Leah's POV
"The enhancement project had started even before I was born. But not until I took charge of it did it make substantial progress. Lester is my first lab toy. He somehow managed to survive our tests, so now he was following you everywhere you go. Do you remember the shadows lurking behind you from time to time in your life? That was Lester. He was trying to kill you for revenge, but his brother Darren managed to stop him every time he was trying to attack you."What? Darren was trying to protect me all this time from his brother.I closed my eyes and saw Darren's piercing blue eyes in my mind. I heard his trembling voice in my memory -"I've done everything for you, Leah. But sometimes, I can't help but feel that nothing that I've done is good enough for you." I wanted to cry, but I knew the liquids dropping from my eyes were nothing but my own blood. "My second lab toy is Finn. His mother was a whore and she was strangleLeah's POVNo one ever told me what death feels like. Being a Lycan, we expect to live to a hundred years without a second thought about our mortality. But I tasted the bitter sting of death that fateful day.As the world spiraled into a chaotic blur, Jalin's face contorted, his voice echoing in my mind. "Do. What. You. Are. Told," he chanted, and then darkness consumed me.The next thing I knew, a deafening bang jolted me awake. Light pierced my eyes as I struggled to regain my senses. Tears blurred my vision as I gasped desperately for air, feeling the grip of enormous hands lifting me up."Leah, I'm here. You're safe with me now," a familiar voice reassured."Lu... Lucas?" I reached out, my voice weak."Yes, Leah. It's me." He held my hand, pressing a gentle kiss to it."What happened?" I asked, shaking my head, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. As my vision cleared, I saw soldiers filling the room."Why are there soldiers on my grandfather's carpet, Lucas?" My v
Leo's POV"Be a loving, obedient boy. Do what your father asks you to do." Those were my mother's parting words to me, her golden rule for surviving the court's jealousy and menace. They were her curse, the source of her miserable fate as the mistress of a Lycan King. And she passed that curse onto me.I heard the heavy doors creak open, footsteps echoing closer. I recognized the familiar cadence of my father's stride. He’s here, I thought. And he's come to end my life.Emerging from the shadows, my father’s imposing figure loomed, flanked by my sister Leah and her ex-husband, Lucas Farrow. Despite everything, Lucas looked undeniably captivating in his army suit.I couldn’t decipher the expression on my father’s face. Emotions and feelings had always been a mystery to me; I never grasped the connection between what people showed and what they felt. The Lycan King, my father, had never revealed his true feelings to anyone, except me. But I was the defective one, incapable of responding
Leah's POV"His Majesty has already left," the soldier informed me.I wanted to speak with my father, but it was clear he didn’t want to engage. In my silence, the soldier continued, "His Majesty mentioned something to Alpha Lucas about a guy named Lester Swanson."Darren's brother? Why would my father mention him?"What did he say?" I asked, dreading the answer."He said Leo did something to him, so he would have to kill his brother Darren Swanson," the soldier replied, looking confused.What?!"Where’s Lucas now?" I demanded."Alpha has already gone to the airport to stop Lester Swanson. He didn’t want you to know. He wants you to go back to the lake house and wait for him.""Go fetch me a car right now," I commanded."Where are you going, Miss Lewyn?" the soldier asked, perplexed."I need to get to the airport before everyone gets killed," I said, urgency in my voice.As I arrived at the airport, a barricade manned by soldiers greeted me."What’s going on?" I asked one of them, my
Leah's POVLucas wrestled the gun from Lester’s hand, aiming it at him."No!" Darren shoved Lucas’s arm, causing the bullet to hit a nearby chair instead."What the fuck are you doing, Swanson?! That freak’s going to kill us!" Lucas yelled."That freak is my brother!" Darren cried, a raw anguish in his voice.Lucas lowered the gun, letting it clatter to the floor. Despite Lester's desperate struggles, my wolf refused to relent. Darren, with tears streaming down his face, approached me."Leah, let go of him," Darren pleaded.My wolf, still in fight mode, snarled, but Darren wasn’t deterred. He met my gaze with a calm, steady stare. "Let go of my brother, Leah," he whispered, tears choking his voice.Finally, my wolf released Lester. Blood gushed from his neck as he choked, drowning in his own fluids."I'm sorry, brother. It should have been me," Darren whispered, collapsing beside him.Lester tried to speak, his mouth forming silent words. Darren leaned close, listening. Whatever was s
Lucas' POV"This is Gean Lee. He's Leah's assistant," Jorah introduced him.I sized Gean up, feeling an unexpected wave of discomfort. It unsettled me that Leah worked so closely with someone who looked this good."Alpha Lucas, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," Gean said, bowing slightly."I need you to talk to a deranged telepathic prince," I explained. "He’s imprisoned, yet he’s still controlling other werewolves. I need you to get him to stop without hurting him, since the King plans to deal with his mind later.""Is that all, Alpha Lucas?" Gean asked, his voice soothing. I began to see why Leah liked having him around. There was something calming about him."No, there's one more thing. I want you to resign from UniHeal and come work for me."Gean remained unflustered. "One thing at a time, Alpha Lucas," he said with another bow before walking away.Jorah's annoyance was evident once Gean had left. "You can't just take everyone away from Miss Lewyn and make them work for you."
