His Scarred Luna

Chapter 6

“What is all this?” Lyra asked, staring at the stack of boxes in the corner of Donovan’s room.

“Mom’s stuff.” Donovan shifted on the bed and pulled his wheelchair closer. “I asked Dad if I could go through it a while back, but... I haven’t been able to bring myself to look.”

She watched as he locked the wheels and then transferred himself from the bed to the chair, pulling each leg into place and adjusting them.

“Why do you want to go through it now?”

He shrugged, smoothing his pants before meeting her eyes. “I never really knew her. All I’ve had are Dad’s stories, but... I guess I want to figure out who she was for myself. I’ve always felt like I might be more like her than anyone else.”

Lyra frowned. “Dad says I look like her. You’re the spitting image of him.”

Donovan rolled his eyes. “Not in looks. I mean... she was human. And so am I. I thought maybe there’d be something in here that helps me understand what living in the human world was like for her. Maybe she had family out there somewhere.”

“Dad said she was an only child. That her parents died young.”

“I know, but what if there are cousins, aunts, uncles… someone. I thought maybe I’d find a clue in all this. Something that helps me find people who are, you know… like me.”

“Donovan, Dad and I are your family.”

“I know that,” he said, sighing as he unlocked the chair and rolled closer to the boxes. “But you and Dad... you're wolves. You don’t really know what it’s like to be me. No heightened senses, no quick healing, no reflexes, no wolf inside my head. I guess I just want to not feel like the odd one out… just once.”

Lyra stepped off the bed and moved to the boxes. She opened one and found old photos and several journals. She picked up the top journal and flipped it open at random.

I try to keep hope, but I’m not so sure anymore. I’ve lost three pregnancies since having Lyra. I really want this one to stick. I pray to Lyle’s Moon Goddess every night, but I’m sick with worry. I don’t think I can handle losing another child.

She turned to the next page.

It’s a boy! The ultrasound confirmed it. This is the furthest I’ve made it since Lyra. I think this might be the one! Lyle’s already picking out names. We agreed I name the girls and he names the boys. He has a few options, but I really want to call him Donovan. Lyle’s not a fan of the name, so we’ll probably go with one of his choices. Honestly, I don’t care, not as long as he’s healthy.

“What is it?” Donovan asked, leaning forward to see the journal.

“It’s about her pregnancy with you, I think.” Lyra flipped to the next page and began reading aloud.

I started spotting last night. The doctor says it’s normal in pregnancy, but it’s been increasing all day. I’m really worried. He hasn’t kicked much either. I went to the hospital, but they say there’s nothing they can do at this stage. Just wait. The doctor reminded me again how risky cross-species pregnancies are, that most don’t make it to term. But we had Lyra. I know we can have another.

Luna Charlotte mentioned a forest witch who helps with unusual ailments. I’m considering it. Lyle is completely against it. He says witches can’t be trusted. I’ve never understood why wolves and witches are always at odds. I think our relationship proves we don’t need to be so insular. If this witch has something that might help, I’m willing to try. I just need to find a way to get Lyle to see reason.

Lyra looked up, eyes wide. “Mom went to see a witch?”

Donovan scratched his chin, frowning. “Dad never mentioned that, did he?”

She shook her head. “No, but… she only wrote that she was thinking about it. Maybe he talked her out of it.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced. He reached into the box and pulled out a photo of their mother holding toddler Lyra. Mary was smiling at the camera, and little Lyra was kissing her cheek.

“You really do look like her,” he murmured.

It was true. Aside from Lyra’s black hair, just like Lyle’s, her features mirrored Mary’s: the same arched eyebrows, long lashes, and vivid gray eyes. Even their cheekbones were similar, though Lyra’s were interrupted by the scar running down one side of her face.

Donovan ran his fingers gently over their mother’s image. “What do you remember about her?”

“Not much,” Lyra admitted, leaning against his chair. “Her laugh, mostly. She was always smiling. But I was still really little when she died.”

“I wish I’d met her.” He placed the photo back and picked up another journal. “It’s kind of amazing she kept journals. Dad never said anything.” He flipped through a few pages. “Then again, he doesn’t talk about her much at all.”

“No,” Lyra said, pulling out a few more photos. “Losing her was devastating for him. For wolves, losing a fated mate can be... fatal. A lot don’t survive it.”

