Chapter Eighteen: Motive

Lycan's POV

Lycan stood alone on the rooftop of the tall building, looking over the glowing city below. His eyes were fixed on the distance, but his mind was elsewhere. It was late. The wind was cold, and yet he didn’t move. He gripped the metal railing in front of him and sighed deeply.

He had just come from Daisy’s house. She had looked tired and afraid. But she was still trying to be strong. For her kids. For herself.

And for him, maybe.

But Lycan wasn’t calm. Not anymore. Things were slipping out of his hands. Dickson was too close. Too determined. And Daisy.. she was still in love with the man who broke her heart.

His phone buzzed.

He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the message.

Let's Meet now. At our usual place.

Rosa.

Lycan’s jaw clenched, but he replied anyway. *On my way.*

Rosa chose a secluded building for their secret meetings.

It was really dark and cold. Lycan stepped in, his shoes echoing on the concrete floor. She was already there, standing near a broken window, her blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

"You're late," Rosa snapped.

"You're lucky I came at all," Lycan said, folding his arms.

"We have a problem," she said, turning to face him. "Dickson’s closing in. And he is really desperate to be with Daisy, after the fire accident.

He suspects the children are his. If he proves it..."

"I know," Lycan nterrupted. "That’s why I told Daisy to stall."

Rosa narrowed her eyes. "You think she trusts you that much?"

"She doesn’t trust anyone. But she’s desperate. That works in my favor."

Rosa laughed bitterly. "You’re in love with her. You think she’ll ever choose you over him? Even after everything he did to her?"

Lycan looked away. "She needs someone steady. I can be that."

"You want her. That’s why you agreed to help me," Rosa said. "But don’t forget our deal. If I help you get Daisy, you help me ruin Dickson."

"I haven’t forgotten," Lycan said darkly.

Rosa stepped closer. "Then it’s time. We start phase two. We make Dickson look dangerous. Unstable. And also a threat to the children."

"What do you suggest?"

Rosa pulled out a drive from her coat. "Fake footage of Dickson losing control. Yelling. Throwing things. We spread it across the council."

Lycan frowned. "They’ll never believe it unless they see it with their own eyes."

"Then give them a show," Rosa smirked.

Lycan took the drive "You better be right. If this backfires, we both go down."

"Then don’t fail."

Back at home, Daisy couldn’t sleep. She kept looking at the photos of her kids on the wall. Her heart ached.

She had protected them for five years. But now everything was slipping. Dickson was everywhere. In her thoughts. In her fears. And worst of all, back in her life.

She walked out to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and found Lcan sitting at the counter, waiting.

"You scared me," she said, placing a hand on her chest.

"Sorry," he said. "You left your front door unlocked."

She frowned. "I didn’t. I’m sure I locked it."

Lycan looked at her quietly. "Then someone else opened it."

Daisy's heart was totally unstable. "Do you think someone was here?"

"I don’t know. But you should change your locks."

She nodded. "I’ll call someone in the morning."

Lycan stood. "You look tired. Let me stay tonight. Just in the guest room. For safety."

Daisy hesitated. Then nodded. "Okay. Just for tonight."

That night, while Daisy was asleep Lycan was on the phone.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I’m in. Tomorrow we start the next move. She’ll never see it coming."

He looked down the hallway where her room was. His face was unreadable.

The next day, Daisy was out with the kids at the plaza. It was busy, filled with families. She felt safer in crowds.

She looked at clothes at a store window, she noticed a man taking pictures from behind a bench.

She turned quickly, but he vanished.

That night, she told Lycan.

"They are monitoring us again and were watching again. A different man. Not Dickson’s usual guy. This person was Someone else."

Lycan put on a concerned look. "We need to take this seriously. Someone else is involved."

Daisy rubbed her forehead. "What if this has nothing to do with Dickson? What if it’s Rosa? Or someone else's?"

Lycan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever happens, I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you or the kids."

She smiled weakly. "I hope I can trust you, Lycan."

After everything you've done to your sister.

His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

The next day, a video leaked to the werewolf council’s private network.

Dickson shouting. Throwing a chair. Yelling something about power and control.

Council members watched with shock. Elder Maxwell called an emergency meeting.

Dickson was summoned.

He stood in front of the council, confused. "That video is fake. It’s not me."

"Your voice. Your face. Your pack house," one elder said.

"I don’t lose control like that," Dickson growled.

"Then prove it," Elder Maxwell said. "Let us inspect your home."

Dickson gritted his teeth. "Fine. Do what you want."

He left the hall furious. Someone was trying to destroy him.

And he had a good guess who.

Meanwhile, Lycan met Rosa again. This time in a fancy club.

"The video worked," she said, sipping wine. "The council is doubting him."

Lycan nodded. "They inspected his home. He let them. He’s getting nervous."

Rosa leaned in. "Keep Daisy close. Make her doubt him too. She’ll turn to you."

Lycan didn’t speak. Something in his eyes flickered.

"You’re not going soft, are you?" Rosa asked.

"Of course not."

Back at Daisy’s house, the kids were asleep. Daisy's sat beside Lycan on the couch.

She handed him tea. "Thanks for helping me so much lately."

Lycan took the cup. "I meant what I said. I care about you. And the kids."

Daisy looked away. "Sometimes I wonder... what if you had come into my life first? Before Dickson?"

Lycan reached out and held her hand. "Maybe it’s not too late."

Daisy pulled her hand away gently. "It’s too soon. Too messy. I can’t think about that now."

Lycan nodded. "I understand. I’ll wait."

But in his mind, he was planning.

Later that week, Lycan received a call from Rosa.

"We need to move to phase three," she said.

"What is that?"

"A story. A whisper. We plant rumors that Dickson hit Daisy once. That he’s violent."

"That’s risky," Lycan said.

"Do you want Daisy or not? This is how you get her. Make her fear him. Make her run into your arms."

Lycan agreed. But something in his gut twisted.

The Rumors they cooked up began to spread fast. The pack began whispering. That Dickson had been cruel. That Daisy had scars. That she was afraid of him.

Daisy heard it too.

She stormed into her office where Lycan sat with papers.

"Did you start this?"

He looked up, surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"People are saying Dickson hurt me. That I left because of abuse. Did you start this?"

Lycan stood. "No. I swear. I would never do that."

Daisy stared at him. "I don’t believe you."

She turned and walked away.

Lycan punched the table. Everything was falling apart.

A few hours later, Daisy got a message from Mirah.

We need to talk. It’s about Lycan.

Daisy drove to the clinic in a rush. Mirah waited with a folder in her hand.

"I did some digging," Mirah said. "Lycan’s past. his wife left him He blamed Dickson."

Daisy sat down, stunned. "Why?"

"Because he thought Dickson ignored their plea for help during a rogue attack. There was no proof. But Lycan never forgave him."

Daisy shook her head. "So all this… helping me... was revenge?"

"You need to be careful," Mirah said. "You and your children."

That night, Daisy stood in the hallway of her home, watching her kids sleep

She felt a storm building.

Everyone'wanted something. Love. Revenge. Power.

But what did she want?

She wanted peace.

She wanted truth.

And it was time she started fighting for it.