Lucas' POVI was stunned. Completely paralyzed.When my deceased Beta, Basil, was alive, I had promised to look after his sister. If he were here now, he might be able to forgive me for the way I'd treated her.I rose, facing Josephine. "You're free to go now. Jorah will be in touch. Don't ever set foot in my pack again."Josephine lifted her head, defiant. "There won't be a next time, Alpha Lucas."After she left, I felt a gnawing unease settle deep within me. Why did Josephine's visit bother me so much? Perhaps it was because she was pregnant.I needed to be with Leah. The doctor's orders be damned—I had to go to her now.Just as I was about to leave, Gean Lee walked back in, casually wiping his hands with a handkerchief, as calm as ever."So?" I demanded."His Highness Leonard is asleep now," he said, placing a small, switch-like device on the table."And what's that?" I asked, frowning."It's a microchip. He had it implanted under his skin to communicate with his prototype soldier
Leah's POV"Take off your clothes," he commanded, his voice low, yet imbued with undeniable authority.Never in my life had I been forced to do anything, making his commanding tone both foreign and strangely tantalizing."You heard me, Leah," Finn repeated, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "I want you. Right here, right now.""Finn, we need to talk," I said, my voice wavering.Finn roared, his hands gripping my shoulders with a fierce, almost desperate strength. "I don't want to talk," he snarled. "I want you to take off your clothes right now. Don’t make me do it for you. You're not the Lycan King's daughter to me. You're my woman. And I want my woman to obey..."I didn't wait for him to finish. With a deliberate, almost defiant motion, I tilted my head and slowly unbuttoned my blouse.Finn’s gaze fixated on my plump breasts and the swelling curve of my belly, his expression shifting to one of disbelief."I'm pregnant, Finn," I said, my vo
Leah's POVMy father? This was the second time someone had mentioned his involvement in the enhancement project. Yet, that still didn't validate Leo's outrageous claims."The lab was destroyed later," Sak continued."What happened?" I asked, my curiosity piqued."It was located at the far end of the old Huffner Bridge. When Mick set fire to the bridge, the lab caught fire and burned down."Mick Toussaint. He was just a teenager back then. He set the bridge ablaze and was later sent to rehab by his father, the late Alpha Dire. The past was a jumble of fragmented events, impossible to piece together fully."The next time I saw Finn was at the slave market," Sak went on. "I recognized him immediately because of the scars on his chest. I bought him and took him home, giving him food and shelter. I didn't want him working in the club, but the Blazebite Prowlers kept causing trouble. When you came to my club, I had to push Finn out to keep them away. With your influence, they wouldn't dare
Finn's POV"If the rogues are messing with your trade routes, go deal with the rogues," I said, fixing him with a cold stare. "I already have full control of Mediland and the North. I don't need anyone offering me things I already possess. Now, I think it's time for you to leave."I stood and began to walk away, but he stopped me."Alpha Finn, if I may, I'd like to remind you that Lucas Farrow is still in our custody."Before he could finish, I grabbed his collar."Don't you dare mention that name in my presence!" I roared."Come on, Alpha Finn," the old vulture raised his hands in surrender. "As I said, this is nothing personal. But His Majesty can easily make it personal if he wants to.""I don't care if he's dead or alive!" I snapped. "I'm surprised you've kept him this long, to be honest...""Are you sure?" he narrowed his eyes. "He's the only namesake you have. He's your father's son. Are you prepared to tell your father,
Leah's POVAlpha Finn injected the entire syringe into my vein. Almost immediately, I felt control over my limbs slip away. My body went limp, collapsing onto the sofa like a rag doll. Though my physical struggles ceased, my mind was still very much awake, and fear clung to me like a second skin.Tossing the used syringe into the trash, he lifted himself off me. Then, he sat beside me on the sofa, his fingers weaving into my hair."Whether you like it or not, that's the new face I gave you," he murmured while gently combing through my hair. Suddenly, he yanked it viciously, his voice turning deadly. "If you dare tell anyone about this, I will peel off your skin while you're conscious. Do you understand?""Yes... Sir..." I whispered, knowing he wasn’t bluffing.His hands traced a path from my nape down to my chest. As his long, slender fingers brushed the tips of my nipples, I flinched involuntarily. He peeled my buttoned blouse open, his gaze
Leah's POVI couldn't answer. I didn’t know how to respond. My body betrayed me, growing wet under his touch.Suddenly, he grew angry. He grasped my neck, squeezing hard. "I'm talking to you, you fucking slut.""Sir... Please don’t do this to me..."A sadistic glint ignited in his eyes. He rubbed my loins harder, lifting my waist and arching my back. Blood surged through my legs, and I realized, Did I just... feel my legs?Just before I could climax, he abruptly stopped. He stood up straight, leaving me on the bed. For a brief moment, he did nothing but stare into my eyes.I felt ashamed of my body's reaction and didn't dare move. Then, he walked away and returned with a sizzling hot iron bar.Panic surged through me, and I screamed as he mounted on top of me. His weight pressed down, nearly breaking my ribs."What? Did you think I was going to fuck you?" His eyes gleamed with cruelty and disgust, matching the glowi
Leah's POVAfter that day, a doctor came three times daily to run all kinds of tests and scans on me. Every time he left, he would inject sedatives into my veins, forcing me into a deep sleep. I dreaded these forced slumbers. They were filled with terrifying nightmares, yet as soon as I woke up, the memories of those dreams slipped away like sand through my fingers.One day, while I was in a light doze, a sudden bang on the door jolted me awake. The door was flung open, and several soldiers marched into the cell. I stared at them, paralyzed with fear.“What… What are you going to do?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.None of them answered. One soldier stepped forward and unchained me. I collapsed to the ground, my legs and arms numb. Two men grabbed me, hoisting me up by the shoulders and dragging me out of the cell.“What are you doing?! Where are you taking me?!” I mustered all my strength to scream.
