The Alpha’s Eternal Mate

Lyra stood frozen, her chest heaving as the masked figure disappeared into the shadows. His words echoed in her ears, a whisper laced with something deeper than mere threat.

"It's too late."

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, frustration mingling with the confusion twisting in her gut. Who was he? Why did his voice stir something buried deep within her memory?

"Lyra!"

Ethan's voice yanked her back to reality, and she turned just in time to see him take down another enemy with lethal precision. The Blood Pact fighters were retreating, slipping through the narrow corridors with an uncanny discipline that only confirmed Lyra's worst fears.

They weren't here to fight. They were here to warn.

Lyra rushed to Ethan's side as Logan called through the comms. "They're falling back, Alpha. Do we pursue?"

Ethan wiped the blood off his knuckles, his gaze flickering to Lyra before answering. "No. Let them go."

Lyra's brow furrowed. "Ethan—"

He cut her off with a look. "They wanted us to chase them. We're not playing their game."

Lyra bit back the argument bubbling on her tongue, but she couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her chest. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Midnight Crest Tower – The Aftermath

The tower's infirmary was eerily quiet, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic and exhaustion. Lyra sat on the examination table, absently touching the bandage wrapped around her side where a stray blade had grazed her earlier.

Ethan stood near the door, his eyes locked on her with a mix of frustration and something deeper—something she wasn't ready to confront.

"I should've gone after him," she muttered, breaking the silence.

Ethan's voice was clipped. "And what? Walked into their trap?"

Lyra looked up, meeting his dark gaze. "I knew him, Ethan."

His jaw tightened. "Who?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. But when I looked into his eyes... I felt it."

Ethan took a step closer, his hand resting against the edge of the table. "You think it's someone from before?"

Lyra exhaled slowly, her fingers tracing the bandage absentmindedly. "It has to be. But how? Everyone I knew back then is either dead or…"

She didn't finish the thought. She didn't need to.

Ethan's fingers curled against the table, his tone laced with quiet intensity. "We'll find out. But you need to be careful."

Lyra lifted her gaze, searching his face. "I can't be careful, Ethan. If they know who I really am—what I am—they won't stop until they have me."

He took another step forward, his proximity making her pulse quicken. "They won't have you. I won't let them."

She swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle deep within her chest. "You can't protect me from everything."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Watch me."

Before Lyra could respond, Logan appeared in the doorway, his expression grim. "Hate to interrupt your moment, but we've got something."

Ethan's posture stiffened instantly. "What is it?"

Logan held up a small black device—a tracking chip. "We found this on one of the intruders. They've been tracking us this whole time."

Lyra felt the air leave her lungs. "They knew we'd be here."

Logan nodded. "They're always one step ahead."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Not for long."

Midnight Crest Tower – Ethan's Office

Lyra paced back and forth in Ethan's office, frustration mounting with every passing second. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to make the next move."

Ethan leaned against his desk, watching her with a guarded expression. "We're not sitting. We're strategizing."

She spun to face him. "They have my scent, Ethan. They know I'm here. We need to go on the offensive."

Ethan's lips twitched in irritation. "And risk walking into another ambush? Not happening."

Lyra closed the distance between them, placing her hands on the desk. "We need to lure them into a situation we control."

Ethan's eyes flickered with something dangerous. "You have something in mind?"

She nodded, her resolve firm. "We give them what they want."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "You're not bait, Lyra."

"I'm not bait," she countered. "I'm the Luna. And they want me for a reason."

Silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Finally, Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "This is insane."

Lyra smiled faintly. "So is waiting for them to come back stronger."

Ethan's gaze softened for a fleeting second before hardening again. "If we do this, I'm calling the shots."

Lyra nodded. "Fine. But we move tonight."

Ethan studied her carefully, then nodded. "Tonight."

Hours Later – The Abandoned Church

The old church sat on the outskirts of the city, its once grand facade now crumbling with age and neglect. It was the perfect place for a trap—isolated, eerie, and forgotten.

Lyra stood in the center of the open hall, the moonlight filtering through the shattered stained-glass windows, casting fractured colors across the floor.

Ethan's voice crackled in her earpiece. "Positions?"

Logan's voice came next. "In place, Alpha."

Lyra inhaled deeply, steadying herself. She could feel them—the Blood Pact. They were close.

And then, they came.

Figures emerged from the shadows, their movements deliberate and predatory. Lyra squared her shoulders, her pulse quickening but her face calm.

"You finally showed up," she said coolly.

A figure stepped forward, the same masked man from before. "You made it easy for us."

Lyra smirked. "I tend to do that."

The man tilted his head. "You don't belong here, Lyra. Your blood sings for something greater."

She clenched her fists. "You'll never have it."

The man's smirk darkened. "We already do."

Before she could react, the lights flickered, and chaos erupted.

Ethan and his men emerged from their hiding spots, the sound of gunfire and growls filling the air. Lyra ducked, moving swiftly as the battle unfolded around her.

She caught sight of the masked leader slipping away into the back hall. Without hesitation, she followed, her heart racing.

When she rounded the corner, she found him waiting.

His mask was gone, revealing a face she hadn't seen in centuries.

Her breath caught in her throat. "No… it's not possible."

The man's lips curled into a smirk. "Hello, Lyra."

Her world tilted.

He was supposed to be dead.