LIONEL
“What are you doing? Feeling so comfortable about suddenly erasing two people off the face of the earth. Where the fuck did you keep the bodies?”“That’s none of your business.”“How the fuck had you taken those bodies out in the blink of an eye, almost like the crime never happened?”“We were protecting you. We needed to save you the stress of having to be investigated for both their deaths.”“And you changed everything in just the snap of a finger?”“We have technology much beyond the scope of our present age. That part was easy. See, that’s why you need to cooperate with us. Imagine all the things we could do together with this technology that we’ve got.”“Stop trying to make something that is totally abnormal from your end sound all normal. I’m not interested in helping you with shit!”She appeared less tolerating of my attitude now. “And between us both, who is the man and the beast, huh?”“REGINAI didn’t know how sure I was to answer that. “I am married.” I replied. “Well, then… you should have healed.”“I am married to the man who rejected me.” He paused and appeared puzzled a bit. “And how is that so?”“My husband had a dislike for my entire family and the moment he found out I was his mate, he rejected me without thinking as a result of the hate he felt towards me. It turned out shortly after that my father had betrothed me to him after an agreement he had made with his grandfather.” I guess that broke it down in the simplest form. “And how did they allow the marriage to proceed knowing you have been rejected?”“Neither of them knows. We kept it to ourselves.” I gave it a thought. Perhaps I should have told Grandpa Leonard that I was rejected. It may have changed something about the marriage. But I doubted though. That marriage was bound to happen and there was almost nothing we could have done to s
LIONEL“We are an organization known as the Institute of Paranormal Research. We take your species and find ways to duplicate your species for more of your kind to flood the earth. Isn’t that amazing?”“You kidnap us and use us as lab rats, conducting experiments that seek to create more werewolves of humans that were never wolves before?”This lady was insane.“It’s just like in the movies.” Isabel was saying. “You know, it’s believed that when a werewolf bites a person that is not a wolf, the abilities transfer like some sort of virus, but that is only in the movies. In reality, your type only transfers through your blood, from children to children. Do you know how limiting it is that we humans cannot enjoy that privilege you enjoy as werewolves, having super abilities? The only way is to marry a wolf and even then, it is only when the pair bears children that it can be so. We at the IPR want to put an end to that and make it possible for every
REGINAI was desperate. I was weeping. I was pleading. “Please, there’s no way I could end up with this. Believe me, I had not even known who this alpha was before he rejected me. I do not deserve me. You have to help me!”He shook his head, displaying what could have passed for sorrow. “You need to understand that what has happened to you is not something that happens to werewolves every day. There have been only two werewolves this has happened to since the history of time as I know it—you and the daughter of the Moon Goddess, your ancestor. Tendencies that there are others out there that have experienced it even in the past are very slim because the more there were occurrences of it, the more our descendants would have been given a chance to study and understand it. All that we were never given so we have no idea what we are dealing with. It’s quite unfortunate, but it is what it is.”“Well, I’m here!” I growled. “Study me and find ways to free me from
LIONELShe smiled. “You know the truth, Lionel. You could have basically come for your vacation and left and you would have never come across all these you’re meeting now. But then, you chose to expose your identity by threatening the poor man.”I remembered meeting Ray. I cursed under my breath. “Ray was a part of this, wasn’t he?”“Ray is a part of this.” She repeated with emphasis on ‘is.’ “Come on, Lionel. He’s still very much alive.”“Not for long.” I had sworn it within myself. The moment I set my eyes on Ray again, he was as good as dead. Regina was in trouble and somehow I knew Ray wasn’t just the right person for to be anywhere around her. Now Regina had gotten into a situation much beyond what she could handle. I kept swearing within me. I had fucked up. Regina fucked up. Everybody had fucked up. “The funny thing is that according to Ray, Regina was so desperate to see these Mountain Men and I wonder how that is so.” She said
REGINAI opened my eyes and figured I was choking. I coughed. “Get the lady water.” I heard a voice order and shortly, a vessel of water appeared before me, which I gulped down instantly. Panting, I let the relief soar through my veins as I slowly began to get myself. I could still feel the pain of my ankle even though it had been evidently straightened and then my arm as well seemed to have been treated mildly. In all, I was in better shape than I was before I slipped out of consciousness. There was still the throbbing pain in my head and the slight pains around my body but it wasn’t something beyond what I could handle.What mattered now was what was going on.I began to look around me and the first things I could make out were the Mountain Men. I gasped. They lay together, arranged in some sort of rows held down by machines that I had never seen before. What the hell was good on here?The men we
