The house was bigger than she expected. Warm lighting. Large windows. A fire crackling in the living room. It felt… lived in. Jake carried her bag upstairs, stopping in front of a door. "This is yours." Lila stepped inside without a word. The room was simple. A bed. A dresser. A window overlooking the forest. It was nice. Too nice. She hated it. She turned to face Jake. "How long do I have to stay?" Jake hesitated. "As long as it takes." "For what?" "For you to heal." Her chest tightened. "And after that?" Jake’s expression darkened, but before he could answer, Lucas spoke from the doorway. "You’ll leave," he said, voice unreadable. Lila turned to him, startled by his presence. He was leaning against the frame, arms crossed, watching her with that same guarded expression. Something sharp twisted in her stomach. Lucas held her gaze. "If that’s what you want." She should have felt relieved. She should have felt something like victory, like freedom w
Lila set the dagger back on the table, narrowing her eyes at the mess of blueprints and scattered wires. "This place looks like a bomb went off," she muttered. Jake smirked. "It’s organized chaos." She shot him a skeptical look. "That’s just something people say when they don’t want to admit they live in a disaster zone." He chuckled. "Maybe. But it works for me." Lila wasn’t sure what she had expected from Jake’s personal space, but this… it was something entirely different. It wasn’t just a collection of weapons or tech—it was a reflection of him. A mix of precision and unpredictability. Her gaze flickered back to the empty space where a bed should be. "You seriously don’t sleep?" she asked again, this time more curious than before. Jake leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "Not much." "Why?" He hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Too much to do." Lila frowned. That wasn’t the whole truth. "You mean too much to think about," she guessed. Jake’s s
Lila POV Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the ancient, crumbling temple ruins, my senses on high alert. The sun was dipping lower, casting shadows as darkness slowly crept in. As I listened carefully and sniffed the air, I could tell I was the only one here in this secluded part of the forest.The timing couldn’t have been better.I treaded softly over the scattered debris, carefully placing each step. I moved through the ruins until I reached the heart of the old temple, where two towering pillars stood, untouched by time. Most of the temple had fallen and been worn down by years of neglect, but these pillars remained steady. If I had arrived at sunrise, I would have seen the sun peeking through them from the east—a sight I planned to enjoy some other time.Despite the ruins’ decay, the carvings on the pillars were astonishingly clear, making me wonder about the materials that kept them intact. But tonight, my mind was elsewhere, focused on a much greater purpose.Standing betwe
Lucas POV I glared at the screen, skimming over the email from my cyber team. It had happened again – someone had breached our systems and messed up everything. My jaw tightened as I read through the detailed report. This wasn’t the first time; it had become an ongoing problem. No matter how many defenses we set up, someone kept breaking through, testing my patience to its limit.Our list of suspects had three names. I was determined to hunt down each one, ensuring they would regret ever crossing me. They’d face the most excruciating end, begging for a quick release, which I would never give them.I was pulled from my fury when my phone rang. I answered with a scowl.“Cross Jeremy off the list,” my brother Jake said right away. Leaning back in my chair, I raised an eyebrow.“You took care of him?” I asked, intrigued. Jeremy had been one of our main suspects.“No, he did that himself,” Jake replied, sounding amused. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Before he went, he gave us a clue.”
Jake POV It took us quite a while to wrap things up at Jeremy’s place. We uncovered loads of hard drives filled with data, which we’ll hand over to Blake, our cyber team leader, to examine for more information on Riley. I also found some notes Jeremy had written about Riley’s previous actions. I made sure to keep those, too.By the time we finally left, night had fallen. A whole day had passed on this task, which frustrated me because I had other plans for the day, but raiding Jeremy’s home took priority. Even so, we’d gained an advantage – we had fresh leads.We’d discovered Riley was a female wolf, living somewhere along the southern coast. Interesting. Out of all possibilities, it turned out she was a she-wolf. Who would have guessed?This new detail made things a bit trickier. Usually, we knew our enemies, most of whom were men. A few female wolves made our list too, but none had the courage to do what Riley had done. She was different. I could tell my brother felt the same curio
Lila POV I stayed hidden in the shadows for a while, patiently waiting. The distant crash of waves hitting rocks filled the silence, accompanied by the rustling sounds of the forest around me. This part of the Danielss was dense and difficult to reach, which made it the perfect spot for my secret meetings. It felt right to claim this area as my own.Suddenly, I heard a faint noise nearby. I perked up, alert, with my wolf instincts kicking in. I listened carefully to identify who it might be.I didn’t step out from the cover of the trees until a familiar figure appeared in the clearing, walking toward the cliff’s edge. Even then, I waited, observing him.Recently, something had been unsettling me, clouding my usually sharp instincts. The figure scanned the area, failing to spot me, though I was partially visible.I smirked to myself. The person was Alex, one of the deadliest assassins around, yet he didn’t notice me even though I wasn’t fully hidden. I guess all my practice with blen
