Chapter 49
Lucas POV
I crashed to the ground from Lily’s bedroom. I fell so hard that it took me a minute to come back to myself.
I lay on the damp grass, dazed and struggling to catch my breath. My back throbbed with pain but I wasn’t even thinking of how I was thrown out of the window; it was the person I had fought with that my mind was.
The strength that was used on me couldn’t be that of a mere warrior – that had to be the infamous Alpha Kai – Alpha of the Royal Hunters pack. As my vision cleared, I scanned the area, searching for any sign of Alpha Kai but the yard was empty. Slowly, I hoisted myself into a sitting position, my body protesting with pain.
Confusion loomed in my mind as I thought: Why had the Alpha been in Lily’s bedroom? My wolf stirred with unease inside me.
“Did you feel Lily?” I asked Tera, my wolf. “Did you feel our mate bond p>
“Yes!” Tera responded immediately. “I sensed her wolf, Lucas. Lily has one now, her wolf has finally emerged p>
My heart leapt with joy at the information. “Really?” I asked Tera.
“Yes!” he replied “Our mate bond hasn’t been completely broken p>
I paused feeling warmth coursing through me and my heart surging with hope. “How is that possible? I demanded, “I rejected her, remember p>
“I know!” Tera said slowly “But when you rejected each other, her wolf hadn’t awakened. It couldn’t accept the rejection. The bond is weakened but not severed p>
I paused, still stunned by the revelation. A part of me had feared that the bond had dissolved completely when I had rejected her. A rejection I had been forced to make under pressure – at least that’s what I had told myself. But now, with my wolf confirming the bond was still there because Lily’s wolf hadn’t accepted his rejection gladdened my heart.
That means…a smile broke out on my face “I still had a second chance with her. I still had a second chance to claim Lily as my mate. The bond could be repaired and strengthened. We could still have the future I had always imagined for us. I could still make things right.
But as quickly as the joy came, the truth hit me hard. It had been me who had hurt her. I had rejected Lily when she needed me the most because she hadn’t been able to shift because she hadn’t been ‘strong’ enough in the eyes of the pack. I had abandoned her when her father and twin had turned against her, leaving her alone and vulnerable.
The memory of that night when she was driven out like a thief – the betrayal in her eyes, haunted me. How could I have been so cruel, so shortsighted?
I clenched my fists, the rain mingling with my tears, though I wasn’t sure if it was the cold sting of water or shame that burned my skin. I swore to myself then and there, that I would fix this. I would claim Lily, and no one – especially not that Alpha – would stand in my way.
Determined, I pushed myself to my feet, wincing at the protest of my bruised muscles. My wolf growled with anticipation as I moved towards the house again but fate, it seemed, had other plans.
As I stepped towards the house, the front door swung open and an elderly couple stepped out onto the porch, their eyes glowing crimson in the darkness. They were both small and frail-looking, but the strength that oozed through them made my steps falter.
“Leave!” the old man said calmly but I could feel the warning under his tone. “You’re not welcome here p>
I wanted to ignore it and keep on moving to the house when Tera’s voice reached me, there was a sense of urgency in his tone.
“We can’t stay,” Tera warned “There is a more powerful wolf here, dominating the area. It is too strong, we must leave now p>
I swallowed my pride, casting one last glance up at Lily’s window, I turned and ran into the forest. The rain beat down on me as I sprinted toward the border, I had to get back to my own pack, and quickly. Lily’s father and Vanessa would be returning soon, if they didn’t see at the pack house, it would raise suspicion and I didn’t want that.
The lights of the pack house compound came into view just as I heard the distant sound an an approaching car. I swore under my breath, realizing how close they were. I pushed against the wind with all my strength and leapt over the tall walls landing softly into the compound.
I heard them drive in, heard some guards greet them… I circled around to the side of the main house. With practised ease, I scaled the wall and slipped into the house through a side window. Inside, I shifted back into my human form and rushed into the bathroom.
Quickly, I turned on the shower, letting the water wash over me, rinsing away the sweat from my run.
Quickly, I finished showering and drying off, I threw on some clothes and hung a towel around my neck for my dripping hair. Just as I stepped out, I heard voices in the hallway.
I paused, straining my ears to catch their words.
“Beta Liam promised she wouldn’t be a problem,” Lily’s father said, his voice filled with disdain. “He assured me that she’s under control p>
“Do you really believe him? Lily’s always been unpredictable.”My heart hammered in my chest as I stepped out finally out of the bathroom, acting casual as if I just had a late-night shower.
I approached them, making as much noise as possible to announce my presence. As soon as noticed my presence their conversation ended and both of them turned to me, their expressions neutral but guarded.
“Lucas!” Alpha Gregory greeted me with a curt nod. “You weren’t sleeping?” he asked scanning me from head to toe.
“I felt hot earlier on and decided to take a late-night shower. Has it been long since you arrived?” I asked moving over to Vanessa. “Hey, baby!” I greeted her, leaning in to press a brief kiss on her lips. “You look tired!” I observed.
“I’m fine now that I see you!” she said happily, returning my kiss.
“We just arrived now!” Lily’s father finally said and then added with a strained smile. “I’ll leave you young lovers to yourselves, goodnight p>
I nodded, keeping the smile on my face as I watched him nod one last time to Vanessa before moving towards his bedroom. As soon as we were alone, I turned to Vanessa.
“Where did you go with your dad?” I asked, staring pointedly at her.
“Nowhere special,” she murmured her lips curled into a smile as she leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “We just made with random of his friends and I had to sit through listening to them discuss boring pack matters. It’s nothing for you to worry about though p>
I nodded, keeping my face blank, but inside I was boiling with rage. They were hiding something, something that involved Lily and whatever it was, I would find out.
As Vanessa slid her arm around me, I forced a smile. For now, I would play the perfect, clueless son-in-law and mate. But soon, I would unravel whatever plans they had, and when I did, I would protect Lily from them – no matter the cost.