The name hung in the air between them, and even without speaking, Lyra felt its weight. Penny's expression shifted—surprise, then something softer, almost sad.
"Lilith…our late Luna," Penny's voice lowered slightly, her gaze distant, as though looking back at a memory. "I don't know much about her but they say she was… beautiful. Not just in appearance, but in the way she carried herself. Always laughing, always bringing warmth wherever she went."
Lyra's chest tightened. The words were like petals—soft, lovely, but they pricked like thorns.
"She was a healer, you know?" Penny continued, her voice tinged with admiration. "Always helping, always smiling. The Alpha was… different with her. Lighter. Happier."
Lyra's fingers gripped the book, but she forced herself to stay still, to not let the pain show.
"And she loved the Alpha dearly. And he…" Penny trailed off, a faint, wistful smile crossing her lips. "He loved her just as fiercely. They were like two halves of the same soul."
