Chapter 2
ELISA
Lyra’s eyes flickered to the glowing vial in my hand, and I gripped it tighter. I had nothing to say to the woman who used to be my best friend.
The betrayal was a fresh, bleeding wound in my chest.
All I felt now was raw, burning anger. She even had the nerve to put on his shirt.
The disrespect would end soon, I was prepared to make sure of it.
I frowned at her as I spoke, my voice echoing in the hallway .
"I want to see my husband."
Lyra stepped forward, blocking the doorway.
"He went for a meeting. He’s not in here."
I looked from her towards the door, then to her again.
I could smell Tristan’s scent, but that could also be from his shirt. Still, I wasn’t backing down.
"What are you now, his guard?"
Lyra flashed a sweet, innocent look.
She stepped forward and bowed her head.
"I’m so sorry, Elisa. I never wanted to do this. But he met me, and he was desperate. He claimed he needed me. That without me, his lineage will die. I wanted to tell you, believe me..."
Her voice was sweet and sultry as she spoke, slowly breaking into tears at the end.
She reached for my hand, but I stepped backward in disgust.
She just kept going, her voice shaking.
"You have to believe that I only want the best for you, really. I only did this cause he told me that if you two didn’t have a child soon, the elders would be forced to send you back, exile you.”
What?
“I promise you, once the baby is born and I get my payment, I’ll leave."
Tears rushed down Lyra’s face.
Did Tristan really say that? Were the elders really going to do that to me after everything my pack had done for them?
Did she really panic and do this to save me?
"I promise, I’ll leave. You’ll never see me again," she shook her head, tears falling freely down her cheeks.
"My darling husband is dead, after all. I have no place here. So please... please forgive me."
There was sincerity in her eyes. I knew Lyra had gone through a lot losing Alpha Kai.
The least I could do was be civil to her.
I stepped forward, pity gripping at my heartstrings.
What could I do? She was once my best friend.
"Your services to my husband will no longer be needed."
“W-what? What do you mean?” She stuttered, almost relieved.
I raised the vial to her face.
"This is nectar from the flower of Gerla. It will cure me of my barrenness and help me bear a child for my husband. If this is about the money, I will have him compensate you for…all you’ve done so far.”
Lyra’s eyes flashed a wild color of blue as she stared at the glass jar.
I wasn’t quite certain what the look in her eyes meant.
"But you must leave right now if you ever want me to forgive you," I warned her.
"I understand my husband was desperate, and you were as well. Alpha Kai meant a lot to you. I know you loved your late husband. If this is true, if my husband really told this to you, then he must have been scared for me, and you too… that’s why I’m giving you one last chance."
Lyra shook as she stepped forward, reaching for the glass.
The tears that poured from her eyes now seemed to be tears of joy as she smiled at me, hopeful and bright.
This was the Lyra I once knew, my best friend and sister.
"Is it truly the nectar of Gerla?"
I blushed as I nodded.
Her hand stretched out to it, and before I could blink, Lyra snatched the vial from my hand and smashed it violently against the ground!
The glass shattered.
The glowing liquid poured onto the floor and dried up immediately, vanishing into the stone.
"No!" I screamed, falling to the ground, clawing at the stone, desperately trying to pack it up in my hands.
But it was gone.
It was all gone.
My only hope.
Lyra burst into cruel, mocking laughter.
"So, it was real after all. Did you know that the nectar of Gerla vanishes in an instant once it touches a hard surface?”
She knelt down to face me, her sweet act completely vanishing into a cruel stone faced look.
"I will never let you take my place. I will give Tristan a child, and we will rule the Bloodfang pack together. You and your rare blood can rot in hell!"
She leaned in closer to me, almost touching my nose as she grinned.
"You came here feeling you were special? A gift from the goddess?" Lyra spat on my face, her saliva plastering on my eyes and nose.
“You are nothing, you hear me? Nothing!"
Then, she pushed me hard by the shoulders.
I fell back and screamed, pain bursting at the back of my head.
It was all a lie. Tristan never said anything to her, she never did this for me. She lied to me, and I had fallen for her stupid trick because I trusted her.
"What is going on out there?!" Tristan’s deep voice boomed from inside the room.
My breath caught at the back of my throat.
He was there. He had been inside the whole time!
I watched in absolute horror as Lyra picked up a sharp shard of glass from the broken vial.
Without hesitating, she stabbed her own arm, slicing her skin open.
Then, she tossed the bloody glass toward me.
Just as I grabbed it purely on reflex, the door flew open and Tristan rushed out.
"Tristan, please!" I cried out, holding my hands toward him.
"Please, you have to help me, she—"
But he ignored me completely.
He rushed straight past me and dropped to his knees beside Lyra.
"Lyra!" he screamed, pulling her bleeding body into his arms.
"Are you okay?! Who did this?!"
My heart broke into a million pieces.
Of course. What else had I expected?