Lyra's POV
The words from my vision still churned through me like poison, their echo far more disturbing than any scream of rage. This wasn't some wild threat thrown in the heat of battle. It carried the weight of certainty, like a verdict already carved in stone.
Benedict murdering Kaelen wasn't driven by simple vengeance or hunger for power. It was strategic. A calculated move toward claiming the Alpha throne, messy but deliberate. Every syllable had been staked like a claim on territory still slick with fresh blood.
Even as I tried to regulate my breathing against Kaelen's solid chest, my mind spiraled into overdrive. Benedict had always been within striking distance. Always possessed the opportunity. If elimination was his goal, he could have acted years back, weeks back, even days back. His patience meant something was shifting. Some change was coming that would make the gamble worthwhile, or render delay impossible.
