Snippet #1852570

Lyra smiled softly down to Ares. Even as he huddled to himself, Lyra was taller when she knelt on the ground beside him, trying her best to offer comfort. She gave Kiyoshi praise, unsure how he could handle this small boy constantly. She realized that she loved Ares as a sibling or younger child, but her composure was not as lasting as Kiyoshi's. Her temper was too strong, her mind too driven. Even so, she was determined to comfort Ares to the best of her abilities. This was what would make her alpha some day. Compassion, strength, and understanding. Unlike many she took the time to understand the backgrounds of her friends, trying to mend herself into the perfect acquaintance. If only she had realized how strongly Ares felt about Kiyoshi. It was, after all, equal to how she felt about the Japanese wolf. "I-I a-accept y-you a-as m-my b-b-big s-s-sister, t-too..."

Lyra looked down to Ares, watching as he tried to hug her. When he froze, Lyra smiled softly and finished the action for him. She pulled the young boy closer to herself, letting him rest his head upon her lap as she stroked his black hair tenderly. "Thank you, my brother. Now calm down, everything is going to be all right. No one is going to hurt you. I'm here, shush, everything is all right now," she cooed softly. Lyra gazed down to the boy, wondering how anyone could have been so cruel to him. It didn't make any sense. But he wouldn't have to worry anymore. Not while she was around. . . But how long would that be?

As much as Lyra did not want to admit this, she had her own plans of greatness. If she was going to challenge James as alpha, she could not always be looking over her shoulder to protect Ares. Once she received her wolf, her life would no longer be simple. Her training would increase drastically until she was ready to confront James and her father, revealing the pain and darkness that lingered in her heart from the sexist regiment of the wolves. At that time in her life, would Ares be able to walk on his own? Because it was then that Lyra would need Kiyoshi more than any else. Kiyoshi would never abandon Ares, but could Lyra commit herself to such a role? She swallowed in uncertainty, knowing that her path would suddenly become for difficult.

With her free arm, Lyra wrapped Ares in a soft embrace as she continued to stoke his hair. While rocking back and forth slowly, she begun to hum a lullaby that had always comforted herself as a child. And it had comforted Kiyo also, Lyra realized. This was how she knew what to do with Ares. Ten years ago she had done the same thing for her mate, taking the silent boy in her arms to sooth the nightmares that tangled his sleep. Her eyes drifted upward, knowing he was there even if she could not see him. The two most important people of his life had suddenly darted into the woods. . . She would not be worthy as his mate if she could not predict his actions. However, she was grateful that he allowed her this time to connect with Ares. He was probably struggling with the decision not to whisk the boy away into his own arms, the arms that Lyra also wanted to be held by. She laughed bitterly at herself for the thought, knowing that she would never make Kiyoshi choose between them. But still, if the moment came, who would he pick?

Lyra continued humming her soft, rocking Ares in her arms despite the thoughts running through her mind. All of that could wait for later. For now, this was all that mattered. "I see the moon, the moon sees me, shining through the leaves of the old oak tree, Oh, let the light that shines on me, shine on the one I love." Lyra sung softly, recalling the words of her favorite lullaby. It was childish, it was not her style, but it was what Lyra thought Ares needed. After all, it had worked with Kiyoshi, look where they were now.