Lucas's hold tightened slightly, his warmth grounding me in ways I hadn’t expected. "You don’t have to figure everything out right now. Just… let us in."I wanted to. More than anything. But the walls I had spent years building weren’t so easily torn down. Every time I let myself believe in this—in them—a whisper of doubt crept in, reminding me of all the reasons I shouldn’t.Jake sighed, almost as if he could hear my thoughts. "You overthink everything."Lucas smirked faintly, his gaze softening. "It’s what she does best."I let out a shaky laugh, and something shifted in their expressions—like a weight lifting, even if only slightly."Better," Jake murmured, his thumb brushing against my jaw. "I like it when you laugh."My throat tightened. "I don’t know how to let go."Lucas’s grip never wavered. "Then don’t," he said simply. "Just lean on us instead."That was the real fear, wasn’t it? Letting go felt like losing control, but leaning on them… That was different. That was trust.Ja
"Where is Jake?" Lila’s voice cut through the morning stillness, sharp with unease. She barely touched her breakfast, the plate in front of her nearly untouched. Lucas, sitting across from her, stirred his coffee with deliberate calm, seemingly unaffected by the tension crackling between them. "Handling something important," Lucas answered vaguely. Lila’s fingers curled into fists. "Something important? That’s not an answer, Lucas." His gaze flickered up to meet hers, steady and unreadable. "It’s not something you need to worry about." Her stomach churned. "Not something I need to worry about? My servers are missing, Lucas. Do you even understand what’s on them?" Lucas set his cup down with a quiet clink. "Yes, I do." "Then tell me why you’re acting like this is nothing!" Her frustration boiled over, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea how much damage could be done if that data falls into the wrong hands?" Lucas sighed, rubbing his temples. "We’re looking into it."
Analyzing the Clue:"This doesn't make sense," Lila muttered, her fingers tracing over the cryptic note for the tenth time. "There has to be something we're missing."Jake leaned against the table, arms crossed. "We've gone over it again and again. It's just a string of binary numbers."Lucas exhaled sharply. "It’s not just binary. Whoever left this knew exactly how to get under your skin."Lila shot him a glare. "And what’s that supposed to mean?"Lucas met her gaze without flinching. "It means you’re thinking like a hacker, not a strategist. You’re focused on the numbers, but what about everything else? The timing, the placement, the implications."Lila scowled but forced herself to reconsider. She turned the paper over, holding it against the dim light filtering through the window. No hidden engravings. No watermarks. Nothing."There has to be more," she whispered, frustration tightening her chest. "This isn't just some random threat. Someone knew exactly where to leave this, exac
Urgency and the Mission:"We have to go now," Lila insisted, her voice sharp with urgency. "Every second we waste, we risk losing the servers for good."Lucas exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. "Lila, we understand the stakes, but rushing in without a plan is reckless.""And what’s your plan? Sit here and wait for them to disappear?" Lila shot back.Jake ran a hand through his hair, visibly torn. "We’re not saying we won’t go. Just that we need to think this through. If the servers were that easy to find, we would have already tracked them."Lila clenched her jaw, frustration burning through her. "We’re wasting time," she muttered under her breath, pushing up from her chair. "If neither of you wants to go, I’ll do it myself."Lucas’s gaze darkened. "No, you won’t.""Try and stop me."Jake sighed. "Bell Town isn’t just some abandoned warehouse district, Lila. It’s controlled territory. You don’t just walk in without someone noticing."Lila’s hands curled into fists. She kn
"You’re not going alone, Lila," Lucas stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument. "I never said I was," Lila shot back, crossing her arms. Jake scoffed. "You were thinking it, and that’s enough of a problem." Lila exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "We don’t have time to waste! Every second we sit here arguing, we risk losing those servers for good. I can move faster on my own—" "No," Lucas cut in, his tone final. Jake leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. His teasing demeanor was gone, replaced by something sharper. "Let me make this real simple for you. You’re not setting foot in Bell Town without us. Period." Lila clenched her jaw, her cybernetic fingers twitching involuntarily. She had spent so much time fighting against them, against their control, and now, when she needed to act quickly, they were slowing her down. "I don’t need babysitters," she muttered. Jake smirked, but there was no humor in it. "And we don’t need you thr
LUCAS POV After spending hours on the phone with everyone I knew who could help me with this trial, I finally managed to push it back by one day. It wasn’t as much time as I would’ve liked, but I couldn’t afford to complain. Having just one extra day meant we needed to travel nonstop, which made me anxious, especially for Lila’s health. I kept a close eye on her, making sure she was doing well. She looked different, stronger, more confident. There was a glow to her, her cheeks fuller, her dimples showing again, and her hair looking shinier and healthier. Most noticeably, the clothes I had bought for her seemed to fit better. She had regained some weight, and it suited her. The way she carried herself now was different—more assured, more at ease. Seeing her like this made me feel relieved. She deserved to feel safe, to feel whole again. As we traveled, I handled important pack business over the phone, keeping everything in order while we were away. Even then, I couldn’t help but n
