No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 06

No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 06

I stared at the screen.

Broken engagement?

Lyra?

Impossible. We’d just picked out dresses last night.

My fingers moved on their own. Clicked into the pack board.

One post sat pinned at the top.

[To everyone who received an invitation to mine and Kael Draven’s ceremony-]

[The Mate Bond registration has been revoked. The ceremony is canceled.]

[Take care.]

Three lines. I read them for a full five minutes. Knew every word, but none of them felt real.

Below, students were whispering.

“What’s wrong with Draven?”

“Dude looks terrifying.”

“Wait… someone just posted something on the pack board-”

“Holy shit. Broken engagement. His invisible Luna called it off.”

I didn’t hear the rest.

The

gym door slammed behind me. I was already sprinting, dialing Lyra’s number. All I got was

cold, automated rejection.

Greythorn’s early spring wind cut through me. Bitter.

I switched to texts.

[What does that board post mean? Lyra, explain.]

[What happened? Tell me what I did wrong.]

[I’ll be home in five. We’ll talk.]

I jumped into the SUV, raced out of campus. My palms were slick. My heart slammed against my ribs. My wolf whined anxiously.

I made it home. Unlocked the door. Pulled it

open.

And saw her keys lying on the entryway table.

My mind went completely blank.

“Lyra!”

I tore through the bedroom.

Empty.

My eyes swept the vanity. The bathroom. The closet. And with each passing glance, my chest caved

Where was all her stuff?

How was there nothing left?

I couldn’t make sense of it.

Then my mother called. Told me to come to the estate. Something about Lyra maybe being there. I peeled out, heading straight to the manor.

Hair a mess. Tie crooked. Didn’t care.

Margaret stood in the living room, face like stone.

“Mom. Have you seen Lyra?”

“You have the nerve to ask!” Margaret’s voice went sharp. “That worthless woman! The whole pack is laughing at us!”

I froze.

“Lyra is my Luna! How can you say that?”

“Your Luna!” Margaret sneered. “What can she give you? Lower-class pack blood! I only approved

this wedding because she was a decent fighter. Now she humiliates us by calling it off, stomping all

over the Draven name-”

“Enough.” My voice came out raw. “The priority is finding Lyra.”

Elyse stepped forward, biting her lip. “Maybe Lyra blames me.”

Her eyes were wet. “She knows you came for me last night-”

Margaret grabbed Elyse and shoved her toward me.

“The ceremony isn’t canceled!”

“To shut everyone up-Kael, you’ll marry Elyse.”

Elyse’s cheeks flushed. She looked down, lashes fluttering.

I stared at her. Then at Margaret. Stepped back.

“What did you say?”

“I said, marry Elyse!” Margaret repeated. “She’s the right Luna for you.”

“I only see Elyse as a sister.”

“My Luna is Lyra. Always has been. Only her.”

Elyse went pale.

Margaret was stunned. “You don’t have feelings for her?”

“Of course not.”

Elyse’s tears spilled over.

“Then why,” her voice trembled, “do you call me every night? Why did you say I was your exception?”

“Why did you eat what I gave you? Why did you let me tie your tie?”

“Why did you come rushing like a madman when you heard I was in danger-Kael, you love me.”

My eyes widened in shock. I stepped back again.

Stared at her tear-streaked face. Like I was seeing her for the first time.

“I don’t love you.”

“I looked after you because you’re my mother’s student. That’s all.”

My gaze had cooled to nothing.

“I’ll request a transfer for you. Out of tactical training. And stay out of my office. I don’t want any more confusion.”

Elyse sobbed. Margaret called after me, voice frantic.

I didn’t look back.

I got home. Exhausted and gutted all at once.

I sank onto the sofa, replaying everything. Finally understood why she’d left.

Five years of midnight mind-links with Elyse.

Five years of hanging up on Lyra after nine.

I thought they were small things.

I thought Lyra would never care.

But she had. She’d seen the truth. And she’d stopped loving me.

The ugly truth I’d ignored for years-it was all laid out now.

I sucked in a breath. Thought about how calm Lyra had been those last few days. It crushed me.

Then I grabbed my keys and tore out of the house, heading for the Vex residence.