Lyra’s POV
I was taken aback by my father's harsh words, his departure leaving behind a void devoid of remorse.
"Don't worry, sister," Damian consoled.
"He's just angry. I'm sure he'll come around."
"Where's mother?" I managed to ask through the turmoil of emotions.
"She must be inside. Let's go to her," Damian suggested in his presence, a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
As we entered, my eyes sought out my mother, and I rushed to her, seeking solace in her embrace. However, her response was not as warm as I had hoped.
"Sit, Lyra," she said calmly, her voice carrying a weight of disappointment.
"Damian, could you give us some space?" she requested. He nodded understandingly and retreated, leaving us alone in her chambers.
"I'm so sorry, Mother," I pleaded, my words heavy with regret.
"I didn't mean to bring you shame. Please forgive me.”
"Hmm," was her only response.
"Father said some hurtful words to me. Please, help me plead on my behalf," I pressed on, desperate for her understanding.
"Do you know the impact of what you did?" she asked her tone grave with concern.
"Yes..." I began, but she cut me off.
"No, you don't! Maximus has now marked us as his enemies. The only way we can be allies again is if your father and I present you to him," she explained, her words heavy with the weight of our family's reputation.
"Mother, you still want me to marry him?" I questioned disbelief in my tone.
"Of course, especially after the damage you've caused," she replied, her gaze averted from mine.
I could feel the weight of their disappointment as if my refusal to marry Maximus was solely to blame for our current predicament.
"Where did you run off to? We searched every nook and cranny," my mother voiced her curiosity.
"Over the mountains," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper, knowing the weight of my words would shatter the fragile peace between us.
"There are only hills around. Surely you're not speaking about the forbidden mountain, are you?" Her eyes widened in disbelief, a storm brewing within their depths.
"I am," I affirmed, steeling myself for the tempest of emotions that would follow.
"What...did you just say?" Her voice quivered, teetering on the edge of disbelief and dread.
"I met a human. They're not a myth, they exist. And they're not as bad as you paint them to be. The one I met was kind to me," I revealed.
"Just when I thought you couldn't be more foolish, you proved me wrong," she spat.
"Mother..." I reached out, desperate to bridge the chasm that had formed between us, but she recoiled as if my touch were poison.
"So you are refusing to go back to Maximus because of a human?".
"No, yes, I mean... I don't love Maximus, and the human I met is a wonderful person. I'll choose him a thousand times over Maximus," I declared, my voice trembling with defiance, my heart pounding with the weight of my choice.
"You have chosen a forbidden being over us! Over your family! Go back to him and never return," she commanded, her voice thundering with authority, her eyes ablaze with fury.
"Mother..." I pleaded, but she silenced me with a look, a look that spoke volumes of the betrayal she felt in her heart as she stood up.
"I forbid you from calling me that. I only have one child. Mark my words on this day, those humans will betray you, and you will have no one by your side!" her words laced with venom, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
I stretched my hand to touch her but she pushed me and turned to leave.
Damian approached me. With a gentle hand, he helped me rise from the floor, his expression betraying the fact that he had been listening to our conversation. He enfolded me in a comforting hug before we settled down.
"What are humans like?" His curiosity broke through the tension.
"They're just like us, but without wolves," I replied, a soft chuckle escaping me despite the gravity of our situation.
"So they never shift? That must be a hard life," he mused, his empathy evident in his words.
"I'll talk to Baba and Mama on your behalf," he offered.
"There will be no need for that. The only thing they'll accept is if I agree to be with Maximus, and I can't do that," I explained, resignation lacing my voice.
"So what will you do now?" Damian inquired, his concern mirrored in his furrowed brow.
"I have no idea," I admitted.
Barely moments after our conversation, guards approached us, my father had ordered them to throw me out.
"What?" Damian exclaimed disbelief etched on his face.
"Has it gotten to that?" I mumbled, my heart sinking as the reality of my situation set in.
"We don't want to do that. We will suggest you come with us," one of the guards said to me, their tone surprisingly gentle despite the weight of their orders.
"Please wait for me close to the mountain. Do not leave until I come!" Damian pleaded, his voice filled with sorrow. I nodded silently, my sadness mirroring his.
Surrounded by the guards, I felt like a prisoner in my own home as we began to walk. As we passed my parents standing on the balcony, their silent gazes spoke volumes, each glance a dagger to my already shattered heart.
