Marked Twice by the Alpha King

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Third Person POV

The week after the wedding, Blackwood Manor's study hosted an unlikely search team. Blake sat behind his desk, maps and documents scattered everywhere. Ava and Ella huddled on the couch while Sophia paced the room, looking way more anxious than the rest.

"We're still working with crumbs here," Blake said, tapping several spots on the map. "Thomas Wilson, ran a bookstore in some border town. That description fits maybe dozens of guys."

"I tried searching human social networks," Ella said. "But Thomas Wilson's like the John Smith of names. Without photos or specific details, we're shooting in the dark."

They'd hit dead ends all week. Wrong-age Thomas Wilsons, bookstores that closed decades ago, false leads that sent them on wild goose chases. Every disappointment made Lyra withdraw more, cranking up the pressure on their search.

"Maybe we need to dig deeper," Sophia suddenly stopped pacing. "I think I should talk to Lyra again."

"She already told us everything she remembers," Ava said gently.

"Nah, there's more." Sophia's eyes held that spark of intuition. "Let me try."

Sophia knocked on Lyra's door.

"Come in." Lyra's voice sounded drained and defeated.

Sophia pushed open the door to find Lyra staring out the window at distant mountains.

"I know what you're thinking," Sophia said softly. "You're wondering if this whole search is a mistake. If some things should stay buried."

Lyra spun around, purple eyes wide with surprise. "How'd you know?"/

"Because I thought the same thing." Sophia moved closer. "About Jackson, about our relationship. Even after discovering his true face, for a split second I wondered if I should just pretend I didn't know, keep living the beautiful lie."

Lyra went quiet, then sank onto the bed. "Sometimes truth hurts more than lies."

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"But running away just keeps the regret alive forever, Sophia sat beside her.

"Even if the ending isn't what you imagined, at least you'll know. I e the chance to finish this used to regret not seeing through Jackson earlier, but now I'm grateful that experience taught me to grow. unfinished story."

Lyra studied Sophia. The young woman's sincerity started chipping away at her defenses.

"Tell me everything about him," Sophia said quietly. "Not the basic stuff, but the details that stuck with you all these years."

Lyra closed her eyes, memories flooding back. "He loved watching stars by the lake. Said it inspired his writing."

""Writing?" Sophia caught that detail.

"He published poetry and short stories under a pen name. Asterius, after his favorite constellation." Lyra's voice went distant. He dreamed of building a cabin someday 'by a mountain lake where you can see the North Star, writing in peace."

""What else?" Sophia encouraged.

"He collected rare old books. Said book's were bridges between different worlds." Lyra opened her eyes. "Why ask all this? Does it help?-

"Huge help, Sophia said excitedly. "Asterius is our breakthrough. We can search for published works under that name.

Few days later, using the pen name Asterius, they finally tracked down Thomas's location.

"When they confirmed they'd probably found Thomas, Lyra suddenly got cold feet.

"I can't go," she told Sophia. "What if he's married? What if he's forgotten me? What if..

"What if nothing happens and you regret it forever? Sophia cut her off firmly.

"Look, even if it's just saying goodbye, that beats wondering for the rest of your life. You don't owe anyone anything, but you owe yourself the truth."

Finally, with Sophia's persuasion, Lyra agreed to meet.

Three hours from Silverpeak territory, they found a hidden mountain lake. A simple but elegant cabin sat on the shore, surrounded by wildflowers. Even in daylight, the place felt peaceful and mysterious.

Thomas Wilson did live there. When Blake knocked, a sixty-something human man answered. Silver hair, blue eyes, aged but still carrying himself with quiet dignity.

"Can I help you?" he asked politely, but when Blake mentioned Lyra's name, his whole expression shifted.

"Lyra?" His voice shook. "Lyra Starlight? Is she... is she okay?"

"She wants to see you, Blake said simply.

They arranged to meet at Moonlight Lodge-neutral territory, open to all races.

The meeting night, moonlight streamed through the Lodge's big windows into the sitting room. Lyra arrived fifteen minutes early, wearing a simple purple dress without any priestess symbols, looking like any woman waiting to reunite with her love.

When Thomas pushed open the door, time seemed to freeze.

Lyra remained as beautiful as ever-noble werewolf blood keeping her practically unchanged. Thomas had become an elderly human, silver- haired and lined, life's passage clearly written on his face.

"Lyra." He spoke her name like tasting something precious.

"Thomas." Her voice trembled.

They stared at each other, forty years of separation feeling both endless and brief.

"You're still beautiful, Thomas spoke first, smiling bitterly. "While I....."

"You're still elegant," Lyra interrupted. "Time's been gentle with you."

They sat down carefully, a small table between them, the distance feeling like a chasm.

"I'm sorry for my choice back then," Lyra apologized first. "I..."

"Don't apologize," Thomas said gently. "I understood you carried your whole pack's expectations."

"But we could have... Lyra's voice choked.

"Could have what?" Thomas laughed softly. "Back then, cross-species relationships were nearly impossible. Your people would've seen betraying tradition, mine would've thought I'd lost my mind."noveldrama

"It's different now," Lyra whispered.

"Yes, it's different now." Thomas nodded. "But so are we. I'm a sixty-five- year- old man, and you..." He paused. "You still have a long life ahead,

Silence stretched between them-not awkward, but full of unspoken words and unchangeable reality.

"Did you marry?" Lyra finally asked.

"No." Thomas shook his head. "I tried, but..." He smiled ruefully. "Never worked out."

""I didn't either," Lyra admitted. "Priestess duties, and..."

They fell silent again, this time with more complexity-regret, understanding, and subtle comfort mixed together.

"I brought you something," Thomas pulled a hand-bound booklet from his bag. "Poems I've written over the years. Most about you, about the life we couldn't have."

Lyra took the booklet, fingers tracing the cover. "Thomas..."

"This isn't to make you feel guilty," he explained quickly. "I want you to know that our time together, those feelings-they were real, precious. Even though we couldn't be together, they enriched my life."

Tears gathered in Lyra's eyes. "I want you to know that rejecting you was the most painful decision of my life. Every time I see stars, I remember those nights we shared."

"Maybe," Thomas said gently, "this is how our story was meant to be. Not a fairy tale ending, but a beautiful meeting, a necessary parting, and a long-overdue understanding."

"Would you visit Northern Lights?" Lyra asked suddenly. "I want you to see my world, the traditions I've been protecting."

Thomas's eyes brightened. "Are you sure that's okay? A human visiting werewolf territory..."

"Times have changed," Lyra repeated her earlier words. "And you'd be my invited guest."

As they prepared to leave, Blake approached Ava, eyes holding mysterious light.

"Tonight's moonlight is beautiful," he said. "There's somewhere I want to take you..."

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