Chapter 6 · Under the Alpha's Watch

-Kade-

I couldn't stop watching her.

Lyra sat across the war room, head down, shoulders tight. The binding ritual had drained her. I could feel it through the connection she'd forged between us. A thin thread of life, pulling taut every time she breathed.

Three days. That's all we had before the council came for her.

"You should eat something," I said.

She didn't look up. "I'm fine."

"You're not."

Silas slammed his hand on the table. "She's a vampire, Kade. They don't need food the way we do."

I shot him a look. He'd been like this since Morgana left. Pacing. Snapping. His wolf was on edge, and I got it. Mine was too. But taking it out on Lyra wasn't going to help.

"She's half wolf," I said. "And she just saved my life."

"By binding you to her." Silas crossed his arms. "If she dies, you die. You see how convenient that is?"

Lyra finally lifted her head. Her eyes were dull, no fight left in them. "You think I wanted this?"

"I think you wanted to survive."

"Enough." My voice came out low. Alpha command threaded through it without me meaning to.