Morning came, and Lyra walked through the village towards Ajax's home, she had be summoned for a meeting. As she walked she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
The entire village seemed to be watching her, their eyes following her every move. Lyra knew that news of Theron's visit had spread quickly, and she couldn't help but wonder what everyone was thinking.
When she arrived at Ajax's home, she found him waiting for her outside. His expression was unreadable, but Lyra could sense that he was tense and on edge.
"Come," he said, motioning for her to follow him inside. "We have much to discuss."
Lyra followed him into a small room at the back of the house, where several other members of the pack were already waiting.
The alpha wasted no time in getting down to business. "We need to come up with a plan to protect you," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Theron won't give up easily, and we need to be prepared especially since you can't shift."
Lyra listened as the alpha and his advisors discussed various strategies, ranging from fortifying the village to even temporarily moving the pack.
But as the discussion went on, Lyra couldn't help but feel like none of the ideas being presented seemed to take into account her own wishes or desires.
Finally, unable to hold her tongue any longer, Lyra spoke up. "What about me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What about what I want?"
The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at her. Ajax's expression softened slightly, and he motioned for her to continue.
"I don't want to be claimed by anyone," Lyra said firmly. "But I also don't want to be treated like a helpless victim. I want to be a part of the plan, to have a say in my own protection."
Ajax seemed to consider her words for a moment before nodding slowly. "You're right," he said. "We can't just make plans for you without your input. We need to work together, as a pack."
Lyra felt a sense of relief wash over her at his words. For the first time, she felt like she had some control over her own fate.
But even as the pack began to discuss a new strategy, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling of unease that still lingered inside her.