LucasFor the past days I Keegan didn't kenw about me meeting Heather and was planning as he says for the right time. And it was the last day I told her to meet and bring Alex."It's time."I steeled myself and made my way with deceptive calm to the place I told her to meet. I halted in my steps, pulse thundering in my ears as I look at the boy in front of me. There, standing warily before me, was a tall, well-built youth on the cusp of manhood. My breath caught at the achingly familiar eyes glaring back at me. There was no denying our relation - the family resemblance was unmistakable. My heir, my blood, standing before me at long last.I regained mastery over my rioting emotions, striding forward authoritatively. Now was not the time for sentiment. I must make clear who commanded here."So you are Alex," "Don't pretend you care. I'm just a pawn to control my mother," he bit out boldly. "Ah, I can see he has his mother's defiant spirit." I mumbled aside but my mood changes swiftly
LucasThat night I lay awake deep into the night wrestling with my inner turmoil, before finally striding to Heather's room on impulse. "I hope she accept me, I don't want to force myself on her." I murmured.My heart clenched bitterly at how readily she once welcomed me into her bed, so different from the cautious tension now radiating from her. I had lost ground there somehow - but I could regain it, given time. She was still mine.I slide under the sheets and noticed she wasn't sleeping either."The boy's fate rides on his choices tomorrow," I pronounced without preamble. "If he embraces his destined role, I will accept him as mine fully, and we can be a family. But if he continues rejecting me..." I trailed off ominously, letting the unspoken threat hang.Heather paled but lifted her chin bravely. "Your heavy hand will not sway Alex. He is too wise already for such manipulation." Sadness tinged her voice. "This happen due to you. Our family is already broken." She whispered sadly
Lucas"Easier said than done." I whispered to myself. I know I hurt her deeply and I just don't know what I did wrong.Heather kept her face turned away, refusing to acknowledge me. Resentment simmered, but also unease over me demanding to go back to our pack. She claims Alex wants to live here. And she won't tolerate that.For the past days I kept Keegan away with Ian, dealing with how to work on things as I bond with my family.But to my surprise keegan came in to my estate and met us on the tarmac, shock plain on his face at the sight of Heather. For a fleeting moment, something like guilt flashed in his eyes upon seeing her distressed state. But then his expression smoothed over. As I grabbed her arm and lost my temper."What happened?" he asked mildly. "I thought we agreed on a...delicate approach." His disapproval was subtle but clear. I bit back an angry retort, claws digging into my palms. "Plans changed. We'll discuss it inside." I hurried Heather along, eager to escape Keeg
88IanThe smoke bomb I hurled created instant chaos, billowing thick fumes to disguise our escape. Lucas's enraged roar followed us out, but I didn't stop rushing Heather and the boy away until we were clear of the estate grounds. "Just keep moving, we need to get as far away as possible," I urged, one hand on Heather's back as she struggled to keep up on shaky legs. Behind us, the Alex followed silently, face drawn with panic and confusion.We didn't stop until we reached the parking garage where my nondescript sedan was stashed. I quickly bundled Heather and Alex inside and peeled out onto the street, checking the mirrors obsessively for any signs of pursuit. So far, so good - we appeared to have gained some distance on Lucas and his minions. "I guess lost them for now." I reassured, and glanced over at Heather, taking in her disheveled appearance and haunted eyes.Fury simmered in my gut at what she must have endured these past days in Lucas's clutches. "Are you hurt?" I asked
Keegan After Lucas raged over Heather and Alex's escape, my mind spun analyzing where they could have vanished so completely. Though initially suspecting Lucas's bitter rival Richard, his agents reported no traces near the city. Which left only one realistic possibility - Ian. That he had resurfaced at all after so many years in obscurity set my teeth on edge. And his convenient timing in whisking Heather away reeked of ulterior motive. If he had her, then she and the boy were in graver danger than Lucas's temper. At least his possessive rage was a beast we knew. Ian's slick facades and hidden agendas were far more perilous. I needed to find them swiftly and expose his true nature before he sank his hooks in deeper. I bided my time through Lucas's eruptions of fury, waiting for an opportunity to discreetly follow the faint trail. Finally, after Lucas exhausted himself storming about the estate, I ventured out without notice into the bustling city. If I could pick up even the barest
