Five

Justin's POV

Two weeks later

Bloodied and weak, I staggered out of the torture chamber. The metallic stench of blood clung to my skin. My vision blurred, but I blinked back the haze, determined not to collapse again.

The physical pain was killing me, but none of it compared to the ache of seeing my mom cry. Her heartbreaking, silent tears cut deep.

“Son, please, your physician must administer the last set of needles.”

Each session in the chamber felt like another blow to her spirit, and that made my suffering all the harder to endure. I clenched my fists, feeling the sticky warmth of my blood coating my palms.

“I can’t keep doing this. There has to be another way—something that doesn’t make me feel like I’m losing my mind.”

She swallowed hard, trying to choke back her tears, but the pain in her eyes was undeniable. Every week, wolfsbane was pumped into my veins, designed to cripple my wolf. I was forced to inhale the milder version as a cigar in my human form.

My body burned with an all-consuming rage that ate my sanity. The humiliation was unbearable—a future Lycan king reduced to this pitiful state. Weak, powerless, and shackled by a curse I never asked for.

Before the healer left, he assured me that this dosage would last three days.

"Isn’t there some other solution? I can't take this anymore" I grumbled, heading to the bedroom.

“There’s nothing we can do,” mom replied gently. “We just have to hold on until you find your mate.”

Only my mate could break this curse. But how was I supposed to find her when my wolf couldn’t sense anything but madness? There was no scent, no recognition—nothing.

My twin sister, Justine, stood across from my mom, looking just as sad. I headed to the bathroom. The tub was filled with ice to numb the pain. I sank in, letting the cold seep into my bones.

I dragged myself out and headed to my room to get dressed. Mom knocked softly and stepped inside. Her gaze scanned my slouched posture.

"Why not pair those pants with a white shirt?" She walked to the closet, pulled out a shirt, and handed it to me.

“Thanks,” I muttered, buttoning it up.

"You don't have to go in today," she said softly. “Your father has plenty of people running the government house. You need rest, honey. Please."

“The more I sit around here doing nothing, the worse it gets. I need something to take my mind off this."

"I’ll pack your lunch. Make sure you eat. Oh, and Wendy complained to your dad that you've been ignoring her."

A groan tore from my throat. “Fuck her.”

“Language, young man,” she said, exasperated. “Your wedding is in two months, and this is for the pack’s good. If our packs unite, we’ll form a powerful alliance.”

She followed me to my car, carrying my lunch bag. I was grateful for her constant vigilance over my diet and making sure nothing triggered my wolf, but it also felt like another layer of chains binding me.

She kissed my forehead and wished me a great day. Once the door shut behind her, I sighed, gripping the steering wheel. A good fuck would get my mind off things. The temporary oblivion of losing myself in a woman's touch worked.

I drove to work, stopping at the gates, where the security guards saluted me formally. My best friend Caleb stood by the lobby, waiting as always.

"Your eyes are red-rimmed. You should've stayed home."

“Don’t start. I’ve had enough babying from my mother." I brushed past him toward my private elevator, where Caleb leaned closer, smirking.

"Your mom's pet project was recruiting werewolves into our workforce. The new hires are here.”

"Werewolves?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yep, the best of them." Caleb chuckled. "I must admit, they’re smart and better educated than we gave them credit for.”

“Maybe we should thank their greedy alpha,” I chuckled, pressing the button for the top floor. "I could use a hot assistant. Bring them to the conference room. Let’s see what we’ve got.”

Thirty minutes later, Caleb informed me the werewolves had gathered. I stared at my glass of water, my medication sitting beside it. This cursed life was exhausting, and I downed the pills, wishing I could drown my problems with them.

I entered the conference room, and my eyes scanned the crowd of new hires dressed in black jackets. I spotted Marissa, their alpha's daughter, immediately.

Our eyes locked. Something flashed in hers. Lust and defiance. It intrigued me and made me want to mess with her even more. She hadn’t come to me after the offer I made and stayed away from me the moment Wendy arrived at their place.

“Where were you assigned?”

“The legal department,” she said flatly.

She was undeniably stunning. Her dark blonde hair framed her forehead in bangs, complementing the light green of her eyes. She had a figure that was neither slim nor overly full but beautifully thick, with curves that could make any man pause.

Her gaze held a depth that was hard to ignore. Even now, as she tried to mask her emotions, I could see through the act. Her eyes held a challenge, and I couldn't lie—it intrigued me more than it should have.

Perhaps she was different, or maybe she was just better at pretending. Either way, she piqued my interest in a way that few had. I could have a little fun with her—explore this fire beneath the surface—before resigning myself to the cold reality of being shackled in marriage to Wendy.

“That changes. You’re now my assistant.”

I almost laughed at her comical expression. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

“No way,” she stammered. “I didn’t spend sleepless nights in law school just to be reduced to an assistant.”

Caleb glanced at me. A smirk tugged at his lips while whispers spread through the room. A smile pulled at my lips. She had a fiery spirit, and I liked that.

"You’ll work directly with me. It’s not up for discussion. You start now, and I’ll double your salary.”

Her lips trembled, her hands balling into fists. "I don’t care about the money—"

I cut her off, my tone calm. "Make me coffee after this meeting. Consider it a trial."

“Dismissed,” I said to the group. They filed out, but she stayed rooted, glaring at me.

I loved this game. She thought herself beyond reach—It was time to show her otherwise.

The door closed, leaving her and me in the conference room. Her breathing picked up, her defiance turning into something raw, unguarded.

“Look,” she began, her voice shaky but filled with venom. “I won't be a pawn in your twisted game. I deserve better than this.”

I walked so close that her face almost brushed against my chest. "You think I care about what you deserve?" My voice dropped to a low murmur. “Tell me, did your father force you to come here, or do you want a piece of me?”

Her eyes flashed, and I saw her wolf peek through for a brief second.

That fire was fucking interesting.

I moved away, dismissing her without another word. She'd fall in line soon enough and beg for my attention, just as every other girl had.