Lucas POV "Why on earth is Fidel running so late?" I snarled, feeling my patience thin. Rory shrugged, his fingers busy on his phone, probably messaging others to check in on Fidel. “And where’s my brother?” I demanded, still waiting.“He’s not here either,” Rory replied. “Jax said Fidel’s on his way. Seems he’s been spending the day with a girl at the beach.”“Did he think this mission was just a chance to flirt around? We’re here to track down Riley,” I snapped. Rory let out a sigh, replying, “He’ll be here soon.”“If he doesn’t bring anything useful about Riley, he’s in trouble,” I growled. Fidel was usually dependable as my right-hand man, and I gave him a fair amount of freedom, but he’d been pushing his luck lately. Perhaps it was time to remind him who he was dealing with—he was getting a bit too comfortable.“And where’s Jake?” I asked, cracking my knuckles. It seemed like I was carrying the weight of this mission alone, while the others treated it like a vacation. My patienc
“I never pegged you as the type to drink tea over coffee,” Lila said, leaning casually against the counter, her eyes scanning Fidel’s movements.“And I never pegged you as someone who’d admit to judging people by their drinks,” Fidel replied, a teasing grin playing at his lips as he set the kettle on the stove.“I’m not judging, just observing,” Lila shot back with a playful smirk. “It’s what I do.”“Oh? And what exactly have you observed about me so far?” Fidel asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter across from her.Lila tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Well, let’s see... You’re confident, charming, and far too smooth for your own good. Definitely trouble.”Fidel laughed, the sound warm and inviting. “Trouble? That’s a bold assumption for someone who just met me this morning.”She shrugged. “Call it a sixth sense. Besides, you’re not exactly subtle.”“What gave me away?”“Everything,” Lila said, chuckling softly. She couldn’t help but notice the way his gri
Lila set the dagger back on the table, narrowing her eyes at the mess of blueprints and scattered wires. "This place looks like a bomb went off," she muttered. Jake smirked. "It’s organized chaos." She shot him a skeptical look. "That’s just something people say when they don’t want to admit they live in a disaster zone." He chuckled. "Maybe. But it works for me." Lila wasn’t sure what she had expected from Jake’s personal space, but this… it was something entirely different. It wasn’t just a collection of weapons or tech—it was a reflection of him. A mix of precision and unpredictability. Her gaze flickered back to the empty space where a bed should be. "You seriously don’t sleep?" she asked again, this time more curious than before. Jake leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "Not much." "Why?" He hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Too much to do." Lila frowned. That wasn’t the whole truth. "You mean too much to think about," she guessed. Jake’s s
The house was bigger than she expected. Warm lighting. Large windows. A fire crackling in the living room. It felt… lived in. Jake carried her bag upstairs, stopping in front of a door. "This is yours." Lila stepped inside without a word. The room was simple. A bed. A dresser. A window overlooking the forest. It was nice. Too nice. She hated it. She turned to face Jake. "How long do I have to stay?" Jake hesitated. "As long as it takes." "For what?" "For you to heal." Her chest tightened. "And after that?" Jake’s expression darkened, but before he could answer, Lucas spoke from the doorway. "You’ll leave," he said, voice unreadable. Lila turned to him, startled by his presence. He was leaning against the frame, arms crossed, watching her with that same guarded expression. Something sharp twisted in her stomach. Lucas held her gaze. "If that’s what you want." She should have felt relieved. She should have felt something like victory, like freedom w
"I want to leave." Lila’s voice was quiet but firm, cutting through the sterile silence of the hospital room. Jake, who had been adjusting the blanket around her, stilled. His eyes met hers, searching. "You’re not ready." "I don’t care." Her hands trembled as she gripped the sheet, but she refused to let the weakness show. "I can’t stay here." Jake sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Lila—" "I feel like I’m suffocating," she interrupted. "The beeping machines, the doctors poking at me, the way they look at me—like I’m broken. I can’t take it anymore." Jake hesitated, and for a moment, she thought he would argue. Then, after a long pause, he spoke. "You’re being discharged tomorrow." Relief crashed into her so hard she nearly choked on it. "Tomorrow?" He nodded. "Lucas and I arranged it." Her stomach twisted at the mention of his name. "Lucas," she repeated, voice flat. Jake watched her carefully. "You’ll be coming with us." The relief died instantly. Lila’
