The Alpha's Secret Omega

Kael's POV

I sat in my office, staring blankly at the papers strewn across my desk. The usual responsibilities of leading the pack no longer held my focus. My mind was consumed by thoughts of her—Lyra.

What had I done?

The memory of her face, the hurt and betrayal etched in her eyes, played in my mind. My chest tightened with every passing second. I thought I'd done the right thing, the necessary thing. I had to establish control, to remind her of her place, didn't I? Or was that just an excuse? Did I really have to hurt her like that?

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated with myself. The truth was, I'd gone too far with my jealousy. I hated Kellan's scent all over her. It made me go crazy. And now, I'd pushed her away.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't hear Ava's voice when it pierced through my mind link.

"Lyra just fell off the cliff! Please help!"

Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat.

"What?" I growled aloud, my chair screeching as I shot to my feet. My blood ran cold.

Lyra.

I was out the door before I even realized I was moving, my legs carrying me faster than I thought possible. "Where?" I demanded through the link, my voice frantic.

Ava's response was quick but shaky. "The edge of the cliff, near the eastern border. Please hurry!"

I didn't wait for more. The halls of the packhouse blurred as I tore through them, bursting out into the open air. My lungs burned as I called for the search patrols, commanding them to scour the cliff's edge.

Panic clawed at my chest as I ran, my mind racing. Had she fallen by accident? Or… had she jumped?

The thought chilled me to the bone.

"No," I muttered to myself. Lyra wouldn't do that. She wouldn't.

Guilt settled over me like a suffocating weight. I knew I'd been cruel, but would she go to such lengths because of me? Had my actions pushed her over the edge—literally?

"Lyra!" I shouted, my voice echoing into the distance.

I took a separate path from the search patrols, desperate to find her. My senses strained, but I couldn't pick up anything—not her scent, not her presence. I tried to reach out to her wolf, to sense even the faintest trace of her.

Nothing.

Frustration and fear took over, and I let out a growl, the sound tearing from my chest. My wolf was restless, clawing at me from within, demanding to protect our mate.

And then, I heard it—a faint whimper.

I froze, every nerve in my body on edge. I strained to locate the sound, my ears picking up the faint, broken noise again. A wolf's whimper.

"Lyra," I whispered, my feet carrying me toward the sound.

She was there, lying among the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff. Her wolf form was massive, her silvery-white fur matted with blood. She was motionless, except for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.

"No, no, no," I murmured, dropping to my knees beside her. My hands hovered over her, unsure of where to touch without causing more harm.

Her wolf's eyes fluttered open for a moment, just long enough to meet mine, before closing again. The sight broke me.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking.

Without wasting another second, I scooped her up into my arms. Her wolf form was large, but I didn't care about the weight. I ran, faster than I ever thought possible, my only thought being to get her to safety.

"Hold on," I muttered, repeating the words like a mantra. "Hold on, Lyra. Please."

The infirmary came into view, and I kicked the door open, startling Melora. Her eyes widened when she saw Lyra in my arms, but she didn't ask questions. She immediately began giving orders, motioning for me to lay her on the examination table.

I placed her down gently, my hands lingering for a moment before stepping back. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Melora work, her hands moving swiftly and efficiently.

"She'll be okay," Melora said, her voice steady. "But she needs time to heal."

I barely registered her words. All I could see was Lyra—broken, battered, and clinging to life.

And it was my fault.

I couldn't breathe.

When Melora told me Lyra would be fine, I should've felt relief. I should've been able to relax knowing that she'd survive. But I couldn't. Not with her lying there so still, so lifeless.

Her wolf saved her. That's what Melora said. She healed enough of the injuries to keep her alive, but now she was exhausted, asleep. Melora said it like it was a miracle, but I didn't see it that way. All I saw was my failure. I didn't protect her.

And now, here I am, pacing outside the infirmary like a fool because Melora kicked me out. She said I was distracting her, that I needed to let her work. I didn't argue because she was right—I wasn't helping. But it killed me to leave Lyra's side.

When I finally dragged myself back to my office, I couldn't sit still. The moment I sat down, I'd remember her lying on that damn surgical table, her wolf bleeding and broken. My wolf whimpered in my head, his grief as sharp as mine. I hated this. I hated feeling so helpless.

I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

---

Hours passed, maybe more—I wasn't counting. I was lost in my own torment when Melora's voice came through the link.

"Alpha, Lyra will be okay. Her wolf has shifted back to her human form, but she's restless. I had to put her to sleep for now."

The words barely registered before I was on my feet, sprinting out of the office. I didn't care who saw me or how desperate I looked. I had to see her.

When I reached the infirmary, I yanked the door open. There she was, lying in bed, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. She looked... fragile. Too fragile.

"She'll recover," Melora said, her voice calm and steady.

"How?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "How can she be fine when she's like this?"

Melora didn't answer. She just gave me that same calm look, and I hated it.

---

Days passed, and Lyra still hadn't woken up. I stayed by her side every single day. I didn't care how many times Melora told me to rest or eat or do anything else. None of it mattered. Only Lyra mattered.

"Alpha," Melora said one day, trying to sound gentle, "if you keep this up, you'll make yourself sick."

I glared at her. "You said she'd be fine," I said coldly. "She hasn't woken up. Tell me how this is fine."

She didn't have an answer for that, and I didn't expect her to.

I was sitting by her bed again when Kellan's voice invaded my head.

"I need to see Lyra," he growled through the link. "Every time I try, I'm denied access. I know she's not well. Ava told me about the cliff incident."

His words set my blood boiling.

"Lyra is none of your concern," I snapped back. "I'm the Alpha. I'll handle it."

"She's not just your concern," Kellan shot back. She's part of this pack. I have every right to check on her."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to let my wolf take over. "Lyra is fine. Whatever information you have is wrong. Now back off."

I cut the link before he could respond. The nerve of him. Lyra wasn't his business. She wasn't anyone's business but mine.

At some point, even Melora started teasing me. "Alpha, you need a bath. You're starting to stink."

I almost snapped at her, but she said it with a smirk, and for once, I didn't argue. I nodded curtly and left.

The shower didn't help. The moment I closed my eyes, all I could see was Lyra's broken wolf, the jagged rocks, the blood. I scrubbed at my skin harder, but it didn't wash away the guilt.

Then, Melora's voice cut through the haze. "She's awake, Alpha."

I froze. "What?"

"She's awake," she repeated.

I didn't even finish rinsing off. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I bolted out of the bathroom. I didn't care that I was dripping wet or that I almost slipped on the floor. Nothing mattered except getting to Lyra.

When I reached the infirmary, I practically tore the door off its hinges. My eyes locked on her immediately. She was sitting up, her eyes barely open, but she was awake. She was alive.

Relief flooded me so hard I could barely stand. I crossed the room in seconds, pulling her into a tight hug.

For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again.