Leah's POV
Now, that hunger roared back, fueled by loss and longing. We gave in, tearing at each other, a storm of despair and need. His hands roamed my scarred flesh, rough and reverent, and I arched into him, swaying my hips, dragging it out like a ritual. Pain laced every touch, every thrust - his breath ragged, my moans breaking into sobs. We fucked like we were clawing our way out of graves, desperate to feel something beyond the wreckage of our lives.
Inside, my wolf snarled, "This man is dangerous. He's lost everything for you. You're all he has. He shows up when the world burns - destiny or curse? Plus, he killed your child!"
I answered her, fierce and silent, as Darren moved inside me, "This man bled for me, broke for me. He's my shield, my fate, my fucking heart. I've crawled through hell, and you never spoke to me. Why now?"
My wolf went quiet, retreating, and I surrendered to him - to the ache, the heat, the ruin of us. We collapsed, spent, tangled in each other, my tears pooling on his chest. He held me, fragile and fierce, and I knew the truth. He was human now, broken, and the cost of my life stained his hands. But in that moment, beneath the weight of it all, I couldn't let go.
Liam's POV
The night pressed against me like a sweaty palm, heavy and unrelenting, the darkness outside my window mocking my useless attempts at sleep. I'd tossed and turned until the sheets were a twisted noose around my legs, my skin prickling with restless heat. Talia was off at the hospital, working the night shift, leaving me alone with a mind that wouldn't shut up. Finally, I kicked free of the bed's grip, my bare feet hitting the floor with a dull thud. Seth, that tech-obsessed lunatic, was my only hope for distraction. He never slept—probably because he'd sold his soul to some circuit board years ago.
I shuffled down the hall, the mansion's plush carpet swallowing my steps, and rapped my knuckles against Seth's door. Nothing. I knocked harder, the sound sharp in the silence, but the bastard didn't stir. Just as I turned to slink back to my insomnia, a voice crackled from the camera perched on the wall, its lens glinting like a smug little eye.
"What the hell are you doing, dog?" Seth's tone dripped with irritation, though I caught the flicker of a grin in it, like he enjoyed catching me off guard.
I squinted up at the camera, feeling like a fool caught sneaking scraps. "Couldn't sleep," I muttered, scratching the back of my neck where sweat had started to pool. "Everything feels… off. Thought you might be up."
A dramatic sigh hissed through the speaker. "I'm busy in the studio. If you swear not to paw at my gear, you can come down under the bed and bore me for two cents."
I glanced down at the floor, half-expecting some trapdoor to yawn open beneath me. "Under the bed?" I said, my voice cracking with a mix of dread and disbelief. "Can't you just climb up to the human world and chat like a normal person?"
Seth's laugh rumbled through the speaker, low and taunting. "You got a hole in your head, Liam? Just come down already."
Before I could argue, a soft whir sliced the air, and the floor in front of me split apart, revealing a staircase bathed in a ridiculous glow - colored lights bouncing off a disco ball effect that spun lazily overhead. My scalp tightened, a shiver clawing up my spine. "What the fuck... Did Leah sign off on this underground rave?" I asked, my voice trembling as I peered into the abyss.
"Don't worry about it," Seth shot back, impatient now. "You coming or not?"
I swallowed hard, my heart thudding against my ribs, and started down the stairs. Each step echoed with a metallic clang, the air growing cooler and sharper, like I was descending into some sci-fi fever dream. The space below sprawled out like a castle forged from madness - pipelines snaked across the ceiling, walls pulsed with screens and blinking panels, a maze of tech and shadows. I muttered under my breath, "What the hell is this? I've lived enough in this life to deserve a heads-up about secret lairs."
I found Seth hunched over an oversized computer station, his fingers dancing across the keyboard like a pianist possessed. The massive screen in front of him flickered with feeds from every corner of the mansion - hallways, kitchens, bedrooms. My eyes snagged on one in particular- Leah's room. There she was, tangled with Darren, their bodies locked in a rhythm that hit me like a punch to the gut. Heat flooded my face, and I jerked my gaze away, my throat tightening. "Uh, Seth," I croaked, forcing my voice steady, "can you turn off the surveillance in Leah's bedroom? It's… a lot."
He glanced up, his face unreadable, eyes glinting with something sharp. "Leah's orders—cameras stay on 24/7, even there. She likes her kingdom under watch."
I frowned, my skin crawling. "You watch her sleep every night? That doesn't fuck with your head?"
Seth snorted, leaning back in his chair. "No way, man. The boss isn't my type. I'm into sweet little things who do what I say, not some tyrant who barks orders and screams when I screw up. Plus, she's old enough to be my mom - sometimes I swear she's my mother reincarnated just to mess with me." He slid closer, his grin wicked. "Saw your girl, though. Talia, the nurse? Nice curves." He traced an hourglass in the air, and I slapped a hand over my face, heat prickling my cheeks.
"Gee, Seth," I groaned, mortified. "Cut it off."
Seth cackled, relentless. "No wonder you're panting after Leah all day. Mature women are your jam, huh?"
My heart lurched, and I flailed my hands like I could wave the accusation away. "It's not like that, I swear! I don't have a thing for older women... I mean, age doesn't even register with me!" But my traitor eyes slid back to the screen, where Leah's flawless form twisted, her legs coiling around Darren like a python. I yanked my gaze away, but the image burned behind my lids.