Red String {EDITING}

Chapter Thirteen | Strings and Snakes

Yipping, Lyra ran through the woods with reckless abandon, all the while ignoring the soft growls which rumbled from the larger black wolf which followed her. He didn't like their being too much of a distance between them – his protective and possessive instincts only made that much more prominent by the form he had taken. If she could have rolled her eyes every time he'd made that grumbling sound, she would have, but her attention was more focused on the forest around them.

She hadn't yet had the chance to explore the walled forest surrounding the castle, having been too busy or too afraid, and so she was making the most of the time she had. Because she had a job to return to sooner or later. Swallowing and shaking her head at the thought of Arrow chasing her up about skipping work...

Lyra paused, wondering about how her new friends were doing. She needed to see them sooner or later. See if they still wanted to be her treasured friends after the disastrous outing. Wind ruffled through her rich red fur, a bolt of white lightning catching her eye just before the crackling sound reached her. Her element.

It tingled over her skin, and Lyra bolted off again, heading towards where it had struck. Rylan followed dutifully, concerned whines pleading with her to stop. To go back inside where it was safe.

Lyra didn't feel like being particularly safe then.

All she wanted was to bask in the free air and enjoy her run in the forest before she was forced to face reality again. Forced to face Omega Taurus, and all the misery they'd brought her. The movement of water reached her ears first, like the sound of waves washing against the shore. Only this was no seaside beach. Instead it was a lake, the waters stirring thanks to the whipping winds.

Onto the small wooden dock she stepped, plonking herself down with a huff as she decided to settle there for a short while amidst the thunder and lightning.

Rylan padded up behind her, settling himself down around her, his larger form almost swamping her own as he snuggled up against her. Icy blue eyes bore into her own, the sight slightly unnerving given his otherwise dark colouring. His fur was a pitch black, and he stood that much taller than her when they weren't lying down, that was. The perks of being an alpha, or so Lyra assumed, quashing that sliver of jealousy which wanted to snake its way around her heart. She couldn't change what she was.

She was the bonded mate of the king of all alphas. The moon to his wolf, or so the tales went. But she didn't have the eyes of an alpha. She would never be able to match him. Never. Moodily, she set her head down, stretching her body out across the dock as a flash of white struck down in the forest in the distance. The rumble of thunder soon followed behind, and Lyra howled with her element, ignoring the warm body which snuggled up behind her – seemingly content to watch over her.

Lyra ignored the snide voice which whispered she didn't deserve him.

A soft snort left her. Was that really what she had been reduced to? Wondering and worrying about everything in relation to her mate? Silently, she pondered on that thought. Before she had met her mate, her focus had been on escaping Omega Taurus. Only it seemed like she had just about managed that through her mate's power. Not her own, that sly, mocking voice reminded her.

She was still weak. Frost's visit only served to drive the nail of realisation in that much harder. She needed to get stronger. Her eyes narrowed. Though her mate would definitely be able to help her there. He was, after all, an alpha. He was strong in the same way Lyra needed to become. Because only the strong could be free. At least where Omega Taurus was concerned, that was.

They still had their claws in her. And they always would. Her neck itched, and Lyra barely registered the shift as she changed back to the form which would allow her to scratch herself free from the memories. Rylan startled behind her, a whine slipping from his throat, before she felt his warm, solid presence retreat.