The Alpha’s Eternal Mate

Lyra stood in front of the full-length mirror in her suite, staring at the reflection that didn't quite feel like her own. The city lights cast a faint glow against her pale skin, illuminating the shadows under her eyes. This face, this body—it felt foreign. A constant reminder of the life she'd lost and the time she could never reclaim.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she ran a hand through her dark waves, her fingers trembling slightly. She could still feel Ethan's presence lingering in the room even though he had left hours ago. His warning echoed in her mind.

"You should be afraid."

But she wasn't.

Not of him.

She was afraid of how easily she had fallen back into his orbit, of how her heart still reacted to him despite the thousand years that separated them.

A sharp knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. Her pulse quickened as she crossed the room, opening it to reveal Logan standing there, his usual smirk absent.

"The Alpha wants to see you," he said without preamble.

Lyra raised an eyebrow, masking her unease. "Now?"

"Now," Logan confirmed, stepping aside to let her pass.

Her heels clicked against the polished marble floors as they walked through the dimly lit corridor. Midnight Crest Tower was silent at this hour, the weight of the darkness pressing down on her like a heavy cloak.

"Any idea what he wants?" she asked casually, glancing at Logan.

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn't look at her. "He's not the type to explain himself."

Lyra hummed in response, her thoughts racing. Ethan wasn't a man to call someone at odd hours unless it was important. Or dangerous.

When they reached his office, Logan gestured for her to enter alone. The large double doors loomed before her, and she took a steadying breath before stepping inside.

The room was cast in soft shadows, the only illumination coming from the large floor-to-ceiling windows where Ethan stood, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the city skyline.

"You called for me?" Lyra said, keeping her voice even.

Ethan turned slowly, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "Sit."

She did, lowering herself onto one of the sleek leather chairs in front of his massive desk. Ethan remained standing, his gaze unreadable.

"You're different from the others," he said finally, his voice a low rumble that sent a familiar ache through her chest.

Lyra tilted her head, keeping her expression neutral. "Is that a compliment?"

His lips curled slightly, but there was no humor in it. "No. It's an observation."

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Lyra felt his gaze move over her, dissecting, analyzing. The way he studied her made it clear—he sensed something about her was off, even if he couldn't put his finger on it.

"I don't like things I can't understand," Ethan continued, stepping closer.

Lyra met his gaze, forcing herself not to retreat. "Maybe you should stop trying to figure me out."

Ethan's jaw tensed. "I don't trust people who keep secrets."

She smiled, a small, sad thing. "We all have secrets, Ethan."

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, something flickered in them—something raw and unguarded. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual cold indifference.

He leaned down, resting his hands on the arms of her chair, his face mere inches from hers. "Who are you, really?"

Lyra swallowed hard, but she didn't look away. "Just a girl trying to survive."

Ethan searched her face, and for a terrifying moment, she thought he could see straight through her lies. But then, he pulled back, straightening. "You'll be working in the tower," he said abruptly.

Lyra blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I don't let useless people stay here." He turned back to the window, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. "You'll work for me. Consider it a test."

A test.

Lyra clenched her fists in her lap. She couldn't refuse, not without arousing suspicion. But the thought of being so close to him day after day, hiding who she really was, terrified her more than anything.

"What will I be doing?" she asked cautiously.

Ethan glanced over his shoulder, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. "We'll see."

The next morning, Lyra found herself sitting in an office three floors down from Ethan's penthouse, staring at a computer screen she barely understood.

A woman with sharp features and an even sharper tongue, introduced to her as Amelia, had handed her a stack of files and told her to "make herself useful."

Lyra sighed, flipping through the documents. Most of them were business reports—boring, corporate dealings that she had no interest in.

"You look lost."

She glanced up to see Logan leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest.

"I didn't realize working for the mighty Alpha meant drowning in paperwork," Lyra muttered.

Logan chuckled, stepping inside. "Ethan likes to test people in ways they don't expect."

Lyra narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly is he testing?"

Logan shrugged, but there was something knowing in his gaze. "Persistence. Loyalty. Whether or not you'll run when things get tough."

Lyra pressed her lips together, forcing down the swell of emotions rising within her. "I don't run."

"I hope not." Logan's expression grew serious. "Because once you're in Ethan's world, there's no getting out."

Hours passed, and Lyra found herself slipping back into old habits—observing, analyzing, taking in every detail. She memorized the layout of the building, the comings and goings of pack members, and the way Ethan moved through his world with an effortless air of dominance.

And through it all, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her just as closely.

Later that evening, she found herself alone in the empty office, staring out the window at the darkening sky. Her thoughts drifted back to their past—the nights spent beneath the stars, the way his touch had once set her soul on fire.

A soft knock pulled her from her reverie.

She turned, expecting Logan, but instead, Ethan stood in the doorway, his presence filling the room.

"I expected you to quit by now," he said, stepping inside.

Lyra forced a small smile. "I'm not that easy to get rid of."

Ethan studied her for a long moment before walking to the desk, placing a file down in front of her. "Then prove it."

She glanced at the folder, then back at him. "What's this?"

"A real test." His eyes held a challenge. "Let's see what you're really capable of."

As he turned to leave, Lyra's heart pounded in her chest. This was more than just a job. It was a battle of wills, a dangerous dance between two souls bound by fate.

And she wasn't sure how long she could keep the truth buried.