Lucian's POV
My stomach turned, knots of dread tightening as I forced myself to remain outwardly calm. To protect Leah, I had to play along, at least until I could find a way to free her.
I approached her slowly, murmuring assurances too soft for Jalin to hear. Her eyes widened in understanding mixed with a touch of betrayal, but she didn't resist. The trust she once had in me was fractured, yet she still followed my lead, perhaps sensing a familiarity she couldn't place.
I leaned in, pretending to carry out the vile act Jalin demanded. Each second felt like an eternity, knowing I was betraying her trust, no matter how necessary it seemed. She quivered, but then something changed. I felt the shift in her, a transition from fear to something far more primal. Her fear transmuted into rage, and before I could react, she unleashed a ferocity I hadn't seen in years.
Leah transformed, her Lycan strength bursting forth with an unstoppable force. In an instant, she struck out, clawing at my side. Pain shot through me, but it paled in comparison to the relief and horror battling within me. She was powerful; she was still herself somewhere deep within. But she was also lost again, driven by primal fear and anger. Each action was a testament to her will to survive, a reflection of the strength she still possessed.
She turned to Jalin next, her eyes glowing with an unholy light, a fierce determination blazing within them.
"No!" I screamed out. "Don't!"
Jalin gaped at me in stunned silence as Leah exploded from the chamber, a whirlwind of claws and fury, vanishing into the night. Her liberation was explosive, a dramatic escape that left chaos in its wake.
I collapsed, clutching my wound, as Jalin's rage-filled screams echoed behind me.
Leah's POV
The air was thick with the stench of sweat and copper. I ran blindly, my bare feet pounding against the gravel path, my lungs burning. The palace walls loomed around me, a maze of shadow and stone. I couldn't remember how I'd ended up here, or why my chest ached with a nameless dread. All I knew was that I had to escape—had to get away from the man who called himself my master.
But my legs were weak, trembling beneath me. My vision blurred with tears I couldn't shed. I stumbled, gasping for breath, and then I heard it—the low growl behind me. It wasn't human. It was primal, feral. My heart leapt into my throat as the sound echoed through the courtyard.
Before I could turn, something massive slammed into me. The world tilted as a chrome wolf—its fur gleaming like polished steel—pinned me to the ground. Its yellow eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity, boring into mine. I froze, paralyzed by fear. This creature wasn't like the wolves I'd seen in stories or paintings. It was a monster, a predator unlike anything I'd ever encountered.
And then it shifted.
The wolf's form twisted and contorted, muscles rippling under its shimmering hide. When it finally stood before me, it was no longer a wolf—it was Alpha Finn. His hair hung in his handsome face, his grin wide and predatory. He towered over me, his boots pressing into my shoulders as he laughed.
"You thought you could run?" he sneered, his voice low and dangerous. "You're nothing without me, little rat."
Panic rose in my chest. I tried to push him off, but my strength was nothing compared to his. He grabbed my wrists, twisting them painfully behind my back. I cried out, but the sound was muffled by the gag in my mouth.
"Shut up," he growled, slapping me hard across the face. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I gagged. "I told you not to scream. Did I not? Or you're just intentionally to turn me on?"
Tears streamed down my face as he released my wrists and reached for the hem of my tattered dress. I struggled, kicking out at him, but he only laughed louder. His hands were rough against my skin, and I felt a surge of nausea rise in my throat.
"No," I whispered, though I knew he wouldn't hear me. "Please… no…"
But he didn't stop. He pulled me closer, his weight crushing me into the dirt. My mind screamed at me to fight - to do something, anything—but my body was frozen with fear. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. All I could do was endure as he spread my legs and pressed himself into me.
He was ignited by my obedience, so he roared in anger and threw me onto my stomach, the rough ground scraping at my skin. Shame and fear coiled within me as he pushed himself into me. Every second felt like an eternity, the humiliation more searing than the physical pain. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, tears mingling with the dirt beneath my cheek. I couldn't cry out, couldn't give him a reason to end my life.
At that moment, I realized that I was afraid of Alphpa Finn, but I feared death more - and that fear was eating me alive.
Lucian's POV
The pain was unbearable.
Jalin's hands were everywhere—clutching, pulling, tearing. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, trying to block out the sensations wracking my body. But it was useless. Every touch, every movement sent waves of agony through me.
And yet… there was something else.
Through the fog of pain and humiliation, I caught a glimpse of movement outside the window. My heart stopped.
Leah.
She was in the courtyard, her small frame trembling beneath Alpha Finn's weight. My daughter—my precious girl—was being violated right before my eyes.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Jalin noticed immediately.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" he purred, his voice laced with mockery. "Did you see something you like?"