Lyra’s POV.

“You can’t mean that.” My voice was barely a whisper, my eyes held his, and I spoke sternly.

Rylan looked at me like I was stupid. Maybe I was. “I mean every word. A Luna can’t ignore her Alpha or her duties to the pack. You have responsibilities, whether you like it or not.”

“But you said…..” my voice dragged on, picking at my words. “You said Isla is everything I’m not! That she’s what the pack needs!” My voice was sharp as ice.

“She is.” He smirked, stood properly, and went back to his papers. “But she’s not the Luna. You are. At least on paper.”

I stared at him. None of this made sense. If he did like me, or even see me as someone he could spend his life with, then why keep me?

I took a step closer. “Then let me go! Let Isla be Luna! Crown her as the Luna. She can have the title, the position, everything….”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.” His voice was cold and final.

“And why do I have to care about what you said and what you want?”

“Because I am your Alpha.”

“So? Does that mean you should make every second I spent in your home a living hell? Does that warrant you to show me how worthless I am every second, even….”

“End of discussion, Lyra.” He murmured.

“But…”

“We have a pack meeting tomorrow morning at eight. Be ready.”

“Take Isla instead.” The words came out before I could even stop it but I don’t regret saying it. “Since she’s the one you love, take her with you.”

Rylan’s pen stopped moving. For just a second, something flashed across his face. Hurt? Maybe. Disappointment? Guilt, even. His jaw clenched and his eyes flickered with something I couldn’t read.

Then it was gone. His face went blank again, and a bitter smile crept on his lips for a second before he hardened it .

“Get out, Lyra.”

“No. Not until you tell me what you want from me! You can’t have it both ways….”

“Did you want me to call the guard for you?” He raised an eyebrow and I take a step backward.

“What?”

“Guard!” Rylan’s voice boomed through the office.

The door opened almost immediately, one of the yard stepped in with a stern face but boarded immediately, his eyes darting to my side for just a second.

“Escort her to her room.” Rylan returned to his paperwork.

“Sir….”

“Now.” He raised his head in anger again.

The guard looked at me and I saw the pity in his eyes. It made everything even worse. Even the guard that I shared no bond with pity me, what about the man I have an heir for?

“Luna Lyra, I think…..”

“Don’t.” I held up my hand. “I’ll go myself.” I smiled and nodded at the guard and he restricted.

I walked out with my head high, but my legs shook with every step. Behind me, I heard Rylan’s door slam shut.

——

Inside my room, I collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

What did he want from me?

He’d chosen Isla. Not just in private, but in front of everyone. The servants. The guards. Even Evan, our son. He’d made it clear she was the one he wanted.

So why keep me here? Why force me to stay in this marriage that felt like a noose around my neck?

I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand any of it. He clearly didn’t want me. Five years of proving my worth to him but he chose not to see it.

What else did he want? My life?

I hissed inwardly and turned to the other side of the bed.

I tried to close my eyes for sleep but nothing. No matter how much I tried, Rylan’s voice kept echoing in my head.

The next morning, I woke to knocking.

Sunlight streamed through the windows. I’d fallen asleep at some point without realizing it.

“Lady Lyra?” A soft voice called. “We’re here to help you get ready.”

I sat up, confused, Get me ready? The door opened and three maids walked in. Sarah wasn’t among them, of course not, she’d be the one who always here to got me dressed but now she wasn’t even here, maybe Isla gave her instructions of not to come here after the last scene at the garden.

But I was still glad that the faces I recognized were still present. Maria and two others whose names I’d forgotten.

“Get ready for what?”

“The pack meeting, my lady.” Maria moved to the closet. “Alpha’s orders.”

My heart beat, I almost forgot he told me about it yesterday. But why did he send the maid to take care of me? After restricting them for days.

“He sent you?” I was curious to ask. “To her me ready?” I pressed further but no one answered.

They just went about their work like I hadn’t spoken.

Maria pulled out a beautiful white dress, one I’d never seen before.

“Where did this come from?” I asked but silence is all the answer I got.

“Can someone please answer me?”

The maids exchanged glances but said nothing. One of them gestured for me to stand.

I did, too tired to fight. They dressed me like a doll. Fixed my hair. Applied makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Made me look presentable.

Made me look like a Luna.

But they didn’t talk to me. Didn’t smile. Didn’t ask how I was feeling or gossip with me like they used to.

They just did their job and left.

I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked beautiful. Put together. Like nothing was wrong.

Like I wasn’t dying inside.

“Fool,” I whispered to my reflection. “You’re such a fool for thinking anything would go back to normal.”

——

Rylan was waiting by the car when I came downstairs.

He wore a dark suit that made him look every inch the Alpha he was. Powerful. Commanding and handsome.

His eyes dragged over me as I approached. Slowly. Taking in the dress, my hair, my face. For just a moment, something heated flickered in his gaze.

Then it was gone. His expression went cold again.

“Get in.” He opened the door.

I hesitated for a second before I climbed into the car without a word. He got in beside me, keeping as much distance as possible. Like touching me would contaminate him.

The driver started the car and we pulled off.

“We’re going to the council chambers,” Rylan said, staring out the window. “There’s a meeting with the neighboring packs.”

“Why am I going?”

“Because you’re the Luna.”

“But Isla….”

“Isla isn’t Luna.” His voice was sharp. “You are. This is your role. Your duty. So you’ll sit beside me, smile, and play the part perfectly. Understand?”

“No.” I turned to face him. “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this? You hate me. You’ve made that clear. So why drag me to meetings? Why make me pretend like everything is cool when we both know it’s not, why?”

“Because it’s your job.”

“My job?” I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “My job is to watch you with Isla? To let her raise my son? To live in hell while you..”

“Your job is to be Luna.” Rylan’s eyes finally met mine, they were hard and unyielding. “Whether I want you or not doesn’t change that. The pack needs their Luna at official functions. The other Alphas need to see a united front.”

“A lie, you mean.”

“Call it whatever you want.” He looked away again. “Just do your duty and keep your mouth shut. That’s all I ask.”