stiffened, my jaw clenching. "That's different."

"Is it?" Liam shook his head. "Look, all I'm saying is, don't write her off just yet. Talk to her, hear her out."

I pushed off the window frame, pacing towards my desk. "And what about you and Whitney? You going to talk to her, hear her out?"

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know.... It's complicated."

"Uncomplicate it." I turn to face him, my tone sharp. "You said it yourself that you don't have anything in common. Use that. Make her think ending things was her idea."

Liam's eyes widened. "Ryan, I can't do that. It's not right."

"But leading her on, that's right?" I was being awful, cruel even, projecting my hurt into the conversation because it was there, and it was raw, and it hurt so damn much. I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. "Do what you want, Liam. But don't come crying to me when it blows up in your face."

Liam stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.

I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands. The anger, the pain, the betrayal - it all crashed over me- one long wave after another. I allowed myself a moment, just a moment, to feel it all.

Then, I straightened my shoulders, my features hardening with each step from my office, out the door and onto the darkened path.

It was time to confront Lyra. To get the truth, once and for all.