The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 30

Ryan

Open mouth. Call forth flame.

What the hell?

I had turned from a snarling, mindless dragon into my wolf.

"Now we can fight for Lyra on an equal playing field," said the large silver wolf through a mind-link.

I didn't have time to wonder how I switched from dragon to wolf or that this outsider could mind-link with me. All I knew was that he wanted Lyra, and from the pheromones coming off him, it was more than for a friendly chat over coffee. I growled as I faced off against my challenger, my jet-black fur bristling. "You won't lay a paw on her!" I snarled, ready to defend Lyra with everything I had.

But the wolf was just as determined, baring his teeth and claiming that she belonged to his side. Whatever the hell that meant. We circled each other, our muscles tensing, ready for the fight ahead.

With a roar, I lunged at him, snapping my jaws dangerously close. But he dodged and countered with a swift swipe that nearly grazed my flank.

We continued our deadly dance, saliva dripping from our jaws as we battled for dominance. Each bite and slash was met with an equally fierce retaliation, neither of us willing to back down. "Lyra is not a prize to be won!" I barked, leaping back to avoid another attack.

"She is meant to with her own!" my opponent snarled, his eyes burning with fervor.

Our battle raged on, weaving through the trees in a blur of fur and fury. The sounds of our grunts and the impact of our bodies filled the air as we fought for control.

In a final howl, I unleashed a flurry of ferocious strikes, driving the wolf back toward the edge of a cliff. The ground trembled beneath us as we clashed on the precipice, teetering on the brink of danger. "Stay away from her!" My voice echoed through the forest as I locked eyes with my adversary.

But he only narrowed his gaze. "She will be with—"

"Help! Help!"

It was Lyra calling out. The fight in me drained, quickly replaced by fear. I'd never in my life turned from a challenge, but I did at that moment. Nothing would stop me from getting to her.

The other wolf was fast on my heels. "If you've hurt her..." he mind-linked, leaving just what he would do to me open for interpretation.

Ignoring him, I charged through the woods, my heart pounding in my chest as Lyra's cries for help echoed in my ears. The silver wolf kept pace beside me, our rivalry momentarily forgotten in the face of this new threat.

We burst into a clearing and found Lyra surrounded by a pack of snarling rogues, their eyes glinting with malice. Hackles raised and fangs bared, they circled her like vultures eyeing a fresh kill. The stench of their bloodlust fouled the air. Without hesitation, we leapt into action, the silver wolf and I moving as one. We placed ourselves between Lyra and the hostile wolves, forming a living shield to protect her. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I faced down the rogues, a low growl rumbling in my throat. I'd tear them apart before I let them lay a single claw on her.

Teeth bared and hackles raised, we engaged the rogues in a vicious battle. I lunged at the nearest attacker, my jaws clamping down on his shoulder as I threw him aside with a savage twist of my head. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. The silver wolf was a blur of motion beside me, his powerful strikes sending rogues tumbling across the ground in broken heaps. We fought with a synchronicity born of desperation and an iron will to protect Lyra at all costs. Claws tore through flesh and furious snarls ripped from our throats as we met the drove of enemies head-on, determined to be the last ones standing in defense Lyra.

Together, we fought with a fierce determination, our combined strength driving the rogues back. They soon realized they were outmatched and began to flee, their tails tucked between their legs as they disappeared into the undergrowth. I turned to check on Lyra, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the fight. Blood roared in my ears as I caught my breath, scanning her for any sign of injury. But she wasn't looking at me. Instead, her gaze fixed on a badly wounded rogue. He lay motionless on the ground, his fur matted with crimson.

Lyra cautiously approached the fallen wolf, her steps light and halting. I watched as her eyes widened in shocked recognition, a gasp escaping her lips.

"I know him," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's from my old pack."

Those words hit like a punch to the gut, making my head spin with all the things it could mean. A million questions burned on my tongue, but I kept quiet, knowing Lyra needed time to deal with this bombshell about her past. I tensed, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring, ready to leap into action at the slightest movement. My eyes remained locked on the rogue, watching for even the subtlest twitch that might signal an attack. Nothing doing.

He remained motionless, the only sign of life was the shallow rise and fall of his chest, each breath heavy breath speaking to his immense pain and suffering.

Lyra knelt beside the wounded wolf, her hands trembling as they hovered over his injuries. I could see the conflicting emotions playing across her face: fear, anger, and a glimmer of compassion that she couldn't quite suppress. Her brow furrowed, a storm brewing behind her eyes. She wrestled with the commonality of their shared past, the undeniable ties of pack and blood that pulled at her heart like a leash she couldn't quite break free from. The silver wolf and I exchanged a wary glance, unsure of what to make of this unexpected development. But one thing was clear - Lyra's past had caught up with her.