LEAH

The air outside bites softly against my skin as I step out.

I hesitate for a moment at the door, curling my fingers around the hem of the dress Lucian gave me. The dress makes me feel different. It fits like it was made just for me, hugging my body in the right places.

Lucian stands by the car, tall and imposing in a black shirt rolled at the sleeves and matching pants. His hair is still rough from sleep, and his eyes are piercing.

His gaze lifts the moment he sees me, his eyes scanning me throughly.

"You look... perfect," he says, voice smooth, low, and dangerously soft "Emerald suits you."

Heat rushes to my cheeks. I murmur a quiet, "Thank you," as I glance down, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve.

To my surprise, he steps forward and opens the car door, holding it like some regal gentleman.

"After you," he says.

I slip into the sleek black vehicle, the scent of leather and his cologne instantly enveloping me. It’s rich and warm, like pine, and cedar. Goosebumps erupt on my arms as Lucian settles in beside me and closes the door.

“Let's go Kylo”, he calmly commanded.

“Yes Alpha”, the driver replied without looking back. The engine hums to life, and we pull away from the pack house.

I press my hands together, knuckles going white, as the thudding of my heart refuses to calm. Everything still feels like a fever dream. Hours ago, I was a rejected mate with no future. Now I’m beside the infamous Lycan Alpha, going to his pack, as his mate.

The space suddenly feels too tight. I feel his thighs press into mine closely. Dear Goddess, he's large. My eyes flick to him briefly. His arm is resting lazily on the console. He's not looking at me, but I can still feel his warmth radiate all over me, making my heart keep skipping in ways that feel dangerous. How is he this beautiful?

"You're quiet," he says after a moment, glancing at me. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head too quickly. "Nothing… just overwhelmed, that's all."

I force a smile as he looks back at me, his eyes seeming to never leave.

"I understand," he says simply. "But I don't think you'll miss your pack that much. Besides, my pack is your pack now.”

I chuckle nervously. "You make it sound so dramatic."

"Isn't it?" he says, lips twitching into something close to a smile. I risk a look at him, his gaze stays on mine like it's on pause, making me look away first.

The awkward air hangs between us like a thick curtain.

He clears his throat, tapping his fingers lightly on the console. "So, Leah... tell me something about you. Anything.”

I let out a short breath, surprised by the question.

"Um... I read a lot," I say slowly. "Mostly fantasy. Stories about places I’ll probably never go”

He hums. "You’ll travel now. I’ll make sure of it.”

I peek at him. “Even fairytale places?”

His lips curve faintly. “Yes… even those.”

A soft laugh escapes my throat before I can stop it, surprising both of us.

“See?” he says, looking pleased. “That wasn’t so hard.”

"What about you?" I ask before I can stop myself. "Do Lycans... read?"

That earns me a proper smirk. “The wise ones do.”

I smile before I realize I’m doing it.

Just as the warmth in the car begins to grow, something violent rips through the air. My body jerks forward before the seat belt catches me. My breath punches out of my lungs as the car spins, glass shattering, and tires screeching.

Lucian’s arm flies out instinctively, pinning me back against the seat just as the vehicle slams into something hard and jerks to a stop.

"Stay down," he growls, his voice primal.

My heart pounds in my chest like it’s trying to escape. Smoke curls in from the engine. My fingers tremble as I reach up to touch the side of my head, as blood spills from it. I blink slowly, forcing my eyes open, as I see Lucian’s body move like a shadow.

His pupils begin to glow, and his irises burn molten gold. His chest rises and falls with powerful intensity. Almost immediately, his fingernails sharpen into claws. His jaw tenses, veins bulging, and for the first time, I witness what it means to be a Lycan.

He kicks the crushed door open like it’s made of paper. Wind howls in as I see some strange looking wolves, circling the wreck, snarling and growling.

“What the…” I muttered. Their eyes of the wolves are pitch black and they look soulless. I try to move but my legs feel numb. Suddenly, one of the wolves lunges at me, slamming me into the side of the car and yanking me out.

The cold air bites my skin, pain exploding in my ribs. As the wolf sways me. I try to fight back but he's just too strong. My lungs burn as I try to scream, but the pressure around my chest crushes me.

“Lucian...”

The name barely escapes my lips before everything goes dark around the edges. The world fades. My limbs go numb. But just before consciousness slips from me, I see Lucian, rising from beneath two wolves who had pinned him. He shifts in one fluid, terrifying motion. His bones crack, stretching into his Lycan form.

He rips the wolves apart, their blood splattering across the grass before he turns to me, shifting back.

“Are you okay?”

LUCIAN

The crash comes fast, almost unbelievable, with metal crunching, and tires screeching. The second the SUV flips, my instincts scream. I don’t wait to assess the situation, waiting could be dangerous. I kick open the mangled door before the dust settles. My lycan is already snarling and clawing to get out.

