No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 02

No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 02

On the way home, my phone buzzed.

My boss’s voice, clipped. “Head to Greythorn University. Pick up a file for me.”

I sighed.

I was trying to distance myself from him, but of course Kael was a tactical instructor there.

Walking into the second training hall, I caught the morning rush of students flooding in.

Some things, I couldn’t avoid overhearing.

“I’ve tried to get into Draven’s tactical course for three semesters! The guy’s crazy popular.”

“I’m telling you, every girl is there for Draven. He’s the most famous Alpha at Greythorn. And his assistant, Miss Blackthorn—she’s a solid fighter too. They just look right together.”

I slowed.

A wave of bitterness hit.

Five years. I’d never once stood openly in Kael’s world.

Early on, I’d begged him. Just once. Put my name next to his on the pack bulletin board.

But Kael Draven—youngest tactical instructor at Greythorn—looked at me like I was some outsider who didn’t know the rules.

“Lyra. Grow up.”

“You’re too old for such childishness. Announcing our relationship isn’t appropriate for my position.”

That day, I froze. Never brought it up again.

The students’ voices carried down the hall.

“For real, Draven’s status says ‘mated’ in the system, but I bet it’s Blackthorn. Otherwise, why’s nobody ever seen this so-called fiancée?”

“Duh. That serious Alpha only ever softens around Elyse.”

My steps slowed, then stopped.

All that buried pain surged up again.

I breathed deep.

It didn’t matter. I had my way out. Three days, and this was over.

I grabbed the file for my boss and passed Office 2 on my way out. Laughter filtered through the crack in the door.

“Try this—it’s really good!”

Elyse Blackthorn held a glass of vegetable juice to Kael’s lips.

But Kael didn’t like vegetable juice.

I’d made it once. He’d taken one look, turned, and left me standing alone in the kitchen.

Now, he just frowned—and under her coaxing, sighed and drank.

“How is it?” She beamed. “Good?”

“Fine.”

I leaned against the wall. Smiled bitterly.

All that tenderness he never showed me—he gave to her.

Five years. Not once.

Through the door, Kael dabbed a napkin at the corner of Elyse’s mouth.

“Sleep well last night?”

“Perfect.” She laughed. “You know, just hearing your breathing puts me out.”

She bit her lip. “But I heard you don’t take calls after nine—was I bothering you?”

Kael’s answer came without a beat.

“You’re the exception.”

The words wrapped around my chest like thorns. Suffocating.

Then the pain dulled.

Some splinters bleed when you pull them out. But once they’re gone, the wound heals.

I leaned back against the wall. Let out a slow breath. Packed my emotions away, and walked.

At home, I dragged out my suitcase.

Five years. What I had filled one bag.

That evening, Kael called.

“Come down. Dinner at the Draven estate tonight.”

I grunted.

His black SUV idled at the curb. Out of habit, I reached for the passenger-side door.

Elyse Blackthorn was sitting there, eating a cinnamon roll.

“Hi, Lyra.”

Crumbs scattered across the seat. My first instinct was to look at Kael.

He had a thing about crumbs. No one ate in the passenger seat. Not even me.

But his face was blank. Already used to it.

I caught myself.

Right. Elyse was his exception.

Elyse scrambled to wipe her mouth. “I’ll move to the back—”

“It’s fine.” I smiled, calm. “Stay. It’s just a seat.”

I opened the back door. Caught a flicker of confusion cross Kael’s face. Didn’t care.

This had happened before. Ended the same way, with him snapping, “Lyra. It’s a seat. Don’t make a scene.”

Now I watched Greythorn’s winter rain streak past the window and felt nothing.

A seat.

A person.

It was all the same to me now. I just threw it all away.