Lucy opened her eyes which were still blurry. She shook her head swiftly as she endeavored to notice all that surrounded her. Being oblivious to her surroundings, it took her a while before she detected the iron door that was fixed to the wall, keeping her from breaking out, and the dried leaves that were strewn all over the ground.
She was struck with fear when a rat squeaked by, climbing over her back. She moved with great rapidity and with a sudden sharp scream. Her legs dangled, scattering the leaves as she crawled hurriedly and leaned her back against the wall. She gasped for breath as it took a toll on her.
"Hey, Katherine... You're here," She whispered, her heart racing faster than usual, and maneuvered hastily to where Katherine was. She was unconscious, she tilted her head swiftly so she opened her eyes but it was all in vain. Her head bleeds and there were spots on her face, so obvious that anyone could tell she received an intensified beating.
Katherine was the one who assisted Lucy escape from the pack after which she requested help from her. Though Katherine knew the consequences of what they were bound to face if they were to be caught, Lucy was persistent in seeking her support. She won Katherine over, leaving her with no choice.
She felt like she was indebted to her and would do anything to save her.
"Katherine, you have to wake up... I don't know what else to do," She rumored in a low tone with her lips partly apart. Katherine groaned all of a sudden when Lucy jerked her arm and slowly opened her eyes.
"That hurts," Katherine muttered, faintly. She strived to sit up but it was a difficult moment not until Lucy helped her out. She groaned in pain but being that she had her wolf already, she was able to heal. Lucy watched with all seriousness as her wounds healed up slowly. It has been a long time since she experienced something like that.
Though it wasn't surprising, it was something that seemed captivating enough to get her attention.
"But how are you here... You should have been long gone," Katherine yawned
"I don't know... They must have known," Lucy replied with uncertainty.
"How's that possible,
"I don't know, the only one who knew was you and Marie," She said speedily, figuring out she was bound to be scolded by Katherine who did all she could to help her escape the pack.
"Why, you shouldn't have told anyone... What if,"
"No, she couldn't have been the one," She clicked her tongue interrupting Katherine.
She sighed and rattled on with her words feeling sorry for having gotten Katherine involved in the whole escape mission.
"Always a kindhearted girl... You've always reminded me of your...," She paused.
Lucy shook her head forward, expecting her to continue and let out whatever she has to say.
"What was that, Katherine," She scratched her hair and shifted closer to her.
"You don't have to worry about that... I'm sorry I could not protect you," She held her hands and gazed at her.
Lucy was thrown into a muse by her statement, well aware of her style to wiggle out of their conversation.
"What do you mean by that... You could not protect me," She fluttered and gulped, blinking her eyes as she waited expectantly for a response from Katherine.
Katherine chuckled and said, "It's nothing... I'm old enough to protect you, that's just it," She replied and sighed.
"Don't give me that, " I remembered, "Father would always say that to me... Like he was guilty," Lucy debated.
She had her guesses that Katherine might be hiding something from her but yet was skeptical about it.
"What are you not telling me, Katherine... I've wanted to ask you this but I couldn't, what's going on," She claimed.
"Lucy, No..."
"Tell me, Katherine," She retorted, preventing her from completing her words.
Katherine grumbled and grunted at the same time. She took a brief look at Lucy and looked the other way. She was about to speak up but was cut in when the iron door that guards the small room creaked open, making a sharp sound.
They were both startled when a guard entered the room and glanced at the both of them.
"He seeks for you," The guard said to her and make way so she would walk out of the room.
"Who, who is that," Katherine questioned with all seriousness and with an unfriendly tone. The guard chuckled when he noticed the look on her face.
"You want to fight, you're in no state to do that," He said and growled.
"It's okay, Katherine... You don't have to worry," She sighed, her chest lingering.
"I know who he's talking about, It's Leo, the son of the Alpha," She declared with certainty. She explained what one of the guards told her after she was captured by them, as they made claims that she could have been dead if not for Leo and now, would want an audience with her.
Katherine calmed herself and drifted into silence. She doesn't want Lucy to leave her sight.
`` Nothing can happen to you... You have to live, no matter what,`` She thought to herself. She sighed sharply and nodded her head.
"Be safe, Lucy, and don't do anything foolish," She advised and threw a friendly slap across her back. She propelled her forward so that she moved out of the room, leaving her behind. The guard escorted her out and locked the door behind him.