“What the...” my words get stuck in my throat as I see at least a dozen wolves, maybe more, crawling out from the treeline. At first I think they’re wolves, but as they get closer, I see that they aren't, no rogue would dare attack the Lycan Alpha's convoy. There's something off about them. Their eyes are pitch black, no whites, no irises, just black. An evil aura pulsing from them from afar.

“This better not be what I'm thinking”, I snarl. They charge, and I meet them halfway. My body moves on instinct. One leaps at me, and I catch him mid-air, slamming him down hard enough to shatter his bones. I hear them snap under my weight. Another claws at my side, teeth catching my ribs. I turn, grab his snout, and twist it. With my free hand, I slash at his throat.

Just as I turn away, two of them jump on me, pinning me down. As I try pushing them off, I see one grabbing heading to the other side of the car, tearing open the door.

“Leah”, I muttered, panicking. My heart flinches. Within a split second, the wolf grabs her, dragging her by the arms. Her head lolls, eyes fluttering like she’s fighting to stay conscious. Something snaps in me. My lycan begs to be let out as he sees our mate being dragged like prey.

I leap over the hood, my eyes catching the tail end of her scream as the wolf drags her from the passenger side. I shift pushing the wolves pinning me down with a heavy shove. Rage fills me as my pupils dilate, gold flaring in my irises. Every sound dims around me except for her helpless voice.

The first wolf doesn’t even get the chance to turn. My claws split him from collar to hip. Another lunges and I crush its skull with a single swipe. Blood splatters across my fur, warm and slick, but I don't stop. I can’t stop.

I tear through the mass, my growl louder than the chaos. My Lycan, Fenrir, has never been this blood-thirsty. Leah's sweet scent, laced with blood calls to me. I roar, shaking the trees violently.

The wolf dragging her looks back a second too late. I hit him like a storm, aiming directly at his throat. I tear his lungs out with one furious bite, his screams echoing.

Leah tumbles from his grasp, crumpling onto the leaves. She’s covered in scratches. Her arm, and head are bleeding. Her eyes flutter slowly. Fenrir pouts as he sees her in pain. I lower my snout to her face. Thank the Goddess, she's still breathing, relief nearly breaks me.

I shift halfway, my arms forming enough to cradle her. "You're safe," I mutter, my throat raw and bitter. My mind is a blur of blood and the pounding of war drums in my ears.

Dark snarls rise around us. The wolves regroup, trying to circle me. Smart, but not smart enough. I bare my teeth, still holding her. I can't shift fully now, not with her in my arms. But I fight anyway as three more wolves charge at me. I spin, using my body as a shield for Leah. My claws rip open a chest. Another gets close, and I throw my weight, crushing him beneath me. The third lunges for her. Big mistake. I lunge back, my jaw snaps shut on his spine.

A shrill howl cuts through the noise, backup. About damn time. My Beta, Theron bursts through the trees, leading a dozen warriors, all of them shifting simultaneously.

"Secure the perimeter!" he shouts before he shifts unto his wolf form too. The rest scatter, attacking the black-eyed wolves. Screams and yelps of pain fill the ear as I hear bones snapping and flesh getting ripped. The remaining black-eyed wolves begin retreating, vanishing into the trees the same way they came.

I drop to my knees, still cradling Leah. She's half-conscious, blood matting her hair.

Theron lands beside me, panting. He drops a shirt and a pair of shorts beside me “You good?”

“You're late”, I snap at him. I glance down at Leah in my arms. She’s barely breathing. “I need a medic,” I growl.

“Medic!" Theron bellows.

A healer rushes over, his pack uniform soaked with sweat. He kneels beside me, and reaches for Leah. His hands hover over her, too close. I growl low in my throat making hands flinch.

"Alpha, I need to examine her."

I say nothing, but my eyes say “touch her wrong, and you’ll lose your fingers.”

He nods, swallowing hard, then begins tending her head. Leah groans softly, her eyes blinking open.

She looks up at me first.

And the Goddess help me, I feel something shift in my chest.

"Lucian?" she whispers.

"I’m here," I answer, my voice coming out hoarse.

Theron appears behind me again, frowning.

"They knew exactly how and where to hit us. This attack wasn't random."

"No shit," I snap. "We were compromised."

His eyes flick to Leah. "Are you sure about this”, he says, gesturing to her. “She’s weak”

I stand slowly, leaving Leah in the medic's arms and slipping on the clothes Theron brought. My muscles tense as I tower over him.

"Say that again," I murmur.

Theron glares. "You know I’m right. She’s barely a wolf."

My fists clench, and my jaw ticks. As much as I want to deny it, Theron is right. Leah isn't exactly Luna material. She's weak and too tender. But then I remember I haven't told Theron the truth about her.

He stares at me blankly, his eyes searching mine for answers. Theron has always been the wise one. He's not just my beta, he's my younger brother. He knows there's definitely something more to my decision, but he hasn't asked because he respects me as his Alpha.

Knowing it would do me no good to keep hiding the truth from him. I take a deep breath and come clean.

"She might be my second chance mate”, I mutter.

Theron goes still as the words hang heavy in the air.

