Leah's POV
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to Lucian, my footsteps echoing in the silence. Kneeling beside his chair, I forced myself to stay composed.
"Lucian, you’ve always been like a father to me. I look up to you, I admire you. That’s why it hurts so deeply to have my loyalty questioned by you. I should be able to show you my unwavering loyalty, but how can I prove it to my own brother?"
Lucian looked down and gently placed his hand on my head, stroking my hair.
"You can kill Jalin for me. That's a start," he said in a measured tone.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The cruelty in his eyes confirmed he was serious. I stood up and took a step back.
"Lucian, do you hear yourself?" I asked, my voice trembling. "You can't possibly ask me to kill Jalin..."
"Why not? I obviously can't do it," he sighed, lowering his head. "He's like a brother to me."
I clutched my chest, my heart aching. "I can't do it either! He's every bit as much a brother to me as he is to you!"
"Well, I'll do it," a voice came from outside.
At that moment, the door swung open and Lucas walked in.
"Your Highness," Lucas greeted with a slight bow. His eyes were bloodshot, and it was clear he was drunk. "I'm so glad to see you like this."
Lucas pointed at the empty whisky bottle on the floor.
"No, Lucas. No." I said to Lucas before turning to Lucian.
I pleaded, "Don’t ask my husband to kill anyone for you, Lucian. Don't even think about it."
Lucian narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing. "Farrow, you just can’t leave my sister alone for one moment, can you?"
"Yes, Your Highness, you’re right," Lucas replied, pulling me into his arms. "She’s my wife, my mate, and my second chance. And I'll kill anyone for her."
I pulled Lucas back and said to my brother, "Lucian, don’t listen to him. He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about..."
"I know exactly what I’m talking about, my love," Lucas whispered, kissing my hair.
Lucian’s eyes bulged with fury. "Get your hands off my sister and get out of my study, Farrow," he barked, veins throbbing on his forehead. "I don’t want to see your face."
Lucas smirked. "I’m afraid you’ll be seeing my face all the time from now on, Your Highness, because your sister is pregnant with my cub. I will stay by her side for the rest of her life. Together, we will raise babies..."
"What did you just say?" Lucian exploded, leaping out of his chair.
"Your sister, my wife, is pregnant with my cub. She will soon give birth to my son, and we will raise this child in our own way."
"I'm going to be an uncle!" Lucian exclaimed, overwhelmed, pulling me into a tight embrace. Lucas refused to release his grip, leaving me awkwardly caught between them.
"I'll make sure I'm your child's least favorite uncle, Your Highness. You're welcome," Lucas sneered, locking eyes with Lucian.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as he retorted, "I’ll lock my sister and her cub away where you'll never find them, Farrow. Consider it a favor."
"Enough! Both of you!" I shouted, my voice ringing with authority.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jorah lurking behind the door, peeking inside. I addressed him sharply, "Jorah, take Alpha Lucas away, now! And if he even thinks about drinking another drop of alcohol, I will personally rip your arms off and shove them down your throat!"
"Yes, Luna," Jorah stammered, pulling a reluctant Lucas away from me.
"I'll be waiting for you in our bed, my Luna!" Lucas called out, boastfully raising his voice. "We’ll make love and create more babies..."
I slammed the door shut, cutting off his drunken ramblings. Leaning against it, I turned to Lucian, anger simmering in my voice. "Brother, you can't possibly ask the father of my unborn child to kill someone for you. Lucas's strength has been waning since the rejection. He’s still not fully recovered. If you send him to kill Jalin, you're sentencing him to death. I will never forgive you, and you’ll lose more than just his loyalty."
Lucian pulled me into his arms, shushing me softly. "I’m not going to make my own sister a widow," he said with a mischievous glint. "You’ll divorce him, and I’ll find you someone better."
"Brother, this isn't a joke!" I protested, looking up at him. For a moment, he was the Lucian I remembered -the one who could always make me laugh.
The tension between my brother and my husband was palpable. They bickered like children, drove each other mad, and yet, they created a unique dynamic that almost seemed to fuel Lucian’s spirit, bringing out a liveliness in him that was rare to see.
A thought crossed my mind. "Brother, you’re missing a Beta right now. You can't rule without a wingman. What do you say? Would you consider keeping Lucas by your side?"
Lucian scoffed, "And what? So he can stab me in the back every chance he gets? So he can step on my last nerve?"
Despite his harsh words, I saw a flicker of interest in his eyes.
Sensing the tension had abated, Lucian asked, "So, when’s the due date? Laura can start preparing for the baby shower."
"We still have plenty of time," I said, relaxing against his chest. "Have you seen Leo?"
"I’ve lost track of him," Lucian replied coldly. "He never tells me anything."
"He ran off with Gean," I said. "Do you think he’s in danger?"
"Are you kidding? Hurting each other is their idea of bonding. You really shouldn’t worry."
"But doesn’t it bother you?" I frowned. "He’s our brother, after all."
"Honestly? His sexuality never bothered me," Lucian said. "It's the people he surrounds himself with. But who am I to complain here? They’re heartless, just like we are. But Leo is different. He cares too much. He gives until it hurts. No wonder Father looks down on him."
I said nothing. We both knew Leo had done nothing wrong. The only crime he committed was having a heart, a trait seen as a weakness in our world.
Lycan society demanded us to be cold, heartless, and ruthless, ruling with an iron fist and a vision devoid of empathy. Personalities were allowed, but only to a certain extent. Thoughts were permissible, but couldn't stray far from the norm. Compassion and love were traits long deemed unnecessary in our evolution.
As I was delving into the situation with Lucian and Laura, a sudden knock at the door interrupted our conversation.
"Miss Leah, His Majesty is awake and ready to see you now," announced Mr. Carson.