“You’re not even listening.”Lucas blinked, forcing his mind back to the present. Across the desk, Caleb—the pack’s beta—was watching him with barely concealed irritation.“I heard you,” Lucas said, though he wasn’t sure that was true.Caleb exhaled sharply. “Alright. What did I just say?”Lucas stared at the documents scattered before him. Reports on pack affairs, financial records, and the latest updates on the false money laundering accusations. Important things. Things he should be focusing on.But all he could think about was her.“Lucas.” Caleb’s voice cut through his thoughts again.Lucas sighed and ran a hand down his face. “The accounts are still frozen. We’re being investigated. Lawrence left a mess.” He gestured vaguely at the papers. “Did I miss anything?”Caleb crossed his arms. “Only the part where we need a plan.”A plan. Right.Lucas tried to concentrate, but his mind kept drifting. A month. It had been over a month since the explosion. Over a month since Lila had been
“You’re beautiful.” Lila’s breath caught. She turned sharply to look at Jake, expecting to see amusement or sarcasm in his expression. Instead, he was watching her with a look so raw it sent a shiver down her spine. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “I look like hell.” Jake’s eyes didn’t waver. “You don’t.” She scoffed, lifting her metal arm. The artificial fingers curled and uncurled, the movement eerily smooth. “You see this?” She tapped the metal plating, the sound hollow. “This isn’t beautiful. This is ruin.” His jaw tightened. “You’re not ruined, Lila.” She turned away, unable to look at him. How could he say that? Her skin was pale, her lips cracked, her face swollen from the weeks of unconsciousness. And now—this thing attached to her body, a constant reminder of everything she had lost. Jake reached out, but she shifted away before he could touch her. “I don’t need your pity.” “It’s not pity,” he said softly. “It’s the truth.” She clenched her jaw. H
“Lila? Can you hear me?”The voice was deep, steady—one she should recognize.She tried to open her eyes, but her body felt impossibly heavy, like she was sinking into an ocean with no way to reach the surface. Everything around her blurred between reality and dreams.A hand brushed her hair back gently. The touch sent warmth through her, a sensation she didn’t expect.“It’s okay,” the voice murmured. “Just rest.”She wanted to fight it. To demand answers. But exhaustion pulled her back into the dark.The next time she woke, the light was dim, but the air in the room was thick with something—something familiar.She shifted slightly, wincing at the dull ache in her body. Her senses sharpened just enough to notice the presence beside her.Jake.His head was lowered, his breathing even, but she knew he wasn’t asleep. He was waiting. Watching.Her throat was dry when she spoke. “You’re always here.”His head lifted immediately, his blue eyes locking onto hers.“You finally noticed?” he sa
"Lila, breathe." The voice was steady, but she barely heard it over the pounding in her ears. Her heart raced, the erratic beeping of the monitor beside her growing louder with every second. She stared at them—both of them. Lucas. Jake. My mates. Her mind struggled to piece it together, to make sense of why the two men she had vowed to hate stood on either side of her bed, watching her like she was something fragile. This couldn’t be real. "Lila," Jake said her name softly, stepping closer. Something inside her reacted—a rush of warmth, a pull so deep it made her breath hitch. Her wolf. Her traitorous wolf, who had spent years snarling in anger at the mention of them, was now purring at their presence. No. No, no, no. Her breathing quickened. The beeping of the monitor spiked again. Jake's expression darkened with concern, and then—before she could stop him—his hand was on her face. The second his skin touched hers, everything inside her exploded. ---
Waking into Pain:"She moved."The voice was distant, yet urgent.Lila felt as if she were trapped under something heavy, her entire body aching in ways she couldn’t understand. A dull, throbbing pain pulsed in her head, and her limbs felt too weak to move. It was like waking up from a terrible dream, but the nightmare hadn’t ended—it had followed her into reality.A sharp sting burned her throat when she tried to swallow. Her lips felt dry, cracked, and raw. She attempted to lift her arm, but it wouldn’t respond. Her fingers twitched, but even that small movement sent a wave of agony through her."Lila?"The voice was closer now, deep and rough with emotion.She tried to turn her head toward the sound, but her body refused. Every part of her felt disconnected, like she was floating between pain and exhaustion.Something warm wrapped around her hand. A touch. Familiar. Safe."Can you hear me?"Lila wanted to answer, to let whoever was speaking know that she was here, but all that came
"I won't let him get away with this," Jake said, his voice thick with anger. His eyes were fixed on Lila, who lay motionless in the bed, her once lively presence now replaced by a quiet stillness that seemed unnatural. Lucas stood by her side, gripping her good hand with a tenderness that betrayed the depth of his feelings. His gaze never left her face, even though the sight was almost too much to bear."I know," Lucas replied, his voice strained but resolute. "But we need to focus on her right now. We can’t do anything if she’s not okay." Jake’s jaw tightened. “I’ve never felt this helpless. Watching her like this, it feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”He took a step closer, his anger simmering beneath the surface, threatening to explode. His fists were clenched at his sides, but he did nothing with them. Instead, he let the rage build. "Lawrence is going to pay. For this. For everything. He won't get away with hurting her like this."Lucas turned his head slowly, meetin