The next morning, the sun rose behind heavy clouds—thick, grey, and angry.
Just like Kael.
He'd vanished after watching Darius take her—slipping off into the woods like a beast about to tear its prey apart.
And now?
He waited for her.
Pacing. Breathing her in from a distance.
Letting the rage simmer. Letting the hunger boil into something deeper.
Darker.
Lyra came to the river alone. Still sore, still flushed from what Darius had done. She thought she'd gotten away with it. Thought she'd have time to breathe.
She was wrong.
The second she stepped near the water, Kael grabbed her from behind, one arm locking around her waist, the other covering her mouth.
"Quiet," he growled into her ear. "You don't get to scream yet."
She gasped beneath his palm—heart slamming against her ribs. But she didn't fight.
She didn't want to.
He spun her to face him, eyes glowing gold, barely human.
"You let him put his hands on you," he snarled. "You let him fuck you while you still tasted like me."
"Kael—"
"No," he hissed. "You don't get to speak."
She opened her mouth.
So he kissed her—brutal, claiming, punishing.
His teeth scraped her lip. His hands fisted in her hair. He bit her throat, then kissed it better—only to bite again.
"You think I'm going to be gentle now?" he asked, dragging her up against him. "You think I'll hold back after what I saw?"
Lyra trembled. "Kael, I—"
"You broke me," he snarled. "So now I'm going to break you right back."
And she whispered the one word that undid him.
"Do it."
Kael snapped.
---
He pushed her back into the soft grass, rain starting to fall around them—thin, cool, sharp. His hands ripped her dress from her like paper.
"On your knees."
She obeyed, breath ragged.
He circled her slowly, hand trailing down her spine, palm warm against her bare skin.
Then he pressed her down until her face touched the earth—and he knelt behind her.
"You're shaking," he whispered. "You like this. You like being hunted."
His hands slid up her thighs, parting them, revealing her soaked and open.
"And you're already wet," he growled. "What a pretty little traitor you are."
She moaned, helpless.
Kael ran a single finger through her folds—slow, deliberate.
Then slapped her there—not hard, just enough to sting.
She gasped, body jolting.
"You think I'm going to take my time now?" he hissed. "No, baby. Now you take me, however I want. Or you get nothing."
And then—
He slammed into her.
Hard. Deep. Unforgiving.
Lyra cried out, but it wasn't pain—it was relief.
She'd needed this. Needed him.
Kael gripped her hips and thrust again—brutal, relentless, grinding her down into the grass.
"You wanted to see what happens when you touch my brother?" he snarled. "This is what happens."
He leaned down, mouth at her ear. "I ruin you."
And he did.
He fucked her like he owned her. Like no one else had ever touched her. Like he could erase Darius from her body with every savage stroke.
Lyra sobbed—shaking, clawing the earth, barely able to breathe.
And Kael loved it.
He pulled her up by her hair, dragged her back against his chest, one hand gripping her throat, the other between her legs.
He circled her clit while still inside her—grinding, thrusting, wrecking her.
"Come for me," he ordered.
She whimpered. "Kael—"
"Come. Now."
And she shattered—legs giving out, moaning, crying, coming so hard she nearly blacked out.
But he didn't stop.
He flipped her over—kissed her hard—and slammed back in, eyes locked on hers.
"Who owns this body?" he growled.
"You—you do."
"Who's inside you now?"
"Kael—"
"Say it."
"You," she sobbed. "Only you."
He kissed her—softer now. "Good girl."
And then he came—deep inside her—with a groan that sounded like victory.
---
They lay there in the grass, wrecked and breathless.
Her head on his chest. His hand in her hair. The rain washing over them.
No more words.
Only claim.
Only war won.
---
But they weren't alone.
Far away, Selene stood on the terrace, watching the whole thing through a borrowed pair of mage-forged binoculars.
And her smile this time?
Was vicious.
Because now that both Alphas were tangled in Lyra's body, the trap could finally close.
And when it did?
Not even fate could save Lyra again.