Lila let out a slow breath, eyes fluttering open to the dim glow of dawn seeping through the curtains. Her body ached—not from pain, but from the lingering sensations of the night before. She stretched slightly, her muscles sore yet satisfied, a warmth curling in her chest at the thought of Lucas. The way he had held her, the way he had whispered assurances against her skin. A rare moment of vulnerability between them. But as she turned, reaching out across the bed, her fingers met nothing but cool sheets.She sat up, a frown creasing her brow. Gone. Again.Swinging her legs over the edge, she rubbed at her temples, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She should have known better than to believe Lucas would still be there when she woke up. It wasn’t in his nature to linger, not when there were things to be handled. Yet, disappointment sat heavy in her chest.Pulling on a loose shirt, she padded out of the room, her senses sharp despite the remnants of sleep clinging to her. Voic
The Road Trip & Jake’s Comfort :The plane touched down smoothly, and within minutes, they were off the runway and on the road. Lucas took the wheel, his focus unwavering, while Jake lounged in the passenger seat. Lila sat in the back, exhaustion creeping up on her.Jake turned, catching the way her eyelids drooped. "Get some rest, Lila." She huffed. "I can’t. My mind won’t stop." He reached over, fingers brushing hers. "You worry too much." Lila wanted to argue, but warmth spread from his touch, and her body betrayed her. She curled up slightly, her head resting against Jake’s shoulder."We’ll handle this," he murmured. "Close your eyes." Lila hesitated—then, for the first time in what felt like days, let herself rest.Arriving at the Server Location When Lila opened her eyes, the car had stopped."We’re here," Lucas said.She straightened up, her heart hammering. The old building loomed ahead, its worn brick exterior unchanged since the last time she was here.Jake whistled. "Charm
“You’re joking, right? Please tell me this is some twisted prank,” Lucas muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving the figure lounging by the fireplace.“I wish it were,” Jake replied quietly, jaw clenched. “But that’s him. That’s Rikkard.”Lucas swore under his breath. “Of all the days… why the hell would he show up in Venut?”“I don’t know,” Jake admitted, hands fisted in his jacket pockets. “But we need to play this smart. We can’t let him know about Lila.”Lucas inhaled sharply and nodded. “You sure he hasn’t seen her?”“Positive. He only saw us. Let’s keep it that way.”The plush lounge of the hotel was dimly lit, scented with expensive cologne, polished leather, and cigar smoke. Rikkard was seated casually on a velvet couch, legs crossed, swirling amber liquid in a crystal tumbler. His demeanor was relaxed, almost amused—but Jake could see it. The glint of calculated menace in his eyes.Jake took a breath and approached with Lucas, every step deliberate. They stopped jus
“Tell me you’re joking,” Lucas muttered, his voice low and edged with tension.“I wish I were,” Jake replied, running a hand through his damp hair. “But he’s here. In Venut. I saw his convoy near the North Quarter twenty minutes ago.”Lila blinked. “Wait, Rikkard? As in—the Rikkard?”Jake gave a grim nod. “The Mad Alpha himself.”Lucas straightened from where he sat beside Lila on the hotel bed, his entire body going rigid. “How the hell did he find out we were here?”“Doesn’t matter,” Jake said. “What matters is that he’s here. And if he’s sniffing around, it’s not just to catch up over drinks.”Lila’s face lost all color. “You told me he wasn’t a threat anymore.”“I told you what I needed to so you’d sleep,” Jake said quietly, shame flickering across his expression. “But clearly, I was wrong.”“Perfect,” Lucas growled. “Just what we need—another lunatic Alpha throwing his weight around.”“Not just another lunatic,” Jake said, voice clipped. “He’s the lunatic. The one who ripped out
“…She’s alive,” Lila repeated, quieter now. “I just don’t know where.”Lucas’s hand tightened briefly on her shoulder before he let go, stepping back to give her space even as his eyes lingered with worry. Jake returned to the window, gaze hard and focused.The silence that followed was the kind that spoke louder than words.Then—Knock. Knock. Knock.Not soft. Not tentative.The kind of knock that didn’t ask permission.Jake’s head snapped toward the door. Lucas was already moving—one hand reaching into the drawer beneath the minibar, where he’d hidden a blade and compact gun. Lila rose too, pulse leaping as the door handle turned despite the locks still being in place.Click.“Jake,” Lucas said, tone sharp.Jake strode toward the door and yanked it open an inch just as the locks disengaged, bypassed from the outside.The man who stepped in didn’t belong in any polished hotel suite. His mere presence dimmed the luxurious lighting, as if shadows followed him in.Rikkard.He was as unm
