an's

eports felt like lead in my hand,

anything but the gnawing, confusing emptiness

as my

omfortable blanket of commitment. It was quiet, steady, and

duty. I was Lucian Va

ad erupted when my hand close

soul-scorching recognition that had fired through me the night before

nd with Lyra was sunlight. Both were real, but onl

d been trying to absorb the sheer weight of th

ndatory, yet my father, Alpha Ro

, Helena, had called this immediate meeting-her way o

ied my existing suspicion. I had papers, important papers,

the way it does when a scent you've been

small, dark figure in simple gray, mov

other. The omega wi

d before I cou

nd-a loud, useless thud-as I

the heart of the Ma

not walking these quiet, private halls wher

he name a statement of

fr

t I'd woken up to in the bar. It was the same over

sive, a reaction that was utterly ina

rmality. "Alpha Lucian. I-I was

already inserting her influence, pulling at the thread of t

fied, laced with something new

unique, bruised sweetness-was so intoxicating, the only thin

ougher than I intended. "Don't c

r off. The bond with Lyra was real, yes, but the fire I felt radiati

lmost invisible patch of discoloration on her neck-the scar of a r

elt like a burning

nfessed, forcing the words out. I

d, letting my thumb linger on her delicate skin. "I

er body rejected my bond-it felt like ripping my soul out. It had been agonizing, violent, primal. It was a rejection tha

ll me your name. Your full name. Before my mo

nt the polished facade shattere

. Simple. Beautiful. I now kn

had somehow lit a fire inside the future

omegas, they are naturally man

rge to pull Aria into my arms a

Agree to whatever she says." I said, givin

immediately afterwards. You'

d of the hall. It wasn't the sound that alerted me, but a sudden, intrusiv

bleed of my new, accepted mate bond with Lyra. Lyra wasn't

pushing a linen cart. She was older, nearsighted, and harmless. Her

ighte

una's mother. And Lyra, wherever she

anted. The maid was a ri

into nothing. I looked back at Aria. Her eyes were wide, terrified. She

d to eliminate the threat of the witness. I had to secure her, cont

, a low growl barely suppressed in my throat. I bent down to pi

er. I stood there, smelling the faint trace of Aria's fe

sent a rapid, coded mess

. Tall, heavy lenses. Check hal

currently obeying my mother's comm

ing? She didn't n

s usin

a searing, aggressive flare of despair and r

ke a brief, shocking burn, o

l did my mot

, was triggered by something in that study.

vinced it was a sign

usual gentle sadness; it was a p

ong. It fe

doorframe handle, my silver eye

ust felt was not Lyra's emotion. It was Aria's despair, broadcasting thro

nd with Lyr

rejection off, was now carrying a heavy burden imposed

I had to know what Helena h

s back on the floor

n't be

le and figure out wha