LucienWe sat in my car, parked far enough from Malcolm's mansion to avoid suspicion, yet we were close enough to pick up every word through Silas' little device. The night was unnaturally still and calm and it was only the faint hum of Silas' recorder that played between us.Silas leaned forward, fiddling with the device volume. "Just listen, carefully,” he informed me and after that, Chris' voice came through clearly. "We are fighting for something that matters, Peris. The park spies are the backbone of our survival. If we can get our hands on the document…""The one with the names?" Peris interrupted."Yes, all of them. Every spy hidden in every pack. If we find it and deliver it to the right Alphas, we can expose corruption and reset the system."I let out a dry laugh. Are they mad?"Reset the system? By throwing us into chaos? These people are very sick!”Silas stayed quiet. I could tell he was trying to process it all.Chris continued, unaware of how his words were slamming a
LucienI knew that this information came as a shock to me but I was not totally surprised. It was something that was expected from people like Kael and I had always suspected his ass. "He played us. Kael played us all,” Silas said. His face fell flat like he just got hit by a trailer load of disappointment. I remember when Kael promised him a lot of things and how he was so loyal to him. But, now everything has backfired. It was sad for him but I didn’t flinch when Silas said it. I couldn’t. I was too far gone in my thoughts to react the way he wanted me to. That feeling that had been sitting on my chest like a stone since Irene disappeared had finally taken shape. Kael.I should have known.I leaned forward in my seat and my fingers steepled under my chin as I replayed the last words we had heard through the bug in Peris's car. Kael, casually spitting out the exact location where Irene was being held, like it wasn’t someone’s life he was toying with."He sounded so... proud,"
LucienWhile I was still trying to get myself as I stood beside the dead body. I heard a loud shout from outside. What can to me was my guards and Silas. I hope nothing had happened to them. I looked at the corpse on the floor which I had already decided was Irene and I tried to look for a way to get the corpse back to my pack. That was going to be very difficult because I didn't know how to do that. I needed help from Silas and my guards. But, I didn't know how I was going to do all that without attracting the people that we were hiding from. I was thinking so hard and while I tried to reach a conclusion. I heard a loud thud outside like an earthquake. I ran out of the room and I was that Silas and the guards were being rounded up by some guards. We were caught! I rushed towards them and one of them saw me and tried to jump on me. "Get your filthy hands off me!" I growled, slamming the guard against the wall with enough force to rattle the wooden frame.We had arrived and if
Silas’s POV“Kael! Your time is up, man. Stop hiding.” I yelled into the empty hallway. Blood smeared my knuckles, and the lifeless bodies of Kael’s men that I had fought with were strewn across the floor. I was angry, and I needed to get to Kael to discharge that anger. I pushed open the last door at the end of the hall and let myself in. I discovered it was a mini bar. The room was dim, soaked in the amber glow of an overhead fluorescent light. The air was thick with the scent of whiskey, its smell made me wipe my bleeding lip with the back of my palm.“Kael!” I called angrily.He was slumped in a leather chair, his shirt unbuttoned, and an empty bottle dangled from his hand. He was wasted, asleep in fact.I stepped in and shut the door behind me. He didn’t stir. Rage and grief filled my mind as I lunged at him.“This is for my father!” I plunged the dagger forward but was stopped midair.“Shit!” Kael cursed, his eyes locking tight on me. He gave a strangled gasp, the bottle slipp
Lucien's POV“I have stitched up his wound. He would come around in the morning. It's nothing serious.” The healer assured us and I gave him a nod of gratitude.Irene stood still, not wanting to leave the room.“Silas will be fine, Irene. Let's go to our room.” I whispered, pulling her away from the healer's chamber. Silas had passed out because of the blood he lost, but the healer assured us that he would be fine. I had no intention of going to the hospital, I wanted to do this low key and get to the councils when they were totally relaxed. Irene didn't argue with me this time, she just held my hand tight as I led her out. She made sure Silas was settled and he was breathing. “Will he be fine?” She asked silently, her voice warm.I nodded without saying a word. She seemed to trust my silence because she willingly allowed me to lead her down the hallway, past other rooms, until we got to our room. When we reached the bedroom door, I paused, reluctant to go in with her. She might b
Lucien's POVThe morning sun barely broke out before I had my bath, got dressed, and crawled back into bed with Irene. She smelt nice after the thorough bath we had during midnight.“I need to meet the council,” I said, tightening the last button of my shirt as Irene stirred beneath the sheets.She opened her eyes slowly, still drowsy from the night we spent locked in each other's arms. “Good morning. What did you say?”I leaned down and kissed her gently, brushing her hair from her face. “You look so beautiful, Irene.”She giggled and kissed me. “That's not what I asked you, Lucien.”“I am meeting the pack council.” I repeated slowly. “This is something I should’ve done a long time ago, it's not too late now, though. But I need you to stay here.”Her brows furrowed, worry creeping into her gaze. “Stay here? Why?”“Because I can't risk you getting hurt again. Not like before.” I kissed her, slower this time, memorising the softness of her lips. “Please, Irene. Trust me, huh?”Her sile
