Luka povAlthough Lazarus does his best to hold me back, he knows better than to stand in his brother's way. From an early age, we followed one agreement- we don't stand in each other's way or ruin plans that either of us might have. My ideas may be rash, my actions based on pure emotion, but that doesn't mean I'll stop. Call me selfish, I don't give a shit, but once I understood that I want that woman all to myself, I won't stop at anything to achieve my goal. Even if it leaves me alone, strains my relationship with my brothers and leaves me with nothing in my name. I tighten my grip on Sarah's brother's upper arm and drag the guy down the hall, eager to show her what her new lover is doing behind her back. Once we get to the kitchen, Sarah will see my brother's true face and understand that she doesn't need him. In time, she'll change her mind about Lazarus, and then we can be together. "Luka, stop; it; you're acting like an idiot. It's just jealousy, and it fucking happens, bu
Lazarus pov I can't believe I did it! Of all the things I could say, I had to go with the one secret Lenox wanted to take to his grave! God, I'm such a terrible person, the worst brother ever! How could I? My fist collides with the wall before I can stop myself from losing the last remains of self-control I have left. All this, all this fucking bullshit because of a woman! Sarah's a beautiful, strong and very captivating cat shifter, but is her presence worth the damage she does? This silent war between us won't bring any good to our family and those who surround us. I know; I told Luka that the relationship is possible, but is it really? Can we push aside our differences and work as one? Can we give Sarah everything she wants? And that should be more than having sex with her. When her heat is over, there's no telling what will happen in her head. It's easy to act on instinct and regret the decisions once the state of desperation wears off. And now, she's nothing but de
WARNING:Before reading, please bear in mind that this chapter is darker, meant for R18 audiences and contains triggering themes/actions/mentions.Although I tried to keep it as 'light' as possible, the [TW] next to the chapter title should be taken seriously, content ISN'T meant for minors or those of faint heart.Sarah povWhen Lenox announced that he would carry me to the bedroom, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind. But none of them even came close to the thought of him carrying me into the guest bedroom and starting a shower for me. He said he had something special planned for me, but first, I had to get ready for him, whatever that meant, and apparently, the only way to do that was to relax under a stream of hot water.Yet, I didn't think I'd be left alone in the shower. Instead of offering to keep me company or tell a few of his jokes, Lenox made sure I had everything I needed and left. Quite frankly, after the things he did in the kitchen, I don't have the strength to
Sarah povLenox just killed someone, dragged the body to the corner, painted the bathroom with blood, and now, he's cornering me with the most devilish grin I've ever seen on anyone's lips. Sometimes, I don't understand how his mind works. No, scratch that. I couldn't understand Lenox even if I tried. He's just; I don't know, a different breed?I let out a shaky breath once Lenox takes a step back, and his eyes take me in once again. Each time he does that- gives me a quick once-over; I feel like my insides are about to burst at the intensity of his gaze. Lenox raises an eyebrow and brings his hand to his chin. He's not saying anything or giving more commands, so for a split second, I lose touch with reality and the situation on our hands. It's clear that he wants something from me or expects me to do something. I stare at him like I have no idea what's going on until Lenox drops the amused act and groans. "Didn't I just tell you what to do?" He asks, visibly annoyed at my lack of
Lenox pov "I-" Sarah looks away and gulps. "I can't do anything with the blood; I'm sorry. I- I mean, watching you do what you did was a lot, okay? And I know you're used to, well, being you, but I'm not. It's not every day I watch people get killed or someone paints the floor and walls with blood. In fact, this was the first time I had witnessed something like this. Also, it's so easy for you to go from killing to sex mood, but I'm still trying to grasp it. So, I don't think it's the best idea to ask me to have sex with you in a pool of someone's blood. Especially when this person's lifeless body is in the same room, it's weird, you know?" Did I go too far? Maybe. Could I handle the situation without using violence? Absolutely. Did I want to avoid spilling blood? Not exactly. Alright, alright, did I want to avoid it? Hell, no. Am I going to work on myself every day to become a better person? Also no. Well, what's done is done, and there's nothing that can be done about it.