LIONELI heard him draw closer and I knew he had taken out a syringe. Once that syringe got into my neck, it was over.Lucius, are you ready? I whispered quietly. I was going to have to fight without my entire body free. I was going to have to break my right hand free and this attack was to take place with my left hand. Almost. Lucius replied. I waited. The man drew closer. I could feel him. He was breathing right over my neck at this point. Now! Suddenly, I grabbed his neck with my free hand and snapped it. He crashed to the ground. Isabel screamed and ran for the door just as I chased after her. Then the one more hold on my arm held me back. “Fuck!” I growled just as Isabel ran out of the room. I flung my arm back and forth, trying to break free from the hold. The bed had tumbled over now and everything in the room came crashing. Getting the damned hand free was all that mattered to me. Then an alarm sounded and everywhere went red. The door began shutting. No way!I sli
REGINAHe guffawed. “Well, I chose it best to follow you while I put on a tracker for my people to trace out wherever I went and just as well planned, the Mountain Men did answer you and you took us straight to them. Do you know the worth of these men to us? They are the natural wolf beings. Pure. Not only would they provide for us a billion dollars worth of research funding but they could also be a source to create some of the most complex powers, things more deadly and intricate than you can ever understand.”I shook my head as I felt anger and disgust towards this demon of a man rising within me. “You have no idea what you are doing, Ray. You have put yourself in big trouble. You saw it yourself. I had placed markers everywhere, not as landmark markers, Ray, but as signs. That was the sign of the Silver Moon pack, one that only my husband would recognize and in no time, he would be coming for you and trust me, you don’t want to know what it feels like when Lionel comes for you.”
LIONELI continued through my way till I found a restaurant. I went for the receptionist. “Good morning. What is your order, sir?”“I’m looking for a way back to my location, please.” I described the hotel. I didn’t have my card or anything on me to begin ordering a meal. Luckily, the lady recognized the hotel I was talking about and gave directions. It wasn’t so far away. I continued my way through the road but the distance seemed longer and I eventually hailed a passing truck and hopped on behind it. We drove all the way now until the hotel came into sight.Good!I wondered if it was best to go in. The men could definitely be waiting. Still, it would be difficult to seize me in broad daylight. I went to the canteen anyway. My subscription for their hotel service was yet to expire so I could get a decent meal. I ate to my satisfaction. I was going to have a long day ahead. By noon, I began through the way o
REGINA I made my way to Marcy’s room shortly after seeing Lionel. She looked so small lying there, her face pale but serene. Her hands rested on her swollen belly protectively, even in her sleep. My heart clenched at the sight of her. The sister I had thought I’d lost forever was here again, and despite everything we had endured, there was hope. Then I thought of the tragedy that had befallen her—of Silas and everything else. Victor had indeed taken more than we could imagine. “Marcy,” I whispered as I approached her bed. Her eyes fluttered open, groggy but quickly filling with recognition. “Regina?” she murmured, her voice hoarse. I nodded, tears already welling up. “It’s me.” She eased into a smile. “I just knew you could do it. I just knew you could. You’ve always been just too strong.” I laughed as I planted a kiss on her forehead. “How’s the b
LIONEL The first thing I noticed was the sterile smell of antiseptic. My body felt heavy, but the softness of the hospital bed was comforting. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open. Regina’s face came into focus. Her hair was slightly disheveled, dark circles shadowed her eyes, but she was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. Her hand rested on mine, her touch grounding me. “Lionel,” she whispered, her voice filled with relief and tenderness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned closer. “You’re awake.” I managed a weak smile. “Hey…” Before I could say more, Grandpa appeared by her side, his face a mixture of concern and relief. Ryker and Gwen were there too, their expressions lighter than I’d seen in days. “You gave us quite the scare, kid,” Grandpa said, his gruff tone unable to mask the emotion in his voice. “Victor?” I rasped, the memories of the fight f
REGINA “No,” I whispered, cradling Lionel closer. His breathing was shallow, his usually vibrant eyes clouded with pain. Victor stood a few paces away, lowering his weapon with a chilling casualness. “You should've just cooperated with the plan, Regina.” He chuckled disdainfully. “You and that pathetic excuse of an alpha.” “Don’t you dare!” Marcy’s voice cut through the tension, and I turned just in time to see her charging at Victor. “Marcy, no!” I screamed, but it was too late. Victor swatted her away like she was nothing, sending her flying into the side of the truck. She hit the metal with a sickening thud, collapsing in a heap. My mouth dropped open, my scream coming uncontrollably. “Stay down, girl,” Victor sneered, turning his attention back to me. I froze, my arms tightening protectively around Lionel. Every instinct screamed at me to fight, but my b
