POV: Colt

I stormed out of the bedroom, my blood boiling.

She had shoved me. An Omega. My Luna. She had put her hands on me and shoved me against the wall. The audacity. The sheer disrespect.

I paced the cabin's main room, my fists clenched at my sides. Ravenna was on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her. She looked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes.

"Is she okay?" she asked softly. "I'm so worried about her."

I ran my hand through my hair. "She's lost her mind. That's what's wrong with her."

Ravenna stood and walked toward me. Her hand found my chest, pressing gently against my racing heart.

"She's just stressed," she said. "The pack has been demanding so much from her. And you've been working so hard. Maybe she just needs a break."

I looked down at her. She was always so understanding. So patient. Why couldn't Lyra be more like her?

"Maybe you're right," I muttered.

Rake appeared in the doorway, a beer in his hand. "What's the problem now? Another Omega meltdown?"

Liliana laughed from the kitchen. "She's probably crying in the bedroom. You know how they are."

I shook my head. "She actually shoved me. Can you believe that?"

Rake snorted. "She's just testing you. Omegas do that. They push boundaries to see how far they can go. You need to put her in her place."

"Rake is right," Liliana added. "You're the Alpha. She's lucky you even tolerate her. Most Alphas would have demoted her by now."

Ravenna's hand squeezed my chest. "Don't listen to them, Colt. Lyra just needs time. She'll come around."

I wanted to believe her. I really did.

The day dragged on.

Lyra stayed in the bedroom. She did not come out for lunch. She did not come out for dinner. When I finally knocked and entered, she was sitting on the bed, staring at the wall. Her bag was packed. My heart lurched.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

She did not look at me. "Waiting."

"For what?"

"For this month to end."

I crossed the room and knelt in front of her. I took her hands. They were cold.

"Lyra, listen to me. I know I've made mistakes. But I love you."

Her eyes met mine. They were hollow.

"You love the idea of me," she said. "You love having a Luna who cleans up your messes. You love having someone to come home to when Ravenna is busy. But you don't love me."

"That's not true."

She pulled her hands away. "You forgot our anniversary. You let Ravenna sleep in our bed. You shared my private photos with your friends and laughed at me."

I froze. "What photos?"

Her smile was bitter. "The group chat. The Originals. I saw it."

My stomach dropped. I had forgotten about the chat. I had let Ravenna post those photos months ago. I had thought it was harmless.

"Lyra, that was just—"

"Just what? Just your friends mocking me? Just you staying silent while they called me pathetic?"

I opened my mouth. No words came.

She stood up. She walked past me toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To sleep on the couch. Again."

I grabbed her wrist. "Lyra, stop. Please."

She stopped. She turned to look at me.

For a moment, just a moment, I saw something flicker in her eyes. Pain. Longing. Love. It was still there, buried deep beneath all that ice.

I pulled her close. My hand cupped her face. I leaned in, my lips hovering over hers.

"Give me one month," I whispered. "One month to prove I can change. I will make it right. All of it."

She looked at me. Her lips parted.

For a heartbeat, I thought she would say yes.

Then she pulled away.

"Let go of me, Colt."

I released her.

She walked out the door.

---

I sat on the bed alone.

My hands were shaking. My wolf was howling inside me, desperate and confused. I had never felt this way before. I had never wanted anything the way I wanted her.

But she was slipping away.

And I did not know how to stop it.

---

The cabin fell silent.

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Ravenna had tried to come in. I told her to leave. I did not want comfort. I did not want distractions.

I wanted Lyra.

I had never said that before. I had never admitted it to myself. I had always told myself she would stay. She was Omega. She was grateful. She needed me.

But she did not need me anymore.

The realization hit me like a punch to the chest.

I threw my arm over my eyes and tried to sleep.

The couch creaked in the other room. I knew it was her. I knew she was lying there, cold and alone.

I should go to her. I should carry her back to bed and hold her until she forgot all of this. I should say the words she needed to hear.

But my pride would not let me.

My ego whispered that she would come back. She always came back.

So I stayed in bed.

And I let her freeze alone.

End of Chapter 6