CHAPTER 15 - Dragon Birth

Ryan I stepped out of the shower and roughly toweled off, avoiding my reflection in the foggy mirror. What would I see staring back at me anyway? Nothing but a pathetic loser who pined after a fake past. Sleep. I needed sleep to clear my head and rebuild the walls that Lyra had so easily torn down. But as I fell into bed, the memories rose up to haunt me - visions of secret meetings in the garden. Fights on training grounds. Whispered promises that crumbled to ash in the harsh light of day. And always, always, the ghost of Lyra's touch branded into my skin. Even as exhaustion dragged me under, I knew there would be no peace for me. Lyra might have turned her back on what we had, but my treacherous heart refused to let her go. I was bound to her, whether she wanted me or not. The worst memory surfaced, dragging me under. Its edges still knife-sharp after all these years. That night in the cave, the one I tried so hard to forget... I sat on the ground sharp stones at my back, rocking. 'We are getting out of this place. We are getting out of this place.' Lyra had agreed to meet me outside the cave at 1 AM the day after tomorrow. With the new moon shrouding everything in darkness, we could easily sneak out and make our way to my father's pack lands. Excitement and nerves took turns jumping rope in my stomach. The thought of seeing my parents… my pack was almost too much to bear. Once we were… home, Lyra would stay with me. And when we were of age, we would get our wolves, and I would break tradition of the Luna Trials and choose Lyra. If the Moon Goddess had a problem with that then I would— "Get up you pathetic creature." I lifted my head to see Vivian Evergreen staring down at me. She wore a tight red dress and her blonde was done up in a complicated design. Her lips were painted a vibrant shade of crimson, and her eyes glittered with malice as she looked me up and down with a sneer. I glared at her, my fists clenched at my sides. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug smile off her face, but I knew better than to provoke her. Lyra would suffer because of it. Gregory Evergreen stood by his mate, his cold eyes as blank as his expression. He was a tall, imposing figure, with broad shoulders and a thick beard that covered his chin. He said nothing as a guard, a burly man with a cruel gleam in his eyes, unlocked the cell door. It banged open with a CLANG. Before I could move, his rough hands grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me against the cold, stone wall, knocking the air from my lungs. Thick fingers dug painfully into my arms as he leaned in, his breath hot and fetid against my face. "Don't even think about running," he growled, his voice low and menacing. With one meaty hand squeezing my neck, he used his other to unlock the chains that bound me. The metallic clink echoed in the small space. "Carry these, pup," he ordered, tossing the heavy chains into my arms. The sudden weight was too much to bear, and they fell with a clatter onto the ground. The guard sneered, forcing me to bend and pick them up, my muscles straining under the effort. All the while, Vivian's malicious laughter echoed in the cave, making me tremble for what she had in store for me. I tried to stand, to lift the chains in my quivering arms. The guard scoffed at my efforts and hauled me up like a rag doll. My vision doubled and two Vivian's got right in my face, spittle flying, “Lyra told us all about your plans to escape. She told us everything. She betrayed you… Ryan Thornton. Remember that on your way to hell.” The guard laughed, then half-dragged, half-carried me down a long corridor that seemed to stretch on forever. The damp stone walls closed in, the flickering torchlight lighting the way to more misery. My heart hammered against my ribs, each beat a reminder of Vivian's words. Lyra had told them who I was. She had— The guard's grunts echoed in the narrow passageway, his meaty hand squeezing my neck, choking off any protests I might have voiced. My lungs burned, my body screamed for air, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me struggle. We made our way down several lengths of damp, moss-covered stairs, the guard's heavy boots splashing in the filthy water pooled on the uneven stone steps. The stench of rot and decay filled my nostrils, threatening to overwhelm me. I gritted my teeth, fighting back the bile that rose in my throat. Finally, we came to a steel door, its surface pitted and rusted. The guard fumbled with a master key, much like the one I had stolen, and shoved it into the lock with a harsh metallic scrape. The door swung open with a protesting creak, revealing a cramped, pitch-black cell. The guard hurled me inside, my body slamming into the stone floor. Pain exploded through my bones, but I refused to let it show on my face. I rolled onto my back, staring up at the guard, his silhouette twisted and cruel. "Enjoy your stay, pup," he growled, "It will be short." He slammed the door shut, leaving me in near darkness, save for the weak light that seeped in from under the door. I pushed myself up, my muscles protesting, and leaned against the damp wall. The cold seeped through my clothes, chilling me to the bone. I barely noticed. My mind was consumed with Vivian's words, her mocking tone echoing in my ears. I shook my head, letting the words fly from my mind. Escape. Vengeance. Those thoughts took over, replacing Lyra and her messed up family. All of them would pay. Lyra most of all. Her punishment would be special. I fumbled for the key still inside my clothing. Feeling around for the slot for a moment, I found it, the key turning with a satisfying click. Before I could slip away, a blood-chilling growl echoed inside the room. It wasn't the growl of a wolf, but something deeper, wilder, and way bigger than me.