Chapter 2 Captured

~Lyra's POV~

“What are you doing? Let me go!” I screamed, my voice cracking with terror as I struggled to free my hand. His grip was impossibly strong for someone who had looked half-dead only moments before.

Panic clawed at my chest as I pulled and twisted, but his fingers only tightened around my wrist like iron shackles. Then, to my horror, the mark on my palm began to glow once again, its light pulsing brighter with every frantic beat of my heart.

That was when realization struck me like a slap. I had left the house without my gloves. Aunt Mia’s warning echoed sharply in my mind, her voice as vivid as if she stood beside me: Never let anyone see the mark, especially when it glows. Always keep it hidden.

Desperation took over. I hurled the jar of water in my hand straight into the man’s face. The shock made him flinch, his grip loosening just enough for me to tear my wrist free. Without thinking, I turned and bolted back toward the house, my feet pounding against the earth as though my life depended on it.

“It’s the moon girl,” I heard him rasp just before I slammed the door shut behind me. My heart thundered in my chest as I locked the door, pressed my back against it, and gasped for breath. The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thin. I clutched my chest, trying to calm the wild rhythm of my heartbeat before I forced myself to move toward the window.

When I peered through the glass, the man was gone. My eyes darted across every shadow I could see, but there was no sign of him. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Fear rooted me in place, my mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Finally, I drew the curtains shut and retreated to the bed, my thoughts spinning like a storm.

Hours passed, and the sun’s light faded into the soft veil of night. I must have dozed off because the sudden knock at the door jolted me awake. I opened it cautiously, already sensing who it was. Aunt Mia stood came in, her face pale and grave, a deep line of worry creasing the space between her brows.

Before I could even speak, she said, “We need to start packing, Lyra. We leave Dorhaven at first light.”

I blinked, stunned. “What? Why?” The seriousness in her tone left no room for argument.

“There has been a shift in the alignment of the stars,” she explained. “And the chief just informed me that Iron Fang warriors have invaded the neighboring town. We do not know if they plan to come here, but we cannot take that chance.”

My throat went dry at her words. Iron Fang Pack was the most feared of the four ruling packs in this territory, and their Alpha, Kael Thorne, was said to be as merciless as fire. I had never met him, but stories of his cruelty echoed through every corner of our lands. If he set his sights on Dorhaven, this town would fall in a heartbeat.

As that dreadful thought took shape, I remembered the wounded man I had helped earlier and my breath caught.

Aunt Mia noticed the shift in my expression immediately. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her voice edged with worry.

“I saw someone earlier,” I confessed, my words tumbling out. I told her everything that had happened: the wounded stranger, his strength, how I forgot my gloves, and how I escaped. As I spoke, Aunt Mia’s face drained of color, her worry mirroring my own.

“Don’t worry,” she said finally, her voice trembling slightly. “He is probably no one important. Even if he is, we will be gone before he can do anything.”

I knew she was only trying to comfort me, but her words did little to ease the dread sitting heavy in my stomach. Something inside me whispered that the man’s appearance had been no coincidence. Still, I stayed silent about what he had called me, unsure why I felt compelled to keep that part hidden.

We spent the rest of the night packing, only taking what was necessary. By the time we were done, dawn was not far away. We were about to step outside when the rumble of engines shattered the silence. The noise grew louder and louder until it filled the air, unmistakably close.

Aunt Mia rushed to the window, lifted the curtain, and gasped. “Oh heavens,” she whispered, dropping the bags she held. She turned to me with alarm etched across her face. “They are coming toward us.”

“They?” I asked, though deep down I already knew. My heart began to pound like a drum.

“Yes, Iron Fang warriors,” she said, already moving through the house. She began to chant in an ancient language, her voice steady despite the rising panic in the air. She traced glowing runes across the walls and floor, the scent of burnt herbs filling the room. I recognized the ritual. She was trying to shield the house with forbidden magic. It was a dangerous spell, one that would drain her strength, but nothing I said could make her stop.

I peeked through a small gap in the window and saw the fog beginning to rise, wrapping around the house like a veil. For a brief moment, relief washed over me. It was working.

But then Aunt Mia’s voice broke through the silence, trembling with fear. “No, no, no… this cannot be happening.”

My heart leapt to my throat. I looked out again and froze. The cars had arrived, a long line of black vehicles now parked right in front of our home. The fog that had hidden us moments ago began to thin and fade, leaving us completely exposed.

“Come here, Lyra,” Aunt Mia called.

I went to her, my brows furrowed in confusion and fear.

“I need you to listen to me carefully and do exactly as I say,” she said, taking my hands and slipping a folded note into my palm. There was a fierce resolve in her eyes that made my stomach twist. I nodded, unable to speak.

Suddenly, loud pounding shook the door, followed by a harsh voice shouting, “We know you’re in there. Surrender yourself now! We will only say it once!”

The sound sent chills through my body. My legs trembled, and my hands went cold.

“Forget them, Lyra. Listen to me,” Aunt Mia said firmly. “After I finish this protective spell, you must leave through the back door and run. Do not stop until you have crossed the border of Dorhaven. Go to the address written on that note and tell them you were sent by Chief Mensah.”

My brows creased and my lips parted. “I am not going anywhere without you,” I whispered, shaking my head violently.

“You have to,” she said, her tone both fierce and sorrowful. “After this spell, I will lose my strength. You must not let my sacrifice be in vain. You are the only one who can unite the realms, Lyra. You have to survive.”

Her words tore at my heart. “How am I supposed to do that?” I cried.

Before she could answer, a heavy thud struck the door, shaking the entire house. The barrier cracked, and the sound of metal boots drew closer.

“Trust yourself, Lyra. That is all you have to do,” Aunt Mia said, her voice trembling with urgency. Then she began chanting again, the language darker and older this time. The air around us shimmered, the walls vibrating with power. I felt something invisible wrap around me, like a cloak that hummed with energy.

By the time she finished, her skin had turned pale, and her breathing was shallow. The light in her eyes dimmed. “Run, Lyra,” she whispered hoarsely, staggering backward. “Now.”

Tears blurred my vision as I obeyed, forcing my legs to move. I ran toward the back door, my heart shattering with every step.

The moment I stepped outside, I saw several warriors moving toward that side of the house. I froze in terror, but to my disbelief, they passed right by me. Aunt Mia’s spell had worked. I released the breath I had been holding and sprinted toward the woods, the trees swallowing me whole.

I ran as fast as I could, the world blurring around me. But before I had covered much ground, I heard footsteps behind me. They were fast, relentless, and closing in. My blood ran cold. That should not have been possible. No one was supposed to be able to see me. Unless Aunt Mia’s spell had already faded.

I refused to look back. I forced my legs to move faster, but it was useless. A powerful hand caught my upper arm from behind, halting me mid-stride. My heart almost stopped beating as I felt my world had come to a sudden end. Was this how I was going to die?