Leah's POV"Good morning, Miss Leah." Mr. Carson, my Father's butler, greeted me with a giant smile. But his smile froze as soon as he saw Finn, who was sleeping next to me."Miss Leah, I hope this wouldn't be so inappropriate and I'm sure that I'll regret asking this question for the rest of my life, but if I may... Why is there a man in your bed?"I bounced off the bed and stretched my arms and legs, feeling energetic."He's my friend Finn. He's living here from now on. He's injured and I was taking care of him last night," I replied."By sleeping with him in the same bed?" Mr. Carson raised an eyebrow."Oh, come on! Mr. Carson! I've got a busy schedule for today. So let's just cut the awes and get started." I smirked at him, taking a glass of orange juice from the tray in his hands, and handing it to Finn.He looked much better than last night after a whole night of rest.The bruises on his face were gone and the wounds on his arms disappeared.The faster a werewolf heals, the stron
Leah's POV "Miss, a naked man is standing next to the swimming pool! Shall we call Beta Jalin?" A maid, who looked terrified and crimson at the same time, ran toward me in confusion. "No. Don't tell anyone. He's my friend. You need to bring me some towels and a long bathrobe. Can you do that for me?" I asked. "Yes, Miss. Towels and a bathrobe! Right away!" The maid disappeared immediately and came back with some towels and my brother's bathrobe. I took them from her and said, "Don't tell anyone about this incident." The maid nodded her head. "Is my brother at home?" I asked. "His Highness left early this morning to the hospital for Miss Parrish. He wanted to bring her some red roses and asked us to cut off some roses from the orchard." "Red roses," I whispered and melted inside. This was so sweet. My knucklehead brother brought flowers to my best friend. And among thousands of flowers in the orchard, he picked red roses, which mean eternal love and passion in any dictionary. Ev
Jalin's POV"I've got bad news for you, Alpha," I said after I took my seat in the driver's seat.Just like his Father, His Majesty the Lycan King, Lucian didn't reveal his thoughts on his face.I spent over 30 years with that man and I could barely tell if he was in a good mood or a bad mood.But on that day, he seemed to be quite calm after he met Laura in the hospital. He brought him flowers. He made her smile. He let her lean over his shoulder. He stroked her hair gently like he was petting a small wounded animal. And he mumbled something to her ear to make her laugh out loud.So far so good.So, this was the perfect timing for me to sway in and spoil his perfect morning.I took a glance at him in the mirror and met his eyes.He looked perfectly calm, absentmindedly sniffing the scent of roses and Laura on the tips of his fingers.Poor thing. He didn't realize how bad this piece of news was going to be."Before I say anything, you have to promise that you won't yell at me," I conti
Leah's POVSunshine poured into the car and plated everything in gold.Finn stared at me like he was staring out at the horizon.The morning sky was clear, with a dash of clouds. It was a tranquil backdrop to the chaos of the streets as well as the emotions inside the car.As I sat on the edge of the seat, my kneel buckled. I couldn't help but feel torn.I knew my feelings for this man. He was my second chance and there was no question about that. But the pull of everything else, including the difference in social status and the complexity of my marital status, were growing stronger by the minute. I had worked so hard all my life to meet the perfect man in my life, and now it was slipping through my fingers, just like that.I glanced over at Finn. The soft glow of sunshine cast a halo around his features. He was everything that I had ever wanted as a mate and a lifetime partner. And the thought of leaving him behind was breaking my heart.I had always been a dreamer of love, but I had
Leah's POV"The stripper guy?" Gean stared at me in surprise."I'll explain it to you later," I said to Gean while walking into the building.After swiping my card on the elevator control panel, the private elevator opened in front of me.I walked in with Jalin and Gean following me.The door shut in front of us and the elevator started to move up steadily and fast.If it wasn't for the increasing number on the electronic panel, I wouldn't even tell you that the elevator was climbing to the 70th floor within 30 seconds.I broke the silence, "I let Finn go back to Sheridan Club.""Why did you do that?" Jalin raised his eyebrows."Sak Doyle, the club owner, is his brother. He wants to stay with his brother. So I let him go," I said. There was a bitter taste in my mouth when I actually said these words.A crazy thought suddenly struck me -If I ran to the Sheridan Club right now, maybe I could still take Finn back. If Sak dared to stop me, I could punch him in the nose and take Finn to th
