The Alpha’s Eternal Mate

The black SUVs tore through the empty roads, headlights slicing through the thick fog that clung to the outskirts of the city. Lyra sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window in silence, her mother's cloak clutched tightly in her hands. The weight of it felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried every painful memory she'd tried to suppress over the centuries.

Ethan drove in silence, his hands gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity. He hadn't spoken since they escaped the ruins, his fury simmering just beneath the surface. Lyra could feel it, pressing against the space between them like an unrelenting force.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Say something."

Ethan's jaw tightened, his dark eyes flickering to her for a brief second before returning to the road. "What do you want me to say, Lyra? That we walked straight into their trap? That you could've been taken?"

Lyra sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I knew the risks."

Ethan's grip on the wheel tightened. "That doesn't make it any easier."

Lyra looked down at the cloak in her lap, her fingers tracing the familiar embroidery. "She was there, Ethan. I could feel it."

His voice softened, but the edge remained. "We'll find her. But running headfirst into danger isn't the way to do it."

Lyra closed her eyes for a moment, the exhaustion catching up to her. "I don't have time to wait. Every second they have her…" Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the emotion down. "I can't lose her again."

Ethan's expression softened, and his free hand briefly covered hers. "You won't."

The moment of vulnerability between them hung in the air until Logan's voice crackled through the comms.

"We're almost back at the tower. No tails so far."

Ethan nodded, his voice all business again. "Keep scanning. I don't trust that they let us go without a reason."

Lyra sighed, staring into the night. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming. And she had no idea if she was ready for it.

Midnight Crest Tower – Briefing Room

Lyra stood at the center of the room, her hands braced against the long table, her eyes scanning the maps and reports scattered across the surface. The team had gathered—Ethan, Logan, Amelia, and a handful of trusted warriors—all waiting for answers she didn't have.

Amelia was the first to break the silence. "They wanted us to find that cloak, didn't they?"

Ethan nodded grimly. "It was a message. They wanted Lyra to know they have her."

Logan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "But why? Why not just take Lyra when they had the chance?"

Lyra's stomach twisted at the thought, but she kept her voice steady. "Because they want me to come to them willingly."

Ethan's gaze snapped to her. "That's not happening."

Lyra met his eyes, the determination burning in hers. "If it's the only way to get her back, I have to consider it."

Ethan slammed his fist on the table. "No. We do this our way."

Lyra's temper flared. "And what if our way isn't enough?"

Silence fell over the room, the weight of her words heavy.

Amelia cleared her throat awkwardly. "I managed to decrypt part of the messages we intercepted from the Blood Pact. There's mention of a ritual. Something big."

Lyra's heart pounded. "When?"

Amelia hesitated. "Three nights from now."

Ethan ran a hand down his face. "That's not enough time."

Logan exhaled. "It has to be."

Lyra straightened, her resolve hardening. "Then we prepare. If they want me to come, I'll give them exactly what they want."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "No."

She stepped closer to him, lowering her voice. "You can't stop me, Ethan."

His expression hardened. "Like hell I can't."

Lyra sighed, placing a hand on his chest. "We do this together. But I have to be part of it."

Ethan stared at her for a long moment, conflict warring in his eyes before he finally relented with a slow nod. "Fine. But we do it on my terms."

Lyra offered a small smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Midnight Crest Tower – Lyra's Suite

The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. Lyra stood by the window, staring out into the darkness, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her.

She didn't hear Ethan enter, but she felt him.

"You should get some sleep," he said softly.

Lyra shook her head. "I can't."

Ethan moved closer, resting his hands on her shoulders. "You don't have to do this alone."

She leaned back against him, allowing herself to take comfort in his presence. "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."

Ethan turned her to face him, his eyes searching hers. "We'll get her back."

Lyra swallowed the lump in her throat. "And if we don't?"

Ethan's expression softened, and for a brief moment, the Alpha disappeared, leaving just the man who had loved her for centuries. "Then we burn them all down."

A weak chuckle escaped her lips. "Always so dramatic."

Ethan's hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "Only for you."

For a moment, Lyra let herself get lost in him—the steady warmth of his touch, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her, the unspoken promise lingering between them.

But the darkness was still there, waiting.

"I should rest," she said finally, pulling away.

Ethan nodded, stepping back. "I'll be right outside."

Lyra watched him leave, her heart aching in ways she didn't want to acknowledge. As she lay down, the cloak beside her, she closed her eyes and prayed that three nights would be enough.

Enough to end this.

Enough to bring her mother home.

Enough to finally find peace.