The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 243

**TITLE: Never Love 243**

Selene

With a sudden burst of energy, Dominic leaps to his feet, his sword half-drawn, glinting ominously in the dim light. Elara, however, rises more slowly, her keen eyes scanning the newcomers with an unsettling intuition that seems almost supernatural.

“Lyra?” A deep voice calls out, slicing through the tension. A tall figure steps forward from the group, his presence commanding. Recognition flickers across his face, only to be replaced by a dangerous glint as his gaze shifts to me. “You!”

“Kieran,” Lyra breathes, her voice a mixture of relief and apprehension. She stands, her body moving toward him as if drawn by an invisible thread, but then halts awkwardly halfway, the weight of their complicated history with Alexander hanging heavily in the air.

“What is she doing here?” Kieran demands, his finger jabbing toward me with unmistakable hostility. “This is the woman who led the attack on our settlement—who hunted you down like prey through the forest.”

“I know,” Lyra replies, her voice steady despite the tension. “But circumstances have changed. She’s helping us reach Alexander.”

Kieran’s expression darkens, skepticism etched across his features. “Helping? After everything she’s done? After what her people continue to do? We’ve been tracking the Northern movements since the attack—they’ve taken someone important to their stronghold, someone significant enough to warrant a full ritual preparation.”

“Alexander,” Lyra confirms, her voice now grave. “His essence was split during a ritual at the palace. His healing nature has been scattered, but his Alpha half is being held for a second binding attempt.”

A murmur ripples through the healers, their faces reflecting a mix of concern and disbelief. Kieran’s gaze remains locked on me, his distrust palpable, a wall I can almost feel pressing against my chest.

“And you expect us to believe she’s had a sudden change of heart?” he challenges, his voice rising. “The princess who commanded soldiers to hunt our kind now wants to help? This is obviously a trap.”

“It’s not,” Elara interjects, stepping forward with an air of authority. “I can sense her intentions. Yes, there’s conflict within her, but there’s also sincerity in her desire to help us achieve this purpose.”

Kieran hesitates, clearly grappling with Elara’s insight but still unwilling to lower his guard. “Even if that’s true now, what happens after? Once her usefulness runs out?”

His question strikes a chord deep within me, echoing my own uncertainties about what lies ahead. What will my place be when this is all over? A stranger to both my own people and Alexander’s.

“I possess the Silverspiral Key,” I declare, shifting my approach. “And I know of the Northern stronghold’s secret entrances—knowledge that no outsider possesses. Without me, you won’t reach Alexander before the ritual is complete.”

Kieran’s eyes widen slightly at the mention of the key. “You stole it from your own people?”

“I reclaimed it for its true purpose,” I clarify, my voice steady. “To work in tandem with the amulet Lyra carries and the birthmark she bears.” I meet his gaze, unwavering. “You don’t need to trust me, healer. You only need to recognize that our goals align for the time being.”

A heavy silence envelops us, and it’s finally broken by Lyra’s firm voice.

“We’re wasting precious time,” she asserts. “Alexander—both parts of him—grows weaker by the hour. Kieran, we need your help and that of any healers willing to join us. But we will proceed with or without you.”

The authority in her voice surprises me; this is not the timid healer I once pursued through the forest. She stands before us transformed, a woman embracing her power and purpose. The bond with Alexander has changed her, just as my confrontation with my own truth has reshaped me.

After a brief consultation with his companions, Kieran nods, albeit reluctantly. “We’ll join you. But understand this, Princess—” he steps closer, lowering his voice so only I can hear, “if this is deception, if you lead Lyra into danger, I will personally ensure you don’t live to see another sunrise.”

“Understood,” I reply, my tone calm yet resolute. His protective instinct toward Lyra hints at feelings that run deeper than mere community loyalty, shedding light on some of his hostility toward me. Another layer of complexity in an already tangled web.

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