"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
Lucas’s Ruthless Promise "There’s a chance they tampered with them," Lila admitted. "If they had time to plant a message, they could have planted something worse." Lucas’s hands tightened on the wheel. "If they did, we’ll handle it." His voice was cold. Too cold. Lila turned to him, something sharp curling in her stomach. "Lucas—" "No one does this without consequences," he said, his tone dangerously low. "They want to play games? Fine. But they’ll regret it." The raw promise in his voice sent a shiver down her spine. For the first time, Lila saw it—not just the controlled, strategic leader but something darker beneath it. Jake shifted in his seat, watching his brother with an unreadable expression. “Lucas, you’re scaring me,” Lila said, her voice barely a whisper. “This isn’t just about the servers anymore, is it?”“It hasn’t been for a long time,” Lucas replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “They crossed a line. They’ll pay for it.”“But what if they’re just trying to scare us
"Tell me everything." Lila's voice cut through the morning stillness like a blade. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her eyes locked onto Lucas and Jake. Lucas hesitated, but she didn’t give him the chance to stall. "No sugarcoating, no half-truths. Just tell me what happened." Jake exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Your impersonator screwed up. Big time." Lila’s stomach twisted. "What did they do?" Lucas met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "They tried to hack into Rikkard’s systems." The words sent a chill down her spine. Rikkard wasn’t just a threat—he was the kind of monster who didn’t forgive. If someone had attempted to breach his security, there would be consequences. Deadly ones. "And?" she pressed, her voice tighter now. Jake grimaced. "They failed." Lila inhaled sharply. Of course, they had failed. Rikkard wasn’t someone who let his systems be easily accessed, let alone infiltrated. Lucas’s jaw clenched. "Now he’s hunting fo
The drive back was tense. Lucas remained absorbed in legal documents, barely speaking. Jake tapped his fingers against the car door, occasionally glancing at her. Lila, however, couldn’t stop staring at the screen in front of her. The message from the impersonator—the one hidden in the server—mocked her. She had memorized every letter, every space, every possible pattern. Yet, it refused to make sense. She frowned. “Lawrence,” she murmured. Jake shifted. "What?" Lila exhaled, shaking her head. "I don’t know. It just keeps standing out to me." Lucas finally looked up. "You think he’s real?" Lila bit her lip. "I think if he is, he’s in just as much danger as we are." The car slowed as they approached their destination. Jake stretched. "We should probably focus on surviving this trial first." Lila smirked. "What, you’re not confident?" Jake grinned. "Oh, I am. I just like having backup plans." Lucas shut his laptop with a click. "Then let’s make sure we don’
Lila barely noticed the sound of the front door opening. Her fingers moved feverishly across the keyboard, her mind racing as she pieced everything together. The moment she cracked the final sequence, her breath caught in her throat.“Lila?” Lucas’s voice snapped her out of her trance. She turned sharply, heart still hammering. He stood in the doorway with Jake beside him, both looking exhausted but alert.“You’re back.” Her voice was hoarse from lack of use.Jake raised an eyebrow. “You sound surprised. What, you think we were gonna let the lawyers handle the trial while we ran off on some mission?” Lila blinked. “You mean… you didn’t?” Lucas sighed, rubbing his temple. “It was a formality. The trial was never going to be a real issue. We were more concerned about what you’d find while we were gone.” His gaze sharpened as he took in the state of the room—papers scattered, multiple monitors running different analyses, lines of code flashing on the screens. “And judging by the look o
"You can't keep avoiding this conversation, Lila," Lucas's voice was gentle but firm, his eyes searching hers for understanding.Lila sighed, her gaze dropping to her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I know. It's just... confronting the past isn't easy."Jake leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "We're here for you. Always."She looked up, meeting Jake's intense gaze, then Lucas's steady one. The sincerity in their expressions made her heart ache. "I appreciate that. Truly."Lucas reached out, his hand covering hers, offering warmth and reassurance. "We need to understand what you're feeling. What you're fearing."Lila took a deep breath, steadying herself. "It's hard to put into words. The shadows of my past... they haunt me. I fear they might consume me again."Jake's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger in his eyes—not directed at her, but at the unseen forces that tormented her. "We won't let that happen."Lucas nodded in agreement. "Together, we'll face whatever comes.