"I guess it's time she knows," Katherine muttered and sat back on the ground.
******************
Lucy walked upfront after which the guard who accompanied her pushed her forward. She turned back only to see the guard had already left. She wandered around with her eyes but could see no one. There was no sign of anyone passing by. Where she found herself looked like the safest place to see someone or do something without anyone else knowing.
She took a few steps forward and soon sighted a Man who stood on a spot with his hands behind his back. His back was turned against Lucy so she could not see his face but noticed his blonde neck-length hair and his broad shoulder. She inclined her head as she felt drawn to him.
"What's going on with me... Why do I feel this way," She whispered, blinking her eyes. She decided to have a closer look so she walked towards him, but slowly, taking her steps one after the other.
"You felt it too, don't you,"
She was stunned when she heard him speak. She was thrown into a muse by his words.
"What do you mean," Lucy pressed on with her gaze at his back. He chuckled and slowly turned around to face Lucy.
Lucy bowed her head immediately but slowly, raised her head. She gulped when she made eye contact with him. He could see his greenish eyeball and his curly blonde hair that formed a ribbon around his forehead. She wanted to look away but she could not as her eyes caught his chest that was so visible through his unbuttoned shirt
Her lips were partly opened and her eyes twinkled, constantly. She was absorbed in her thoughts and did not even know that Leo had gotten closer to her, not until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. She was thrown into a sudden mild shock but became calm when Leo looked into her eyes. He was a little bit taller than her which made Lucy raise her head slightly so she maintained eye contact with him.
"You felt it, I know... That's why you feel this way," He dared to rub her chin, gently, rubbing off the dust that stained her eyelids.
Her heart raced faster than usual as she tilted her head so that she pressed her head against his palm. Lucy could only stare at him in silence. Lost in her thoughts, she ran out of words. She knew somehow that he was right about how she felt.
To her, it was unexplainable since she never felt such a way towards anyone before.
"Does it mean..."
"Yes, you're my mate," Leo uttered with confidence before she could finish with her words.
"Since when have you known, it can't be now," She questioned, her heart lingered as she breathed sharply. Leo gazed at her with a sinister look and nodded his head.
"Then, where have you been, all this while," She stammered and gulped as she understood what he meant by his gestures.
She claimed to have seen him from afar countless times but had no chance to see him and even then, she never thought about it as there was nothing she had to do with him.
"There are things you don't know, Lucy," He sighed. "I shouldn't be here with you, I can't be seen right now," He paused
"What does that even mean," She questioned
"Wait, did you smell that," His eyes wandered around? "I have to go, we are not alone," He said and was about to take his leave but stopped immediately when Lucy called out to him with a low voice like a whisper.
"Don't leave me... I don't want to be alone anymore," She said to him as tears dropped down her eyes. Leo stared at her in silence, he blinked repeatedly as they turned red. He walked hurriedly towards Lucy and hugged her, rubbing his hands across her back with a gentle touch.
"I won't leave you,... But right now, I have to go," He muttered and released his hold on her.
"You're no longer a prisoner, Katherine will also be released," He said and smiled and in no time, walked away.
