Leah's POV
As I lay in the backseat of the car, after having spent a whole morning in the cemetery, I couldn't help but wonder how my life had started to feel like soap operas on daytime cable TV. And it all started because of Finn. As soon as I found Finn, I started to get into trouble.
According to Jorah, my second brother Leo had something to do with Finn's abnormality.
I had been trying to contact him all these days, but it turned out that nobody had his contact number.
It was almost like Leo was transparent in my family.
Lucian didn't get along with Leo, so I couldn't call him and ask. I could have called my Father to ask him to summon Leo, but I really didn't want to bother His Majesty the King for my little personal drama.
In the end, I had to contact Jorah, who refused to shed light on anything relating to Leo.
So, I guessed I had to confront Lucas.
He asked Jorah to dig the dirt on Finn, so he must have k
Leah's POV"Mr. Farrow, I'm Miss Lewyn's bodyguard," Troy explained, trying to peel me off Lucas."You look way too pretty to be Leah's bodyguard. You're fired." Lucas stared at Troy and said."You can't fire Troy!" I protested, waving my arms in the air.I hate being lifted up by him like this and he did it every time he saw me!"I sure can. I'm your husband. I will assign a bodyguard to you." Lucas narrowed his eyes.He looked so pathetic that I couldn't even bear pushing him away."I don't want your bodyguard. I want Troy! Now put me down, Lucas Farrow. This is so embarrassing." I said in a stern voice.Lucas looked hurt.It seemed that he was bashed by a bat right at his face or something."Leah... I... I..." He mumbled while looking into my eyes."What do you want from me?!" I stared back and said. "Now put me down, so I can pay for that damn car and walk away from here.""I don't need a c
Leah's POVI sat frozen on Lucas' lap, staring at the void in front of me. My mind was trying to process the devastating news I had just received.Jalin locked up Sak?! Is that why Finn was afraid of me? Is that why whenever he was with me, the only thing I could feel was that he would rather go somewhere else? How could Jalin do something like this behind my back?! Why does he always have to mingle with my life?"Are you telling the truth?" My lips trembled as I asked Lucas."Jorah found out what happened. He's good for nothing, but he does get things done. Do you want to see the video clip he has taken?" Lucas asked."No... I don't want to see anything. I don't want to know anything." I murmured as I clenched my fists.My body felt numb. My heart was heavy with the weight of betrayal.I couldn't believe that the man I loved, the man who had been by my side, didn't actually love me back.My fantasy of being loved as a human be
Leah's POV"No, Lucas. Don't..." I shouted, trying to push him away."Leah, my love. You're so naughty today." Lucas said as he ripped my skirt off. "You like it rough today, don't you? I feel like playing it rough today. Let's play it rough."I could feel his hot breath on the nape of my neck, his hands gripping my hips with a force that made me gasp.I tried to push him away, but his strength was too much for me.I could feel his hardness pressing against me, and I knew what he wanted. But I just didn't want to give it to him.Not now. Not like this.I wanted to use my Lycan force, but when I opened my mouth, my voice was gone.I tried to push Lucas away, but my arms and legs became noodles.In despair, I closed my eyes."Leah, stop protesting. This is your destiny." A voice appeared in my mind.It was the same voice I heard when I was floating in the ocean."Moon Goddess. Are you there? Why'
Leah's POVI didn't know how long I had been running on that day.I was running across busy streets, running over bridges and rivers, running past forests and hills.A Lycan had great stamina, but on that day, I completely lost control. I used every single dash of my stamina until I became absolutely exhausted until there was nothing left.Lying in a clearing in the forest, I looked at the sky above me. The everchanging cloud was silently cruising in the sapphire background of the sky. I wondered if I could float in the sky like a piece of cloud. When I felt tired, I could just melt and become rain, dropping to the ground.The contrast between the lightness of my dream and the gravity of reality was suffocating.I hate Lucas. I thought to myself. I hate Jalin. I hate Finn. I hate Darren. I hate Troy. I hate every man that I have ever appeared in my life except my Father and brothers."Leah." The voice in my head appeared again.
