Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint-Chapter 65

Angel’s POV

After watching a worried looking Lyra pace the room for what felt like hours, I finally stood and moved toward the bathing area.

"I’m going to take a bath," I announced. "You should too. We both smell like days on the road."

Lyra immediately perked up. "Thank God. I was too polite to mention it, but yes, we desperately need baths." She moved toward the bathing room, then stopped, her eyes widening. "Is that... are those scented oils? The expensive kind?"

I looked at where she was pointing - a collection of glass bottles arranged on a shelf near the large copper tub, each one containing differently colored liquids.

"I think so?"

"Angel, these are the good ones. The kind that make your skin smell like flowers for days." Lyra was already reaching for one, uncorking it to inhale deeply. "Oh my God, jasmine. And is that... sandalwood? Vanilla?"

Despite everything, I found myself smiling at her enthusiasm.

"Go ahead," I said. "You can go first if you want."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

Lyra didn’t need to be told twice. She started undressing immediately, already selecting which oils to use, chattering about how long it had been since she’d had a proper bath with actual luxury products instead of just cold water and bathing soap - which was actually also a luxury at Lord Merrick’s castle.

I left her to it, returning to the main room to sit on the edge of the bed.

The sounds of water filling the tub, Lyra’s occasional happy sighs, and the scent of jasmine drifting through the doorway should have been comforting.

Instead, the knot of anxiety in my stomach just tightened.

Something’s wrong.

I can feel it. Something is definitely wrong.

A knock at the door made me jump.

I stood quickly, moving to answer it.

Gareth stood in the corridor, his expression neutral and unreadable. Behind him stood Zach and Sera.

"Where’s Lyra?" Gareth asked without preamble.

"She’s bathing. Why? What’s..."

"Tell her to stop and come out. Now."

"What’s going on?" I asked, looking between him and Lyra’s family. "Is something wrong?"

"The Alpha has requested her and her family’s presence. Immediately."

"Oh. Okay." I nodded. "Once Lyra finishes her bath, we can all go down together..."

"The Alpha only requested Lyra and her family," Gareth interrupted. "Not you. She needs to come now."

The words hit like a slap.

Not you.

You stay locked up while everyone else goes to see the Alpha.

"I understand," I said quietly. "But you’ll have to wait. She just got in the bath. She needs a few minutes to..."

"Tell her to hurry. The Alpha doesn’t like to be kept waiting."

He stepped back, taking up a position against the opposite wall like he planned to stand guard until Lyra emerged.

I closed the door and walked back toward the bathing room.

"Lyra!" I called. "You need to get out!"

"What?" Her voice echoed off the tub tiles. "I just got in!"

"One of the Alpha’s generals is here. Gareth. He says the Alpha wants to see you and your family. Right now."

"Already?" Lyra’s head appeared around the doorframe, her hair wet and dripping. "But we just got here. Doesn’t this kind of stuff happen at midnight?"

I moved closer, lowering my voice. "What kind of stuff?"

"The induction process. For new pack members." Lyra was already climbing out of the tub, grabbing towels. "It’s usually done at midnight with all the pack elders present. It’s this whole ceremony thing. They taught us about it when we were kids - it’s supposed to be one of the most important werewolf traditions."

"Will the same thing happen to me?" I asked.

Lyra paused in her frantic drying. "I don’t know. Your situation is different. You’re supposed to be the Luna, not just a new pack member." She resumed toweling off with even more urgency. "But I really can’t make the Alpha wait. That would be bad. Really bad."

"Maybe he’s calling you for something else?" I suggested. "Since the ceremony is supposed to be at midnight and it’s still very early?"

"Maybe." But she didn’t sound convinced.

I watched as Lyra threw on clothes with immediate speed, barely taking time to make sure everything was properly arranged.

"How do I look?" she asked, turning to face me.

"Like someone who just got out of a bath and dressed in thirty seconds."

"Perfect. That’s what I was going for." She moved toward the door, then stopped. Turned back.

"Angel," she said quietly.

"What?"

"I..." She seemed to struggle with words. "I know we didn’t start out as friends. I know I was terrible to you. Said awful things. Judged you unfairly."

"Lyra..."

"But these past few days, getting to know you, seeing how kind you are despite everything you’ve been through..." She swallowed hard. "You’re a good person, Angel. Better than me. Better than most people I know."

"Why are you saying this?" I asked, my voice small. "You’re coming back. It’s just some meeting with the Alpha."

"Right. Of course. I’m coming back." But her eyes said something different.

She crossed the distance between us and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Just in case," she whispered. "Just in case something happens and I don’t get a chance to say it - thank you. For being kind to me even when I didn’t deserve it."

I hugged her back, my throat tight. "You’re welcome."

She pulled away, squared her shoulders, and headed for the door.

I followed, standing in the doorway as she joined her father and sister in the corridor.

Gareth immediately started leading them away, down the hall, toward whatever awaited them.

Lyra looked back once.

Our eyes met.

And somehow, I knew.

This was the last time I’d see her.

Oh God. I didn’t say it out loud, but she was the main reason I didn’t dwell so much on my unfortunate fate.

Or grief the loss of my family every passing second.

I just hope she returns.