The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
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Banished and Betrayed—But She Rose Again… And Shut Him Down
The second I laid eyes on him, I knew. This wasn't just some alpha—he was power incarnate, all sharp edges and dominance, exactly what I deserved. And the best part? He belonged to Lyra. Stealing him would be the ultimate way to wipe that smug superiority off her face.
I could still picture that first night like it was yesterday. Lyra was away on pack business, and Xavier was burning the midnight oil in his office, exhaustion written all over him. Perfect.
I sauntered in wearing next to nothing—a silk robe that might as well have been tissue paper, with scandalous black lace beneath. His head snapped up, startled, but I didn't miss the way his gaze lingered.
"Celeste… What are you doing here?"
"Just worried about you," I purred, closing the distance between us. "You've been working yourself ragged, Xavier. Let me… help you unwind."
"This isn't—"
I didn't let him finish. The robe hit the floor.
"No talking," I whispered, standing there in nothing but temptation. "Just let me take care of you."
He hesitated—for all of three seconds. Then his hands were on me, rough and desperate, his mouth claiming mine like a man starved. That night sealed it. I owned him. And damn, did he deliver—every bit the commanding, relentless alpha I'd fantasized about.
But now? Now the cracks were showing.
"After everything I've done for him—after giving him a child, even if it's not his—he's still obsessed with her?" My voice shook with fury as I paced, nails digging into my palms. "Oh no, Xavier. You don't get to crawl back to her. Not after what you've thrown away."
Ideas flickered through my mind like wildfire. Losing him wasn't an option—not when I was this close to becoming Luna. Destiny was mine, and Lyra? She was just a obstacle I'd crush.
I stopped mid-step, lips curling. "Fine, Lyra. Game on. But remember—I play to win. And I always cheat."
Lyra's POV
I burst into Zephyr's office, the crumpled letter clutched in my fist like a lifeline—only to freeze at the sight of him. Slumped over his desk, shirt shredded, blood soaking through the fabric. A gash ran down his back, deep enough to kill a lesser wolf.
"Zephyr!" I lunged forward, hands already glowing with healing energy. "What the hell happened?"
No answer. Just labored breathing, skin too pale.
I didn't wait for permission. My palms pressed against the wound, power surging hotter and brighter than ever before. Flesh knit itself back together under my touch, leaving smooth skin in its wake.
Before I could react, he spun around—yanking me against him—and his mouth crashed into mine.
Electricity exploded in my veins. A deafening ring filled my skull as my entire body went rigid. One earth-shattering realization tore through me:
Mate.
"No!" I shoved him back, gasping. "This—this can't be happening."
Zephyr's gaze burned into me, raw and unwavering. "You felt it too. You're mine, Lyra."
"Not now!" I thrust the letter at his chest, voice cracking. "Read it."
His expression turned lethal as he scanned Xavier's threats. Jaw clenched, muscles taut—I could see the fury simmering beneath his calm.
"That son of a bitch," he growled. "He's trying to scare you back into his cage."
I chewed my lip. "How did you get hurt?"
Zephyr exhaled, tossing the letter aside. "Twelve rogues crossed the border at dawn. Handled it myself."
"Twelve? Alone?"
A shrug. "Just scouts. Nothing serious."
Guilt twisted my stomach. He'd nearly died protecting his pack—my mess had bled into his territory.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "If I hadn't come here—"
In two strides, he hauled me into his arms. Warmth enveloped me, and for one weak moment, I let myself lean in.
"Don't," he said fiercely. "None of this is your fault. I know why you ran. And I swear on my life—I won't betray you like your mate and husband did."
The words hit like a punch to the gut. I wanted to believe him, but trust didn't come easy anymore.
"You don't understand," I choked out. "Losing everything—it breaks you."
He cupped my face, eyes blazing with conviction. "Maybe not. But I know this—you deserve safety. Happiness. And I'll burn the world down to give it to you."
I opened my mouth to argue—but the steadiness of his hands, the fire in his voice… for once, I had no words.
