The Talk
~•°•~

A blanket of darkness eerily crept over the day. Lyra was left to think about her next actions. She thought about postponing her search for her family, maybe that was the best thing she could do?

It was no secret that Ignacios was trying his best to fix and put everything like the way it used to be. Could it still be even fixed when everything for her was gone? She no longer wanted a life with a mate and yet, it still scared her when she thought she’d still fall for him.

As she sat on the swing that hung on the cabin’s front porch, Iggy’s scent wafted into her nose, making a cold shiver run down her spine.

“Fuck.” She muttered lowly. Even Iggy’s smell excited her senses.

“What’s the problem?” She heard a voice say. Her head turned to where it came from, seeing Felix with a wide grin on his face, walking over the steps with a dead boar slung on his shoulder. He was naked from the waist up, skin covered with sweat as tiny specks of leaves stuck on the long curly hair that covered half of his forehead.

“Lex,” she raised a brow. “where’s Edward?”

“He stayed behind to check the borders,” he set his prize neatly on the floor and sat beside her. “scoot a little.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. Realization kicked in thoughts, it was the first time since Felix arrived where they were left alone together to speak. Maybe now it was a good time to ask what he was planning to do back home.

“You’ve been gone for long times with Neddy, what exactly have you been doing with him?” She watched as his eyes softened, a sly tight-lipped smile appearing on his lips.

“I’ve just been spending time with him, hunting and trapping, all the things we used to do.” He says. “I remember when we were kids, I had a hard time setting up traps and throwing knives, Iggy was always there to help me.”

That wasn’t the answer she was looking for but he was genuine. The clarity in him almost made the side of her lip curve up.

She took notice somber tone of his voice. The longer she sat there without any response the more painful it was. Felix still really hasn’t changed. Ignacios was his idol, even when they were kids, Lyra saw how much he looked up to his older brother.

“Must have been fun, huh?”

“Yeah, I missed him. He’s still a better father than old grumpy, Larry.” He went silent.

It still wasn’t an easy topic for him to talk about. Growing up without his real father, both him and his older brother. But they were luckier than most, they had Edward with them.

“About Larry, where’s the man hiding now?” Lyra asked.

“I don’t know actually after I left, the only thing I heard about him was when he went to Europe with his mate. Probably good that he’s out of our lives.” He snickered, pushing the swing with his feet.

‘Not good for me, though.’ Lyra thought bitterly.

The wind wafting against her face blew her unkempt hair all over the place. A low chuckle made its way into her hearing. Felix’s familiar stare caught her gaze as turned towards him. The adoring glint on his eyes causing a twitch on her fingers.

“I’m sorry,” he says and used the heels of his bare feet to stop the swing. “hair is always such a hassle, but yours is beautiful.” He leaned and swiped her hair off of her face.

“Hey, you try and grow hair. Don’t you get tired of the same old do?” He always wore his hair short, perfectly trimmed on the side.

“It beats being bald, though.” He laughed. “Besides, my head’s not the only place where hair grows.”

“Ew, Lex?!”

“I meant my chest, Lyra. I’m very hairy here.” He says as he placed the palm of his hand on his chest. Lyra’s cheek burned with a slight blush. “Although I do keep it trimmed down there.”

“Gross. Isn’t this the exact reason why you and Iggy fought, all because you had a contest about who could grow the most pubic hair in one month?” She remembered the thing very clearly.

It was Felix who started the competition, unsurprisingly, Lyra found the whole thing stupid and she couldn’t believe Iggy would actually join in. She could never fathom how boys or anyone for that matter would want to have hair down there in the first place. But they were still teens back then, now it just seemed like a distant memory keeping herself alive.

“Ha, right. Please don’t remind me.” He shook his head with disappointment, a shy and embarrassed expression appearing on his face. “I won though.”

She only smiled, feeling herself let go of the hesitation she had been feeling along time ago.

“You’re smiling.” He says, making her turn towards him. His grey-tinted eyes looked at her calmly.

“Yeah,” she looked away. “what about it?”

“I like seeing you smile, it makes you look more beautiful.” He says.

Beautiful? It’s been such a long time since someone had called her that.

She brushed it off, letting a soft sigh escape through her lips.

“I’m far from it.”