Irene's POVI tried to sleep. The warmth of the blanket should have comforted me, but my instincts prickled beneath my skin. I was too restless. The bond between Lucien and I hummed with something heavy.Then I heard it—his voice, cold and full of command.“BOW DOWN!”“Lucien?” I echoed, and sat up instantly. My breath was caught in my throat. That wasn't a command whispered in private. That was Lucien's Alpha voice; the kind he'd used on Silas the first time we met. He told me to stay inside, but that was the last thing to do. I threw the blankets off and dressed quickly, tugging a robe over my body. I left the room and ran down the hall. I met a few guards posted around.“What's going on?” I asked breathlessly.The guards looked at themselves before one of them answered. “Alpha Lucien is exposing the traitors. The Council of Elders are being arrested.”“What?” I was shocked. Lucien hadn't said anything like that this morning. Why had he asked me not to come out? I didn't wait for
Lucien's POV“Take them to the dungeon, make sure their screams don't disturb the peace of the house.” I ordered, my words heavy and final.The guards began to pull Malcolm, Peris, and the Elders forward, their hands were bound and their heads were lowered for the first time in years. The crowd parted for them, watchful. If not for the guards, I'm sure the pack wouldn't hesitate to kill them with their claws.Malcolm was the first to open his mouth. He was never the type to accept defeat when it came.“This is madness, Lucien!” he barked, fighting against the guards as they shoved him forward. “You’re letting emotion cloud your judgment. This is not the way of the council! You can't just discard us like that, this is barbaric!”I stepped forward, my gaze not leaving him. “You taught me the ways of this council. You knew everything, didn't you? But you still failed to live by your teachings. It's over, Malcolm.”His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak again, the eldest member of
Irene pov A month later, peace had finally returned to the pack and I could finally breathe. The air shifted and changed into something better and less contaminated. During that same time, I had been working really hard to gain the trust of the pack. "You know they're calling you 'The Gentle Luna' now, right?" Camila said, grinning as she handed me a mug of tea. I blinked and paused for a while. "Wait, what? Seriously?" I asked and She nodded at me. Her eyes were full of excitement. "It's spreading. The news is spreading outside the pack house. Even the traders in the market were saying how kind you were to the orphanage. Someone even mentioned you helped a little girl fix her broken doll. I'm so proud of you, sweetbreads,” she revealed and I chuckled, feeling warmth rise in my chest. "I didn't think people noticed that. This has to be very lovely news!” "Well, they did. And they are talking about it and they are doing that In a good way." That morning sunlight came i
Lucien “It is done, Alpha.” The guards assured me about Malcolm's additional punishment already carried out. I felt at peace at last. The traitors had been punished, and the pack would begin to heal. Though Kael was still out there, I knew he was no match for me, especially since his actions had been so wildly spread. If he were to ever be seen, he would not escape my wrath.The pack members would see that he was duly executed. Left to him, I would have killed him. He touched Irene and that alone should have made me behead him myself. Irene joined me in our room after talking to Silas. I was content that they were bonding well. She came to meet me on the bed, her warmth a gentle reminder of why I shouldn't bother about anything. She was cool, she was ice and she was fire. As we rested, Irene asked. “Lucien, why did you spare the council member's lives? I mean, you had every right to kill them, but you didn't. That's the punishment for traitors, death.”I looked at her, my eyes sea
Lucien“Long live the Alpha, long live the Alpha.”The crowd cheered loudly, content about the verdict I gave each of the traitors. It was the hardest for me to do. Tos sentence all seven of the council of Elders, but I was sure that was the right thing to do.“It's time for Malcolm Stark's verdict!” One of the guards announced. The ground fell silent as the elders were led away, their fate sealed. I nodded to the guards, my voice firm. "Bring Malcolm in."The guards returned with Malcolm, his eyes gleaming with desperation and anger. He wasn't remorseful. He didn't even reflect on what he had done. To him, he was right and everyone was wrong. He stood tall, his shoulders squared, but I saw the faintest tremble in his lips. As he faced me, his gaze darted around the room, searching for an ally or an escape.“If you're looking for where to run to, I assure you that you wouldn't move two feet without getting stabbed in your neck, so, relax and be good.” I said. The guards chained him