Leah's POVThe Moon Goddess Temple was located in a hidden valley.From outside, it looked like an abandoned mining ground.My Father purchased this land and hid it away from human beings, just to provide a secluded area for the worship of the Moon Goddess.As I limped into the grand temple, my breath came in ragged gasps and my heart pounded with fury.My eyes blazed with anger as I approached the ornate altar of the Moon Goddess, feeling as though the very walls of the temple were closing in around me.The temple was a marvel of grandeur and sophistication. Its walls were adorned with intricate patterns of gold and silver, while the ceiling was a shimmering expanse of stars and constellations. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and the soft glow of flickering candles cast dancing shadows across the room.But I paid little attention to the splendor around me.My attention was focused solely on the statue o
Darren's POVAs I walked into the dark alley behind an abandoned factory, I smelt it.The smell of a mixture of cheap perfume, vomit, dead mouse, sperm, and cigarettes.This place was known as Dark Market in Mediland, where rogues, outlaws, and drunkards dwelled like cockroaches at every corner of the alley.My brother used to tell me that people should live with a purpose. If a person loses their purpose in life, they usually end up staying in places like this.The disgusting drench of low lives. The rock bottom in this world by any standard."Hey, handsome biker. Do you want to come inside? I'll show you a good time and let you ride me." A woman with messy make-up and hair slurred at me. Several of her teeth were gone and there was a big scar on her face."I'm looking for a woman," I said to her."I'm a woman," she said. Then, she bent over and lifted her short skirt. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, so she was basical
Darren's POVI looked around. This place looked like a shit hole.The bar was dimly-lit with the pungent odor of stale beer and unwashed bodies. The smell plainly hit me like a freight train.The patrons were a motley crew of disheveled characters, their faces twisted in various stages of drunkenness and rage. The cheap, disgusting alcohol flowed freely, fueling the chaos that swirled around me. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and the walls were coated in a layer of grime that seemed to have accumulated over many years. The tables and chairs were mismatched and worn, some missing legs or arms, others so rickety that they threatened to collapse at any moment.I couldn't help but notice the poor souls slumped over their drinks, their eyes glazed and unfocused. A group of men in the corner were arguing loudly, their voices slurred and angry."Fuck you, Billy!" a man shouted. "You're possessed by that fucking brunette at Damian's fu
Leah's POVAs I walked into the Green Point Inn, everyone's head was turning at me.I ignored the whistles and lewd talks, walking directly to the bar."I need Green Rabbit Old Ale," I told the bar attender."You don't belong here, young lady. Go back to where you belong." The bar attendant said without lifting his head. "We've got enough trouble for tonight.""I'm not looking for trouble," I said. "I'm Uma and Damian's friend. I was at their funeral earlier this morning."The bar attendant raised his eyebrows to look at me.He was in his sixties. His face was etched with deep wrinkles that spoke of years of experience and wisdom. Despite his age, his eyes still sparkled with a keen intelligence that hinted at a life well-lived. His crisp white shirt was neatly tucked into a pair of dark slacks, and his polished leather shoes gleamed in the dim light."They died because of me. I have to do something," I held the edge of t
Leah's POVBig mistake.Darryl's touch ignited a white-hot rage. The beast surged, teeth sharpening beneath my gums - rip, rend, feast - but Liam's voice cut through the haze."Don't." He met my gaze, blood trickling from his split lip. "Just don't."I let my shoulders slump, the perfect picture of helplessness. Darryl released me with a sneer."Smart boy," he said to Liam. "Now strip."What followed was a symphony of humiliation. They made him bare his thighs, his hips, the pale map of old scars. Jeers echoed - "Fitting you ended up a whore" - but Liam's face stayed eerily blank. When the first punch landed, he curled into himself, silent.I memorized each blow.Rib crack. Nose crunch. Knuckle split on tooth.Darryl would die slow. They all would.By the time they left him bleeding in the gutter, my gloves were shredded from clawing my own palms. I hauled him upright, his weight warm and too-human against me.
Leah's POVLiam's bitter laugh could've curdled milk. "Tried that shit. Dockyards wanted truckers with clean sheets - mine's dirtier than a motel porno magazine. Dealership garage? Turned out to be ex-cons crew running protection rackets." He leaned across the red vinyl booth, eyes dark as burned coffee. "I'm no saint, but I don't peddle drugs to kids. I used to keep my pride, trust me, I really did... till Nana's med bills hit." His throat worked like he'd swallowed glass. "Pride's just dead weight when your world's sinking, feel me?""But the girls, man..." I trailed off, the words sticking like a bee."Wake up!" His fist hit the table, silverware jumping. "You think this shit disappears 'cause it skeeves you out? My girls eat regularly. Don't get beat black-and-blue like some dollar-store pimps allow." His finger stabbed the air between us. "Without me? They'd be turning tricks in back alleys on Monday, end up as another Jane Doe in a dumpster by Tuesday. Tha