Lucy walked under the fiery sun, sweating profusely as she made her way to the room where she was kept with Katherine. She hurried away without stopping not until she bumped into Isabella who was already standing in her way. She shrugged and immediately bowed her head. "Where are you off to in such a hurry," Isabella smirked and dared to reach out for her jaw, lifting her head slightly upward so she would make eye contact with her. Lucy struggled as she didn't want that but received a resounding slap that weakened her, causing her eyes to become fuzzy. "You look at me when I'm talking to you," Isabella vocalized with a sharp tone. Lucy slowly raised her head high up and stared at Isabella, solemnly with a straight face. She was angered, every instinct of her body telling her to fight back but she decided to keep her calm. Her eyes caught Marie who stood behind Isabella. Marie fixed her eyes on her for a moment but then, Lucy was smart enough to read the look on her face as it gav
"How could I perceive this scent, how is this possible," Lucy said in a low tone with her lips partly apart. "I don't even have my wolf yet," She pondered as she trod along the path which the scent she perceived had taken her to. She watched back and forth to see if anyone was following her trail as she could not be found roaming about in such a restricted area. The scent became stronger and soon sensed it must be Leo. She was brought to a stop when she got to a balcony that looked like an abandoned site. She sighted no one but yet, it was the place the scent stopped. She proceeded stealthily without her foot, making a slight sound. "Leo,' She uttered with a soft voice when she sighted him, standing only a few strides away from her. He looked fit in his black jacket and black jeans as he seemed to stand in a stance. "Lucy, you are here, how come," Leo said as he turned around to notice her. Lucy didn't get what he meant by his words, rather, she rushed at him and embraced him firml
Lucy walked sluggishly along the path that led to the meadow where she was stationed. Uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheek as she could not fathom what happened between him and Leo but yet, strived to put on a smile on her face when a few guards passed by. Thought of Leo rejecting her pestered her mind, having a nostalgic recollection of the plans she made after figuring out he was her mate. "I'm lost, why did he do it… Like he was scared of his Father," She whispered, silently and rubbed the tears on her face. She bowed her head and strolled away hurriedly when a guard approached her. "Father, I don't know what to do… I'm never getting out of here," She shut her eyes and gulped. Her heart raced, chest lingering upward and downward, so apparent that anyone could notice her restlessness. She was oblivious to her surroundings and didn't see Isabella already standing in her way. She walked into her and at that instant, apologized for not being watchful. She was about to take
The sun lurked around the clouds as it dimmed its light and was about to settle down. Marie grunted and raised her head slightly to notice Lucy whose back was also bent, with a spade in her hand, packing horse dung into a bucket and disposing of them in another spot a long distance away from where they were. They'd been there for hours as the guard who ordered them to follow him decided to punish them both for disobeying his command. Marie had been taking a brief look at Lucy but she wasn't looking her way and didn't notice her. Marie had been waiting for an opportunity to speak with Lucy but couldn't find the right time as Lucy was busy all through without even making a sound. Marie stood upright and yawned her back behind her back, stretching herself. She whimpered as she felt a slight pain right in her lower back. She stared at Lucy who wouldn't even raise her head and take a break from working endlessly for hours. She took a few steps towards Lucy but discontinued when she sig
Lucy rubbed her eyes aggressively with the back of her hands and soon opened them wide. She pressed her gaze on Marie at first but soon took a few steps forward to get closer to her. Marie immediately backed away and stretched her hand at her so she would stop walking. "What was that," Marie questioned, her chest lingering. "I don't know… you could see that I was rubbing my eyes a few seconds ago," She said with a high-pitched sound, flipping her hands in the air. "How is it, is it gone?" She asked with curiosity. "Yeah, it's gone," She responded after replying with a grunt. Lucy bowed her head and fell to her knees. She raised her hands slowly and widened them both, directing them to her face. She started for a while and soon scratched her hair. "What's happening to me, I felt a surge of energy running through my veins a while ago," She whispered, her lips partly apart. "Lucy, don't tell me you've been hiding your wolf from everyone,"Lucy unhurriedly lifted her head in respo
"Now I've got so many questions… I knew it, what has Katherine been keeping from me?" She muttered, silently, questioning herself, her chest lingering upward and downward."I have got some answers no matter the cost," Lucy whispered, talking to herself as she trod down the hallway of the Royal residence with haste in an attempt to see Katherine. Her hands moved swiftly back and forth on either side. She rattled on with a few words in a low tone as she pressed on. The sweat on her face dripped down from her face and dropped on the cloth. It looked so dirty since her face was already caked in dust. Her whitish shirt was already stained and becoming brown. Her hair already changed its color like they were grey. Yet, she was less concerned about that. All she thought about was getting answers from Katherine. She turned her head a little bit and directed her eyes on the miles of wall that surrounded her. She noticed the shadow of one who seemed to be stalking her and since it was sunny
