Chapter 56

Lyra dug in her heels, voice small, the tremor unmistakable. “I don’t want to leave.” She jerked her arm—trying, absurdly, not to look like prey. “I’m staying with my friends.” Darius’s next words hit her like a lash. “Come with me now, or I’ll put you on the next flight out of the territory. Tonight.” His voice was calm, but every wolf in the ballroom felt the echo of pack law woven into it. That threat worked. Lyra went limp, obedience pressed onto her in that stark, public display of power. Darius’s gaze met mine for a second over Lyra’s bowed head—another silent apology, perhaps, or maybe just weariness at the endless messes left for him to clean up. Then he turned and stalked out, his sister drawn along in his wake. Theodore only relaxed when the last note of Alpha command had faded and the crowd dissolved, leaving a sticky silence. “Show’s over,” I muttered, forcing lightness into my tone. The emptiness in my chest felt bigger than ever. “I’m starving, Theodore. The cranberry bri