Leah's POV
I 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 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
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 POVAfter that night, Alpha Finn disappeared for several days.I spent most of my time confined to bed, with the doctor visiting every morning to administer medication. Each time he left, I felt heavily sedated, barely able to move my arms and legs. I only dared to attempt movement when no one was around. On one occasion, I managed to push myself up and sit upright.The nightmares had ceased, but the memory of the little boy from my dream lingered, causing my heart to ache whenever I thought of him. Was it just a dream? If so, why did it feel so real?One morning, the maids came early."Alpha is back and he wants to see you now," one of them announced.My heart sank. Every time he summoned me, it ended in torment. What did he want this time?The maids dressed me up like a doll before placing me in a wheelchair. Soldiers then escorted me to a vast door. As it swung open, the sight before me left me stunned.Alpha Finn was surrounded by six young, naked women, all vying for his a
Lucian's POVThe car smelt like leather and Jalin’s cologne - sickly sweet, like rotting roses. I stared at my reflection in the tinted window. The suit he had stuffed me into was too tight around the throat. A king’s attire for a king’s corpse."Sit straight," Jalin said. His gloved finger prods my spine, a mockery of tenderness. "You look like a stray."I slumped further. Let him rage. Let him break. It’s all the same now.The car hit a pothole, jostling us. Jalin’s hand clamped my thigh. "You’ll ruin everything," he hissed. His breath is hot against my ear, the way it always is before he peels me open. "Fix your face. Now."I didn't move.He sighed, that familiar blend of irritation and hunger. Then his hand fisted my hair, slamming my forehead into the window. Pain exploded behind my eyes. "Better," he murmured. "A little color in those dead cheeks."The divider between us and the driver was up. Jalin liked privacy for his lessons.He unclasped his belt buckle slowly, the sound me
Jalin's POVThe night was thick with the stench of roasted meat and the pungent odor of cheap perfume that lingered long after the banquet hall had cleared. I loomed over Lucian, who sat shackled in his own despair, a broken king teetering on the edge of abject humiliation.Finn sat on his throne, watching the exodus of his guests with a satisfaction tinged by a strange, lurking unrest. The events of the evening had unfolded precisely as Finn had orchestrated, yet there was a tempest brewing within him - a yearning to unmask my true intentions.I sensed Finn's eyes on me, persistent and probing as I steered the girl towards Lucian’s quarters. My grip on her arm tightened, eliciting a pained whimper that did little to soften my resolve. Her terror was apparent, her wide, pleading eyes glistening with desperation."I beg you, please," the girl’s voice trembled, each word dripping with fear. "Don't make me do this. I'll do anything else, just ple
Jalin's POVFinn asked a question that cut through the haze of my existence like a blade - sharp, incisive, and brutal. Why haven't I killed Lucian yet?The answer lies in the shadows of my soul, where hatred and desire twist like poisoned vines. I could tell the world that sparing him is an act of torture. But that's a lie. A comforting lie, perhaps, but a lie nonetheless. The truth is simpler - and far more damning.Lucian lives because I've chosen to let him live. Every breath he draws is a gift I've freely given, every moment of suffering a consequence of my indecision. I've kept him alive not out of compassion, but out of a twisted sense of control. To kill him would be to relinquish that control - to admit that he still holds power over me, even after all this time.But the irony is suffocating. I despise him, yet I refuse to release him. The paradox of our relationship is a grotesque masterpiece of contradictions. I hate him because he's a Lycan -
Lucian's POVMy stomach turned, knots of dread tightening as I forced myself to remain outwardly calm. To protect Leah, I had to play along, at least until I could find a way to free her.I approached her slowly, murmuring assurances too soft for Jalin to hear. Her eyes widened in understanding mixed with a touch of betrayal, but she didn't resist. The trust she once had in me was fractured, yet she still followed my lead, perhaps sensing a familiarity she couldn't place.I leaned in, pretending to carry out the vile act Jalin demanded. Each second felt like an eternity, knowing I was betraying her trust, no matter how necessary it seemed. She quivered, but then something changed. I felt the shift in her, a transition from fear to something far more primal. Her fear transmuted into rage, and before I could react, she unleashed a ferocity I hadn't seen in years.Leah transformed, her Lycan strength bursting forth with an unstoppable force. In an instant, s
Lucian's POVI didn't answer. I couldn't. My entire body was shaking with rage and sorrow, but I knew better than to speak. If Jalin found out that Leah was my daughter… if he discovered the truth…"She's beautiful," Jalin continued, his fingers tightening around my hips. "Almost as beautiful as you."I closed my eyes, willing myself not to look. But it was impossible. My mind replayed the scene over and over—Leah's face twisted in pain, her body trembling beneath Finn's brutal touch."Stop," I whispered, though I knew it was futile. "Please… stop…"Jalin laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made my blood run cold. "Stop? Why would I stop? You've never asked for this before."His words hit me like a blow to the chest. He was right—I had never fought him before. Never resisted. But now… now I couldn't bear it."Please," I pleaded again, my voice breaking. "I can't… I can't watch thi
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