Leah's POV With rounds of applause, I walked down the podium and took my seat next to my brother. He seldom revealed his true feelings in front of other people, but at that time, he couldn't help but look at me with approval. Board members around the table commented - "This is a great presentation on the Mediland market." "Very insightful. Thank you, Miss Lewyn." "We're very lucky to have such an aspiring young lady join our team." Just as I was smirking inside, I heard a sharp, high-pitch voice at the other end of the table - "I have some concerns regarding Miss Lewyn's plan." I looked up and saw the Head of Eastern Market, Ava Dinara, glaring at me. Being the only female member in this board meeting, she was definitely a sight to behold, with her striking features and commanding presence. Her dark, wavy hair was sleek and pulled back into a tight bun, framing her sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes. Her tailored suit hugged her curves in all the right places, easily making
Jalin's POV I love my job of being a Lycan's Beta. But there are times in my life that make me hate being a werewolf in general. If I were a human being, I could easily bash someone's head against the wall and torture him the way I like it until that motherfucker decides to cooperate with me, because, well, human beings were born with the right to be unapologetically ruthless and mean to their own kinds. But no. I am a werewolf and I wasn't born with an innate need of killing my own kind. Plus, I work for a Lycan Prince. So I have to handle technicalities very carefully when it comes to torturing someone for confession. "I'll give you one more chance to tell me who you really are." I stared at Finn, who was curling up on the floor in front of me. He was covered in blood and there wasn't a single part of his skin that was still intact. I know now it's too late to say something like I have absolutely nothing to do with it, but the truth is, when I arrived at Sheridan Club 20 minute
Leah's POVThe meeting room was filled with the hum of voices as people filtered out, chattering amongst themselves about their summer houses in Switzerland and the coming auctions, complimenting each other on their new trophy wives, yachts, and cigars.As I walked out of the meeting room, accompanied by Gean, I felt a sense of exhilaration wash over her. I had just given a presentation that had gone flawlessly, and all the audience, except Ava, had responded with a thunderous round of applause. Probably I was still under the influence of Leo's magic potion, I didn't know. Anyway, it was a feeling that I had never experienced before, and it was one that I would tr
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
Lucas' POV"No," I replied, feeling confused. "Why?""She's a rogue," Dr. Jafar stated flatly. "Found by soldiers in the garbage dump. No name, no memory. Just… nothing. Alpha Finn wanted me to restore her memory, but it's so damaged that it's beyond repair. And to be honest, for girls like her, sometimes it's just better off being broken than mended."I closed my eyes briefly. Of course. Another lost soul in this forsaken place."Why does he abuse her?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.Jafar shrugged, his expression distant. "In Mediland, kindness requires a reason. Cruelty doesn't. He abuses her simply because he feels like doing it."His words hung in the air like a curse. I thought of all the times I'd been beaten and degraded by Jalin in the prison. And now the girl was enduring the same fate."She's just a child," I whispered.Jafar's gaze softened slightly, though it was fleeting. "We all have our ordeal
Lucas' POV"I'm just cleaning," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.Finn's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Cleaning? Is that right?" He stepped closer, took off his watch and put it on the table. "So why this fucking place is still a mess?"As his voice died, he slapped the girl across her cheek. The slap echoed through the room, reverberating in my ears even though I was hidden in the closet. The girl crumpled to the floor, her cheek reddened by Finn's blow. But she didn't cry out, didn't beg for mercy. She simply sat there, her eyes fixed on the ground, as if accepting her fate.Finn circled around her like a predator stalking its prey. "You're lucky I'm not in the mood of fucking you right now," he sneered. "Think of something to lighten my mood?" His voice dropped to a whisper, filled with sadistic glee.The girl bit her lips, crawling all the way to the wall and took off a whip hanging on the wall.My stomach ch