His eyes widen, his mouth opens like he wants to say something, then he stops. He takes a step back.

“Are you sure?” He asks softly.

“Yes”, I reaffirmed.

I look down at Leah again as Theron’s eyes still widen in shock. She's pale, and fragile.

Fenrir pouts softly, mine.

LUCIAN

"You can’t be serious,” Theron finally speaks as I head to the pack infirmary. I had sent Leah with the medic in the only car that wasn't affected in the crash, and I couldn't let her wake up without me by her side.

"I am,” I replied coldly.

He runs a hand through his hair, stepping back. "Lucian, that’s... You’ve never believed in second chance mates. Not after what…”

A low growl escapes my lips before he can finish.

"Don't you dare mention that name….”, he bows immediately, respecting my Alpha voice. Mentioning my ex is a crime, even for him.

“This one is different.” I continued, my voice softening. “ She's special.”

"She’s weak." He scoffs.

“She's been through a lot,” I snap, my Lycan bristling, already fed up with Theron’s constant needling.

Theron doesn't respond immediately. His jaw ticks, lips pressed into a tight line. I know he's not questioning me as Alpha. He's questioning me as his brother, he's the reasonable one.

"You’re changing," he mutters.

"Maybe.”

“Alpha” the medic approaches before Theron could speak again. "She’s stable, but she needs rest. She lost blood. Her head injury... it’s not deep, but a few hours later and…"

"I don’t need the details," I cut in sharply. "Take me to her”

“Yes Alpha”, the medic says with a bow as he leads the way.

The room smells like blood and antiseptic when I step in. Theron stops by the door as I step in.

“You can leave now”, I tell the medic and backs away with a bow. Leah stirs slowly as I enter, her head tilting towards the sound of my boots as her gentle eyes find mine.

“You stayed…” she murmurs, her voice hoarse.

“I’m the Lycan Alpha my little flower, I'm not in the habit of abandoning people in my care.” I fold my arms, watching her carefully.

“That’s… comforting,” she whispers, and a strange smile tugs at her lips. “I think.”

I look away, my jaw tightening. The bond pulling me, it tauts like a snare around my ribcage. She shifts slightly and winces. I move instinctively, catching her before she falls off the edge of the bed.

“You should lie still,” I say, voice quieter now. My hand is warm against her back, her hair brushing my forearm like silk.

Her eyes search mine slowly. “You saved me.”

“You’re not that easy to kill,” I mutter, turning to pour water into a cup.

She smiles again, making my Lycan purr, but I mask it with a stern look.“That sounded almost like a compliment.”

I hand her the cup. She sips, then coughs a little. I pat her back once, then withdraw before my hand can linger.

She goes silent, her eyes searching mine like they're looking for some kind of answers.

“I saw you shift,” she says finally. “Your Lycan.”

I nod.

“Do you always fight like that?”

“Only when someone tries to take what’s mine.”

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them. Her eyes widen slightly. I shift on my feet, looking toward the door.

“You should rest,” I say. “We’ll talk later.”

But she reaches out, her fingers brushing my wrist. “Do I really belong to you, Lucian?” her voice is barely a whisper.

I pause, the room feeling smaller.

“Yes my little flower, you're mine."

Her hand slips away.

“Why choose me then?” she asks.

I don’t answer. I can’t.

A knock interrupts the moment. Theron enters without waiting, his eyes flicking to Leah and then to me.

“Alpha, we need to talk. Now.”

I straighten. “Outside.”

We step into the hallway. Theron doesn’t waste time.

“We’ve got more sightings of those wolves, two on the southern border. But they were gone before patrols arrived.”

“They’re testing us. This better not be what I'm thinking, Theron”.

He nods grimly. “We need to move fast. Whoever they are, they’re coordinated.”

I glance back toward the infirmary door.

“She doesn't heal like the rest of us,” Theron says, following my gaze.

I stiffen. “We’ve had this talk.”

“No,” he says. “We danced around it.”

I shoot him a cold look. “Don’t push it.”

He backs off, hands up. “Alright. But if she’s staying, she needs to be trained. Hard.”

“She will be,” I say. “By me.”

Theron grins. “Can’t wait to see that.”

I return to the infirmary. Leah is awake now, sitting upright. Her cheeks flush when she sees me again.

“I heard,” she says.

“I heard,” she says.

“You were listening?”

“I might be weak, but I’m not deaf,” she replies, wryly.

I tilt my head. “And?”

“I want to train. I don’t want to be baggage.”

I study her. There’s steel behind the soft surface. Good.

“Then be ready,” I say. “Training begins tomorrow. No excuses.”

She nods, serious. “Yes, Alpha.”

I turn to leave but pause at the door.

“You should eat something. Theron brought food.”

“I will. After you leave.”

I smirk faintly. “Smart girl.”

She doesn’t look away. “Lucian?”

I glance back.

“You’re hard to read,” she says softly.

“I’m not a book meant for just anyone,” I reply.

Her face hardens, like she's disappointed. I nod once.

“Sleep. You’ll need it.”