Leah's POV
Leah's POV
"Darren, help me! Lucas is dying!" I grabbed his arms like I was grabbing the last straw of hope.
Darren took a look at Lucas, who was lying in the backseat and bleeding. Finn was holding him, placing his head on his lap.
Darren sighed, got into the car, and closed the door.
"Drive, Leah. I'll take care of him," he said.
I started the car immediately.
"Why are you here?" I asked Darren, glancing at him from the rear mirror.
"I woke up this morning and had a craving for pizza," Darren replied and checked on Lucas' wood. "The cut is deep. We need to stop his bleeding right now. He's losing too much blood."
Then, he looked around and laid his eyes on Finn.
"Take off your clothes," Darren said.
Finn looked puzzled and instinctively flinched a bit.
"Darren, this isn't funny," I frowned and said. I rolled down the window to get some fresh air.
This car was packed with too many hot men. I couldn't breathe.
"He's the only one who's wearing a cotton shirt," Darren said.
"You're wearing a cotton shirt," I said.
"Yeah, I know. But I don't want it to get dirty." Darren shrugged and said.
Finn looked down and saw the blood stains on his shirt. He took off his shirt reluctantly and handed it to Darren.
"Nice tattoo," Darren commented while he was shredding the shirt into strips.
Finn felt nervous. He tried to cover the scar and tattoo across his chest with his hands.
Darren didn't say anything. He carefully wrapped the clothes around Lucas' head and tied them up.
I could tell that he was pretty good at it. Obviously, it wasn't the first time that he had treated an open wound.
He must have treated wounded soldiers in battles before. I thought to myself. I really couldn't picture him in a military uniform. I guessed it was because of his sunny boyish look, which was very misleading.
"Do me a favor. Press your hands on his head like this to stop the bleeding." Darren said to Finn.
Finn followed his instruction and applied some pressure on Lucas' head.
"Great. Now..." Darren said as he shifted from the backseat to the front passenger seat.
"What are you doing?!" I was shocked.
"I was saving your husband's life. Now I'm talking to you." Darren tied up the safety belt and said.
"Is he going to die?" I asked.
Darren said, "My training officer at the Military Academy told me that losing some blood is good for male werewolves. Sometimes we have too many toxins accumulating in our bodies and it slowly drives us mad. Howling toward the moon just won't do the work."
"Detoxing? My husband is dying, Darren. I'm not in the mood for jokes." I stirred the wheel and overtook another car, pressing the horn impatiently.
"Sorry, my bad. I tell jokes when I feel uncomfortable to make everyone uncomfortable," Darren said.
Then, he turned to the backseat and smiled at Finn.
"My name is Darren Swanson from the Eagle Tail Pack," he said. "I would shake your hand, but I see you're pretty busy with the thing."
Finn looked scared. I could tell that he had a primal fear of strangers.
"What's your name?" Darren asked with a glint in his eyes.
"Finn."
"And do you have a last name?" Darren raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have a last name," Finn replied.
Darren turned back to me and said, "I don't trust a man without a last name, Leah."
"Not everyone has a glamorous last name as you do, Darren. Leave Finn alone," I said.
Darren looked at Finn with curiosity in the back mirror.
"You know, Finn, you really remind me of someone," Darren said. "Have we met before?"
Finn looked alert and didn't say anything.
I couldn't hold it anymore and said, "Darren, could you please just leave Finn alone? He's my mate. Please, just show some respect to him."
Darren stared at me and said, "You like hanging out with dangerous men, Miss Lewyn. By the way, I'm honored that you've decided to hire me for your security details in Mediland."
"You can say no if you don't want to take the risks. I totally understand. I've heard rumors about Mediland and Alpha Dire," I said.
"Oh, come on, Miss Lewyn. You know I can never say no to you." Darren winked at me and said.
When we finally arrived at the lake house, Dr. Monk had already waited for us.
The nurses and paramedics rushed forward to treat Lucas' wound.
Dr. Monk checked Lucas and came to me. He took a glance at Finn and Darren before talking to me -
"Miss Lewyn, if we could speak in private?"
I nodded and walked him into the garden.
As soon as we were outside, Dr. Monk said, "Miss Lewyn, please don't worry about him. His injury is totally under control. We have successfully stopped his bleeding."
"I am worried, Doctor. My husband is the Alpha of the White Walkers Pack. He's supposed to..."
"Heal himself. I know." Dr. Monk nodded and said. "But apparently, this isn't the case. Your ex-mate is very weak now. That's what happens when a werewolf rejects his mate."
"I got rejected. Am I supposed to be the one who's getting weak?" I frowned.
"Not really, Miss Lewyn." Dr. Monk shook his head. "You're a Lycan, which is ten times stronger than an average werewolf. Plus, you've already found your second chance."
"So the only way for Lucas to get healthy is..."
"If Alpha Lucas is able to find his second chance, he will soon be recovered."
"Where is his second chance?!" I rubbed my forehead.
"Well, that is something that you need to ask the Moon Goddess. And judging by the situation, I wonder if he would take a second chance with anyone other than you, Miss Lewyn."
"What do you mean?! You want me to go back to him?!" I asked.
"You're still his wife, Miss Lewyn," Dr. Monk said. "His health will be improving progressively if you go back to him."
"I can't go back to him! I have Finn!" I said.
"Miss Lewyn, we're currently running rounds of tests on Finn. I think there might be some misunderstanding going on," Dr. Monk said.
I got upset by the enigmatic look on Dr. Monk's face. I didn't get this man. Every time I talked to him, I felt like I was talking to a Riddler or something, which was frustrating.
"What are you talking about, Doctor?" I asked. "And before you say anything, could you please explain to me in plain language? Like you're talking to a 4-year-old."
"Finn's not your second chance," Dr. Monk said. "He has already mated. And his mate is still alive, Miss Lewyn."
"But how's that possible?!" I got even more frustrated. "I have feelings for him from first sight..."
"That's just called love." Dr. Monk shrugged and said. "It's very common among human beings. When a woman meets a man, the sight of beloved ones triggers a series of chemical reactions. It's the most natural thing in the world."
I gasped and said, "You mean... I love Finn not because of the mating arrangement, but because... I fell in love with him like a human being?!"
"Yes." Dr. Monk nodded.
"Oh, mine! I... I can't believe it's happening to me! This is what I've always wanted!" I covered my mouth, so I didn't cry out loud.
This is it. I thought to myself. This is exactly what I want. To be loved like a human being, not be mated like a werewolf. The pure force of love, not driven by the Moon Goddess, but by my own free will and beating heart!
"There're some problems," Dr. Monk said.
"What is that?" I asked.
Judging by the look on the good doctor's face, I could tell that I wasn't going to like the answer.