Someone knocked on Lyra’s door late at night. As soon as she opened it, a large, muscular man with a tattoo on his right arm immediately seized her hand and dragged her out of the house.
“Lyra Evren!” the Omega man called.
“Yes? What is it?” Lyra replied. She was bewildered by the Omega’s sudden arrival at her home, especially when he approached her.
“Alpha Kael has summoned you,” the man informed her. Lyra’s expression immediately changed. Could Kael have changed his mind and reconsidered her punishment?
“Summoned me?” Lyra repeated, murmuring in confusion.
“He summoned you because there’s something he needs to say.”
“Really?” Lyra asked eagerly, hoping a miracle would appear for her.
“Hurry! Everyone is waiting for you in Nightfall,” he urged.
“What do you mean, everyone? Didn’t Kael only want to meet with me privately?”
“I don’t know. He only ordered me to bring you there immediately. Stop asking so many questions and hurry up!” the Omega commanded.
Lyra had no other choice.
*What does Kael want to discuss? Why did he invite me, and why does he have to talk in front of so many people?* Lyra’s feelings grew increasingly unsettled.
*Does he intend to punish and humiliate me again in front of everyone?*
“Hurry up!” the Omega urged.
“Yes,” Lyra replied reluctantly. “I hope Kael changes his mind.”
“Stop talking!”
Lyra quickly followed the man toward Nightfall. She could hardly wait to hear that her punishment had been revoked or replaced with something else, as long as it wasn’t exile as a rogue.
When Lyra arrived, countless Nightfall pack members had gathered in a very wide field. They had all been waiting for her. Standing before them, Kael proudly announced…
“Starting tonight, your blood is no longer part of us. Your name, Evren, will be erased from our pack’s lineage,” Kael declared before everyone.
“What?” Lyra’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s not true. This has to be a mistake.”
Kael’s statement hit Lyra hard. So that was why she had been brought before the pack members and elders. They had all come to attend an unexpected banishment ritual.
Lyra’s body was still injured and weak from the training and interrogation Kael had subjected her to earlier. Now, her wounds felt even worse after hearing Kael’s declaration, which left her humiliated before the pack.
“This is clearly your final humiliation before your banishment. Accept your fate, Evren,” Elira sneered. She looked at Lyra disdainfully, a mocking smile curling across her lips.
*They set me up and humiliated me. Damn it!* Lyra thought bitterly. *What am I supposed to do now?*
“She deserves it. She’s the traitor’s daughter,” someone else chimed in. They all joined forces to corner Lyra.
“Damn you, Kael! I’ll get my revenge someday,” Lyra vowed. Kael merely smiled condescendingly in response. He looked completely satisfied to have removed Lyra from the pack—and from his life.
Kael climbed onto a podium. With his booming voice, the Alpha, dressed in his distinctive ceremonial robe, became the center of attention. Every eye turned toward him without exception.
When Lyra tried to lift her head, her eyes met Kael’s. Again! She could still feel the bond. A moment later, Kael drew a breath and spoke words that carved into her heart, sharper than any blade.
“I, Alpha Kael Blackthorn, hereby reject my fated bond with Lyra Evren. The Moon Goddess was mistaken. This bond will never be acknowledged.”
“You’re free, Lyra. Free from the pack. Free from me. Go as far away from us as possible!” he ordered.
“No!” Lyra wanted to rebel once more.
But it seemed Lyra could no longer argue. Kael had already made the decision.
Mocking cheers and disgusted looks began to spread through the crowd. Even those who had once sympathized with Lyra fell silent.
Kael had shown his pack that Lyra was a “mistake.” After Kael made that declaration, Lyra lost everything overnight. Her reputation, her home, and even her fated mate.
*I swear, if love is fate, then please—never give me love again.*
Lyra was furious. Her emotions were no longer under control. She wanted desperately to let them out. Right then and there. However, the spiritual power within her held her back as best it could. She didn’t know that this immense power would soon explode if she couldn’t control her anger.
Lyra was escorted to the edge of the territory by two warriors. After that, she was left on her own, without a weapon, food, or protection. She had nothing left in this world. The rain poured down heavily that night.
“One step beyond this boundary, and you’ll officially become a rogue. We won’t be responsible for anything that happens to you out there,” one of the warriors told Lyra.
Lyra had no choice. She chose to walk into the forest. Alone. Soaking wet and exhausted, she felt empty, but deep inside her, something began to burn and reveal itself—not quite power, but more like the embers of vengeance.
She had already sworn it in her heart. “You rejected your fate, Kael. So I’ll create a new fate. Even without you. Just wait and see!”
When Lyra’s body grew limp and she collapsed to the ground, two wild rogues suddenly attacked her. They had caught the scent of her blood and intended to devour her. Lyra fainted instantly.
As the two rogues began touching Lyra’s body, the sound of approaching footsteps suddenly stopped them. A calm yet firm baritone voice rang out.
“Don’t touch her! If you dare lay a hand on her, you’ll die by my hand,” the man threatened.
A tall, broad-shouldered, athletic man with a large tattoo across his back stood beside Lyra, protecting her from the two rogues.
“Who are you?” one of the rogues asked him.
“Leave! Unless you want to die,” he threatened again.
“Let’s get out of here! We’re no match for him,” the other rogue whispered.
“Who is he, anyway?”
“Draven Vale. He’s the Alpha of Ravencall.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Idiot! Get out of here! Do you want to die?”
The rogue grabbed his companion’s hand, and the two of them fled, leaving Alpha Draven behind.
After they were gone, Draven looked down at Lyra’s weak body lying on the ground. Then he carried her away from the forest.
“Who is this beautiful girl? Is she a rogue too?” Draven wondered.
“I’ll kill you,” Lyra mumbled. Draven heard her.
“I’ll kill you, Kael.”
“I swear. I’ll be the Luna who turns your life into hell.” Lyra slowly opened her eyes. She saw the figure carrying her away and assumed he was Kael.
Her body grew even weaker because Lyra hadn’t eaten all day. She soon fell asleep in Draven Vale’s arms.
“This girl holds a grudge against Kael.” Draven considered something. The thought crossed his mind to use Lyra.