Lyra stared at him in disbelief, her eyes sharp with mockery and fury.
"Fenris, have you lost your mind?"
"She almost killed me!" Her voice shook with rage. "Even if she were my full-blooded litter-mate, I have every right to report her to the Pack Council. Every right to hold her accountable!"
"I'll make it up to you." Fenris cut her off quickly, his tone heavy with remorse. "You've always wanted a proper mating ceremony, haven't you? Once you're well enough to leave the healers' den, we'll start planning right away. We'll hold it as soon as possible. With me by your side, no one will ever dare hurt you again."
"Who wants your compensation? Who wants your mating ceremony?"
Lyra's hand shot up. Her palm connected with his face in a sharp crack that rang through the quiet chamber. She was screaming now, all the rage and despair she'd bottled up finally erupting.
"Fenris, you're the only one who's ever hurt me! I want to reject this bond! Now! This instant! Immediately!"
The slap snapped his head to the side. His cheek burned. His eyes were wide with shock—he clearly hadn't expected her to be this resolute. He froze for several seconds, just opening his mouth to respond, when urgent knocking rattled the door.
A healer's assistant rushed in, speaking frantically to Fenris. "Alpha Blackmoor, Lady Selene Ashenvale in the next chamber says if she doesn't see you, she won't let anyone treat her wounds. She won't stop crying. Could you please go check on her?"
Fenris's body went rigid for just a moment—barely a heartbeat—before he rose to his feet. He turned to look at Lyra on her recovery bed, his tone carrying the hollow weight of a perfunctory reassurance.
"Lyra, let me go see Selene first. Make sure she gets her treatment. You rest here and don't overthink things."
"Don't worry. This time, I absolutely won't postpone the mating ceremony again. I'll give you the answer you deserve."
With that, he pushed open the door and strode out of the chamber without a backward glance.
He never saw how pale her face had gone.
Lyra spent only one day in the pack healer's den. The moment the binding salve was removed from her foot—the wound still raw, each step sending a dull throb up her leg—she gathered her few belongings and walked out alone.