LucienPeris would receive his judgement today. And then the council of Elders too. I didn't want to judge them altogether. I was going to hear each and everyone's side of the story. To me, that was fair and just. I was dressed and ready for the day when Irene came to stand by my side. "It's time for Peris's judgment," I said, my voice firm.She placed a hand on my arm, her eyes searching mine. "I wish you luck, my love,” she took a pause and went on. “Peris is not a man of many words, Lucien. He is timid and loyal, in his own way. Perhaps you should allow him to speak for himself. He might not even understand half of the plan.”I nodded, considering her words. When Silas and I had been listening to the conversation they had in Kael's house, Peris seemed like the last person to understand the plan. He wasn't much of a contributor, just a sleeping accomplice. "Very well," I said. "I'll hear him out. But, why am I feeling like you want me to spare him?”She laughed. “No, silly. I know
Irene's POVI closed the door softly behind Lucien, his kiss still lingered on my lips. He said he wanted to meet with some pack members, to reassure them after the chaos of the arrest.He seemed relieved at least. That was all that mattered to me. Apart from the butterflies tingling at the pit of my belly, I was fine. It was late now and all I wanted was Lucien's presence with me. To hold me, kiss me, and feel me. I couldn't ever get enough of him. He was my strength and my weakness.A knock broke through my thoughts and I answered.“Come in,” I said, rising to my feet, heart thudding for a reason I didn't know.The door creaked open, and Silas stepped inside. He stood, his eyes somber, rimmed with guilt and sadness. He looked pale. I hadn't forgotten that he had been stabbed, his arm had been bandaged.“Silas, are you okay? You look so pale.” I said, already moving closer to him. “Did you eat at all?”“Irene,” he said, his voice low. “Can I talk to you?I nodded slowly and motione
Lucien's POV“Take them to the dungeon, make sure their screams don't disturb the peace of the house.” I ordered, my words heavy and final.The guards began to pull Malcolm, Peris, and the Elders forward, their hands were bound and their heads were lowered for the first time in years. The crowd parted for them, watchful. If not for the guards, I'm sure the pack wouldn't hesitate to kill them with their claws.Malcolm was the first to open his mouth. He was never the type to accept defeat when it came.“This is madness, Lucien!” he barked, fighting against the guards as they shoved him forward. “You’re letting emotion cloud your judgment. This is not the way of the council! You can't just discard us like that, this is barbaric!”I stepped forward, my gaze not leaving him. “You taught me the ways of this council. You knew everything, didn't you? But you still failed to live by your teachings. It's over, Malcolm.”His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak again, the eldest member of
Irene's POVI tried to sleep. The warmth of the blanket should have comforted me, but my instincts prickled beneath my skin. I was too restless. The bond between Lucien and I hummed with something heavy.Then I heard it—his voice, cold and full of command.“BOW DOWN!”“Lucien?” I echoed, and sat up instantly. My breath was caught in my throat. That wasn't a command whispered in private. That was Lucien's Alpha voice; the kind he'd used on Silas the first time we met. He told me to stay inside, but that was the last thing to do. I threw the blankets off and dressed quickly, tugging a robe over my body. I left the room and ran down the hall. I met a few guards posted around.“What's going on?” I asked breathlessly.The guards looked at themselves before one of them answered. “Alpha Lucien is exposing the traitors. The Council of Elders are being arrested.”“What?” I was shocked. Lucien hadn't said anything like that this morning. Why had he asked me not to come out? I didn't wait for
Lucien's POVThe morning sun barely broke out before I had my bath, got dressed, and crawled back into bed with Irene. She smelt nice after the thorough bath we had during midnight.“I need to meet the council,” I said, tightening the last button of my shirt as Irene stirred beneath the sheets.She opened her eyes slowly, still drowsy from the night we spent locked in each other's arms. “Good morning. What did you say?”I leaned down and kissed her gently, brushing her hair from her face. “You look so beautiful, Irene.”She giggled and kissed me. “That's not what I asked you, Lucien.”“I am meeting the pack council.” I repeated slowly. “This is something I should’ve done a long time ago, it's not too late now, though. But I need you to stay here.”Her brows furrowed, worry creeping into her gaze. “Stay here? Why?”“Because I can't risk you getting hurt again. Not like before.” I kissed her, slower this time, memorising the softness of her lips. “Please, Irene. Trust me, huh?”Her sile
Lucien's POV“I have stitched up his wound. He would come around in the morning. It's nothing serious.” The healer assured us and I gave him a nod of gratitude.Irene stood still, not wanting to leave the room.“Silas will be fine, Irene. Let's go to our room.” I whispered, pulling her away from the healer's chamber. Silas had passed out because of the blood he lost, but the healer assured us that he would be fine. I had no intention of going to the hospital, I wanted to do this low key and get to the councils when they were totally relaxed. Irene didn't argue with me this time, she just held my hand tight as I led her out. She made sure Silas was settled and he was breathing. “Will he be fine?” She asked silently, her voice warm.I nodded without saying a word. She seemed to trust my silence because she willingly allowed me to lead her down the hallway, past other rooms, until we got to our room. When we reached the bedroom door, I paused, reluctant to go in with her. She might b