Lila stirred, the morning light filtering softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. She became aware of the steady, comforting breaths of Jake and Lucas on either side of her. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind, bringing a soft smile to her lips.Jake’s voice, husky from sleep, broke the silence. “Morning, beautiful.”Lila turned her head to meet his gaze, her heart fluttering at the tenderness she found there. “Morning,” she replied softly.Lucas’s arm tightened around her waist as he nuzzled into her neck. “How are you feeling?”She took a moment to assess herself. Physically, there was a pleasant soreness; emotionally, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn’t known she craved. “Content,” she admitted.Jake brushed a strand of hair from her face. “We meant what we said last night. This isn’t just a fleeting moment for us.”Lucas nodded, his eyes serious. “We’re in this together, Lila. For the long haul.”Lila’s heart swelled with emotion. The
Emotional Turmoil and Longing:Lila had always been independent. It was a necessity, not a choice. The world had taught her long ago that trusting too easily led to heartbreak, that relying on others could mean disappointment. But things were different now. Lucas and Jake weren’t temporary figures in her life. They weren’t people who would walk away when things got difficult. Her wolf knew that. Deep down, she knew that.And yet, the old fears still lingered like ghosts in the dark.Jake moved beside her, his presence steady. “You’re thinking about your past again.”Lila swallowed hard, then nodded. “I just—sometimes, it’s hard to believe this is real. That you’re real.”Lucas knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. “We are. And we’re not going anywhere. You don’t have to prove anything to us.”Lila closed her eyes for a moment, letting his words settle deep inside her. She had spent so much of her life proving her worth, fighting to be seen, to be enough. But with them…She w
The evening stretched on, the tension slowly melting into something softer. Lila found herself nestled between them on the couch, their quiet presence providing a comfort she hadn’t known she needed."You know," Jake mused, "I think God knew exactly what He was doing when He put the three of us together. You balance us out, Lila."She arched a brow. "Oh? How so?"Lucas smirked. "You keep us on our toes. And you remind us what real strength looks like."Lila scoffed. "Strength? You two are the warriors here."Jake shook his head. "No, Lila. Strength isn’t just about fighting battles. It’s about endurance. It’s about getting back up, even when life knocks you down. And you’ve been doing that your whole life."Warmth spread through her chest at his words. "I never thought of it that way."Lucas leaned in, his voice softer. "Because no one ever told you. But we see you, Lila. And we won’t let you forget your worth."She blinked, her vision blurring slightly. "Thank you. For being patient
Lila clenched her fists, her chest tightening as a storm of emotions swirled within her."I don’t understand why you’re both so patient with me," she muttered, looking away. "I keep pushing, keep hesitating, and yet… you’re still here."Jake stepped closer, his voice gentle yet firm. "Because we love you, Lila. That doesn’t change just because you’re struggling."Lucas exhaled, crossing his arms as he studied her with knowing eyes. "You think you’re hard to love, don’t you?"Her throat tightened, but she refused to answer. The truth sat heavy in her chest, too raw to admit. She had spent most of her life proving she didn’t need anyone, that she could survive alone. But now, with them, she found herself wanting more—terrified of wanting more.Lucas sighed, stepping forward. "Love isn’t about perfection, Lila. It’s about choosing each other, even when it’s hard. Even when fear tries to convince you to run."Her hands trembled, and she clenched them tighter. "I don’t want to be weak."Jak
Jake leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching Lila with narrowed eyes.“You’re doing it again,” he said.Lila didn’t look up from the holographic display, fingers rapidly tapping through a sequence of security feeds. “Doing what?” she muttered.“Overworking. Stressing. Wearing yourself down to the bone,” Jake listed, pushing off the doorframe. “And you know exactly what I’m talking about.”She sighed but didn’t slow down. “I don’t have time to take a break. We’re running out of leads, and I need to know what Arika is planning next. If we wait too long, she’ll be ten steps ahead of us.”Jake exhaled through his nose, crossing the room in a few long strides. He reached out, gently placing a hand over hers, stilling her movements. “Lila,” he said softly. “We can’t do any of this if you collapse on us. You haven’t slept. You barely ate. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”Lila finally met his gaze, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. For a moment, it looked like she migh
“You’re overthinking this.”“I am not.” Lila’s voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with irritation as she paced the room. “Rikkard isn’t telling us everything. There’s something bigger going on, and if we don’t figure it out soon, we’ll be caught in the middle of it.”Jake exhaled heavily, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. “I get it, Lila. But you’re pushing yourself too hard. You need to slow down.”“I don’t have time to slow down,” she snapped, raking a hand through her hair. “Arika could be orchestrating something even worse, and Rikkard might be hiding more than he’s letting on.”Lucas, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. “Lila, we hear you. But your stress isn’t helping. It’s making everything worse.”Lila shot him a glare. “So what? You want me to just sit back and do nothing?”“No,” Jake said, pushing off the doorframe. “But I do want you to breathe, maybe sleep for more than three hours a night. You’re running yourself into the ground.”She clenche
“You’re overthinking this.”“I am not.” Lila’s voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with irritation as she paced the room. “Rikkard isn’t telling us everything. There’s something bigger going on, and if we don’t figure it out soon, we’ll be caught in the middle of it.”Jake exhaled heavily, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. “I get it, Lila. But you’re pushing yourself too hard. You need to slow down.”“I don’t have time to slow down,” she snapped, raking a hand through her hair. “Arika could be orchestrating something even worse, and Rikkard might be hiding more than he’s letting on.”Lucas, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. “Lila, we hear you. But your stress isn’t helping. It’s making everything worse.”Lila shot him a glare. “So what? You want me to just sit back and do nothing?”“No,” Jake said, pushing off the doorframe. “But I do want you to breathe, maybe sleep for more than three hours a night. You’re running yourself into the ground.”She clenche
Lucas turned to face her fully. "Arika."Lila’s fingers drummed against the table, her jaw tightening. "I’d bet my life on it."Jake nodded. "It makes sense. If she wanted to throw everyone off her trail, pinning it on Lawrence would be a smart move. But why steal military secrets? What’s her endgame?"Lila shook her head. "That’s what we need to find out."Lucas’s expression darkened. "We also need to consider another possibility—Rikkard might already know Arika is involved. He could be playing us."Silence filled the room. The thought sent a cold ripple down Lila’s spine. "You think he’s using us to clean up his mess?"Lucas nodded. "Wouldn’t be the first time he’s manipulated a situation to his advantage."Jake sighed. "So, what’s our next move? We can’t just sit here and wait for Rikkard to feed us more half-truths."Lila straightened. "The Weddard witches."Jake frowned. "What about them?""They talk," she said simply. "Loose tongues, eager ears. If Rikkard knows something about