Keegan Getting inside proved simple once Ian was safely unconscious - the wards recognized his signature and granted entrance readily. Moving cautiously, I followed the scent trails further inside until I located Heather and Alex in a barren side room. They both startled violently at my entrance with Ian's body slung over my shoulder."Keegan!" Heather gasped out, shock and alarm widening her eyes. "What are you doing here? What's wrong with Ian?" She started to rush over but I halted her with an upraised hand. "Please, I beg you to hear me out Heather. Ian is only sedated, so I could speak freely." I lowered Ian's limp form to the floor. "There are truths you need to understand before this goes any further."Alex moved in front of his mother protectively. "Truths? More like Lucas sent his lackey here to drag us back!" His young face hardened. "Well you can forget it, we're never going near him again."I held the boy's glare evenly. "I know you have no reason to trust me. But neithe
71 Heather's POV:My head spun as Keegan wove the disturbing tale of Ian's - no, Richard's - true identity and motives. The friend I had trusted so implicitly was merely using me as a pawn in some toxic feud with Lucas. And now he was regaining dangerous lucidity in the backseat, malice smoldering in his eyes."Just focus on the road ahead," I told Keegan, trying to ignore Richard's presence behind us. I clutched Alex's hand like a lifeline. We were so close now to real freedom. I refused to let Richard's poisonous schemes drag us back under. Not this time. Alex gave my hand a determined squeeze, meeting my gaze steadily despite the fear in his eyes. My brave boy. We would face whatever came next together. I offered him a reassuring smile before turning to Keegan."What's the plan once we get some distance?" I asked, keeping my tone low. Keegan's brow creased in focus as he navigated busy streets. "I have contacts out of state who can help get you set up with new identities and pap
LucasRage boiled through my veins as Richard tried to hit their car. I watched Keegan speed off with Heather. And I feel at ease. That damned snake Richard had nearly killed her! If I had arrived seconds later...I cut off the chilling thought, forcing icy composure over the maelstrom inside me. Now was not the time for blind fury. Richard remained barely conscious at my feet, helpless prey awaiting judgment. I could make his death agonizingly slow, wring every scream from his worthless hide... But no. That was the old madness. I would not sink to his level, however deserved such vengeance might be. Death would come by my hand swift and clean. The serpent had stolen too much time from me already.I hauled Richard up by his torn shirt, claws piercing through the thin fabric to dimple his skin. He peered at me with dazed yet defiant hatred. "You should have stayed dead, snake," I rumbled. My hand flexed, ready to shred his throat out in one vicious stroke. This would finally be fini
And as he does so, he answers the question he literally forced me to ask while my moans and screams are confused with eachother. "No one else fucking wants you", his moves are so tight and almost forceful that I can't help but wonder how in the world he still has all that stamina. "It hurts", I moan as I try to reach for his waist and push again, but he slaps my hands away and grabs my boobs. "Didn't you want it hard? I'm doing just that, or do you want me to leave? Did you have a change of mind?" His fingers are giving my nipples the tightest pinch they've ever gotten and his palms remain firmly pressed on my breasts. "You'll barely be able to walk when I'm done", he pauses as I start to feel his manhood harden and pulsate inside of me. Dripping hot precum also starts to coat my inside and mix with my wetness as he continues his movement. "And you know what will happen when I'm done?", through my glassy eyes, I notice the smirk on his face, "I'll take you again and again a
Heather With Mara gone, the estate felt peace and calm, like the storm had passed. Some funny thing is no one grieved over Mara's death, even though she was once the Luna. Even her son, Archer. Lucas never loved her in the first place. He softened to me and more wary of letting fear rule him. Our bond emerged stronger for enduring the trial. Together Lucas and I slowly mended torn relationships throughout the pack, reassuring all of our peaceful intentions. Keegan’s wisdom and discretion proved invaluable in maintaining stability through the transition. And Alex’s calm strength gave me courage when threats of fresh dissent arose. He would make a fine leader someday, if we could break the bleak cycle of suspicion and isolation. Archer remained more inscrutable, keeping his own counsel for a time. But Alex's tireless faith seemed to gently erode his walls. And seeing Lucas choose unity over vengeance clearly gave him much to ponder internally. I hoped in time the seeds of healing
Archer's POV The commotion in the hallway drew everyone's alarmed attention from the dinner table. Shouts echoed, then Keegan appeared supporting mother's distressingly still form. Dark blood stained her robes and face."What has happened?" Father demanded, rushing over with the others. But none needed ask as the gruesome truth became painfully clear. Mother had taken her own life, reasons unknown. An icy void opened within me. I know why. She chooses this for herself.In the chaotic hours that followed, I retreated numbly to the solitude of the grounds, tormented by guilt and questions. What had driven the proud Alpha female to such an extreme end? She had appeared the very picture of health mere hours before at dinner. Nothing made sense.Over the next harrowing days, the murky circumstances came to light under Keegan's discretionary investigation. Among mother's things he uncovered incriminating letters - one for father pleading again to cast out Heather before she destroyed him.