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Lucas murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face.“You didn’t,” Lila whispered back, her voice still drowsy. “I was already half-awake. I just didn’t want to move.”“You were sore,” he said gently, guilt flickering across his features. “I can feel it in your muscles.”“I’m fine,” she said, but he was already moving, sliding from the bed with careful grace.Jake’s voice floated in from the other room. “She’s not fine if she’s wincing in her sleep.”“I wasn’t wincing,” Lila muttered, rolling her eyes even as her cheeks flushed. She tried to sit up, only to wince slightly at the sting between her thighs. Damn it.Lucas was already wetting a towel from the tiny sink across the room. “Don’t lie to me, little wolf,” he said with an affectionate smile that didn’t quite mask his concern. “You’re strong, but you’re not indestructible.”Jake appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, his eyes scanning her with that piercing protectiveness that made her squirm mor
A Morning of Warmth and Wariness:“Lucas… your knot’s still in,” Lila mumbled, voice raspy with sleep.“I know,” he murmured against her shoulder, lips brushing her skin. “Didn’t want to wake you. You were peaceful.”“I’m not now,” she grumbled, stretching slightly and wincing at the soreness spreading through her hips.His arm tightened around her waist. “Sorry. I lost control.”“You didn’t.” She turned in his arms to face him. “I gave it willingly. Don’t take that away from me.”He searched her face, his eyes dark with concern. “You’re sore.”“I’m alive,” she said with a soft smile. “And I’m with you. That’s enough.”Lucas exhaled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Still… I should’ve been gentler.”“You’ll make up for it,” she teased, and for a moment, the heaviness in the room eased.The cabin bedroom was dim, the blinds half-drawn against the gray light of morning. Somewhere beyond the walls of this quiet space, the engines hummed low and steady. But here, wrapped in warm
“You’re safe now,” Lucas whispered, his knot still pulsing deep inside her.But safety was only one part of it.Lila trembled, her body molded against his, the fullness of his knot keeping her grounded and overwhelmed in equal measure. Her breath hitched, shallow and stuttered, as her inner muscles clenched around him again—an aftershock, or maybe the prelude to something more.Lucas didn’t move.Didn’t demand.He simply waited.And that, more than anything, unraveled her.“I can’t move,” she breathed, eyes clenched shut.“Yes, you can,” he murmured, brushing hair from her face. “You’re not broken, Lila. You’re not fragile. Not anymore.”Her fingers dug into the armrest, breath catching.Lucas leaned forward, his lips at her ear. “I want you to move. I want you to ride it. Take what you need from me.”Her heart stuttered.This wasn’t a command.It was a gift.Her legs ached. Her body throbbed. But still, she shifted—slowly, hesitantly—testing the taut pressure where their bodies remai
Lila’s breathing had slowed, her body molded to Lucas’s as though it belonged there—because it did. But the storm inside him hadn’t yet passed.Not even close.The feel of her, bare and vulnerable in his arms, only fueled his craving. His wolf still paced beneath his skin, restless and territorial, demanding more—demanding all of her. Every breath. Every sound. Every submissive gasp she hadn’t dared give anyone else.Lucas’s voice was low against her ear. “Up. On your knees.”She blinked in surprise.Still curled in his lap, wrapped in the thin barrier of his jacket, Lila hesitated.Lucas didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.His fingers skimmed under the fabric, trailing down her spine. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”Her heartbeat kicked harder, not out of fear—but recognition.She moved. Slowly. Carefully. She slid from his lap and turned, positioning herself between his legs, kneeling. The soft carpet beneath her knees contrasted with the burn in her chest. The jacket slipped
Lila lay nestled in Lucas’s lap, her breathing finally beginning to slow after that sweet, silent unraveling. Her cheek rested against his chest, and he kept his arms wrapped tightly around her as if anchoring her to reality—to him.But the air between them was far from settled.It pulsed with heat.With promise.With something primal still waiting to be unleashed.Lucas’s fingers slid through the strands of her hair, then gently down her back. The slow, possessive caress of a male who had no intention of letting her retreat behind silence again.Then, softly—but with an edge of command—he said, “Stand up.”Lila blinked, her muscles stiff from how long she'd clung to him. “What?”Lucas looked into her eyes, voice firm but calm. “Stand. Now.”His tone held no threat. Only promise.Promise of what came next.Her heart kicked harder.With effort, she slid off his lap and rose to her feet, swaying just slightly. Lucas stayed seated, legs parted, eyes lifting to trace every line of her body
The jet sliced through clouds like a whispering ghost, silver wings glinting against the rising sun. Inside the cabin, the mood was heavy and hushed—an odd quiet that didn’t come from peace, but from anticipation. A storm was brewing—of purpose, of emotion, of bodies teetering on the edge of control.Lucas sat with his arm resting on the back of the leather seat, close to Lila but not touching her. Not yet.She was turned slightly away, face bathed in morning light as she stared through the oval window. Her fingers were curled against her lap, the veins along her wrist faintly pulsing. Her mind, clearly, was not in this cabin.Lucas could feel the distance like cold glass between them.Across the aisle, Jake had his head down, fingers gliding rapidly across his tablet. Surveillance feeds blinked silently on the screen, updates flowing in from the cyber unit. His expression was unreadable—guarded, remote.But Lucas knew Jake noticed everything.The soft hum of the engines filled the si