Unable to bear the weight of their disappointment, I turned away, tears streaming down my face as we made our way out of the castle. Once outside, I couldn't bear the thought of others witnessing my fall from grace.
"For the sake of old times' sake, allow me to walk from here. I don't want others to see me like a criminal," I pleaded with the guards.
"We were told to see you leave," they replied, their voices tinged with sympathy.
"Please," I implored, my voice cracking with emotion.
After a moment's hesitation, they relented and stopped, allowing me to continue alone. With each step, the weight of my exile pressed down upon me, the forest swallowing me whole as I sought solace in its depths.
Staggering through the woods, I could feel my wolf's pain echoing my own. Despite the ache in my limbs and the heaviness in my heart, I pressed on, driven by an instinctual need to escape my suffocating reality.
I walked until I could see the border looming before me, a stark reminder of the divide between the life I once knew and the uncertain future that awaited me beyond.
I sat beneath the sheltering branches of a towering tree, as I waited for Damian. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, the fading light of evening casting long shadows around me, a stark reflection of the darkness that had enfolded my heart.
"Are you going back to the human?" My wolf's voice echoed in the depths of my mind.
"I have no other place to go. But first, I must wait for Damian, even if it means spending the night here," I replied.
My wolf retreated to the back of my mind, silent but ever-present, a constant companion in my solitude.
"Sister," Damian's voice broke through the silence, and I turned to see him approaching, a bag clutched in his hands.
At that moment, I remembered the bag George had given me, tucked away and forgotten in my moment of despair.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to make sure Baba and Mama didn't know about me coming to see you," he apologized.
"It's okay," I replied, embracing him tightly.
"Here, I got some of your things and some provisions," he offered, handing me the bag. As I opened it, I saw George's bag nestled within.
"Thank you," I smiled through my tears, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"Are you sure you're safe with the humans?" Damian's concern was noticeable, etched on his face like a shadow cast by the fading light.
"Yes," I assured him.
"If at all there's a problem, please come back. I know our parents are angry, but we are still family," he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Of course," I promised, holding onto his embrace as if it were the only lifeline in a sea of uncertainty.
"I'll see you soon, right?" he asked, his voice wavering with emotion.
I nodded in agreement, unable to find the words to express the depth of my gratitude for his unwavering support.
With a heavy heart, I shifted into my wolf form, and Damian placed the bag around my neck. My wolf began to climb the mountain, each step a painful reminder of the distance that now separated me from my brother and my pack.
When we reached the top, I paused, turning to take one last look at Damian, his silhouette etched against the fading light of dusk as he waved goodbye.
With a final, lingering glance, I crossed over, the weight of my decision heavy upon my heart as I surrendered to the uncertain fate that awaited me in the human world.
Lra’s POV My journey stretched on longer than before, each step weighed down by the burden of sadness that clung to me like a cloak. When I finally shifted back, I found myself shivering in the cold, the thin dress Damian had included in the bag offering little protection against the biting wind. Despite my exhaustion, sleep eluded me until the early hours of the morning, when sheer weariness finally overcame the ache in my heart. When I awoke, hunger gnawed at me. With trembling hands, I reached into the bag and retrieved some fruits, devouring them hungrily before pressing on. As night fell once more, I found myself alone in the darkness of the woods, the eerie silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. The next morning, weary and famished, I finally reached George's doorstep and knocked. He opened the door, my face drawn and distressed. Without a word, he enfolded me in a warm embrace. "You look so pale. Are you okay?" he asked, concern
Lyra's POVThe next morning, as the sun cast its gentle glow through the windows of the cottage, George approached me with a look of determination in his eyes."I have something important to discuss with you," he announced, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.I nodded, eager to hear what he had to say, though my heart fluttered with anticipation."You see, I'm a businessman," George began, his words carefully chosen. "And while I sought refuge in this secluded cottage to escape the chaos of the city, it's time for me to return."My breath caught in my throat. "So, I get to stay here, right?" I asked, trying to mask the disappointment that threatened to surface. But George shook his head, his gaze unwavering."No, I want you to come with me. I can't bear the thought of leaving you alone in this secluded place."A rush of warmth flooded my chest at his words, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection f
