Chapter 116
Lucas POV
I drummed my fingers against my desk, checking my phone for the hundredth time. K was supposed to contact me any minute now, and the anticipation was killing me. Every piece of information about Lily was precious, keeping me connected to her even though we were apart.
Vanessa was pacing back and forth in front of me, her arms folded tightly over her chest. She was ranting about something—I wasn’t really listening. My mind was elsewhere, focused on one thing: Lily.
“Lucas, are you even listening to me?” Vanessa’s voice cut through my thoughts. She was perched on the edge of my desk, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the wood in an irritating rhythm.
I barely suppressed a growl. “Not really p>
“You’ve been avoiding me for weeks. You barely talk to me, let alone spend time with me. I deserve better than this p>
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Vanessa, not now p>
“Not now?” she bristled.. “That’s all you ever say. I’ve been patient, Lucas, but I’m done waiting for you to actually act like you give a damn about me p>
“Vanessa please,” I sighed. “Can I have some peace, today of all days. I seriously, truly need it p>
“This is exactly what I’m talking about!” She stood up, her designer dress swishing dramatically. “You’ve been completely distant lately. We barely spend any time together, and when we do, you’re always checking your phone like some teenager p>
I zoned out again from her nagging when my phone buzzed in my hand. My heart leaped as I checked who was calling me. Sure enough, it was K. Finally.
“Vanessa,” I cut her off mid-rant, standing up from my chair. “I need you to leave. Now p>
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me p>
“I have an important business call coming in.” I moved toward the door, opening it pointedly. “We can discuss this another time p>
She scoffed. “Are you serious p>
I shot her a sharp look. “Now p>
“But p>
“Another time,” I repeated firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. My wolf was getting impatient, and I needed her to be gone before I lost my composure.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but something in my expression must have warned her not to. With a huff, she grabbed her purse and stormed out, slamming the door behind her and shooting me a dark look.
“This conversation isn’t over, Lucas p>
The moment she stormed out, I slammed the door and accepted K’s call. “Talk to me p>
There was a brief silence before K’s voice came through, quietly. “I don’t have any good news today p>
My heart dropped. “What do you mean? What happened p>
He hesitated. “Lily’s in the pack hospital.” He paused, and I could hear him taking a deep breath. “She’s in a semi-comatose state p>
My entire body went rigid. “What?” My knees weakened, and I gripped the edge of my desk to steady myself. “How?” The word came out as a hoarse whisper.
“She’s in bad shape,” K continued. “She’s unconscious. They’re saying it could take days, maybe longer, for her to wake up p>
For a few seconds, I couldn’t breathe. My office seemed to close in on me, my heartbeat was pounding in my ears.
“What happened?” I forced out. “Was she attacked by rogues? Did she fall? What really happened? Please tell me p>
K exhaled heavily. “No. It was Kai p>
Everything inside me froze.
“What do you mean, it was Kai?” My wolf stirred inside me. I was beginning to feel rage bubbling inside me. “I don’t understand. Kai did this to her p>
I stood so fast my chair toppled over. “Explain p>
“Since that incident with the mysterious she-wolf, he has been hurting her for a while now. And not just once or twice. It’s been going on for weeks. They say he spaces out, looses control and lashes out at her at the slightest opportunity. She tried to hide it, but people started noticing – bruises, her limping, the way she flinched whenever he gets close. Yesterday K trailed off.
“And no one did anything p>
“Luna Helen tried to keep an eye on her, but Lily kept covering for him. Said he wasn’t himself. That he didn’t mean it.” K paused. “Last night, it got worse. He attacked her, full force. If Celeste hadn’t stepped in p>
I didn’t let him finish.
I grabbed the nearest thing—an empty glass—and hurled it against the wall. It shattered on impact. The sound barely registering through the fury consuming me.
“That bastard,” I snarled. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to tear him apart with my bare hands p>
There was a pause from K before he spoke again. “He’s Alpha Kai. What can you do? It’s not like you can do much except rant from there p>
“You don’t know me,” I scoffed.
“You need to be smart about this. If you march in there guns blazing, you’ll start a war p>
“I don’t give a damn.” My jaw was tight, my muscles coiled with the need to do something. “Lily is in danger. She needs to be out of that pack p>
“I agree,” K said. “But we need a plan. Kai is still the Alpha. His pack is loyal to him. You can’t just waltz in and take her p>
I dragged a hand through my hair, forcing myself to breathe. K was right. As much as I wanted to storm into Royal Hunter’s pack and rip Kai apart, I needed to be smart.
“Do you have a way in?” I asked, my voice controlled but lethal.
“I can disable the security systems,” K offered. “Create a diversion on the east side of the territory. But Lucas, this won’t be easy. You’ll be going up against an Alpha on his own territory p>
“I don’t care.” My decision was made the moment I heard she was hurt. “She’s my mate, K. My true mate. I should have never let her go back to that pack.” The guilt and regret threatened to choke me. “Send me the layout of the hospital, guard rotations, everything you have.
K hesitated. “There’s a way, but it’ll take time. We need to be careful. If we’re caught, Lily won’t be the only one suffering p>
I hated it, but I knew he was right. This wasn’t just about my anger. This was about saving her.
“Fine,” I said through clenched teeth. “Then we plan. But I swear to god, K, if anything else happens to her, I won’t wait. I’ll burn that pack to the ground p>
K was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “I get it, Lucas. Believe me. We’ll get her out. But we have to do it right p>
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Keep me updated p>
“I will p>
The call ended, and I stood in the wreckage of my office, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Lily needed me. And I wasn’t going to fail her.
No matter what it took, I was getting her out.