Lucas' POVMy heart lurched at his words. "What? How do you know?""Because my cousin Cole saw her," Rory explained. "She was unconscious, but she was still alive.""Who was with her?!" I asked. "She was escorted by a man from the Swanson family."Darren. Darren was with her!"Where is she now?!" I asked."Cole asked the man to go look for Finn," Rory continued. "Finn, who's now the Alpha of the Rogues in Mediland. He's the only one who can take Leah out of this kingdom."Shock rippled through me. Finn? The same Finn I had misgivings about? My voice trembled as I spoke. "Finn? Are you sure?"Rory nodded grimly.Fear knotted in my stomach. I didn't trust Finn, not with Leah's life. If there was one thing I was sure about my half-brother, it's that he hated Lycans more than anything.Panic surged through me, but so did determination. "You need to find out where she is, Rory. Please."Rory nodded
Finn's POVI hadn't seen Swanson in some time. "Swanson," I called out. "If I were you, I wouldn't reach for that gun."Darren's eyes locked onto mine, a statue in the dim light as my people crept from the shadows, encircling his car."What is this?" he demanded."It’s exactly what it looks like," I replied. "These are the slaves and rogues I freed from the market. They work for me now.""You?" Darren's face twisted with disdain. I could hear the hostility in his voice. "I'm not here for this nonsense. Leah isn't safe. Jalin’s people are hunting her. I need to take her to the North.""She’s safer with me," I said firmly. "You don’t have to worry. Step out of the car and walk away. Your job here is over.""You’ll have to fight me for her," Darren hissed."I'm not in the mood to fight a mortal werewolf," I scoffed."Mortal? You’ve got a lot to catch up on, stripper," he spat, before morp
Jalin's POVBlood trickled down his cheeks, but he didn't even bother wiping it away.He seemed more conscious now, yet he remained silent, sitting there quietly on the bed, his face devoid of emotion.His silence only fueled my rage.I yanked his hair and dragged him off the bed, slamming him against the floor.Shards of glass embedded into his flesh.He didn't seem to notice the pain at all.I despised the way he absorbed the pain as if it were nothing.He looked exactly like his father.That old bastard would torture me, then sit in a chair with the same expression, looking at me as if I were nothing.All those memories flooded back, and I unleashed my fury on him.He endured it without a sound, just as I had when the old king beat the life out of me.Whatever horrors that old fuck put me through, I would exact tenfold on his precious son.I poured myself a drink, then settled into a chair,
Darren's POV"What the hell are you doing? Get the cart over here!" a soldier barked at me.I complied, but one of them still kicked me in the back."Stupid rogue," he hissed.I could tell they were Moon Growlers.One came forward, lifted the sheet, and frowned. "What the heck is this? I need a second opinion."Another stepped up and exclaimed, "What the fuck happened to her face? And where are the rest of her legs?""I found her like this. Must’ve been some predators," I said."Shit! We’re screwed!" The one who kicked me looked genuinely terrified. "I told Jalin we had the girl. Now we have this… this mangled corpse. That psycho is going to tear me apart!""Stop panicking," another soldier tried to reassure him. "Look at her belly. She’s pregnant. About the same size as Her Highness Leah. This must be her.""Alright then, you tell him that and see how he reacts!""Well, sorry to in
Lucas' POVAs I trudged into the Court, the first thing I heard was the sorrowful voice of Lucian."With a heart burdened by profound sorrow and overwhelming conflict, I write the obituary of my father, the Lycan King. As his son, I, Lycan Prince Lucian, have been torn apart by his passing. Yet, in the name of truth and honor, I must recount his life in all its reverence and complexity..."What is he doing? Is he about to reveal the truth of the Lycan King's deeds at his own father's funeral?! Has he lost his mind?!Upon entering the ceremonial chamber, I saw Jalin Cleary standing beside Lucian.Why is that bastard still alive and why is he next to Lucian?!The moment he spotted me, Jalin's eyes narrowed.I recognized the smug grin on his face. It was the look he wore when he was up to something deceitful.My mind raced.Leah. He must have Leah. He must be using her to threaten Lucian.The instant Leah crossed my