Marie held Lucy's hands and shook her consequently. "What's going on, Lucy, say something," Marie asked, her voice soft but filled with genuine concern.Lucy blinked, as if snapping out of a daze, and offered a weak smile."No, no, you don't look good… Your face, they look pale," Marie muttered, placing her hand on Lucy's arm while her other hand was behind her back."I'm just feeling a bit lightheaded," Lucy mumbled, her words tinged with uncertainty. Before Marie could question her and respond, Lucy's eyelids fluttered and her body slumped to the side, unconscious.Marie's heart raced as panic surged through her veins. She knelt beside Lucy, gently shaking her and calling her name, hoping for a response. She had nostalgic recollections of what might have caused her unconsciousness. She took a brief look at her face when she could not think of something and could see her face was already pale. "She must have passed out after stressing her wolf… since she forced it to show up, the
"Why're you standing in my way… Don't you hear the sound like someone has been listening to our conversation" Lucy grinnedMarie's eyes widened and bit her finger with her other arm around her chest. "Why are we still here anyways and don't look at me that way," Lucy dusted herself."You should take some break, you need it and you can't let your emotions out… You know what happens when you do that,... and, you're welcome," She paused and was about to continue with her words but was cut off when Lucy put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.Lucy took a step forward and brushed Marie with her shoulder. "Did you hear that?""Hear what exactly?""A heartbeat… Wait, how come you don't hear that?""Oh! You're asking me now, I'm not the one whose ability was locked away, at least I know I won't be getting my wolf anytime soon and ...."Marie drifted into silence the moment she noticed Lucy's gaze on her. She grunted and looked away."I didn't mean that, I was only trying to get you
Aiden and his men clashed fiercely with Leo's warriors. The sound of fists hitting flesh and the clang of claws echoes through the night. Aiden moved swiftly, striking down anyone who came near him. His strength was unmatched, but the numbers were against him.Leo stood back, watching the fight with cold eyes. A twisted smile played on his lips as she saw his men overpowering Aiden’s men one by one. Soon, only Aiden remained.Despite being alone, Aiden refused to back down. He had already taken down dozens, his movements sharp and precise, but the endless wave of enemy wore him down. Though he breathed heavily and his muscles ached, he didn't stop fighting.Leo's men surrounded him, moving in from every direction. Two of them threw a thick chain around his arm, another around his legs. Aiden struggled but more chains came. They pulled tight, dragging him to the ground. He tried to break free but the weight of the chains and the force of the guards holding them pinned him in place.Leo
Leo stood in his room, his hands clenched into fists as he stared blankly at the wall. His mind raced when the thoughts of the fight. The shame of losing to Aiden, openly, burned inside him, twisting his pride into rage.The door suddenly flew open with a loud creak. Alpha Eric stepped inside, his face was cold with anger. His sharp gaze pierced through the room as he slammed the door shut behind him.“What was that?” His voice sounded harsh. “You had the upper hand! How then did you lose to him?”Leo remained quiet, refusing to answer. Eric took a step closer, his frustration growing.“What did you do? You cheated, right?$ he hissed. “I know you did. You poisoned him—and still, you lost.”Leo didn't flinch. His heart pounded harder. “Answer me!” Eric snapped, raising his hand. Before Leo could react, a sharp slap struck his face, the sting echoing through the room.Leo slowly turned his head back to face his father, his eyes burning with anger. He had endured enough—his father's dis
Eric leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Go on,” he allowed, his tone curious.Aiden didn't pause. “If I win against Leo,” he smiled. “I will take Lucy, the maid that held my hands back there with me.”For a moment, there was silence. The words hung heavy in the air, and the crowd exchanged confused glances. No one had expected such a demand, especially not for a maid. Isabella, who had been sitting quietly, stood up in an instant. A wide smile stretched across her face as excitement flashed in her eyes. If Aiden won and took Lucy away, it would solve everything. Lucy would no longer be a threat to her. But then, is it the best option… what would happen with her and Leo? She thought. And as for Leo, the request struck a nerve. His smile faded as he marched toward his father. Leaning close to Eric, he lowered his voice, hoping no one else would hear.“Don't agree to it,” he hissed frustration clear in his tone. “You can't let him take her.”Alpha Eric remained still for a mome