Lyra’s POVEntering the city, the uproar of sounds assaulted my heightened senses, causing my nose to bleed.The relentless sound of vehicle horns, machinery whirring, angry drivers, children's voices, and a lot of other noises overwhelmed me.The mixture of scents, from people, dogs, food, and countless other odours, only added to my disorientation."Are you okay?" George's voice cut through the chaos, his concern evident in both his tone and his eyes."I will be. Let's get to your place," I managed to reply.He handed me his handkerchief to contain the flow of blood from my nose, and with a sense of urgency, he navigated through the congested streets. Each passing moment felt like an eternity until finally, we arrived at his residence.Thankfully his house was situated in a calm neighborhood, a stark contrast to the chaotic streets we had just passed. As the driver opened the gates, my eyes widened in awe at
Lyra's POV Before evening, George had arranged for a cage for my parrot. As we sat down for dinner in the elegant dining room, the ambience was disrupted when I reached for the cutlery. To my horror, the silver utensils burned my skin, emitting a sizzling sound upon contact. I flinched, dropping them immediately. “What's wrong?” George's voice was filled with concern as he noticed my distress. “I believe these are pure silver,” I whispered, my hand throbbing from the burn. George swiftly fetched the first aid kit, tending to my injured hand with a gentle touch. “I'm sorry,” he apologized, but I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. It was I who should have been apologizing for causing him undue stress. After bandaging my hand, George instructed the maids to replace all the silverware in the kitchen with golden ones before the next morning. Despite their confusion, they nodded and left to fulfil his request. “I'm sorry,” I murmured, feeling the weight of my abnormality. “Don't
George's POVIt was as if Lyra had been intentionally pushing me off all day. Despite sensing her mischievous intent, I brushed it off, attributing her behaviour to the headache she had been complaining about.When I awoke in the dead of night, a nagging feeling compelled me to check on her. As I entered her room, the empty bed sent a chill down my spine.My initial thought of her being in the bathroom dissolved into a grim realization, she might have ventured out to shift.My gaze darted to the parrot perched in its cage. "You understand me, don't you? Where is Lyra?" I demanded, struggling to decipher its frantic squawks.A sense of urgency gripped me as I pleaded, "She could be in danger out there. Can you help me find her?"Whether the bird comprehended my plea or not, it promptly took flight the moment I opened its cage. "Well, I guess I'm on my own," I muttered to myself.Without hesitation, I grabbed a large s
Lyra's POVSince our return from the cottage, I've been gloomy, burdened by guilt for stressing George unnecessarily.Replacing all the silverware in the house brought a fleeting comfort but deepened my remorse.The following day, I couldn't find joy in my usual TV shows, my mind consumed by thoughts of my life and purpose.Skipping lunch, I drifted into a restless sleep on the couch, only to be haunted by a dream where my parents watched me fall, offering no rescue. I awoke gasping, heart pounding, the dream's vividness intensifying my already sour mood.George returned in the evening, noticing my uneaten lunch. "Let's go out," he suggested."I don't want to add to your stress," I confessed."Have I ever mentioned being stressed?" George's sincerity cut through my uneasiness.Reluctantly, I accepted his invitation and followed him upstairs. While he freshened up in his room, I did the same.I selected
Lyra’s POVAs morning light seeped through the curtains, I gradually opened my eyes, only to find the space beside me empty. A pang of gloom washed over me, as I realized he must have already left for work.The sound of the door creaking open caught my attention, and I turned to see George entering the room in his pyjamas, a tray in his hands."Good morning, Gorgeous," he greeted me with a warm smile, placing the tray on the bed before leaning down to kiss my forehead.Wrapped snugly in the bedsheets, I couldn't help but question, "What's the occasion?" My eyes scanned the array of dishes on the tray, all meticulously prepared for breakfast."Nothing special," he replied softly, his eyes reflecting sincerity. "I promised to cook for you for the rest of my life, remember?""Well, you're certainly keeping that promise," a hint of sarcasm laced my response as I remarked.His expression softened, and he gently grasped my
Lyra's POV As I prepared to retire for the night, I was in the bathroom when I caught a whiff of George's scent, signalling his presence in my room. The gentle squeaking of my parrot confirmed it. I emerged from the bathroom and saw him standing. "Hey, looks like you're ready for bed," George remarked. Unable to find the right words, I simply hummed in response and turned my attention to the dressing mirror."I don't want us to argue, though it seems inevitable. We should try to resolve things before bed," he continued, taking a seat on the couch."I agree. But this is something I need to do," I replied, smoothing oil onto my skin.There was a moment of silence as if George was waiting for me to finish. When I stood up, he patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to join him."I only want what's best for you, and I need to be sure I can protect you out there. I don't know what might happen," he explained calmly."I understand, but I need to learn to navigate this world on my o