Sarah pov Lenox holds my hand as we leave the guest bedroom and make our way to the staircase. At first, we walk side by side, but soon, he takes the lead, and all I can do is follow him. When we reach the top of the stairs, I notice Lazarus standing next to his bedroom. Lenox winks at his brother and pulls me with him to stop for a quick chat. So much for him being in a hurry to show me his special playroom. If it turns out to be a room full of toy trains and tracks, I swear to God, I might lose my mind. As long as we have skin-to-skin contact, that's fine, but if I lose that, who knows how painful the next heat wave could be. We step in front of Lazarus, and Lenox immediately warns his brother about the mess he left in the guest bedroom's bathroom, to which Lazarus just shrugs. I can't call it a 'mess', especially after witnessing how and what happened there. It's a crime scene of a cold murder, but none of the brothers seems bothered by it. "I wouldn't expect anything el
Lazarus pov I close the door behind me, lock it and press my back against the cold wood. There's no way I could explain how the fuck I could remain that calm. Just now, Lenox and Sarah passed me while she was wearing nothing but that damn towel. It took everything in me to smile and hold back from pouncing at her right there, in the hall. The way my brother held her so damn close only proved that I'm jealous as hell. I may claim that her relationship with my brothers doesn't bother me, but damn it, it does. It's only a matter of time before I snap, especially knowing where they're heading. That damn playroom. Why did I allow Lenox to turn one of my guest bedrooms into a playroom? Why? It seemed like a good idea at the time since he often hooked up with women from my district or Luka's so as not to complicate relationships with the people he leads. But today, that decision seems like the worst mistake I have ever made. I try the breathing exercises our mother taught us when we
Luka pov"Don't look for me." My brother's words echo in my head as Lenox disappears from our sight. When I regain my senses and try to follow him, even run out of the building, he's gone for good. How could I? How the hell could I say all those things, especially after finding out he's the reason I'm alive?Am I really that heartless to act like this? I've never treated Lenox so badly. Sure, we've never been as close as he and Laz were, but I never stooped so low as to drive him away. And now, I feel like I have lost something important- a part of me that I'll never get back. I stand at the main entrance, scanning the surroundings, probably hoping Lenox will turn up and tell me it's just a joke- he's not going to leave, and the argument is nothing. But even I understand how unrealistic this hope is because it's my own fault. Shaking my head, I turn around and walk back into the house right as Lazarus' pack doctor rushes past me. He runs up the stairs and heads for the stupid play
Sarah pov I gulp as I scan the faces of the men in my room. A part of me wants to have Seth by my side, but she’s too good to stick around now. The thing I mentioned earlier, the possibility of terminating the pregnancy- it was my idea. I spoke about it and Seth just held my hand and said she would support me regardless of what I do. I saw the tears and pain in her eyes, I saw how much against the idea she was, but being the amazing woman she is, Seth stood by my side. And she would now too, but this time, I need to listen to the men who love me and make the decision with them. Only them. My mind races, thousands of thoughts run through the deepest parts, and each scream something new. Should we know what’s hiding inside our baby? Sure, the possibility of it being evil is small, but even a good being wouldn’t take over a body that isn’t born yet without a reason. Than said it himself, the holy beings come here to stop the evil deeds and this situation is too grand for him t
Sarah pov It’s not so much that Than makes me nervous, because he sure as hell does, it’s more his words that leave me speechless. He’s implying that whatever is living inside my body must be someone who’s sent for a greater good. There’s no saying if he could be right or if he’s tricking me, but the look on his face doesn’t resemble someone who’s coming here to play games. Besides, technically, he has no reason to fool me. His daughter lives inside Lenox, he has an obvious attraction toward Seth, and so far, he has proven himself to be worthy. Maybe he’s the one person I should listen to? “Okay, so what do we do next?” I ask, probably sounding a bit too uneasy. Not that he could blame me given that the past events keep piling up and the entire family seems to lack time to deal with the issues. “Nothing. We wait,” Than leans back in his seat as the tension finally leaves his features. At this point, as confused as I am, maybe he is right. Perhaps sitting back and waiti
Luka pov Lazarus stares at dad with the same confused, shocked, and wide-eyed expression as I do, but as it seems, it’ll take a while for my brother to come back to his senses. Possibly even too long, so this time, I have to step up and give him a break. Turning my full attention to dad, I clear my throat and slightly tilt my head as I speak, “Whatever is your idea about this situation, you can’t blame us. The last time we were with Lenox, he promised to follow us in a bit. We talked to Sarah and just left the room, and as you might have noticed, both of us kept glancing around. We were looking out for Lenox and decided to wait for him here.” Now, dad’s facial expression mimics ours, and all of us look like a bunch of very confused idiots. “That means you didn’t give Lenox a damn blessing to go there?” Dad turns his attention back to Lazarus. My brother shakes his head, still somewhat shocked, yet slowly regaining his senses. I have no idea what dad is thinking right now, but no
