She didn't announce her Separation Decree outright.There was no reason to hand Lyra the full victory of the Alpha King so easily.
Still,Lyra seemed deeply satisfied with the ambiguous answer.A conquering,radiant smile spread across her face,as if the Alpha's title and territory were already fully ceded to her.On the way back to the Keep,Lyra dozed off in the back seat of the transport.
Ryder glanced at Elara through the reflective surface of the rearview mirror and spoke in a low,guilt-ridden voice.“Elara,next cycle...I promise I’ll publicly acknowledge our true,binding bond.”
Elara smiled gently,her voice calm and final.“It is of no consequence,Ryder.Our Claiming was only a contractual agreement for the Pack.I comprehend its limits.”
Her calm,immediate acceptance of the lie made Ryder distinctly uneasy.
He hurriedly reassured her,his voice bordering on the desperate.“At the earliest,in a single cycle,I’ll—”
“We have reached the perimeter,”Elara cut him off,looking out the window at the distant gate of the Keep.
One day became one cycle.A single cycle became a full moon.A full moon became a year.