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
Leah's POV"You're still in love with him. Love clouds your judgment. He's going to strangle you and your cub to death, but you still want to flee with him. I can't let this madness continue. It's time to put an end to it," my wolf said, her voice calm in my mind."If you let him out, I will hate you for the rest of my life!" I screamed."I don't care," her voice was unwavering. "You'll hate me for a while. But eventually, you'll make peace with it. Men come and go, but you're stuck with me.""You're impossible! He's the father of my baby!" I shouted. "You will make my baby fatherless!"At that moment, Finn shifted into human form. He picked up the clothes from the ground and put them on piece by piece.As he dressed, he said, "Leah, I know you're there. I know you can hear me. You deserve the truth, and now I'm telling you. My entire life, I've been used and exploited. My blood was altered, my muscles torn and reassembled. Sak forced me to stay with you, Jalin used Sak to make me ple
Gean's POVMy life is nothing short of tragic. I think that’s a fair assessment. Loving men is apparently a capital offense in our pack. They shunned me like I was a plague-ridden rat, disregarding every talent I had to offer.But I’m a problem solver. I work with diverse clients, providing them expert solutions. To truly excel, you need a personal touch and influential connections. And what could be more influential than a prodigal son from a Lycan family?I met Leo during his time in medical school. He was as queer as a three-dollar bill back then and convinced he had some mysterious ailment. He’d lock himself away in the lab for weeks, only to emerge with a new potion, claiming he’d discovered the cure. He’d down it and promptly pass out, only to wake up queerer than ever.It took a lot of persuading to convince him that there was nothing wrong with us. I can be very persuasive, if you catch my drift. One morning, he woke up in my arms and said, “Gean, I think I’ve found my solutio
Leah's POVI despise the darkness. Ever since I was a little girl, I've had a phobia of dark, narrow places.“Leah, are you okay?” Finn turned back, concern etched on his face."I... I don't know, Finn. Something's wrong," I whispered, feeling light-headed and disoriented."Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you?" he asked, already moving towards me. Before I could respond, he had scooped me up and slung me over his back.At that moment, the world spun chaotically around me."Hang in there," Finn urged, picking up his pace. "We’ll be there soon."Even as my head swam, my mind raced uncontrollably. Anxiety gripped me, and I couldn't shake it off. Was it because of the pregnancy? I didn't know. I had never felt anything like this before, but then again, I had never been in such a dire situation either.My breathing grew labored, and I clenched my fists. Finn noticed and reassured me, “We’re almost there, Leah. Stay with me.”I shut my eyes tightly. I had never felt so vulnerable and
Leah's POVFinn kept his silence, a rare occurrence that only deepened the enigma that surrounded him. The more time I spent with him, the more his mysteries unfolded, like shadows weaving around him. It was as if something dark and heavy, invisible to the eye, ensnared him. I desperately wanted to help lift that burden, but the 'how' eluded me, plunging me into sadness.Reaching out to grab his hand, he took a deliberate step back, evading my touch. "Finn, you know you can share anything with me,” I said softly, my heart pounding with every word.His face darkened, and his voice dropped to a whisper, "Leah, I don’t want to talk about it right now."“Finn, I understand, but the tattoo on your chest...” I whispered, my curiosity tipping the balance.He erupted in anger, his voice thunderous, "I’ve already told you. I don’t want to discuss it now!"His sudden outburst stunned me into silence. This was a side of Finn I had never seen before—maybe this was the real him, I thought. The rea
Lucas' POVThe Green Point bar stank of sweat and spilled whiskey. I watched the girl's throat work as she gulped the beer, amber liquid dripping down her chin like stolen honey. Her knuckles whitened around the glass. Thirsty little thing. Starving in ways I couldn't name."Did you...enjoy the beer?" I asked."It tastes like piss, but I'm thirsty," she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand."And did you enjoy today?" The question tasted rusty. Leah's ghost perched on the barstool between us, her hollow socket accusing me.The girl's shoulders hitched first. Silent sobs shook her frame, tears plinking into her empty glass. My chest tightened - that old reflex, that ancient guilt."What's going on? Did I do something wrong?" I held her hand and asked."It's just..." Her voice cracked like autumn leaves underboot. "Feels like the first real day. Like I've been sleepwalking till now. I've never been out for a proper date like this wi
Finn's POVThe studio gates loomed like iron teeth. I stepped through, the scent of fake blood and sweat slapping me harder than the California heat. Outside, the Hills smoldered, ash staining the sky. Inside, they’d built a pantomime of apocalypse - extras in matted fur howling at a green screen, their plastic fangs glinting under klieg lights.A director barked into a headset. "Action!"A truck flipped, screeching on cables. A blonde actress spilled out, naked and screaming. From the rafters, a man in denim descended, Gatling gun roaring blanks. Extras dropped, melodramatic, as he scooped her up. Their kiss was all teeth, a parody of passion."Cut!" The director rubbed his temples.Complaints about the heat erupted - especially from the actress, who snatched a robe and cursed the air conditioner's death."Lycidas, could you try to use your tounge this time?" the director shouted.The cowboy - Lycidas - flashed a grin, all wolf
