Chapter 3: Impossible

"...Mate." Lucien's fingers tightened instinctively around Leah's wrist.

The word hung between them, swallowed by the steady rhythm of rain striking the pavement.

"What?" Leah blinked but Lucien didn't answer.

His silver eyes remained locked on her face, searching for something that simply wasn't there. His wolf paced frantically inside his mind.

“Mate. She's ours.”

But that couldn't be right. Everything about her screamed human. Her heartbeat, her scent, the warmth radiating from her skin.

She carried no wolf aura, no supernatural scent, no trace of magic. Yet the unbearable pain that had tormented his wolf for months had vanished the moment she touched him.

His grip slowly loosened and Leah immediately pulled her hand away and took two cautious steps backward.

"Okay..." She forced an awkward smile.

"I think you've officially lost too much blood."

"What are you?" Lucien ignored the comment, his gaze never left her.

"I beg your pardon?" Leah frowned.

"What are you?"

"A woman." She stared at him for several seconds before pointing at herself.

"You're human." Lucien's jaw tightened.

"As far as I know… you ain't human?" She mocked.

"As far as you know?" His brows drew together.

"Look, you've had a rough night." She folded her arms across her chest.

"You've lost enough blood to fill a donation bag, you've been stabbed and now you're calling strangers your mate, whatever that is… I think you need another head CT or MRI scan."

"Answer me honestly." His expression remained unreadable.

"I already did."

"Are you a witch?"

"...A what?" Leah's smile disappeared.

"A witch. Seriously?" She let out a short laugh.

"Answer." Lucien took one slow step closer.

"No." She matched his stare.

He studied her carefully and her pulse remained steady. She wasn't lying.

At least… Not intentionally.

"Have you ever used magic?"

"What kind of question is that? You think we're in a fantasy?." She blinked.

"Have you?"

"No."

"Have you seen anyone perform magic?"

"No."

"Were either of your parents witches?"

"Enough." Leah's patience finally snapped.

The sharpness in her voice echoed beneath the empty bus shelter. "I've answered your questions. Now answer mine."

"Who stabbed you?"

She pointed toward the fresh bandage wrapped around his waist but Lucien remained silent.

"Who were those wolves you kept talking about?" Silence.

"And why exactly do you keep staring at me like I'm some kind of alien?"

Lucien looked away for the first time because nothing made sense anymore.

The Moon Goddess never made mistakes.

If Leah was his mate… Then why was she human? Unless… No.

It was impossible.

"I think it's time I leave. I don't want to be part of this crazy…" Leah slowly picked up her medical bag.

"Wait." Lucien looked back at her.

"No." She sighed.

"You don't understand."

"You're right. I don't."

She slung the bag over her shoulder.

"I helped you because I'm a nurse. That's all. I'm going home." She turned around.

“Don't let her leave.” Lucien's wolf immediately growled.

"I need answers." He clenched his fists.

"So do I." Leah stopped walking.

"You asked if I was a witch." She turned back slowly.

"You called me your mate… that means wife right? And you somehow survived a wound that should've sent you straight into surgery." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"And now you want me to stay."

She shook her head.

"I don't know who you are..."

"...but you're starting to scare me."

Lucien opened his mouth to speak but before a single word left his lips...

The roar of engines echoed through the empty street. Three black SUVs sped toward them before stopping several meters away.

The doors flew open simultaneously.

More than a dozen men dressed in black tactical suits stepped out. Each carried himself with military precision.

"Alpha King!" The leader hurried forward.

Adrian’s eyes immediately found the blood soaking Lucien's clothes.

"What happened?"

Lucien ignored the question.

"Stay where you are." His gaze remained fixed on Leah.

Leah looked between the two men and then at the others. None of this looked normal anymore.

Adrian followed Lucien's line of sight.

His expression changed the instant he saw Leah. A strange scent lingered between them. He slowly inhaled and his eyes widened. "No..."

He looked back at Lucien, then at Leah again. "...Is she?" His voice dropped to barely above a whisper.

"Yes." Lucien closed his eyes briefly before answering.

"But..." The guards exchanged confused glances.

Adrian swallowed hard.

"...she's human."

"I know." Lucien finally looked at his best friend. Silence fell over the street.

Leah looked at every face surrounding her and no one looked relieved.

Instead… They all looked terrified.

