Chapter:The Jake, with his companion nestled close, providing nourishment, felt an unparalleled joy. He envisioned repeating this ritual daily, a constant source of anticipation. Lila was the center of his universe, his personal sun, radiating warmth and contentment. Yet, a shadow lingered. He recalled the previous day's painful exchange between Lila and Lucas, his brother. Lucas appeared shattered, a sight that caused the Jake considerable unease. He felt a strong urge to discuss this with Lila, to understand her reasons for rejecting Lucas. However, he hesitated, wary of jeopardizing the fragile trust she seemed to offer him. He knew that pushing her too hard could cause her to retreat further into herself. After the Jake finished feeding Lila a specially prepared breakfast, designed by the chef to be richer and calorie-dense to aid her wolf's rapid recovery, he inquired about her readiness. The meal, however, had made her drowsy, an unfamiliar sensation. She responded with a y
Lucas fixated on the monitor, his gaze unwavering as Jake positioned her for the camera. His body tightened, a dull ache pulsing within him as Jake's fingers gently separated her delicate folds, revealing her completely. He understood Jake's intentions. Jake had sensed his inner turmoil, his carefully constructed composure crumbling. Though he usually excelled at masking his emotions, presenting a stoic facade, Jake possessed an uncanny ability to perceive others' true feelings, and he saw right through him. Jake was also aware of his tense exchange with Lila the previous day. His actions were a gesture of support, and despite his reservations about Jake pushing their shared companion too quickly, he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the screen as Jake displayed her before the camera, ensuring every detail was visible. He groaned, a sensation of fullness building within him, almost painful. The scene before him felt surreal, like a dream unfolding, because he had f
Lila's New LifeA week passed quickly, and Lila's existence in the brothers' residence settled into a consistent pattern. Each morning, she would awaken to find Jake bringing her breakfast. He would engage her in conversation and spend some time with her before departing for his work. Upon his return in the evening, he would dedicate the remainder of the night to being physically close to her and conversing with her. She was acclimating to this routine, which, for the moment, was acceptable. Jake required her complete focus and consideration whenever she was awake. The remaining hours were spent in a state of light sleep, particularly after she took her medication. On the nights following Jake's departure, Lila consistently sensed an unseen presence within her room, observing her and occasionally making physical contact. She was always aware that it was Lucas. He consistently visited her during the darkest part of the night and departed silently, like a phantom. On certain occasio
Not entirely accurate. She still had everything stored on a server located in a city east of their location. But she doubted she would be able to travel there soon. So, in the meantime, whenever she was awake and Jake wasn't present (which was infrequent), she seized the opportunity to explore the house. She spent some time in Jake's room, examining the contents of his computer, which she found intriguing. That was the extent of her exploration. --- "You're snooping." Lila stiffened but didn't turn around. "I'm just looking." "Looking through my personal files?" Jake's tone was amused as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. She smirked, clicking through a few folders on his computer. "If they were truly personal, you'd have a better password." Jake walked over, resting a hand on the desk beside her. "You cracked it that fast?" She shrugged. "You used your birth year. How original." He chuckled, shaking his head. "And? Find anything interesting?" Lila tapp
Lila’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, her pulse steady despite the storm raging inside her. The screen before her flickered, revealing rows of surveillance footage, all of them focused on one subject—her.“So, this is what you do in your free time?” Her voice sliced through the silence, controlled yet laced with mockery.Behind her, Lucas’s presence loomed. She didn’t need to turn around to know he was there. She had felt him before she had even entered the room, his energy like a force of gravity pulling her in.He stepped forward. “You shouldn’t be here.”“And you shouldn’t be watching me.” Lila’s gaze remained fixed on the screens, refusing to give him the satisfaction of meeting his eyes. “You’ve got quite the collection. Every move I make, every breath I take, you’ve recorded it.”Lucas’s tone was unreadable. “You sound surprised.”Lila let out a dry laugh. “I knew you were obsessed, but this? This is another level.” She leaned back against the desk, arms folded, tilting her
"You killed my father."The words landed like a blow, sharp and precise. Lila watched as Lucas froze, his body tensing against her own. His eyes, usually so unreadable, flickered with something unspoken—shock? Confusion? Guilt? She couldn’t tell, and that only fueled her anger.Lucas didn’t step back. He stayed exactly where he was, his grip on the wall firm, caging her in. "Say that again," he demanded, his voice eerily calm."You heard me," she hissed. "You killed Anthony Liams."Lucas’s expression didn’t change, but something in his gaze darkened. "Anthony Liams?" he repeated, as if testing the name on his tongue."Don’t pretend you don’t remember him," she snapped. "You executed him. Like he was nothing. And now you act like—""I’ve killed a lot of people, Lila," he interrupted. "That name doesn’t mean anything to me."Her heart pounded in her chest. Was he lying? Or did she truly mean so little to him that her father’s death was nothing more than a forgotten detail? The thought
"You’re running yourself into the ground, you know that, right?"Jake barely acknowledged the voice behind him as he sprinted along the treeline, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The damp soil beneath his feet did nothing to slow him down, and the cool night air burned his lungs. He had been running for hours, pushing his body to the limit, but the weight in his chest never lightened."Jake." Lucas’s voice was firm now, cutting through the silence of the woods. "This isn’t going to change anything."Jake skidded to a halt, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. His brother’s figure emerged from the darkness, arms crossed, his expression unreadable."What do you want me to do?" Jake snapped, straightening up. "Sit inside and pretend everything’s fine? Because it’s not."Lucas let out a long sigh. "I never said it was. But exhausting yourself isn’t going to make it any easier."Jake wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head. "I don’t know how to dea
Jake flinched slightly but said nothing. Lucas remained calm, though his grip on the edge of the table tightened. "I’m not asking you to forget," Lucas said evenly. "I just want to talk." Lila tilted her head, studying him. "Talk?" she echoed. "Alright, let’s talk." She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering. "Are you sorry for killing Anthony?" The question hit the room like a knife to the throat. Jake’s breath hitched, his fingers twitching against the table. Lucas didn’t move. For a long moment, he simply stared at Lila, his expression unreadable. Then, his jaw tensed. "No." Lila’s lips pressed together, and a cold, bitter smile touched her face. "Of course not." Jake shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between them. "Lila—" She held up a hand, silencing him. Her attention remained on Lucas. "I just wanted to hear you say it. Just in case I had any doubt left." Lucas inhaled slowly. "You asked for the truth." "And I got it," she murmured. She pushed h
“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