REGINA I and Marcy had been together in the room, waiting, when we heard the sounds of the war going on outside the building. Lionel was here. At first, a feeling of joy and assurance rushed to me, but almost immediately, a certain panic rushed through me when we had waited for quite long enough and Lionel was yet to show up. “Are you sure he’s still okay?” Marcy asked, the fear in her voice evident. “He is okay.” I replied with all certainty. “Nothing could happen to Lionel!” Then the men suddenly stormed in, barking orders. Marcy and I rose hastily and followed the men down the corridors, all the way to the back of the warehouse. Soon, we were out in the dark and there was nothing but the dim lights of the moon to guide us through. I could still hear the faint buzz of war on the other far end of the building. Axel led the group of Victor’s men, his expression unreadable, but
LIONEL His taunting words drove me mad, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. I clenched my jaw, focusing on my breathing as I adjusted my stance, preparing for the next round. But Victor wasn’t done. He was playing with me, like a predator toying with its prey. He danced just out of reach, circling me, his every movement calculated, precise. “You know, Lionel,” he began. “I’ve always admired your strength. But strength doesn’t mean anything when it’s built on lies. Your so-called ‘perfect love’ with Regina? It’s a joke. You’re both weak, just like your parents were. Too sentimental. Too tied down by your pathetic little bond.” His words struck harder than any blow he could throw, reminding me of all the mistakes I’d made, of all the things I’d failed to protect. The past kept clawing at me, refusing to let go. I roared in fury, charging toward him once more, but this time, I cou
LIONEL All I needed was a location and just that, Arturo had provided. Another site, another holding of Victor’s. Even if it meant going to a hundred locations this same night, as long as I was not dead, I was going to set my eyes on Regina and there was nothing that could be done to change that. As we drew closer to the warehouse where Regina was supposedly held, we knew better than to just storm our way in. We needed to maintain a low profile. The warehouse loomed ahead, its corrugated metal walls dull and rusted under the dim glow of the moonlight. A faint chill ran down my spine as I scanned the perimeter. This was the place. I could feel it in my gut. Regina was inside, and I wasn’t leaving without her. Ryker crouched beside me, his face set in grim determination. Arturo and his men from the Eric Circle pack fanned out behind us, their movements silent and purposeful. Each of them carried
REGINA “You already know how it started,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I refused to marry Lionel. I couldn’t. Not when my heart belonged to Silas.” I nodded, memories of that time flashing through my mind. Marcy had always been the rebellious one, the sister who defied tradition and sought her own path. “When I ran away with Silas, we thought we’d left everything behind,” she continued, her voice growing steadier. “We crossed borders, traveling from pack to pack, always looking over our shoulders. But eventually, we found a place where we could be safe, a small pack in a distant country. It was nothing like home, but it was ours. We built a life there, Regina. A happy life.” Her lips quivered, and I could see the love she still held for Silas shining in her eyes, even through her grief. “We planned to come back one day,” she said, her voice cracking. “To face
REGINA I awoke slowly. “Regina?” The voice echoed in my head, but the familiarity could not be mistaken. I knew I was captured again; alone, with no one to protect me, my heart aching in ways I couldn't even put into words. This time, not just for my own mistakes, but for my sister’s life as well. “Marcy…” I cried quietly. How? I lay on the cold, unforgiving floor of the dimly lit room, the rough stone scraping against my skin. The chains around my wrists felt heavier than ever, and my heart felt heavier still. It wasn’t just the physical pain that gnawed at me—it was the emotional torment of seeing my sister’s frightened eyes, the same eyes I remembered from our childhood, filled with so much terror. "Regina?" Marcy’s voice broke through the silence. Her voice was hoarse, trembling, as though she too couldn’t find the words to express th
REGINA I could feel the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into my skin as the car jolted over uneven terrain. Victor’s grip on my life—on everything I cared about—was suffocating, his constant presence a reminder of just how trapped I truly was. Axel was beside me, silent, but I could feel his gaze flicking over me like a hawk, calculating and waiting for any sign of weakness. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. Victor had been playing a game with Lionel. Each move designed to frustrate, each location a new dead end. I could tell it was wearing on him. His anger had become more pronounced, his impatience clearer. But it wasn’t just about the hunt anymore—it was about power, and I was the key to it all. The car slowed as we turned onto a dirt road, the thud of the tires against the gravel echoing in the small space. The lights outside flickered and then dimmed. I didn’t know where we were going this time,