Donovan stared at the journal in his lap. “I’ve always wondered how they met. I mean, Dad hates the human world. How does a guy like that end up with a human mate?” He closed the journal with a soft thud. “Has he ever told you?”

She shook her head. “I asked once, when I was about ten. He said he’d tell me when I was older, but I never brought it up again.”

“He told me the same thing when I was thirteen.” Donovan met her gaze. “Don’t you think that’s kind of odd?”

Lyra was quiet for a beat, then nodded. “Maybe it’s time we ask him again.”

**

Lyra made dinner before Lyle got home. Her dad had never been a great cook, so she was glad to take that stress off him for a while. She was just setting the plates on the table when he walked in.

“What’s this?” Lyle asked, smiling slightly as he headed to the sink to wash his hands.

“Lasagna and garlic bread,” Lyra said with a shrug. “Not exactly gourmet, but it’s one of my favorites.”

“Smells delicious.” He moved toward the table. “Where’s Donnie?”

“Hiding in his room.” She grabbed the jug of sweet tea from the fridge. “He’s been reading some of Mom’s journals.”

Lyle froze for a moment before sitting down. “She was always writing in those. Said it helped clear her mind.”

“Did you ever read any of them?”

He shook his head. “She didn’t let me when she was alive. And after she passed... I couldn’t. It felt like... I don’t know... betraying her trust, I guess.”

“I read a little this morning with Donnie.” She set three glasses on the table as her dad sat down.

“Anything interesting?”

She shrugged. “Some stuff about her pregnancy with Donovan. Sounds like it was rough on her.”

Lyle rubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah. Humans don’t carry werewolf pregnancies well. We lost several before we had you two. I wanted to stop trying before Donovan, but your mother was determined to have another baby.”

The sound of Donovan’s wheelchair drew their attention as he rolled into the kitchen.

“Smells great,” he said, settling into his usual spot. “What are we talking about?”

“Mom,” Lyra explained, sitting down. “I was telling Dad about the journals.”

“Did you ask him yet?”

She shook her head.

“Ask me what?” Lyle looked between them.

“How you met Mom,” Donovan said as he reached for the lasagna. “You told us both you’d tell us when we were older... and, well, we’re older now.”

“We were just curious how a werewolf ended up with a human mate,” Lyra added.

Lyle stared at his hands on the table, lost in thought. Lyra and Donovan began serving themselves, and Lyra was in the middle of dishing food onto her dad’s plate when he finally spoke.

“You both know I was a warrior before your mom died.”

They nodded.

“Alpha Christian had to meet with a businessman in a human town. A lot of alphas invest in the human world to help sustain their packs. Alpha Christian did that often. He always brought a small team of warriors for protection. I went with him regularly, and one time, I went to grab us some coffee. That’s when I saw her, your mother. The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”

He smiled faintly, the memory softening his features. “I talked to her right away. It was obvious she wasn’t a werewolf, but I knew she was my mate. My wolf knew it too. But what was I supposed to say? You can’t just walk up to a human and tell her she’s your destined mate.” He chuckled. “Luckily, your mom already knew about werewolves.”

Lyra looked up sharply. “What?”

“Turns out she’d had a few encounters with the supernatural before she met me.” He stared off, his voice quieting. “Your mom was intuitive. She sensed things others couldn’t. It’s part of what made her so special.”

“How did people react when you brought a human back to the pack?” Donovan asked, biting into his garlic bread.

Lyle’s smile faded. “Some were accepting. They trusted that if the Moon Goddess chose her, there was a reason. But others… not so much. They thought she diluted our bloodline, weakened the pack.”

“What about Alpha Christian?” Lyra asked, watching him closely.

“At first, he supported our bond. But eventually…” Lyle paused, pushing food around his plate. “The elders didn’t want her here. They pressured Alpha Christian hard.”

“So he turned against her?” Donovan asked.

“No…” Lyle frowned. “More like... he stopped supporting us openly. He didn’t cast us out, but he wasn’t going to defend her either.”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “Like father, like son. Alpha Jake acted the same way in school.”

Lyle looked like he was going to argue but then sighed and shook his head. “It’s hard to go against the traditions of your pack. I should know. I was the one who defied them more than anyone.”