Where we started

The forest whispered with secrets as Lyra approached the boundary she had sworn never to cross again. Five years ago, this place had felt like the center of her world, a world that shattered with three words.

"I reject you."

The memory tightened her chest, but Lyra held her head high. Her pink hair glimmered like silk under the sun, a stark contrast to the muted greens and browns of the towering pines. Wolves of the pack she once called home would remember her as the Beta's obedient daughter, quiet and soft-spoken. But that Lyra no longer existed.

"Are you going to stand there all day or do you actually plan on stepping in?" Kade's voice, laced with teasing, pulled her from her thoughts.

Kade had been her shadow since the day she joined the rogue council, a towering, auburn-haired wolf with a penchant for trouble. His easy grin betrayed none of the tension Lyra knew he felt. He'd warned her this wasn't a good idea. Coming back here, facing him. But she didn't have a choice.

Lyra cast him a smirk. "Are you nervous for me, Kade? That's sweet."

"Not nervous. Just wondering how long it'll take before someone throws the first punch."

She laughed, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Five years away and all you can picture is violence? I'm hurt."

"I've met you." Kade retorted.

Without another word, Lyra stepped across the invisible line that separated the rogue lands from her former home. Her boots crunched against the forest floor, and she swore the air grew heavier, charged with memories and the unmistakable scent of pack wolves.

The first patrol spotted her within moments. Two burly figures emerged from the shadows of the trees, their stances rigid with suspicion.

"State your name and BUSINESS." the taller one shouted.

Lyra's lips curled into a half-frown. "Don't tell me you've forgotten me already, Finn. I'm hurt."

Finn squinted, his gaze raking over her. Recognition dawned, and his mouth fell open. "Lyra?"

She gave a mock curtsey. "The one and only."

The other wolf, a younger male with a scar running down his cheek, muttered, "Didn't think we'd ever see you again."

"Life's full of surprises." Lyra quipped, brushing past them. "Now, unless you plan on stopping me, I've got places to be."

Finn hesitated but ultimately stepped aside. Lyra didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on her, part awe, part disbelief.

As she and Kade continued deeper into pack territory, the familiar sights and scents pulled at her heartstrings. The training grounds where she and Atlas used to spar, the clearing where they'd shared their first kiss… Every step felt like a battle against the past.

But nothing could have prepared her for the moment she saw him again.

The packhouse loomed ahead, its grand stone façade unchanged. Wolves bustled about, their chatter fading the instant they spotted her. Whispers followed her like a shadow, but Lyra ignored them. Her focus was on the figure standing at the top of the steps.

Atlas.

He hadn't changed much, though five years had carved sharper lines into his face. His dark hair was messier than she remembered, and his broad shoulders seemed to carry more weight. But his piercing blue eyes, the eyes that once held her entire world were exactly the same.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of them.

"Lyra.." he said finally, his voice low and steady.

"Atlas.." she replied, matching his tone.

The tension between them was palpable, a storm waiting to break. Kade shifted uncomfortably beside her, but Lyra didn't spare him a glance. All her focus was on the man who had broken her heart.

"What are you doing here?" Atlas asked, descending the steps slowly.

Lyra crossed her arms. "Didn't your Alpha tell you? The rogue council sent me."

Atlas's jaw tightened. "You're the advisor?"

She smirked. "Surprised?"

His silence was answer enough.

"Look." Lyra continued, her voice turning professional, "I'm not here to relive old drama. We've got a bigger problem on our hands, and your Alpha thought it'd be smart to bring in someone with experience."

Atlas's eyes narrowed. "You think you're the solution to our problems?"

"I know I am." she shot back.

For a moment, the old dynamic between them flickered to life, her sharp tongue against his stubborn pride. But just as quickly, the moment passed, replaced by the weight of their shared history.

"Fine..." Atlas said, his voice clipped. "Follow me. The Alpha's waiting."

As he turned and led the way inside, Lyra couldn't help but steal a glance at his retreating figure. Five years had done nothing to dull the pull she felt toward him, but she shoved the feeling aside.

This wasn't about them. Not anymore.

INSIDE THE PACKHOUSE:

The tension only grew. The Alpha, a grizzled older wolf named Magnus, greeted her with a nod. He explained the threat facing the pack, a rival group encroaching on their territory, armed with weapons forged from a mysterious silver alloy. The details were vague, but the danger was clear.

Lyra listened intently, her mind already racing with strategies. Across the room, Atlas watched her, his expression unreadable.

When the meeting ended, Lyra lingered in the grand hall, studying an old map of the pack's territory. She didn't notice Atlas approach until he was right beside her.

"You've changed alot." he said, his voice softer than before.

She glanced at him, her pink eyes gleaming. "But you haven't."

Atlas flinched, but she didn't let herself feel guilty. She couldn't afford to.

"Why did you come back?" he asked after a long pause.

"i told you millions of time already... this isn't about us." Lyra said, her tone firm.

"But it was once.." he said quietly.

Lyra's breath caught, but she quickly regained her composure. "Once doesn't matter anymore."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Atlas alone with the weight of their past.