CHAPTER 11 - On Guard

Ryan Conner, my Delta, mind-linked with me shortly after Lyra left my office. Conner: "We have the guard. He tried to outrun us, but we caught up with him soon enough." I smiled a chilling smile. "Great. Good job." Normally, I would say a lot more than that, wanting to know every detail, but outside, Lyra and Sally had just disappeared into the forest. A hollowness carved itself inside me, leaving me aching to join her. Conner: "What should we do with him, Alpha?" "Lock him up in the Cells." My Delta waited a beat. Conner: "You okay, Alpha? You usually have a list of instructions longer than my… well, my arm." "I'm fine. No worries. Just a lot on my mind." Namely, Lyra. Conner: "Okay, Alpha. Hey, will you be at the bar tonight? I heard Brittany is going to sing." "Get started without me. If I can, I'll show up." Conner: "Will do, Alpha." Not a second later, Liam was in my head. Liam: "Just finished getting her room together, Alpha. Need me to do anything else?" "No. Come to my office. Tell me all about it." Liam: "Be there in ten." Good. I needed the distraction. Otherwise, I'd be lost in my thoughts, wondering if bringing Lyra here had been a mistake. Revenge was what drove me, but something inside me had shifted. A softer side of me threatened to break through. A side I had buried long ago under a layer of anger and bitterness. The way Lyra had stood up to me sparked a possessive hunger in me unlike any I'd known before. Her body that I'd tasted in the forest hid a luscious secret beneath her clothing. I nearly salivated at the defiant jiggle of her breasts as she met my gaze. The heat of her skin under my touch. How she’d trembled in my arms, her scent driving me wild… All that had me wanting more - much more. But at what cost? I ran a hand through my hair, frustration welling like a busted pipe. Would Lyra betray me again as she had in the past? I sunk into my desk chair, forcing my gaze to the paperwork that needed my attention. Words blurred as Lyra's ghost haunted every corner of my office; her gaze smug and mocking. Desperate, my eyes fix on the portrait above the hearth. Luna Harbringer. Her snow-white hair and ice-blue eyes held a strength beyond her size; the legendary Luna, founder of the very university where the Luna trials were held. I would never forget the day my father told me about his one and only sighting of Luna Harbringer as if it were yesterday. I was just a pup of five or six, my eyes wide with wonder and curiosity. We were sitting in his study, the room filled with the scent of old books and leather. The fireplace crackled and made dancing shadows on the walls. My father, a man of few words, had a faraway look in his eyes as he said, "Luna Harbringer was a legend, son, a wolf unlike any other. A wolf with fur as white as fresh snow, and eyes that held the moonlight." I leaned forward, hanging onto his every word. "Luna Harbringer," he continued, "The White Wolf. She was a creature of immense power and mystery. Her fur glowed under the full moon, and her eyes... captured starlight. He paused, his gaze distant as if he was seeing the White Wolf right then. "She was taller and stronger than any normal wolf, but it wasn't just her size or strength that made her special. It was her aura, her presence. She carried a peace about her, yet she held her power in check." I listened, my pulse jumping with excitement. "Her claws," Dad went on, "They were silver, and sharp as a razor. They said she could tear through flesh and bone with ease. But she wasn't a brutal creature. She used her strength with measure, striking only when necessary." He leaned back, his eyes meeting mine. "And her howl, son. It was unlike any other…. a haunting melody that made me both love her and fear her in equal measure. Some said it could also shatter glass, pierce the veil between worlds, and even summon the aid of the Moon Goddess herself. " I could almost hear the howl, echoing through the forests, sending a chill down my spine. "She was a solitary creature," he added, "Rarely seen by any except those in her trusted circle. I only saw her when I was a pup because I was up at night and couldn't sleep. Walked to the window and saw her trotting by…" He fell silent, lost in thought. I could see the respect, maybe even a hint of fear, in his eyes. "But those fortunate enough to have been close to her," he said, breaking the silence, "They spoke of a strange sense of peace pouring from her presence. Despite her size and beauty, she inspired a sense of awe… reverence. Never fear." The story of Luna Harbringer reminded me of Lyra. Her strength. Her determination. She was a survivor. A quick rap of knuckles was my only warning. Liam burst into the office, a triumphant grin on his face. He dramatically dusted off his hands, declaring, "Mission accomplished. Lyra's all set up at Harbringer. You should've seen me - I was like a shopping tornado, raiding stores and using my super wolf speed to get everything done." I raised an eyebrow at Liam's theatrics, a hint of amusement playing on my lips. "Shopping tornado, huh? I'm impressed, Liam. I didn't know you had it in you." I sat in my chair and leaned back, fingers interlaced behind my head. "I suppose you're expecting a round of applause for your efforts?" Liam's grin faltered for a moment before he regained his confidence. "Well, I did just save you the trouble of having to do it yourself. And let's be real, Ryan, you're not exactly known for your shopping skills." I laughed at the thought of going shopping. I'd rather eat a bucket of wolfsbane than enter a store. Liam plopped in the chair in front of my desk with a weary sigh. That was my clue to ask him about the details of Lyra's set up. "The comforter you told me to get did indeed match her eyes. Her clothes were another story. I had a hard time finding choices in her size. The sales assistant told me more would come in soon." At my nod, he went on. "I wanted to hang some fairy lights, thinking the would add a cozy touch to the room, but I didn't have time. I'll do it tomorrow while she's in orientation." "Thank you, Liam. I'm sure she will appreciate it. " Liam shrugged. "It was the least I could do… putting her in that cell and all. And after what happened…" I felt my expression darken at the mention of the guard who had attacked Lyra. The thought of someone under my command, someone I was supposed to trust, laying a hand on her filled me with a cold fury. My hands clenched into fists on the desk, knuckles turning white.