The second I laid eyes on him, I knew. This wasn't just some alpha—he was power incarnate, all sharp edges and dominance, exactly what I deserved. And the best part? He belonged to Lyra. Stealing him would be the ultimate way to wipe that smug superiority off her face.
I could still picture that first night like it was yesterday. Lyra was away on pack business, and Xavier was burning the midnight oil in his office, exhaustion written all over him. Perfect.
I sauntered in wearing next to nothing—a silk robe that might as well have been tissue paper, with scandalous black lace beneath. His head snapped up, startled, but I didn't miss the way his gaze lingered.
"Celeste… What are you doing here?"
"Just worried about you," I purred, closing the distance between us. "You've been working yourself ragged, Xavier. Let me… help you unwind."
"This isn't—"
I didn't let him finish. The robe hit the floor.
"No talking," I whispered, standing there in nothing but temptation. "Just let me take care of you."
He hesitated—for all of three seconds. Then his hands were on me, rough and desperate, his mouth claiming mine like a man starved. That night sealed it. I owned him. And damn, did he deliver—every bit the commanding, relentless alpha I'd fantasized about.
But now? Now the cracks were showing.
"After everything I've done for him—after giving him a child, even if it's not his—he's still obsessed with her?" My voice shook with fury as I paced, nails digging into my palms. "Oh no, Xavier. You don't get to crawl back to her. Not after what you've thrown away."
Ideas flickered through my mind like wildfire. Losing him wasn't an option—not when I was this close to becoming Luna. Destiny was mine, and Lyra? She was just a obstacle I'd crush.
I stopped mid-step, lips curling. "Fine, Lyra. Game on. But remember—I play to win. And I always cheat."
Lyra's POV
I burst into Zephyr's office, the crumpled letter clutched in my fist like a lifeline—only to freeze at the sight of him. Slumped over his desk, shirt shredded, blood soaking through the fabric. A gash ran down his back, deep enough to kill a lesser wolf.
"Zephyr!" I lunged forward, hands already glowing with healing energy. "What the hell happened?"
No answer. Just labored breathing, skin too pale.
I didn't wait for permission. My palms pressed against the wound, power surging hotter and brighter than ever before. Flesh knit itself back together under my touch, leaving smooth skin in its wake.
Before I could react, he spun around—yanking me against him—and his mouth crashed into mine.
Electricity exploded in my veins. A deafening ring filled my skull as my entire body went rigid. One earth-shattering realization tore through me:
Mate.
"No!" I shoved him back, gasping. "This—this can't be happening."
Zephyr's gaze burned into me, raw and unwavering. "You felt it too. You're mine, Lyra."
"Not now!" I thrust the letter at his chest, voice cracking. "Read it."
His expression turned lethal as he scanned Xavier's threats. Jaw clenched, muscles taut—I could see the fury simmering beneath his calm.
"That son of a bitch," he growled. "He's trying to scare you back into his cage."
I chewed my lip. "How did you get hurt?"
Zephyr exhaled, tossing the letter aside. "Twelve rogues crossed the border at dawn. Handled it myself."
"Twelve? Alone?"
A shrug. "Just scouts. Nothing serious."
Guilt twisted my stomach. He'd nearly died protecting his pack—my mess had bled into his territory.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "If I hadn't come here—"
In two strides, he hauled me into his arms. Warmth enveloped me, and for one weak moment, I let myself lean in.
"Don't," he said fiercely. "None of this is your fault. I know why you ran. And I swear on my life—I won't betray you like your mate and husband did."
The words hit like a punch to the gut. I wanted to believe him, but trust didn't come easy anymore.
"You don't understand," I choked out. "Losing everything—it breaks you."
He cupped my face, eyes blazing with conviction. "Maybe not. But I know this—you deserve safety. Happiness. And I'll burn the world down to give it to you."
I opened my mouth to argue—but the steadiness of his hands, the fire in his voice… for once, I had no words.
End of The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase book page.