LYRA
He took one final step toward the door, opened it, and walked out without another word.
A second later, I heard the sound of metal turning. The key.
Then the heavy click of the lock sliding into place.
I stared at the closed door for a moment before letting out a slow breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Relief rushed through me so suddenly my shoulders sagged.
The room felt different when he wasn't in it. Then my stomach growled loudly in the silence.
I blinked.
Right.
I was starving.
My eyes dropped to the clay bowl beside me and I sighed.
Did he expect me to keep drinking this on an empty stomach?
I looked at the dark mixture with suspicion.
I was almost certain Lucian had no idea what was actually in it. If he did, he would know that taking strong healing herbs repeatedly without food could lead to stomach ulcers or at the very least, sharp burning pain and vomiting.
Then again, perhaps he simply didn't care.
That thought should not have stung as much as it did. I pushed it away.
Food first.
If there was any food in this prison of a room.
I planted my free hand against the floor and tried to stand.
The chains moved instantly.
Metal clinked against metal as I pushed myself upright. The iron around my ankles dragged heavily across the polished floor, cold against my skin.
I winced.
My legs were still weak from everything that had happened, but I managed to rise slowly.
The chain attached to my left wrist pulled tight, forcing me to pause.
I steadied myself against the wall, breathing carefully until the dizziness passed.
Then I glanced around the study.
Tall wooden shelves lined the walls, crowded with books, scrolls, maps, and strange bottles filled with dried herbs or cloudy liquids. Candles burned low in their holders, throwing warm light across dark wood and polished stone.
If I couldn't eat, maybe I could at least distract myself.
Reading had always helped.
When the world felt cruel, books asked nothing of me.
I shuffled carefully toward the nearest shelf, dragging the chain behind me. Each step came with another metallic scrape that made me grit my teeth.
I reached the shelf and leaned slightly against it for balance.
My fingers traced the spines of old books as my eyes scanned the titles.
Trade Routes of the Northern Clans.
Military Formations of Border Wars.
Records of the Elders' Council.
How exciting. I moved lower.
Herbal Remedies of Winter Sickness.
Pack Laws and Blood Oaths.
A Brief History of Silver Crescent.
My eyes stopped. Next to it, half-hidden between two thicker books, was another title.
The Fall of the Pure Blood Line
My breath caught.
Pure Blood.
The words sent something strange through my chest. A faint stir like a warning.
I looked toward the door instinctively, though no sound came from outside.
Why would Lucian keep a book like that here?
My hand lifted toward it, but It was just beyond my reach.
Of course it was.
I stepped closer and stretched my fingers, rising slightly on my toes.
The chain at my ankle tightened sharply. I ignored it and stretched farther. Just a little more.
My fingertips brushed the edge of the book.
Come on…
Behind me, something jerked.
I frowned.
Then I heard wood scrape violently across the floor.
My eyes widened.
The chain around my ankle was hooked around the base of the smaller shelf behind me.
When I had moved forward, I had dragged it with me.
Now the shelf tilted.
"No..."
Everything happened at once.
The wooden shelf lurched sideways with a horrible cracking sound.
Books slid free.
Glass bottles toppled from the upper ledge.
I stumbled backward in panic, but the chains tangled around my legs.
The shelf came crashing down toward me. I threw my arms over my head and curled against the floor.
The impact thundered through the room. Wood slammed against stone. Books scattered everywhere.
Glass shattered in sharp bursts around me, pieces skidding across the floor. Liquid splashed over my dress and hands, filling the air with bitter herbs and strong alcohol.
Something heavy struck beside my shoulder hard enough to make me gasp.
Then silence followed. My breathing came fast and shallow beneath my arms.
Slowly, I lifted my head. Pages were everywhere. Broken wood leaned against the wall. Green liquid dripped from the edge of the fallen shelf.
One unbroken bottle rolled in a circle before finally tipping over.
I stared at the destruction in horror.
Oh no.
Oh no.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
He is going to kill me.
For a moment, I just sat there staring at the destruction.
Then panic shoved me into motion. I pushed myself forward through the scattered books and broken glass, ignoring the sting in my palms as I reached for the fallen shelf.
Maybe,just maybe if I fixed it before he returned he wouldn't be too offended.
I grabbed the side of the wood and pulled.
Nothing. The shelf barely moved.
My jaw tightened.
I planted both hands against it and tried again, straining harder this time. The chains around my ankles clinked sharply, limiting every movement. My left wrist jerked painfully when the iron cuff pulled tight.
Still nothing.
My breath came faster.
Why was it so heavy?
Because I was human, weak. The bitter thought hit harder than I wanted.
I swallowed it and tried once more, using all my strength until my arms trembled.
The shelf lifted only an inch before slamming back down.
I gasped and sat back, sweat clinging to my skin.
"Why can't you do something?" I muttered under my breath.
I didn't know if I was speaking to the wolf I never had… or the strange power that had stirred awake inside me.
It had gone silent since I woke up here in Lucian's. But I knew it was still there.
I could feel it watching and waiting. Then why wasn't it helping me now?
I glared at the broken shelf like it had personally offended me.
"Very useful," I whispered bitterly.
Gritting my teeth, I bent forward again and dragged at the wood with both hands.
This time it scraped loudly across the floor.
The harsh sound sliced through the room.
And only then did I realize I had been too distracted to notice the footsteps outside.
They stopped directly at the door.
A knock followed. "My Alpha," a voice called from the other side. "Are you back?"
I froze.
My hands still gripping the shelf.
My breath caught halfway in my throat.
And for one terrible second, I couldn't move.
I heard the footstep turning, and the shelf chose that moment to shift again.