The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 59

Ryan

I sat in my office, the Luna Trial Council gathered around me. Two men and two women, all discussing the agenda for my 21st birthday. One of the men, a real talker, droned on about the party. "The festivities will be in full swing when you make your entrance, Ryan," he said, flipping through some papers. "You'll announce the Luna trials, then we'll have a BBQ, and later, fireworks."

I nodded, pleased with their plans. I stood up, thinking the meeting was over. But one of the women, she stood up too, her face serious.

"Ryan," she started, "it's come to our attention that you've grown close to a she-wolf. Lyra Evergreen. Some might see that as favoritism, that you want her to win the trials."

I felt a chill run down my spine. I tried to keep my face neutral, but inside, I was chafing at the implication.

The woman continued, "For the sake of the competition, you need to... keep it in your pants. After the trials, you're free to do as you please."

I clenched my jaw, but I knew they were right. There was a slim chance Lyra might not become my Luna, but I'd make sure, without breaking the rules, that she would.

"I understand," I said, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. "I'll keep my distance."

The woman nodded, satisfied. "Good. We just want to make sure the trials are fair and square. No one gets a leg up because of... personal connections."

I nodded again, feeling a knot in my stomach. I'd have to be careful around Lyra, make sure I didn't show any favoritism. What we did in secret... well that was between me and her.

The meeting wrapped up after that, the council members filing out of my office.

Alone with my thoughts, Lyra's stricken face swam behind my eyes. She had looked so fragile... broken after I told her what her treacherous family had been up to. Then there was that Killian, spilling lies in her ear...

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even hear Liam enter. He didn't look worse for wear so that was a good sign.

"Ryan," he said, his voice giving nothing away, "I've got some news from the Silver Tail lands."

I looked up at him, my eyebrows furrowing. "What is it?"

"The Alpha, Whitney's father, he's given me an ultimatum," Liam said, his face serious. "If I break it off with Whitney, that's fine. But in exchange, he wants the mineral-rich land bordering the Silver Tail land. If we don't give it to him, he's threatening war after the Luna Trials."

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. This was not what I needed right now. I thought back to my father, and what he would have done in this situation.

I remembered a time when I was just a kid, sitting in his office as he negotiated with another pack's Alpha. They were at odds over a land dispute, much like we were now. But my father had chosen diplomacy, working it out with the other pack. And now, they were our strongest allies.

I looked back at Liam, my mind made up. "We'll negotiate a truce," I said. "I won't let this escalate into war."

Liam nodded, relief clear on his face. "I'll let the Alpha know after your party," he said, turning to leave.

But I stopped him, my mind going back to Lyra. "Wait, Liam," I said. "I need to talk to Lyra about this first. Her family has a hand in this, and I need to make sure she's okay with it."

Liam nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Of course, Ryan," he said. "I'll leave you to it."

I stood up from my chair, my mind made up. I was going to put aside my revenge, my desire to make the Wolfsong pack pay for what they did to me. If I could convince Whitney's father that we would side with them against Wolfsong... it might just make him see reason.

I walked out of my office on my way to see Lyra. When I reached campus, I spotted Sally in the distance talking to a group of she-wolves. I jogged up to her and took her aside. "Where's Lyra?" I asked.

Sally met my gaze steadily. "She's with Killian," she said. "In the clearing behind the Quad."

I didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. As soon as I heard that prick's name, I turned on my heel and ran towards the clearing. My heart was racing, and my mind was racing even faster. What was Lyra doing with Killian after I told her what he was up to? Why was she spending time with him?

It could only be one thing as far as I was concerned.

As I approached the clearing, I slowed down, my steps becoming more cautious. I didn't want to alert them to my presence. I wanted to see what they were doing, to understand why Lyra was spending time with him.

I peered through the trees, my eyes scanning the clearing. And there they were. Lyra and Killian, standing close together, their heads bent in conversation. I watched as Killian reached out and touched Lyra's arm, his fingers lingering on her skin.

I turned on my heel and stormed away, my heart aching in my chest. I had been a fool to trust her, to believe that she cared about me. I had been a fool to think that she was different from all the rest.

I walked back to my office, my mind in a fog. I had to figure out what to do next. I had to figure out how to protect myself, how to protect my pack.

How to put this betrayal behind me.

But as I sat down at my desk, my heart heavy with grief, I knew that it wouldn't be easy. I knew that I would never be able to forget what had happened, that I would never be able to trust Lyra again. And that thought filled me with a deep, aching sadness that I knew would never go away.