Aiden moved fast, charging straight at Leo. His fist swung towards him but Leo was quicker. He dodged Aiden's punch and struck back with a hard blow to his side. Without giving him a chance to recover, Leo landed another punch on his chest, then his ribs, hitting him from every direction.Each strike pushed Aiden back, weakening him more. Leo's eyes gleamed with victory as he spun and delivered a powerful hook to Aiden's jaw. The force lifted Aiden off his feet. His body twisted in the air before he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.Dust rose where he fellz and the sound echoed across the field. He landed close to where Lucy and Marie stood. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at his body. Around her, the crowd roared in excitement.Their voices filled the air, chanting Leo's name over and over again. Some clapped, others cheered loudly, praising their future Alpha.Eric leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile. He clapped his hands together, proud of his son
The field was crowded with pack members. The full moon hung high above, casting a pale glow over the open space. Excitement and tension filled the air as everyone waited. But the one person they had expected—Luna Ava— was still not there. Murmurs spread through the crowd, quiet questions hanging without answers. Alpha Eric sat at the head of the gathering, his face calm but his fingers drumming lightly against the arm of his chair. His sharp gaze swept over the field, but there was no sign of her. The longer he waited, the heavier the silence became.A figure moved toward him—a guard, stepping close enough that only Eric could hear. He bent his head and whispered something quickly. Whatever the words were, they made Eric's expression tighten. He gave a slow nod before standing up, his towering form commanding everyone's attention. The noise faded as the pack focused on him. “The Luna will not be joining us anymore.” his voice rang out. “There are matters to be handled elsewhere and
Evening settled iber the pack, casting a warm glow as the sun dipped low behind the distant hills. The air buzzed with energy—laughter echoed through the open fields, the scent of roasted meat drifted from the kitchen and every wolf seemed eager for the celebration that would soon begin. Lanterns hung from the trees, flickering softly as pack members hurried about, preparing for the night ahead.Meanwhile, Leo stood near a pole inside the main hall, his sharp gaze scanning the royals, the elders and other representatives from other packs. He had been searching for Ethan, but there was no sign of him. Frustration flickered in his chest as he swept his eyes across the familiar faces—men in black exchanging quick words, young wolves chasing one another in playful bursts, the elders speaking quietly among themselves—but not the one person he needed to see.He sighed quietly, shifting his focus toward the center of the hall. And there he was, that was when he noticed him—Aiden.He was dres
Leo walked with heavy steps, his fists clenching tighter with each stride. The sun was higher now, warming the air, but the heat inside him burned hotter. Isabella's words played over and over in his mind—Lucy was the wolf. And Aiden was there with her.He had suspected something was off for a while. Aiden's movement has always been too careful, too quiet. But without proof. It was nothing more than a feeling. Now, there was no doubt left. Aiden had been helping Lucy and without doubt was the one who unlocked her wolf. He had done it right under his nose, in his pack without leaving a single trace. Leo's jaw tightened as he thought about the night he had smelled blood on Aiden's fingers. He had brushed it off then, convincing himself it couldn't be Lucy. After all, she wasn't supposed to be out of her room. But now, it all made sense. Aiden had been watching her and protecting her this entire time. And what had he been doing—that got him angry as he wished it should be him doing all
The sun hung high in the sky, casting light over the pack's territory and inside her room. Isabella sat on the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the sides tightly. Her mind raced as she replayed everything she had seen the night before—the wolf, the way its growl had echoed through the woods and how right in front of her, it had shifted back into a human. But not just anyone. Lucy.The name twisted inside her like a thorn. Lucy was supposed to be gone. Dead. she had made sure of it when she sent those useless Omegas to handle it. Yet, here she was—alive and stronger than before. That wolf… it was no ordinary shift. Isabella had never heard a wolf growl like that—not even the strongest warriors in the pack. The power in Lucy's growl which was able to shake the trees even the pack itself was in itself stronger. It was different and intense and it made her heart pound.If Lucy was alive, what else had she survived? Had Aiden been protecting her all this time?A shiver ran down her at t
Lucy's eyes burned bright red as she stared at the figure that was distant from her. Her body was still tense, her claws digging deep into the ground, creating marks and shapes as they made contact. The air around her felt somehow heavy, thick with threat and danger. Aiden knew she was thinking straight—her wolf had taken over. Her wolf had never been let out and now that it had, everything around it felt like a threat… she wouldn't want to go back to that state where her wolf was locked.The figure standing a short distance away trembled, her hands shaking by her sides. It was Isabella. Aiden recognized her scent before his eyes fully adjusted. She stood frozen, her face a pale-like color and her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to speak but could not.“Who is that?” she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible. Aiden could hear the confusion in her tone, the disbelief. She didn't know who or what she was looking at. But sure, she could tell it was something differen