Leah's POVThe supermarket fluorescents buzzed like angry hornets. I trailed Liam past pyramids of canned beans, his boots squeaking against linoleum. He moved like a feral cat—all coiled tension and sideways glances. The discount rack called to him like a siren."Jackpot," he muttered, scooping armfuls of spaghetti boxes into the cart. The packaging screamed ITALIANA AUTENTICA! in Comic Sans. I snorted. Authentic as his leather jacket's "genuine pleather" tag."Grandma's got expensive taste in hospice care, huh?" I nudged a box with my elbow. The noodles rattled like dried bones. "Why not buy her real food now that you're rolling in mobster cash?"He didn't look up. "Nonna'd skin me alive if I wasted good dollars on truffle oil when Barilla's ninety cents." The cart shuddered as he dumped another box. "Besides, spaghetti's her love language. Ate it every Thursday with Papa Enzo before the cirrhosis got him."I let my claws retract just enoug
Leah's POVLiam stared. "What the hell are you?"I wiped my hands on his jacket. "Hungry."He laughed then, wild and unhinged. "You're crazy.""Crazy enough to fix your problems. If you obey.""Obey?" He raised an eyebrow. "That's kinky."I stared at him. "You want to save your grandmother? Stop playing gangster. You're a joke."His smile died. "Yeah? And what's your deal? Some kinda runaway mob wife?""Like you can't even imagine." I released him.Silence.He rubbed his neck. "Fine. What's the plan, boss?"I glanced at the photo. The old woman's eyes glared back, unyielding. "First, we get some money.""From where?"-Vinny's nightclub reminded me of Sheridan Club. It was a cacophony of neon lights and pounding bass, the kind of place where secrets were buried under the weight of too much noise and too many bodies.I walked in with Liam trailing behind me, his face still bruised
Leah's POVThe first thing I remembered was the cold. Not winter's bite, but the slick, oily chill of concrete against bare skin. My knees were scraped raw. My breath came in ragged bursts, fogging the air like gun smoke. I pressed my palms flat against the alley wall, felt the grime cling to my fingertips.Naked. The word slithered through my skull, venomous. Not just my body - my pride flayed open, left to rot beside dumpsters reeking of stale beer and regret.What the hell has happened to me? I remembered stabbing Lucas in the chest and walking into the flames.Now here I am. Naked in some sort of back alley.Voices slithered from the street."Lookie here... fresh meat. Yummy..." a man slurred. Three shadows lurched into the alley, their laughter wet and jagged. One held a bottle by its neck; the glass caught the neon buzz of the bar sign above. Red Rabbit Tavern. The letters bled crimson down the brick.Is this... human world?
Lycidas' POVLucian shook his head, his eyes closing as if the effort of speaking was too much.Late afternoon light slashed through barred windows, gilding dust motes that swirled like trapped spirits above Lucian's bed. My brother's once-indomitable frame now sank into feather pillows as if the mattress conspired to swallow him whole. His labored breaths syncopated with the grandfather clock's metronome tick-tock, tick-tockfrom the western wall - a sound that had scored every pivotal moment of our cursed lineage. I counted them as one counts heartbeats before execution: thirty-seven ticks since he'd last spoken. Seventy-three since I'd entered this tomb disguised as a king's quarters.When Lucian finally stirred, his eyelids lifted like rusted portcullises. Sunlight caught the silver threads in his black beard - premature aging, or the Moon Goddess' fingerprints? "Lycidas," he exhaled, the name disintegrating into a wet cough. I watched his thro
Lucian's POVJalin seized my chin, wrenching my face back to the mirror. "Are you waiting for me to dress you, Your Majesty?" His hands slid down, slow and possessive, unbuttoning my shirt with deliberate malice. The fabric parted, exposing my sunken chest, and his gloved fingers lingered, tracing the jut of my ribs. I grabbed his wrists, my frail grip trembling. "I'm tired," I whispered, voice a broken thread. "I don't want to see anyone today."Jalin sneered and tore the shirt from my shoulders, seams splitting like skin. He shoved me from the wheelchair, and I crashed to the floor, legs limp, a puppet with slashed strings. "Your brother's coming," he hissed, looming over me. "If you greet him like this - pathetic, lifeless - he'll think I've neglected my duties." His eyes burned with that familiar madness, a sadistic gleam that promised torment.I shrank back, breath shallow, rasping, "Jalin, please don't…" But he didn't pause. His hand fisted my hair,
Lycidas' POVI looked down at him, my jaw tight. "If you want the thing between us to work," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "you need to know some ground rules. The first and most important one is that you stay the fuckout of my family business. Do you understand?"He met my gaze, his eyes calm, unflinching. "Yes, Your Highness, I understand. But the thing is, since you entered the Kingdom, all your actions have been under the control of the Court. They reported your arrival to His Majesty, who summoned me last night..." I grabbed him by the throat, slamming him against the mirror. The glass cracked under the force, shards raining down around us. His face was scratched, blood trickling down his cheek, but he didn't struggle."Did you go and see my brother last night?! Did he fuck you?!" I roared.He whispered, "Your Highness, Lucian is sick now. He didn't...""If you mention my brother's name again," I snarled, "I'
Lycidas' POVI woke to the sting of sunlight slicing through the heavy drapes, the kind of light that felt like a mockery after the night I’d had. My head throbbed, a dull ache that seemed to echo the chaos of my thoughts. I rubbed my eyes, squinting at the room around me. It was obscenely luxurious, every surface polished to a blinding sheen, every piece of furniture carved with ornate, gaudy details. I sat up, the silk sheets slipping off my bare skin, and let out a bitter laugh. Finn's bedroom?The place reeked of excess, of a desperate attempt to mask something hollow. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet sinking into the plush carpet. The air smelled faintly of cedar and something metallic—blood, maybe, or the ghost of it. I stood, stretching the stiffness from my limbs, and made my way to the bathroom. The shower was scalding, the water slamming into my skin like punishment. I leaned against the tiled wall, let