Updated Dec 21, 2025 • ~6 min read
I was in the middle of mediating a territorial dispute when the message came.
Lyla was at Nocturne’s gates, asking to see me.
My first instinct was to refuse. We’d severed the twin bond six months ago, and I hadn’t seen or heard from her since leaving pack territory. Part of me had hoped to never deal with her again.
But curiosity won. What could she possibly want?
“Go,” Kaian said when I hesitated. “I’ll handle the rest of this negotiation. See what your sister needs.”
I found her in the visitor’s courtyard, looking nervous and out of place among the vampire architecture. She’d filled out since I’d seen her last—healthier, stronger. Her wolf was stable.
“Lira.” Relief flooded her face. “Thank you for seeing me. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I almost didn’t.” I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Lyla?”
She flinched at my tone but didn’t back down. “I wanted to tell you in person. I’m leaving Shadowmoon Pack. Going to the Southern Territories to train with the warrior packs.”
I blinked. “You’re becoming a warrior?”
“Trying to, anyway.” She twisted her hands together. “Without your power propping me up, I had to figure out who I actually was. What I was good at. Turns out—” A small smile. “I’m decent at fighting. When I have to rely on my own strength.”
I didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t the Lyla I’d known—the one who’d manipulated and stolen and lied. This was someone… different. Someone trying.
“That’s good,” I managed. “I’m glad you’re finding your own path.”
“I also wanted to apologize. Again. Properly.” She met my eyes. “Not because I expect forgiveness. I know I destroyed that. But because you deserve to hear it. I was wrong, Lira. About everything. Stealing from you, poisoning you, taking Drake. All of it. I was a coward who hurt the one person who would have helped me if I’d just asked.”
Old anger stirred in my chest. “You’re right. I would have helped. All you had to do was tell me the truth.”
“I know. I was too proud. Too scared. Too convinced I’d be worthless if anyone knew how weak I really was.” She swallowed hard. “I’m trying to be better now. Stronger. The kind of sister you deserved all along.”
“It’s too late for that.” The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t take them back. “We’re not those sisters anymore, Lyla. The bond is severed. We’re just—two wolves who used to share a womb.”
Pain flickered across her face. “I know. But maybe someday—years from now, after I’ve proven I’ve changed—maybe we could be friends? Or at least not enemies?”
Could we? I wasn’t sure. The betrayal still hurt, would probably always hurt. But looking at Lyla now—genuinely trying to build a life on her own strength—I found I didn’t want to keep hating her.
It was exhausting. And I had better things to do with my energy.
“Maybe,” I said finally. “But Lyla—that’s years away. You need to prove you’ve changed through actions, not words. Become the warrior you say you want to be. Build a life you can be proud of. Then maybe we can talk about friendship.”
“That’s fair.” She nodded, blinking back tears. “More than fair. Thank you, Lira. For everything. For giving me a chance to live, for teaching me to find my wolf, for not letting me die even though I deserved it.”
“You’re welcome.”
An awkward silence fell between us. So much history, so much pain. But also—perhaps—the possibility of something different in the future.
“There’s one more thing,” Lyla said hesitantly. “Drake asked me to give you a message. He wanted you to know he’s stepping down as Alpha. Letting Marcus take over.”
Shock rippled through me. “Drake’s giving up his pack?”
“He says he failed too many people. Made too many mistakes. He needs time to figure out who he is without the Alpha role.” Lyla’s expression was complicated. “We talk sometimes. As friends. We both hurt you, and I think—I think we’re both trying to figure out how to live with that.”
I should have felt vindicated. Should have reveled in Drake losing everything the way I had.
Instead, I just felt sad.
“Tell him I hope he finds what he’s looking for,” I said quietly. “And that I forgive him. Not because he deserves it, but because I deserve to let go of the anger.”
Lyla’s eyes widened. “You mean that?”
“Yes.” And I did. Holding onto rage against Drake and Lyla was like drinking poison and expecting them to die. I was done with it. Done letting their betrayals define me.
“I should go,” Lyla said. “I have a long journey south. But Lira—” She paused at the gate. “I’m proud of you. What you’ve built here, what you’re doing as liaison between worlds. You’re amazing. You always were. I just couldn’t see it past my own jealousy.”
After she left, I stood in the courtyard processing. Kaian found me there an hour later.
“How was it?” he asked.
“Strange. Sad. But also—” I struggled for words. “Freeing, maybe? Lyla’s moving on. Drake’s moving on. And I realized I already have. I’m not defined by what they stole anymore. I’m defined by what I’ve built.”
“And what have you built?”
I thought about it. “A life I chose. A mate I love. A purpose that matters. Power I earned instead of had stolen.” I leaned into his embrace. “Everything I was supposed to have all along. Just better than I imagined.”
“Better how?”
“Because I had to fight for it. Nothing was handed to me. Every bit of strength, every alliance, every success—I earned it.” I tilted my head back to look at him. “If Drake had chosen me at that ceremony, if Lyla had never betrayed me, I’d still be the weak wolf trying to live up to being Luna. I’d never have found you, never have discovered my power, never have become this version of myself.”
Kaian’s smile was fierce and proud. “So in a twisted way, you’re grateful?”
“Maybe not grateful. But—accepting? What happened made me who I am. And I like who I am now.” I kissed him softly. “I love who I am with you.”
“I love who you are too. Always have. Always will.”
As we walked back to our quarters, I felt something settle in my chest. The last threads of anger toward Lyla and Drake, finally released. They’d hurt me, yes. But they’d also inadvertently freed me.
Freed me to find my real strength.
Freed me to discover my true mate.
Freed me to become the bridge between worlds instead of just another pack wolf.
I wasn’t the weak twin anymore.
I wasn’t the stolen mate.
I was Lira Moonborn. Blessed Moon Wolf. Eternal mate to a vampire lord. Liaison between worlds.
And that was more than enough.
That was everything.
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