Chapter 96
A chuckle escaped me, surprising even myself. “No, I’ll use a regular phone.”
I dialed Varian, who answered immediately. “Varian, I need you to contact Lysandra Ravencroft.”
“What’s happened?‘ His voice carried clear concern.
“Tell her Lyra is with me,” I said, watching the girl who was listening intently.
Varian asked for our exact location to relay to Lysandra.
“That’s her responsibility to figure out,” I answered, stubbornness edging my voice, though far less harsh than usual.
“Alpha, if I’m going to tell her, I at least need to know-
“The border park, by the moonlight ice cream shop,” I finally relented. Lyra gave me a thumbs up as if I’d done something
impressive.
After hanging up, I turned to her. “Your mother will know you’re with me soon.”
Lyra visibly relaxed, shoulders dropping. “Good! Now she won’t worry. Her purple wolf Astrid is always protective of us. Mommy says Astrid can feel when we’re in danger.”
“Astrid seems very good to you,” I said quietly, remembering those purple–glowing eyes, the strong, confident woman on the yacht.
“Mommy says Astrid was the Moon Goddess’s gift,” Lyra said seriously. “For people strong enough. What’s your wolf’s
name?”
I paused, caught off guard. I’d never discussed my inner wolf with a child before. “My wolf doesn’t have a special name, but he’s powerful.”
“I bet he’s tall like you,” she looked at me with admiration, “and has cool eyes just like yours!”
Her innocent compliment melted something deep inside me, a lightness I hadn’t felt in years spreading through my body.
“You mentioned wanting moonlight ice cream earlier, right?” I asked suddenly.
Lyra’s eyes immediately brightened. “Really? Really? Can we?”
“Of course,” I nodded, instructing my driver, a smile involuntarily forming on my usually stern face. “What flavor do you
want?”
***
We sat on a bench outside the ice cream shop, Lyra’s small legs swinging happily as she licked her purple moonlight ice cream. Her eyes did indeed grow brighter, just as she’d claimed.
“Mommy says moonlight ice cream makes wolf cubs‘ senses stronger,” she explained seriously, mouth and chin adorably stained purple.
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Chapter 96
I handed her a napkin. “Your mother tells you a lot of things, doesn’t she?”
“Uh–huh!” She nodded, allowing me to wipe ice cream from her face. “Mommy knows everything! She’s the best mommy ever!”
Suddenly, Lyra’s attention was caught by something across the street an Alpha male holding a little girl about her age.
“Daddy, push me again!” the child called out happily as she was lifted high.
I noticed Lyra’s expression dim, her ice cream no longer holding her interest.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice gentler than I’d
ever heard it.
“Nothing,” she forced a smile that didn’t reach her evo
“Have your dad bring you here next time,” I attempted to comfort her, accidentally touching a nerve.
Lyra’s small fingers twisted together, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I–I don’t have a dad.”
The words hit me like a dull knife to the chest. I frowned. “Isn’t Kieran your father?” I recalled the Beta who’d been so close to Lysandra on the yacht.
Lyra raised her head, looking at me with surprising intensity. “Everyone says that,” she nodded. “My friend Mia’s mom says that too. But Mommy says that’s not true.”
My heart rate accelerated, my wolf suddenly alert. “What do you mean? He’s not your father?”
She shook her head, eyes fixed on me as if searching for something. “No. He is my uncle. He’s nice and plays with us, but Mommy says he’s not our daddy.”
A drop of purple ice cream fell onto Lyra’s dress, but neither of us noticed. I was too stunned by her answer to speak, my mind racing with implications I wasn’t ready to confront.
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