Chapter 13 Lyra
Days after my encounter with my uncle and mother, I felt drained of emotions. Numbness enveloped me, leaving me devoid of strength or willpower. It was as if I were simply existing, with no energy for anything else.
Despite my hope that my uncle would do nothing to harm my mother, a sense of dread lingered in the back of my mind. Strangely, my wolf remained calm, undisturbed by the events that had transpired.
I found myself refusing to eat or take care of myself. Each morning, when I woke up, I would catch the soothing scent of Kessler lingering in my room like a balm to my weary soul. I couldn’t help but wonder why his scent lingered.
Julie walked into my room with a chirpy tone, seeming to have had enough of my self-imposed isolation.
“Good morning, Lyra,” she greeted cheerfully, heading to the window to draw back the curtains and let in some fresh air.
I groaned in response, feeling annoyed by her intrusion. “Julie, why?”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your life,” Julie replied bluntly, “but you need to snap out of it. The Highness doesn’t give a damn about you, so stop letting whatever’s going on in your head hold you back.” Her words cut through the fog of my thoughts, forcing me to confront the reality of my situation.
Julie’s words struck a chord within me. Part of me resented her bluntness, but another part knew she was right. The weight of Kessler’s indifference had been suffocating me, consuming my thoughts and paralyzing my actions.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to push aside the sense of sadness that had been haunting me. I snapped open my eyes as sunlight pierced through the curtains, jolting me awake.
I knew Julie was worried about me, but I couldn’t muster the energy to process her concern. What was the point, anyway? There seemed to be no purpose in life if I couldn’t save my mother. The Goddess only knew what he might be doing to her right now.
I was helpless against my uncle, powerless against Kessler, and let’s not forget Tristan, who would undoubtedly be furious about my disappearance. The weight of it all threatened to suffocate me as I struggled to find a way forward.
“Lyra, I don’t mean to pry, but whatever is going on in your life, you have to fight and not give up. And to do that, you have to eat something,” Julie urged gently, her concern evident in her voice.
I recalled Zach’s advice about Kessler’s disdain for weakness or pathetic behavior, and my thoughts drifted to Annie, clutching onto my mate with possessive familiarity. A low growl escaped my throat at the image.
“So he is your mate,” Sasha’s voice echoed in my mind, reminding me of the painful truth I had been trying to ignore. “I thought you didn’t want him around you. He killed your father, remember?”
“Shut up, Sasha,” I growled, my frustration bubbling to the surface. I couldn’t afford to dwell on them now. I had to focus on regaining my strength and finding a way to confront the challenges that lay ahead.
Pondering Julie’s words, a newfound sense of hope ignited within me. I realized that to fight, I needed strength, energy, and plenty of it. “I need food,” I whispered to Julie, “or else I won’t survive the night, or many more to come.”
With a delighted smile, Julie opened the door and clapped twice, summoning a maid who wheeled in a trolley of food.
At the sight of the food, my stomach growled in anticipation. I wasted no time and sat down, devouring the food in an unladylike manner, driven by my hunger and newfound resolve. Julie watched me with amused satisfaction.
After finishing my meal, I took a moment to rest and gather my thoughts. Feeling refreshed and determined, I turned to Julie and instructed her to run a bath for me.
She looked at me with surprise, perhaps taken aback by my sudden decisiveness, but she nodded and hurried to fulfill my request.
KESSLER’S POV
As I paced back and forth in my room, a whirlwind of emotions stirred within me. I knew I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but I couldn’t help it. The image of Lyra screaming and crying for her uncle not to take away her mother haunted me, refusing to be shaken from my mind.
Despite my doubts about whether Lyra’s mother was truly in danger, her distress was undeniable. But something about her reaction didn’t quite add up.
I learned from Julie that Lyra had refused to eat and was isolating herself in her room. Each morning, I found myself eagerly anticipating her presence at breakfast, only to be disappointed when she didn’t emerge.
Zach reported that Lyra’s mother was right beside Jack, seemingly enjoying their time together. It confirmed my suspicions that Jack’s visit was merely a ploy to disrupt my peace and remind Lyra of her mission here.
“Keep an eye on them,” I instructed Zach before dismissing him. With a heavy sigh, I rose to my feet and made my way back to my room.
But my brief relaxation was interrupted by a knock at my door. Her familiar scent hovered in the room, instantly soothing my troubled mind. Despite the complications she brought into my life, there was no denying the comfort she brought.
She barged into the room with an air of confidence, her presence commanding attention. Despite my back being turned to her, I could sense her energy filling the space.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice strained with tension as I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to the allure of her presence.
“I was told you don’t like weak and pathetic women,” she replied, her voice sending shivers down my spine. “So I decided to take the bull by the horns and come to you.”
With those words, I turned around, my eyes widening in surprise as I took in her figure. My body reacted instinctively, my pulse quickening as I struggled to maintain control. She stood before me, wearing nothing but a flimsy red nightie that barely hid anything, her curves emphasized by the delicate fabric.
I gulped, trying to regain control over my emotions as they threatened to overwhelm me. She shifted from one foot to another, her movements captivating, and my gaze followed her every gesture, unable to tear away.
I couldn’t help but notice how her breasts strained against the fabric of her nightie, her nipples hardened, a clear indication of her arousal. My body responded instinctively, blood rushing to my cock as desire coursed through me.
My eyes traveled down her body, noting the lack of anything underneath her nightie. A low growl escaped my throat as my wolf stirred within me, sensing our mate’s closeness.
With effort, I forced myself to swallow back the rising desire and regain control. “Are you tired of locking yourself up in your room and playing the damsel in distress?” I asked, my voice strained with restraint.
“Yes,” she said, without hesitation. Her bluntness intrigued me, but I couldn’t deny the raw intensity of her presence. She reached for the straps of her nightie, pulling them down slowly, teasingly, revealing more of her curves.
A low groan escaped my lips as I clenched my hand tightly around the armrest of the couch, my arousal evident in the way my body responded. My dick twitched in anticipation, longing for the touch of her skin against mine.