Chapter 73
Lysandra’s POV
His fingers remained tight around my neck, the grip just harsh enough to assert dominance without cutting off my air.
1 struggled to swallow against the pressure of his hand, my pulse hammering wildly beneath his touch. With deliberate slowness, his grip shifted, fingers sliding from my neck to capture my chin, forcing my face upward.
The controlled strength in his hold terrified and thrilled me simultaneously–enough to hurt without truly damaging. I could feel his restraint, like a beast caged within human skin.
“Remember, Lysandra,” he whispered against my ear, his breath hot on my neck, “no matter where you run, no matter which Alpha you hide behind, you can never truly escape me.”
I tilted my head to meet his gaze directly, refusing to show fear. His eyes locked onto mine for a
heartbeat before he lunged forward, capturing my bottom lip between his teeth.
留
Not a gentle nip–this was a claiming, a marking that sent pain shooting through me yet
simultaneously sparked heat low in my belly. His tongue swept over the spot he’d bitten, tasting the coppery hint of blood.
When he released my chin, a cold smile played at the corners of his mouth. “That’s a warning. Don’t forget, you were once mine.”
He turned and stalked from the room, leaving me breathless amid the emotional wreckage he’d created. My fingers touched my throbbing lip, feeling the warmth and slight wetness there.
Astrid practically cheered with delight. God, he tastes amazing! She nearly screamed inside my head. We should have let him bite deeper, or maybe somewhere else…
I ignored her, trying to steady my breathing and make sense of what had just happened.
*******
I stared out the hospital window, watching sunlight filter through the branches of an old oak tree. From this angle, I could see a slice of the courtyard where staff members scurried about their day, oblivious to the storm raging inside me.
Tristan’s accusation replayed in my mind–how he’d thrown those photos at me, spat those words, looked at me with such disgust. If he only knew the truth. Alaric wasn’t my lover; he was my brother. But explaining that would mean revealing my Ravencroft heritage, something I couldn’t risk with the twins‘ safety at stake.
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Chapter 73
Astrid paced restlessly within my consciousness, her purple essence flaring with indignation.
“Astrid, we’re going back,” I told her silently.
No, after how he treated you! The things he accused you of! The nerve of that man! Although, that bite was seriously hot. I want more! Her thoughts came jumbled, angry yet excited.
“i know, but we can’t stay here. The children need me. My family needs me.”
He needs us too. You felt it. She pushed against my control. Our mate is suffering. He’s jealous. That’s why he lashed out.
The door swung open before I could respond, interrupting our internal debate. Dr. Rylan stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on my injured lip.
“Thanks again for saving me,” I said as soon as he entered.
“No need for thanks. It’s my duty,” bo
replied, handing me a plastic bag before frowning at my
mouth. “What happened to your lip?”
“Nothing, just… bit it.” I deflected quickly, changing the subject. “What’s this?”
“Don’t move your hand. The wound is still healing,” he cautioned as I reached for the bag. “These are your personal effects. When they rescued your driver from the car, they found your purse. Security protocols required us to check it. We found your phone.”
“How can I ever thank you?” I asked, genuinely grateful for his kindness.
“You call me a friend. Friends don’t need constant thanks.”
The hospital room door flew open with such force it bounced against the wall. Alaric burst in, his face etched with worry that morphed into relief when he saw me. My brother’s powerful frame dominated the small space as he rushed to my bedside.
“Lysandra!” His voice broke slightly on my name.
“Ric!” Tears sprang to my eyes at the sight of him, all the emotions I’d been holding back suddenly threatening to overflow.
He wrapped his arms around me carefully, mindful of my injuries. “What happened? How did this happen?”
“I don’t know, Ric. I was so scared.” I buried my face against his shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent, finding comfort in the connection of pack and family.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” His hand stroked my hair gently.
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Chapter 73
I pulled back, remembering something crucial. “Ric, my scar…”
“What about it?” His brow furrowed.
“It’s suddenly visible,” I whispered, indicating my arm where the curved mark had reappeared.
His eyes widened slightly before darting toward Dr. Rylan, who stood watching our reunion with professional interest.
*Alpha Alaric, pleasure to meet you,” Rylan stepped forward. “I’m Dr. Rylan, chief physician of this
pack.”
“I’m aware of your sibling relationship,” he continued smoothly. “Lysandra mentioned her family. I must say, she’s fortunate to have a brother like you.”
Alaric’s posture relaxed marginally, though wariness remained in his eyes. “What’s her condition?”
“She’ll recover fully within a week. I’ve administered high–dose healing compounds to accelerate the
wound closure.”
“Prepare her discharge papers, Dr. Rylan.”
C
Rylan’s expression shifted to concern. “But she hasn’t fully recovered. She needs a full week of bed rest to ensure the medication takes effect.”
Alaric turned to me. “Do you want to stay here?”
“No.” The word left my lips instantly.
“My pack has physicians. I’m confident they can assist her when we return.”
I reached for Rylan’s hand. “Rylan, I’ll take care of myself. Thank you for everything. You’re truly a
good man.”
He squeezed my fingers gently. “I hope you recover in just a few days.”
Alaric watched our interaction with narrowed eyes. When Rylan released my hand, my brother moved slightly closer to me.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for my sister,” Alaric said, voice deceptively casual. “But I hope you don’t harbor expectations beyond friendship, Dr. Rylan.”
“Alaric!” I hissed, mortified.
Rylan’s lips quirked in a half–smile. “Of course, Alpha Alaric. How dare I aspire to more with the princess of Moonshade Pack? Her friendship is already an honor.”
3/4
Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins
