LIAM'S POVI don’t know what Leon's issue was. Ever since Lucy got taken, he’s been acting strange. On top of that, I was disappointed that Lucy wasn’t my mate. I was so sure of it. The way I felt like I needed to protect her was very abnormal, even more me. When she had the panic attack in my dad's office, it physically made my heart hurt. Leon always told me I was too emotional. Maybe he was right. I tried not to be agitated that Lucy wasn’t my mate, but it kept hitting me in the chest whenever the thought crossed my mind. She was captivating. The second my eyes landed on her, my mouth watered. Her black hair was as dark as a new moon night, in contrast to her bright blue eyes, which made my knees feel like jello when she looked at me.She was petit but curvy in every place that mattered. Her style was rugged and unique, not prim and proper like most she-wolves who often doted on me and my brother. I was surprised when she snapped at Leon for how he spoke to her. She did it with
LUCY'S POVDespite my protests to go back, we were still moving forward into the darkness. I wanted to go back for my descenter, but Seth didn't care about my needs or wants. I couldn't blame him. It was obvious that he didn't want to be doing what he was doing, to begin with.Of course, I didn't tell him what I needed, and honestly, I'm not sure why it was that big of a deal to me at this point.Seth didn't tell me where we were going or why. The tunnel was barely lit with luminescent stones. It was a practical and innovative build for a getaway tunnel, which I had assumed the tunnel was for at this point. I was proud of my stamina. Seth wasn't going slow, and I could keep up pretty quickly. I suppose that's from all the muscle and strength I built being used as a pack mule, doing chores, and running from one task to the next as a rogue slave. I felt like we had been jogging down this tunnel for hours.The pack house was more significant than most pack houses I have seen. This pack
LUCY'S POVLast night, after we got into the cabin, Seth showed me to "my room." This massive building had three stories, but both of our rooms were on the second floor. I was completely exhausted the entire day, and by the time my body reached the bed, I had passed out. I couldn't be sure if I had covered myself at some point or if Seth had. I doubted the second scenario, as Seth had been very cold towards me since he snuck me out of the pack house. I needed answers was my first thought as I woke up the following day.I looked around the spacious room. Dust collected on the surfaces, indicating that this place wasn't often used or visited. There was a large rug in the middle of the room. Across from that stood a massive dresser and mirror. The room was minimalistic. I noticed two doors in the room. One of them I had come in when I entered last night.I noticed a small stack of clothes at the bottom of the bed. I sat up, stretching before pulling myself off the bed. I looked over th
LUCY'S POV:Seth looked at me crazy after my Alpha aura slipped out and onto him. I didn't mean to. I wasn't angry with him; I was angry with my crazy dad and how I felt powerless over everything. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that," I said honestly."So you are Alpha Kragen's daughter?" Seth asked. "Yes," I said without hesitation, but my stomach churned at the honesty I was speaking."Seth, I will speak truthfully, anything you ask me, but I need you to promise that you won't tell OUR Alpha any of this. I understand you cannot lie to him if he asks you directly. However, I would like the opportunity to speak my truth to him myself. I owe him that much. Can we agree on that?" I added.I looked over at Jason, who nodded at me. I didn't have to say anything or ask any questions. I knew that was his way of telling me my secrets were safe with him. For someone who didn't trust anyone, I trusted Jason very easily. Jason was the sweetest soul I had ever met. He always checked up on me
LEON'S POV:It had been four days since Lucy was put in the dungeon. I went to see her with Liam and Tricia, but she was gone when we arrived.I tried to sniff out where she had gone, but her dull scent ended in the dungeon. It didn't make any sense, but none of this did.She would have had to of gotten past the guards at the top of the staircase but the guards claim no one ever left.My dad acted shocked when he found out that she had escaped the dungeons, but I had a gnawing feeling that he knew more than he had led on. Through my bond with Liam, I could feel that he sensed something similar.Most people never second-guess my dad's words, but Liam and I knew him well enough to know he was hiding something.My dad is a very honest and noble man. He is well respected and loved by our pack and many other packs. Wolves from other packs often jump at the opportunity to join our pack if their mates are here.We also take in rogues. This type of acceptance isn't common. According to my fat
LUCY'S POV:It had been four days since the extremely awkward conversation with Seth and Jason. I had already known some things about me were different, but I hadn't questioned them too much, if at all. I was an Alpha female, living in slave quarters at my own pack house because I was convinced that's where I belonged.My father convinced me I was nothing, and that's precisely how I'd always seen myself.'I've been trying to tell you,' Nia interjects my thoughts.'I'm sorry, Nia. I know you gave me warnings. I wasn't hearing any of it at the time,' I spoke lightly back to her, knowing I had failed her.I felt and heard Nia sigh—not out of anger but out of understanding.I realized that her snappiness resulted from feeling pent-up frustrations about being away from Leon. I couldn't deny that the sparks I felt when Leon and I touched were intense. I had 100% recognized that he was my mate, and it was clearly drawing us together by force.Two puzzle pieces that were meant to be together
LUCY'S POV: He really just asked me that. Do I want my mate?I couldn't tell if Seth started being nice because he knew Leon was my mate or if my honesty and answering some of his questions had helped him open up to me.We were now standing on the porch before the giant mansion-like cabin.I was trying to find the right words to explain my feelings towards mates that would reveal less of what I hadn't said. The truth was, I didn't want a mate for far more than my dad killing my mom.Years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of different packs, especially Alphas, had caused trauma I hadn't even tried to deal with yet.Would anyone want me after they found out how many men had already had their way with me? It made my stomach flip and turn sour from the thought.'Tell him,' Nia encouraged. 'Are you crazy?' I scoffed. 'You told him you'd be honest with all his questions,' she retorted.She loved reminding me of this. She liked Seth and Dax. She trusted them, and I was
LUCY'S POV: I looked up at Seth, my eyebrows creased. Seth was only trying to be supportive, but he didn't need to touch me. And what was with that comment? "Was it Alpha Zeak?" Seth asked with malice and disgust in his tone.He asked about the Alpha of the Red Paw Pack as if he knew. He was only one of many to do whatever they pleased with me. I opened my mouth, ready to respond, but my mouth closed again before I looked down. I swallowed hard, feeling the lump forming in my throat.I'm not sure when Jason had arrived in the dining room. I flinched as his hand rested softly on my shoulder until I realized it was him. He looked at me with a sad smile, like he knew more about me than I wanted him to."Alpha Leander bought a slave from Zeak a year ago. That's when suspicions started. The young pup was terrified to speak, similar to you," Seth spoke again without me answering his question."Lucy, you didn't respond verbally for a week after we brought you back to our pack. Alpha had t
LUCY:My head was pounding hard. I felt like I had been run over.'Shh, don't let them know you're awake,' Nia whispered.My eyes were barely fluttering open when she spoke and they snapped back closed so fast. It took everything I had to try and slow down my heart rate so they didn't catch on.'Where are we?' I respond.'I don't know, our eyes are shut remember?' she retorts.Shit my brain was foggy. I was clearly not in good condition.'Right,' I said.I could tell that I was slumped over someone's shoulder like a rag doll so I continued to let me body be as limp as I possibly could.Nia felt weak. The little bit of communication she had done with me was enough to nearly take her back out. This was bad.I was piecing together what happened. I wondered where my dad would take me."Lock her up in the cell across from her boy toy," my dad's voice said nearby making my stomach flip.Boy toy? My heart skipped a beat.I hear the man carrying me chuckle and the rattle of the keys unlocking
LEON:We searched until the wee hours of the morning. I was beyond exhausted.Dad had mind-linked us to come home and speak to him. I was itching to go back and see Lucy, but I knew I had duties to take care of, and it was something we would often have to deal with."We should talk after this meeting with Dad," Liam said, catching up to me. We were now reaching the tree line that separated the settlement area and the forest."About what? Can it wait? I want to talk to Dad and head back to Lucy. I need to see her at least a few hours before we get back out on the search," I say.My shoulders are slumped, my body is sore, and I miss my mate terribly. "We can wait. In fact, I could even come with you. I should probably check on Lucy," he sighs.I whipped my head around with what I'm sure looked like confusion on my face."She is my mate. I can take care of her," I say.I know I'm just grumpy because of everything I'm feeling right now so I snapped a little more than necessary."I know
LIAM:My mom quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me down to my dad's empty office. As we entered, she let go of my arm and plopped down on the couch.I watched as she put her face in her hands. Her body was trembling, but I could not see any tears falling."Mom, what is happening? Who is this man? Theodore?" I ask gently, sitting down next to her.I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, trying to peek at her face that was smooshed against her palms. She finally fixed her posture and removed her hands from her face. Her eyes were burning red as if holding back tears.She shook her head left and right before responding."He isn't supposed to be reaching out to you. What did he want?" she asks, now making eye contact with me.I turn to face her better. My eyes search her face for understanding, but I'm getting nothing."He wanted me to help Lucy. He said it was important for everyone's safety," I sigh.Her eyes go wide. I watch as she opens her mouth slightly before closing it and pursing
LUCY:I peeled my clothes off reluctantly once I got to the tree line. I shifted quickly, letting Nia come forward. She wasted no time before we were in our silver coat: white paws and white circles around our eyes.She grabbed our clothes in our mouth.'Don't worry, Lucy. We will do everything we can to find Seth,' Nia tries to reassure me.I'm not feeling confident, but I know we will do our best.We take off through the woods. I forgot how good the wind feels through our fur.'The lake first, yes?' Nia asks. She's in control. I'm shaking internally. I'm so nervous we will find Seth dead.I have to explain to her where to go. I'm not all that familiar with it.I remember being on the cliff and knowing the direction the cabin was from that point, but I can't say 100% that we are headed in the right direction once we are in the thick of the forest.'Leon is going to be furious,' Nia reminds me.'So will Jason, but they're not the boss of us, Nia. I'm tired of just sitting around and
Lucy:I feel like I could suffocate from being stuck at this cabin.Can you say cabin fever? Literally."What's the deal with Seth?" Trish doesn't exactly beat around the bush. I loved this about her, though."What do you mean?" I play stupid. No one needs to know. Leon didn't say anything, but I could tell he had an inkling there was something under the surface.Not to mention, I felt like this entire thing was my fault. Seth had been through so much, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt him."I can understand you are worried about Seth, but you cried, Luce. I was born during the day, but not yesterday," she says, rolling her eyes.She's intuitive. I'll give her that.It's a warmer day than it has been. We're sitting in our classic spot on the porch.Trish is gently pushing the swing with her foot; the other was curled up on the cushion.My feet barely reach the ground, so I have both of my feet criss-cross on the swing."I already have a mate, Trish. Does it really matte
LIAM:He can tell me this information is news to me.He glances at his watch and then back up to me before pushing me out of the room."Come along," he says, motioning me to follow him out the front door."You're lying! That can't be true." I yell after him before rushing out the door and slamming it shut."WAIT! HOLD ON THOMAS!" I shout when I realize something he said.He turns around, looking at me with an unreadable expression before he sticks his index finger into the air."Theodore," he corrects me. "My name is Theodore. You can call me Theo if that's easier for your small brain to handle," he says with much irritation.Gosh, this guy is grumpy.I finally caught up with him. We're making our way through the forest. It's darker now, and I'm wondering where we are, but I have to ask him my first of many questions."You said Lucy's dad. Who is Lucy's dad, and why would he kill her?" I ask.I hear a twig snap to my left right after Theo's arm extends out in front of me, making me ha
LIAM:I'm following this strange man through the hallway when I decide I've lost my mind.That has to be it.'He feels familiar now that we're around him,' Bo says, suddenly not the one panicking."That's because I am. It's interesting how similar our interactions have been each time," he responds as we enter the living room."Sit, sit," he gestures to the couch. I walk over to it and sit down without hesitation. I'm like an obedient child, doing as I'm told."We must make this fast; we don't have much time," he says, sitting in a chair directly in front of me."Uh, okay?" I say, not feeling all too comfortable about this situation."The first time I met you was in a dream state. We met twice, and after the second time, I realized you had forgotten your dream and all the time we spent together. I knew I would have to do this another way," he says firmly.His hands are thin, his fingers nimble and wrinkly. He is playing with a ring on his left-hand finger, twirling it around anxiously
LUCY:He talked about Savina being in his room like it was an every day occurence.Of course I knew I had no right to be upset but I am. I'm pissed off he brought her up like he hadn't fucked her.I had to hide the smile that creeped on my lips as his dad spit out the water in his mouth. I knew some of it had to hit the back of Leon's shirt.Good. "So that's why she has been lingering around the pack house like a lost puppy." Leander laughs making my insides crawl.This she-wolf was about to piss me right the hell off.I can hear Tricia's chair screech against the floor as I clench my jaw.Leon's eyes go wide again. "Oh no, hunny, it's okay. Leon wouldn't do anything stupid," I hear Jason say as he comes around the island in the kitchen but it's too late."I swear to the Goddess Leon," I start to say before I close my eyes.I can feel the fire erupting on my hands. It's vibrating through me but I'm more in control this time.I lift my hand up, flames flickers from my fingertips."Yo
LEON:"Is there something I should know?" my dad says looking between me and Lucy.She is sinking back into me. Normally, I wouldn't complain but I can tell she is scared.Tricia is focusing on Lucy. Her usual bravado behavior seems to have crumbled for some reason.Lucy looks up at me with her piercing blue eyes, she doesn't know what she should or shouldn't say. I respect her for leaning on me in this situation."I don't know if it's relevant to this but Seth had... developed feelings for Lucy," I say running my fingers through my hair.I lean back in the recliner thinking through the night that led up to this. I can feel Lucy's body tremble so I start tickling her back. This seems to calm her down from my experience.When we talked through the mind link, he seemed fine."Wait, Seth had feellings for your mate?" my dad asks as if I didn't make it clear already. I know what his real question is though.I close my eyes, trying to suppress the rage this makes me feel, knowing that Seth