MaraBitterness churned within me as Lucas welcomed Heather back so readily after all the grief her disappearance caused. She had stolen his affections from me long ago with her bewitching powers, and now the spell was cast anew despite my warnings. Lucas was blind in his obsession once more.I would not let her destroy my son again. Since reasoned arguments proved futile, more duplicitous means were required. I slipped tiny portions of monkshood tincture each day into Heather's wine at dinner, under guise of graceful hospitality. Just enough to make her sickly, not draw suspicion. Soon parallel symptoms began appearing in my soft-headed son as well - fatigue, headaches, fits of anger. But it was necessary collateral damage to free him from her toxins. Once weaned off her presence, Lucas would regain his senses. I remained vigilant for any opportunity to administer larger, more disfiguring doses when the time was right.But fate conspired against me when Archer noticed his ailing fat
LucasThe long road of recovery thereafter was its own grueling nightmare. My own weakness disgusted me. But Heather and Alex stayed steadfast through every faltering step, humiliation, and defeated curse. Their faith fueled me like oxygen to resume the fight each day. Leaving the bleak hospital at last to continue healing surrounded by family brought profound peace. Despite my grandmother's lingering wariness, she and Mara welcomed Heather back graciously. The circle had held through our darkest hour.My body gradually mended, though the leg brace and cane still left me reliant on others' assistance shamefully often. But Heather never allowed me to slip into despair, staying bright and gently scolding when I cursed my feeble condition too harshly. Her inner light sustained me, even through my blackest moods.Alex too helped ease the restlessness, smiling encouragement through each halting mile walked together around the grounds. In his eyes I glimpsed again the heroic father I had p
Heather Everything happened so fast - the gun, Lucas diving to shield me, the deafening crack of the shot. Then Lucas crumpling heavily to the floor amidst the chaos, dark red blooming across his chest. The scream trapped in my throat escaped as a shattered gasp. I rushed to Lucas's side with Alex, pressing my hands desperately against the gushing wound. Lucas's face had gone pale and slack, barely conscious. "No no no, stay with me!" I begged him. Our surroundings faded away, Ian's deranged shouting, the sirens outside, everything but Lucas's dimming eyes locked on mine. "Heather...forgive me..." he rasped faintly, each word clearly agonizing. His hand found mine, grip feeble. "Tell...Alex..." "Shhh don't speak, save your strength!" I pleaded, tears blurring my vision. But his eyes slid closed, body going limp. "Lucas! Lucas please!" My broken sobs echoed in the sudden quiet.Everything after became a hellish blur - police and paramedics storming in, Ian screaming threats and cu
LucasRage boiled through my veins as Richard tried to hit their car. I watched Keegan speed off with Heather. And I feel at ease. That damned snake Richard had nearly killed her! If I had arrived seconds later...I cut off the chilling thought, forcing icy composure over the maelstrom inside me. Now was not the time for blind fury. Richard remained barely conscious at my feet, helpless prey awaiting judgment. I could make his death agonizingly slow, wring every scream from his worthless hide... But no. That was the old madness. I would not sink to his level, however deserved such vengeance might be. Death would come by my hand swift and clean. The serpent had stolen too much time from me already.I hauled Richard up by his torn shirt, claws piercing through the thin fabric to dimple his skin. He peered at me with dazed yet defiant hatred. "You should have stayed dead, snake," I rumbled. My hand flexed, ready to shred his throat out in one vicious stroke. This would finally be fini
71 Heather's POV:My head spun as Keegan wove the disturbing tale of Ian's - no, Richard's - true identity and motives. The friend I had trusted so implicitly was merely using me as a pawn in some toxic feud with Lucas. And now he was regaining dangerous lucidity in the backseat, malice smoldering in his eyes."Just focus on the road ahead," I told Keegan, trying to ignore Richard's presence behind us. I clutched Alex's hand like a lifeline. We were so close now to real freedom. I refused to let Richard's poisonous schemes drag us back under. Not this time. Alex gave my hand a determined squeeze, meeting my gaze steadily despite the fear in his eyes. My brave boy. We would face whatever came next together. I offered him a reassuring smile before turning to Keegan."What's the plan once we get some distance?" I asked, keeping my tone low. Keegan's brow creased in focus as he navigated busy streets. "I have contacts out of state who can help get you set up with new identities and pap
Keegan Getting inside proved simple once Ian was safely unconscious - the wards recognized his signature and granted entrance readily. Moving cautiously, I followed the scent trails further inside until I located Heather and Alex in a barren side room. They both startled violently at my entrance with Ian's body slung over my shoulder."Keegan!" Heather gasped out, shock and alarm widening her eyes. "What are you doing here? What's wrong with Ian?" She started to rush over but I halted her with an upraised hand. "Please, I beg you to hear me out Heather. Ian is only sedated, so I could speak freely." I lowered Ian's limp form to the floor. "There are truths you need to understand before this goes any further."Alex moved in front of his mother protectively. "Truths? More like Lucas sent his lackey here to drag us back!" His young face hardened. "Well you can forget it, we're never going near him again."I held the boy's glare evenly. "I know you have no reason to trust me. But neithe