Lucas' POV
"This is Gean Lee. He's Leah's assistant," Jorah introduced him.
I sized Gean up, feeling an unexpected wave of discomfort. It unsettled me that Leah worked so closely with someone who looked this good.
"Alpha Lucas, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," Gean said, bowing slightly.
"I need you to talk to a deranged telepathic prince," I explained. "He’s imprisoned, yet he’s still controlling other werewolves. I need you to get him to stop without hurting him, since the King plans to deal with his mind later."
"Is that all, Alpha Lucas?" Gean asked, his voice soothing. I began to see why Leah liked having him around. There was something calming about him.
"No, there's one more thing. I want you to resign from UniHeal and come work for me."
Gean remained unflustered. "One thing at a time, Alpha Lucas," he said with another bow before walking away.
Jorah's annoyance was evident once Gean had left. "You can't just take everyone away from Miss Lewyn and make them work for you."
"Stop whining and go keep an eye on Gean. Be a good boy, Jorah," I ordered.
Once alone, I sank into my chair, feeling the weight of exhaustion. My health had been deteriorating, and I needed to recover. The best remedy was to bond with my mate, but Leah was injured and soundly asleep. I needed another solution.
As these thoughts ran through my mind, the door opened and a woman in a wheelchair entered my office.
"Josephine, what are you doing here?" I asked, frowning.
Leah's POV
I woke up to find myself lying in my own bed at the lake house. Finally, some good news. I couldn't even recall the last time I had woken up here. It felt like I'd been trapped in a long, intense dream.
The room was eerily silent, save for the persistent beeping of a machine connected to my chest. Looking down, I saw my wound was nearly healed. Lycan recovery is usually fast, but a silver bullet had slowed the process.
I instinctively rubbed my belly. My cub was still safe inside me. Relief washed over me. Struggling, I managed to sit up and pulled the wires off my body. The clock showed it was almost midnight. My head felt heavy, but my mind remained sharp and clear.
Feeling parched, I reached for a bottle of water on the nightstand and gulped it down. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck my chest, followed by the unmistakable cry of my inner wolf.
"What’s happening? Talk to me," I demanded of my inner wolf.
"He’s with another woman!" my inner wolf roared.
"What are you talking about? Stop screaming!" I insisted.
As I stepped out of my bedroom, I saw Jorah dozing on the floor, leaning against the wall. Not wanting to disturb him, I quietly continued on. I didn't have a destination in mind, but somehow, I found myself stopped in front of one of the guest bedrooms. With each step closer, the pain in my chest intensified.
Then, I heard a familiar voice from beyond the door.
"Oh, Luke... Don't... Don’t do it to me!"
Josephine! My wolf's agitation made sense now. Lucas was with another woman – and of all people, it was Josephine, Darren's mate, and the woman I loathed the most. The scandal of it all!
Clutching my chest, I seethed with anger. I wanted to kick down the door and confront them, but I held back. Who was I to judge? I was still married to Lucas, yet pregnant with another man's cub. Clenching my fists, I turned back to my room, closing the door quietly behind me. I threw myself onto the bed, covered my head with a pillow, and began to sob.
"Leah, why are you crying?" a deep, husky voice asked.
I raised my head to see Finn standing by my bed.
"Finn?! Oh my! Are you hurt?" I jumped off the bed and threw my arms around him.
Finn gently kissed me and said, "Leah, you’re the one with a hole in your chest, and you're asking if I'm hurt."
"I've missed you so much, Finn! Everything's been so crazy. But now you're here, everything will be alright," I said, burying my face in his chest and inhaling his scent.
"I can't stay long," Finn said softly. "I just came to check on you. Your brother has put a warrant out for me. Dead or alive. If Lucas finds out I'm here, he'll kill me."
"No, there must be some mistake! Stay here, let me explain to my brother..."
Finn gently placed me back on the bed and kissed my forehead. "Leah, I really have to go. Please take care of yourself," he whispered.
I shook my head, wishing it was all a nightmare. How could my brother put a warrant out on the man I loved?
I grabbed Finn's arm. "Take me with you," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "I can't live without you."
Finn knelt down, meeting my eyes. "Leah, I have nothing. You're a princess. I can’t give you anything."
"I don’t need anything. I just want to be with you," I said firmly.
I couldn't tell Finn I was pregnant with his child. I didn’t want to burden him. I just needed to be with him.
Finn seemed torn, but finally, he pulled me into his arms. "Leah, let's go," he whispered in my ear.
He lifted me onto his back, and I clung to him like a sloth, pressing my face against his strong, now somehow different, back.
"Where are we going, Finn?" I asked as he jumped out the window.
"Home," he mumbled.
I looked back at the lake house. The light in Lucas’ room was still on. "Goodbye, my mate," I whispered to myself. "This is for the best for both of us."
Lucas' POV
"Josephine, I've made it abundantly clear - I want nothing to do with you," I said, my voice firm and unyielding.
"But Darren is dying! You have to get Leo's potion for him!" she cried, desperation etching her features.
"No," I responded without hesitation. "Everything Leo has done is illegal. I can't help you. And you're banished from my pack. I'll have Jorah escort you out immediately."
"Oh, Luke… Don't… Don't do this to me!" Josephine pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "I've lost my leg… and I'm pregnant with Darren's child!"