Lucas' POVThe girl looked nervous as I hauled her into the Mediland's golden throat. The mall's fluorescence carved the girl into something spectral. She hovered between racks of silk and chiffon, fingers brushing fabric like she expected it to bite. The salesgirls' laughter hung sharp in the air - hyenas circling a limping doe.To my surprise, my hearing was back. I could clearly hear what they were mumbling behind the racks. "Look at her. Poor little rat. How could someone like her end up with Alpha Lucas?" a girl whispered."Gold digger. Social climber. Boot licker...""And cock sucker!"They giggled.I silently sighed and ignored them.I looked at the girl. She looked overwhelmed. I knew she must have heard what they'd said. She lowered her head and stood there, looking lost.I walked to her."Pick something," I said."I don't need anything..." the girl looked horrified at the price tags. "Could
Lucas' POVThe girl's boots dragged against the restaurant's marble steps, scuffing gloss into dust. Her coat hung loose, threadbare at the elbows—a thrift-store relic in a kingdom of gold trim and crystal. I didn't blame the hostess for curling her lip.This is the human quarter of Mediland. A high-end steakhouse in the human world is supposed to be stunk of judgment."No reservations?"The hostess flicked her gaze over the girl's messy cropped hair, the grease and blood clots crusted on her hem. Her voice was polished ice. "We're full. Try the soup kitchen down the block."The girl didn't flinch. Just stared at the chandelier, jaw working like she was chewing the light itself. I leaned against the podium, leather gloves creaking. "Tell Danny I'm here.""The manager?" A laugh, sharp as broken stemware. "I'm sorry, Sir. You look like a decent gentleman, but he doesn't entertain strays."Then the doors swung open, and the scent hit me -
Leah's POVThe moment I crossed Alpha Finn’s threshold, his pets slithered in behind me. Annet and Donna - branded vipers with just enough leash to sink fangs into weaker girls.The door clicked like a trapspring. I kept scrubbing, gouging filth from floorboards until my knuckles split. Soapwater turned pink. They circled, lacquered claws glinting. Donna’s stiletto cracked across my hand."Lookit this guttermouse playing vixen," Annet crooned. "Sneaking into Alpha Lucas' chambers all night - think we're blind?" "Maybe she's graduated to bootlicker," Donna trilled. Her heel ground deeper. "C'mon, whore. Demonstrate your special talents." Blood bloomed beneath her stiletto. I bit through my lip - iron tang kept the scream caged. "Cat got your tongue?" Annet's slap snapped my head sideways. "You yowled plenty for Lucas. Think Finn’ll enjoy hearing how you serviced his brother?" "Alpha Lucas wasn't—" "Liar!" The backhand left my ears ringing. I spat crimson, kept scouring wo
Lucas' POVThe girl's hands danced. Apron strings became a lover's knot at her waist. Eggs cracked one-handed, yolks bobbing like liquid suns. I watched, transfected, as she transformed slaughter into sacrament—French toast glazed in maple, coffee dark as a sinner's heart."How did you do it?" I gestured at the golden crust.She flipped a pancake. "Alpha Finn liked his girls versatile."The first bite dissolved on my tongue—cinnamon, nutmeg, vengeance."Why do you rub your neck like that?" the girl asked."I don't know. I slept on the couch and woke up like this..."Before I finished, she circled behind me, palms hovering above my neck."May I?""Well..." I mumbled.Her touch was wildfire. Knuckles pressed the base of my skull, thumbs working knots from muscle. I groaned."Quiet," she chided, but her fingers lingered. "You're worse than dogs."I lifted up my head and howled to the ceiling
Lucas' POVDim light bled through the cracks in the door, striping the girl's face as she scrambled backward, her boots kicking over jars of pickled things that rolled like severed heads. Her eyes were wild - a rabbit's stare, all whites and panic."Don't," I hissed, slamming the door shut behind us. The lock clicked, too loud.She lunged for a rusted shovel leaning against the wall. "Stay back!" The blade trembled in her grip, but her voice didn't. "Alpha Finn's already got me cleaning piss-pots. You think I'll let his whore add to the list?"The word stung, though it shouldn't have. I'd been called worse."I'm not here to hurt you," I said, edging closer. The room was a cage, shelves cluttered with burlap sacks and broken tools. A single bulb swung above, casting jagged shadows."Right. You dragged me in here to chat?" Her gaze dropped to my chest. "Take off your shirt. I want to see your branding."I froze. I didn't have any brandi
Lucas' POVThe following day brought no respite from the chaos swirling in my mind.More slaves were sent back by Finn. No one really knew what kind of shithole he pulled them out from and no one bothered to ask. The slaves were screaming and crying in at least 20 different languages. Soldiers were mad and barking at everything. Some knuckleheads got into a fight after drinking. No one tried to stop them, but everyone was naturally betting on who the winner was. Things went south and everyone lost, which led to more rows, more fist fights, and more bets. Besides, the Huffner Bridge was, again, paralyzed because some kids set it on fire by last night's fireworks. The Commisioner of Transportation and Domestic Affairs of the Court called in one after another and pressed me if I was intentionally sabotaging the connection between the Kingdom and Mediland, which was still "hanging on a thread". Then, more slaves came in, followed by more screaming, crying, and barking.
Lucas' POVLeo's work had been meticulous, his notes filled with promises of strength and clarity. If I could find him, if I could convince him to perform the procedure, maybe—just maybe—I could reclaim what I'd lost... The connection between me and my precious Leah.But how? Finn had control over everyone, including Leo. The thought of reaching out to him felt impossible, a bridge too far.Yet, the Moon Goddess' words echoed in my mind. What you already have. What did I have? Nothing, it seemed. Except for this gnawing determination to save Leah, to protect her no matter the cost.The next morning, I found myself drawn to the Grove, the section of Mediland where Finn's maids lived. It was an unusual impulse, one that surprised even me. As I approached the small house nestled among the trees, memories flickered at the edges of my consciousness—fragments of a life I couldn't quite grasp.Through the window, I spotted the girl I met