“Why can’t you see how beautiful you are, Ly?” Felix asked. She turned once again to look at him, his grey eyes making her quiver from where she sat, reminding her of who he was.

He was the wolf who liked her, the brother of her mate, and a person who she can’t really trust at the moment.

“Because the real beauties are the ones who everyone loves.” She answered.

“That’s stupid.” He harshly says, shaking his head in amusement.

“Why so?” She asked, her eyes narrowing down at him.

“Beauty isn’t measured by the number of people that adores you, what matters are the real people around you.” The smile on his lips and the happy look on his face slowly faded away, replaced by a more calm expression, his eyes soften. “I love you, Lyra.”

“Lex…” She shook her head.

“No, listen, Lyra. I lied, okay?” He stood, making the swing’s chain rattle. He walked around in circles.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been planning out routes, looking for the best way to escape from here.”

She was right, there was something more to him.

Her brows knitted waiting for him to add more.

“I’m here to take you away from here, to the South, where it’s safer.”

Leave? She can’t leave now. The thought of abandoning her responsibility was insane. She had made it her mission to find her family’s truth and stop Lois with whatever she was planning now.

“No, I won't.” Lyra held herself firmly. “I don’t need you to protect me, Felix.”

“You don’t understand, Ly. You belong to the South.” His tongue slipped. He covered his mouth with his knuckles, shaking his head disappointment. “I’m sorry, I stepped out of line.”

Lyra stood up, realizing what had happened. She saw it on his eyes, the way it glowed with pain. She pulled his hand away from him and saw the burning scar on his palm. It only confirmed her suspicion, he had made a pact with someone.

A pact, an agreement made between two wolves, done by drawing blood on the palm on their hands and shaking as they recite their deals. And he made one. If they would betray or not follow through the agreement, they would die.

“Why, Lex? Why would you do that to yourself?” She asked, feeling her heart painfully constrict as she held his gaze, looking into the sadness in his eyes.

“Because of you, Lyra.” He answered, pulling his hand and moving away from her.

She swallowed, taking a step closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not someone who needs to be protected, Lex. Tell me, who did you make a deal with, was it with Iggy?”

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Was it Ed-” Her thought was cut short when the scent of another wolf caught her attention. It was familiar, the smell of the wolf she had managed to hate. The Beta, Diego’s scent made it’s into her nose, a frown immediately surfaced on her face.

“Good evening,” she heard him say. She found him standing a few feet away from them. “Blessed be the Moon.”

Both of them didn’t answer, instead, she shook her head and whispered. “We’ll talk about this later.” She said firmly, seeing him nod quickly.

“Okay then,” Diego says. “the Luna wishes to inform that you are invited to attend tonight’s pack dinner. It is a matter of great importance that you must attend. That is all. Please excuse me.”

He was vague, his eyes darting between Lyra and Felix.

“Wait, did Gael left already? You were supposed to take him through the Midlands” Lyra asked.

He stopped, looking over his shoulder, his eyes boring a hole through her.

“I’m sorry, I was not informed. I should check with the Alpha first.” He says and continued to walk away without any more words.

~•°•~

Lois danced wistfully, the long silky material of her minty green dress swaying with every movement she did. She was preparing to present herself in front of the pack. She wore a deep shade of red lipstick, a sign of fertility, displaying the fact that she was already carrying a child.

As she looks at the full body mirror, admiring her reflection, her door opened. Diego entered, stopping at the moment he saw her.

“You’re breathtaking.” He says.

“Thank you.” Was her short reply when she felt his arms around her.

“I have something to tell you.” Gael cupped her cheeks, his face mere inches away from her. “Our Easterner friend is planning to leave the pack tonight.”

“Gael?” The real father of her child.

“Yes, it seems as though he’s planning to appease his own Alpha.”

Lois raised her brows, she had no use for him. Gael was free to go. “Let him be, my love. We have no use for him anymore.” She said, kissing him on the lips.

Diego smiled, holding her tightly. “If you say, so.”

~•°•~

Hello everyone! 💕
{Surprise Update! 🎊}

I had been trying to write as fast as I can since you know, I have nothing better to do.  😂

I really want to at least upload five more chapters before this year ends so expect more to come!

What do you think about this chapter? 😗

Do you trust Lex or Nah?
Let's talk in the comments section.

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Loving you always,
—Jino