Sarah pov“You have to be kidding me,” I groan as I close my eyes and try to grab control over my emotions and senses. In all honesty, I’m a bit over everyone telling me what I’m supposed to do. No, perhaps not even just a bit- a lot, damn it. One person comes in here to tell me it’s better to do this, and the other arrives to tell me the complete opposite. How am I to make the right decision if everyone seems so indulged in my life that they need to make the decisions for me, or even try to shift my judgement?Isn’t this the one matter that I should discuss with my partners and come up with the best thing to do for our future? Yes, I already made the mistake of thinking that I had all the right to make this choice on my own, but thank God, Lazarus opened my eyes and reminded me it’s as much my decision as it is his brother’s. But now, there’s a demon sitting next to my bed and claiming I can’t even think about the termination. Does he have any idea who resides in my baby? What if
Lenox pov“Holy fucking sticks and bricks, let me shit myself while you’re acting all mysterious and dangerous, why don’t you? Come on, tell me and I promise I won’t steal shit here,” I grin at the blob and hide my hand behind my back to cross my fingers. For as long as I keep them crossed, no one can claim I lied. Alright, I’m lying, I still fully intend to steal something, but the creature doesn’t need to know. “Follow me, but for those answers, keep in mind that everyone pays a price,” she whispers as if she’s trying to make a fucking deal with me now. What the hell is even happening? I promised mom I wouldn’t make a deal with the devil and this thing before me looks like I imagine a devil would. I want the heart, but the price? Yeah, for as long as I don’t know what it is, I’m not that keen to exchange my left nut for the heart. I need my left nut. Panic seizes me as images of this, whatever it really is, ehem, woman, grabbing my nut, runs through my mind. I quickly lift the
Sarah pov “He’s right,” I let out a long, shaky breath as I admit the one thing I wish I wouldn’t have to admit out loud. Lazarus might have reacted to my words in a way I didn’t expect him to, but at least, he didn’t shy away from telling me everything he thinks of the decision I’m trying to make. Regardless of the circumstances and setting, I can’t make the choice on my own because Lenox is present. Often, women have to carry the burden of life-changing choices on their own simply because they are alone. But I’m not. And I know that I won’t be even if I pressure the matter and the choice, I thought was the right one. But what if it’s not? What if Lazarus is right in more ways than I can think of? What if the next time Lenox and I try for a baby, we have to face the same situation as now? I know, we don’t have much time to make the decision, but we also don’t know how dangerous the thing is that’s taking over my baby. “What do you mean?” Seth asks, concern crossing her fea
Lenox pov~If you do this, I will never forgive you,~ As snarls at me as I hop through the shadowy, eerie-looking forest. Shit, this place feels like home. I could totally see myself living here, building a small cabin and all that nonsense. While As keeps fuming, I stop to take in the scenery and enjoy the silence surrounding me. The tree branches look like they’re ready to grab my body and gut me on the spot. How hot is that? I can almost imagine how I could take one of those fucking vile-looking branches and make myself a new, exclusive spoon. Maybe that thing could have a mind of its own and attack people on my commands?Once I’m done with my task, I might grab a souvenir on my way out of here. While my mind wanders to beautiful possibilities, As can’t seem to shut the fuck up, so I snap at her. “Because I should forgive you for nearly killing my brother, huh? Real smooth, Miss As, real fucking fantastic ants farm smooth.” She scoffs. ~You forgot who keeps you alive.~ Yeah,
Lazarus pov“Kill the baby?” The question leaves my lips before I can stop it. I didn’t intend to be so straightforward or come across as a complete asshole, but sometimes, even if I try my darndest, I can’t stop myself from saying some things. All eyes in the room focus on me. I guess saying something in the lines as Sarah did, the fancy wording of termination and all, seems more humane than the actual truth. All things aside, that’s exactly what she’s saying. She is planning to kill the baby. I raise my hands and shake my head. “We need to discuss this. All of us. Just think of the possible consequences and the reaction Lenox will have to these news. Like it or not, he’s the biological father of that child, and he has a say too. Yes, it’s your body and your choice, but thus far, I haven’t heard anything from you that implied that you didn’t want this baby. In fact, you appear to be rather happy about the possibility of becoming a mother.”Everyone in the room sits silent. Sarah
Luka povWhen Laz and I step into Sarah’s hospital room, she’s already wide awake, grinning at our mom. My heart skips a beat at the sight before us. Not only the adoration in the eyes of the women I love the most but I’m taken aback by how much at ease Sarah appears. Her cheeks are slightly flushed, so I assume they were sharing some secrets or spent the time laughing at their weird jokes. However, despite the cheerful energy that surrounds them, I can’t help but feel a little suspicious. As they smile at us, I notice how the smiles don’t reach their eyes and it’s all the confirmation I need to accept that something’s wrong. Not only wrong but they’re also trying to hide it from us. Whatever it is, I’ll figure it out sooner or later, because just like Sarah said- if we want this to work, we must remember how important communication is. Sucking in a deep breath, I brace myself for the possible backlash but still go with the initial plan and dive right in, “What’s wrong?”Sarah a