Chapter 34
The room was still ringing with the aftermath of violence.
Dust drifted slowly through the air. Somewhere behind them, the man groaned weakly against the shattered wall but Lyra barely registered it.
All she could feel was him.
Kaelen’s arms were locked around her, firm and steady, anchoring her upright. One hand was braced at her lower back, the other curled protectively at her side, as if his body had decided on its own that she belonged there.
Lyra’s breath came in shallow gasps.
She was pressed close enough to feel the rise and fall of his chest, the heat radiating off his skin, the tension coiled beneath it like something barely leashed.
Slowly, she lifted her head and her eyes met his.
The moment stretched and Kaelen froze.
Not because of the threat behind them, not because of the curse snarling beneath his skin but because her eyes were on him.
Up close, she wasn’t overwhelming. She was soft, too soft for the storm tearing through him. Her lips were parted, her pulse fluttering wildly beneath her skin, her fingers fisted lightly into the fabric of his coat like she didn’t even realize she was holding on.
And she was touching him.
That was when it hit, a sharp, electric wave tore through Kaelen’s body.
His breath stuttered.
It wasn’t pain or the curse.
It was something else entirely clean, bright, terrifying.
His wolf went utterly silent for the first time in his life.
Lyra gasped at the exact same moment.
Heat bloomed under her skin, spreading from where her hand pressed against his chest. Her fingers tingled, numb and alive all at once, as if she had brushed against something charged.
She sucked in a breath. “I p>
Her voice shook.
Kaelen tightened his grip without meaning to.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice low, rougher than he intended.
Lyra shook her head slowly, still staring at him. “No. I just p>
She glanced down at her hand, still resting against his heart and neither of them moved it away.
Kaelen swallowed.
The curse should have surged, it should have screamed and demanded blood.
Instead, it eased enough to terrify him.
His jaw clenched as realization slammed into him with brutal clarity.
This is her, his mate and the one thing he had spent his life running from.
Lyra felt it too—the shift, the stillness, the strange calm settling between them like the eye of a storm.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously.
Lyra swallowed hard.
Her gaze flicked to his face again, sharper now, more aware.
“You are—” Her voice faltered for just a second. “You are Kaelen Blackthorn p>
The name felt strange on her tongue. He was the Alpha, the CEO and the man people spoke about in lowered voices.
Kaelen didn’t deny it.
“Yes p>
Something in his expression shifted at the way she said his name.
Lyra’s heart pounded violently as the realization settled in.
Then her brows knit, confusion cutting through the shock.
“Then why,” she whispered, her fingers still pressed unknowingly to his chest, “do I feel like this around you p>
Kaelen’s jaw tightened because he felt it too.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said quietly.
Lyra didn’t realize she was still touching him until he stepped away.
The sudden loss of contact hit harder than she expected.
The warmth that had settled in her chest flickered and then vanished, leaving behind something hollow and aching. Like a breath she hadn’t known she was holding had been ripped from her lungs.
She swayed slightly and Kaelen noticed.
His jaw clenched and eyes darkened for a split second before he turned away from her completely.
“Stay back,” he said.
Then he moved.
The vampire laughed.
It was a low, mocking sound that scraped against the walls as Kaelen stepped between Lyra and the man sprawled against the far wall.
“Well,” the vampire drawled, straightening slowly, pale skin unmarked despite the impact. “If it isn’t the great cursed Alpha himself p>
Kaelen’s gaze was ice.
“Who sent you?” he asked.
The vampire grinned, revealing sharp white fangs. “Straight to business. No pleasantries p>
He rolled his shoulders, eyes flicking briefly past Kaelen—to Lyra.
“Oh, this makes sense now,” he said lightly. “There has been gossip, whispers. They say the Blackthorn curse has softened p>
Kaelen didn’t move.
“They say,” the vampire continued, circling slowly, “that you have been cured p>
The word echoed.
Kaelen’s voice dropped, dangerous. “You came into my territory uninvited. You attacked a civilian, answer the question p>
Javier laughed again. “Still territorial and still violent. Some things never change p>
He tilted his head, studying Kaelen with open curiosity. “Funny thing about curses, Alpha. They don’t just disappear, they shift p>
Kaelen took a step forward.
“Who sent you p>
Before Javier could respond, the air shifted.
Footsteps thundered into the apartment, controlled, fast.
“Kaelen p>
Riven entered with four armed guards, their weapons already drawn, eyes locked on the vampire.
Javier clicked his tongue. “Ah, the Beta. You people really do travel in packs p>
Riven’s gaze flicked briefly to Lyra, assessing her condition in a single glance before snapping back to Kaelen.
“You alright?” he asked under his breath.
Kaelen didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his head just enough to speak over his shoulder.
“Get her out of here p>
Lyra’s breath caught.
“I p>
“Now,” Kaelen said, firmer this time, still not looking at her.
Riven stepped closer to her immediately. “Lyra,” he said calmly, offering his arm. “We are leaving p>
She hesitated, eyes fixed on Kaelen’s back.
He hadn’t looked at her again and that hurt more than she expected.
Riven lowered his voice. “Trust me p>
Lyra swallowed, then nodded.
As they moved toward the door, Javier’s gaze followed her openly.
“Well,” he mused. “This just got interesting p>
Kaelen’s head snapped toward him, fury finally cracking through the restraint.
“You will not speak to her p>
Javier smiled wider. “Oh, Alpha. I already know more than you think p>
Riven didn’t wait for more.
Once they were outside, he turned to one of the guards. “Take her wherever she wants to go. Work. Home. Somewhere safe p>
The guard nodded. “Yes, sir p>
Lyra paused at the threshold and looked back once.
Kaelen stood perfectly still, a storm barely contained beneath his skin, his attention locked on the vampire who had walked into his life and her apartment like he belonged there.