And for the first time since meeting Lucien… Leah realized the strangest person there… Might not be the man she'd just treated. It might be her.

While Adrian and Lucien spoke in hushed voices, Leah slowly took a step backward and neither of them noticed.

Good. She preferred it that way.

She tightened her grip on the strap of her medical bag before quietly slipping behind one of the parked SUVs.

"This is insane," she muttered beneath her breath.

"Witches."

"Mate."

"Alpha King." She shook her head.

"They're either filming some weird reality show..."

"...or they're all members of the same cult."

She let out a quiet sigh.

"I've treated hundreds of patients. This isn't the first stranger I've helped. But it'll definitely be the last if they're all this crazy."

Keeping her footsteps light, she reached the edge of the parking lot.

“Freedom.” She smiled to herself.

"Mission accomplished." She had done her job. The rude man was alive.

His equally strange friends had arrived.

There was absolutely no reason for her to stay.

"Miss." She had just taken another step when a deep voice stopped her.

Leah froze. A royal guard stood directly in front of her.

"Where do you think you're going?" He smiled politely.

"Home." Leah forced an innocent smile.

"I'm exhausted."

"The Alpha King requested that you stay."

"I respectfully decline."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible."

"Is nobody in your... club... capable of accepting the word no?" She sighed dramatically.

"I'm sorry." The guard almost smiled.

"I have my orders.

"So you're actually serious." Leah looked around.

"We are."

"Fine." She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You can tell your Alpha King that I appreciate the offer… but I really don't join mysterious organizations in the middle of the night." She stepped around him.

"My apologies." The guard gently moved back into her path.

"Seriously?" Leah folded her arms.

"Alpha King." Before either of them could say another word, the guard looked toward Lucien. His voice carried clearly through the quiet street.

"I found her trying to leave."

Lucien turned instantly. The moment his eyes landed on the guard standing so close to Leah… Something inside him snapped. His wolf surged forward with a furious growl.

A dangerous pressure rolled off his body.

Every warrior on the street instinctively lowered his head.

Lucien walked toward them with slow, measured steps. His silver eyes glowed brighter with every second.

The guard immediately sensed the change.

Then he realized it. His scent had settled on Leah after standing so close to her.

Understanding flashed across his face.

"My apologies, Alpha King." He immediately stepped back.

"I meant no disrespect."

"Don't touch her." Lucien stopped beside Leah. His gaze never left the guard.

The command was cold and absolute.

The guard bowed. "It won't happen again."

Adrian watched the exchange silently, his lips twitched slightly. The mate bond had barely formed. Yet Lucien's wolf was already becoming possessive.

"Okay..." Leah looked between them in complete confusion.

"Now you're all being ridiculous."

She pointed at the guard.

"He didn't even touch me."

Nobody answered.

"You're leaving with us." Lucien finally looked at her.

"No." Leah laughed.

"Yes."

"I don't even know your name."

"Lucien."

"Great." She nodded. "Nice meeting you, Lucien but I'm still leaving." She took one step but Lucien caught her wrist again.

"Do you always grab people instead of asking nicely?" Leah groaned.

Before Lucien could answer… A whistle sliced through the air.

"Down!" Adrian's expression changed instantly.

Lucien reacted without thinking. He pulled Leah against his chest.

 Boom! A silver arrow shot past them and exploded against the SUV behind them and the vehicle erupted into flames.

Leah screamed as the blast threw shards of glass across the street. More arrows rained from nearby rooftops.

"They're back!" one warrior shouted.

"Protect the Alpha King!"

Masked figures emerged from the darkness, surrounding the street from every direction.

"They never learn." Lucien's expression turned murderous.

The assassins charged. One shifted midair, his body twisting into a massive black wolf before crashing toward Lucien.

Leah's eyes widened.The world seemed to stop.

His bones cracked, muscles expanded, and fur burst through skin.

Within seconds… A man had become a giant wolf. Others transformed too.

"N-No..." Leah stumbled backward, unable to breathe. "This… This isn't possible."

The wolves roared, shaking the entire street.

"Stay behind me." Lucien stepped in front of her without taking his eyes off the approaching enemies, he spoke calmly.

Leah couldn't move, her legs refused to obey. She stared at the impossible creatures tearing across the pavement. She grabbed his arm, and just before she’d do anything she was throwing off everything in her stomach.

“What the f***.”

One terrified thought echoed through her mind.

Monsters…