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12:55 PM
Banished and Betrayed, But She Walked Again–And Rejected Him
The moment I saw him, I knew. He wasn’t just any alpha; he was powerful, commanding, everything I deserved. And more importantly, he was Lyra’s. The perfect prize to finally knock her off her pedestal.
I remembered the night it all started so vividly. Lyra was out of town, some pack business she was handling.
Xavier was working late in his office, looking tired and distracted. That was my moment.
I walked in, wearing a silk robe that barely covered anything. Underneath, just lace–black and sheer. He looked up from his desk, startled, but I caught the flicker of interest in his eyes.
“Celeste… What are you doing here?”
“I was just worried about you,” I purred, walking closer. “You’ve been working so hard, Xavier. You deserve to
relax.”
“Celeste, this isn’t appropriate-” he started, but I cut him off, slipping the robe off my shoulders.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I whispered, standing there in nothing but lingerie. “Just let me take care of
you.”
He hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he pulled me to him, his hands rough, his lips hungry. That night, I
knew I had him. And he was so good in bed–strong, commanding, everything I imagined and more.
I
But now… now it felt like all of that was slipping away.
“After everything I’ve done for him, after I gave him a child–even if it isn’t his–he’s back to being obsessed with
her?” I sneered at the thought, my voice shaking with rage.
I stood up, pacing the room. “No. No, Xavier. You don’t get to run back to her after everything. I won’t let you.”
My mind raced with ideas, plans. I couldn’t lose him–not now, not when I was so close to becoming Luna. I was destined for it, and Lyra… she was just in my way.
I stopped pacing and smirked. “Fine, Lyra. If you want to play this game, I’ll play. But don’t forget–I’ve always been willing to do whatever it takes to win.”
– Lyra’s POV-
I hurried into Zephyr’s office, clutching the crumpled letter in my hand. My heart raced as I opened the door
and saw him sitting there, slumped over his desk, his shirt torn and soaked with blood. A massive wound stretched
across his back, the kind that would take weeks to heal naturally.
“Zephyr!” I gasped, rushing to his side. “What happened to you?”
He didn’t respond. His breathing was heavy, his face pale.
“Zephyr, answer me!” I said, my voice trembling. Without waiting for his permission, I placed my hands on his back. The warmth of my healing power surged through me, stronger than ever before. I watched in awe as the
wound closed up before my eyes, leaving smooth, unblemished skin behind.
Before I could say another word, he turned, grabbed my arm, and pulled me close. His lips crashed into mine, catching me completely off guard.
The moment his lips touched mine, a piercing ring filled my ears, and my whole body went numb. My heart thudded in my chest as a realization hit me like a tidal wave. ‘He’s my mate.‘
“No!” I gasped, pushing him away. “This isn’t happening. This–this can’t be happening.”
But Zephyr just looked at me, his eyes intense and filled with a mix of longing and determination. “You feel it too,
don’t you? You’re my mate, Lyra.”
“This isn’t the time for that!” I snapped, shoving the letter into his chest. “Read this.”
Zephyr’s expression darkened as he unfolded the letter and read the threats Xavier had sent. His jaw tightened,
and I could see the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
“That hambardha muttarad $Ulala trúna to naara 1111 Trinn in faransa hank, inta hin aantral ·
12:55 PM
Banished and Betrayed. But She Walked Again–And Rejected Him
“That bastard,” he muttered. “He’s trying to scare you. Trying to force you back into his control.”
I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. “What happened to you?” I asked again, my voice softer this time. Zephyr sighed, setting the letter down. “Twelve rogues breached the border earlier. I handled it myself.”
“Twelve?” My eyes widened. “You fought twelve rogues alone?”
He nodded, leaning back in his chair. “They were just scouts. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Guilt washed over me. He had risked his life to protect the pack, and here I was, dragging my past problems into
his territory.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t come here-”
Zephyr stood and crossed the room in two strides, pulling me into a tight hug. His warmth surrounded me, and
for a moment, I let myself lean into him.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” he said firmly. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Lyra. I know why you’re here, why
you’re running. And I’m telling you now–I won’t betray you like your ex–husband and mate did.”
His words hit me harder than I expected. I wanted to believe him, but trust didn’t come easily anymore.
“You don’t understand,” My voice shaky. “You don’t know what it’s like to lose everything.”
He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze unwavering. “I may not know your pain, but I know this
-you deserve to be happy, to be safe. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you get that.”
I wanted to argue, to push him away, but the sincerity in his voice and the steadiness of his hold left me
speechless.