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Story: Moonlit Betrayal
I completely broke down the moment the phone call connected and I heard my brother Ryker Black’s voice. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I pressed a hand over my mouth to muffle any sound.
He knew right away that something was wrong.
“What’s wrong, Lyra? Did something happen?” Ryker enquired, his voice tense.
I shook my head, but couldn’t say anything, allowing the silence to stretch as tears fell.
After a moment’s silence, Ryker replied: “Don’t be scared, Lyra. I’m here. Whatever it is, I’ll fix it. Just hang on for two more days. I’ll send a car for you the day after tomorrow and sort everything out.”
His words sparked a rush of warmth through me.
I nodded, gathered myself, and then ended the call. That’s when someone knocked on the door.
Zane Thorne—or, rather, the man pretending to be Dorian Thorne—stood outside, holding some milk, his voice soft. “Lyra, are you asleep? I warmed some milk for you. Drink it and get some rest.”
I took a deep breath and wiped away tears.
Zane stiffened as soon as the door opened. His gaze remained fixed on my puffy, red-rimmed eyes.
“Why are you sitting on the floor, Lyra? Are you feeling sick?” he enquired, concerned.
I kept my head down and said nothing.
Zane sighed, set the milk on the table, and reached to help me up. “I know you still miss Zane, but he’s gone. You need to look after yourself for the pup you’re carrying.”
My hands balled into fists as I felt pain and anger from his hollow words. When I looked up and saw his face, my chest hurt so much that I could barely breathe.
“I’m fine. It’s just some mild stomach cramps,” I explained.
Zane paused, his expression softening in concern. “Do you want me to get a doctor?”
I shook my head and fought back tears. “No, I just need to rest. I’ll be okay.”
He assisted me to the bed, but his gesture was a little overly affectionate for a “brother-in-law”.
Once I was seated, his gaze shifted to my still-flat stomach, and he laughed quietly. “This pup’s already giving its mother trouble before it’s even born. Just wait till it gets here. I’ll set it straight as its uncle. Lyra, you’ve got to stay strong for the pup and Zane.”
Zane’s voice was filled with concern, but each word cut deep. I bit my lip, my eyes welling up with tears that I refused to let fall. I finally looked up at him, my voice trembling. “Zane…”
Zane froze, his eyes becoming slightly redder. He reached out to hug me, but his hands stopped in midair, as if he had suddenly remembered the role he was playing.
After a brief pause, he collected himself and chuckled. “Lyra, you miss Zane so much that you’re seeing him in me. But it’s okay. I’ll look after you and your pup in his place.”
His voice was filled with concern, but he had no idea that I didn’t want Dorian to look after me; I wanted him to care for me as much as Zane did.
He knew right away that something was wrong.
“What’s wrong, Lyra? Did something happen?” Ryker enquired, his voice tense.
I shook my head, but couldn’t say anything, allowing the silence to stretch as tears fell.
After a moment’s silence, Ryker replied: “Don’t be scared, Lyra. I’m here. Whatever it is, I’ll fix it. Just hang on for two more days. I’ll send a car for you the day after tomorrow and sort everything out.”
His words sparked a rush of warmth through me.
I nodded, gathered myself, and then ended the call. That’s when someone knocked on the door.
Zane Thorne—or, rather, the man pretending to be Dorian Thorne—stood outside, holding some milk, his voice soft. “Lyra, are you asleep? I warmed some milk for you. Drink it and get some rest.”
I took a deep breath and wiped away tears.
Zane stiffened as soon as the door opened. His gaze remained fixed on my puffy, red-rimmed eyes.
“Why are you sitting on the floor, Lyra? Are you feeling sick?” he enquired, concerned.
I kept my head down and said nothing.
Zane sighed, set the milk on the table, and reached to help me up. “I know you still miss Zane, but he’s gone. You need to look after yourself for the pup you’re carrying.”
My hands balled into fists as I felt pain and anger from his hollow words. When I looked up and saw his face, my chest hurt so much that I could barely breathe.
“I’m fine. It’s just some mild stomach cramps,” I explained.
Zane paused, his expression softening in concern. “Do you want me to get a doctor?”
I shook my head and fought back tears. “No, I just need to rest. I’ll be okay.”
He assisted me to the bed, but his gesture was a little overly affectionate for a “brother-in-law”.
Once I was seated, his gaze shifted to my still-flat stomach, and he laughed quietly. “This pup’s already giving its mother trouble before it’s even born. Just wait till it gets here. I’ll set it straight as its uncle. Lyra, you’ve got to stay strong for the pup and Zane.”
Zane’s voice was filled with concern, but each word cut deep. I bit my lip, my eyes welling up with tears that I refused to let fall. I finally looked up at him, my voice trembling. “Zane…”
Zane froze, his eyes becoming slightly redder. He reached out to hug me, but his hands stopped in midair, as if he had suddenly remembered the role he was playing.
After a brief pause, he collected himself and chuckled. “Lyra, you miss Zane so much that you’re seeing him in me. But it’s okay. I’ll look after you and your pup in his place.”
His voice was filled with concern, but he had no idea that I didn’t want Dorian to look after me; I wanted him to care for me as much as Zane did.