Chapter 4: Captive

Lucien and his warriors finish off the assassins within minutes. Even weakened by the curse and silver poison, Lucien proves why he is feared as the strongest Alpha King. The remaining enemies retreat after suffering heavy losses.

Leah stands frozen, after wiping her mouth, staring at the dead wolves and the men who had transformed before her eyes. She still cannot accept what she witnessed.

Before she can recover, Lucien walks over, effortlessly lifts her over his shoulder despite her protests, and carries her toward the SUV.

"Put me down!" She pounds against his back but Lucien doesn't even slow down.

"You've kidnapped the wrong woman!"

Yet no response.

"Our Luna is... spirited." One of the guards quietly mutters, while Adrian coughs to hide a laugh.

Lucien shoots him a warning look and the guard immediately falls silent.

Leah continues complaining the entire ride while Lucien completely ignores her.

They pass through the hidden entrance into Blackwood Kingdom. 

Leah notices the scenery changing, the towering gates, and the massive estate and nothing about the place looks normal.

She is escorted into a luxurious bedroom.

The door closes. She immediately tries the handle, but it was locked.

She checks the windows… Locked.

She searches the bathroom, the balcony, even the wardrobe for another exit.

She lets out a frustrated sigh. "So much for 'you're not a prisoner.'”

"I'm okay. Something unexpected happened. I'll be home soon. Please don't come looking for me." Remembering Chloe, her roommate, she quickly pulls out her phone. Thankfully, there is still a weak signal.

“No.” She hesitates before typing anything else. She deletes the rest. She had no idea who these people were.

She refused to drag Chloe into whatever nightmare this was.

A soft knock interrupts her thoughts.

Without waiting for permission, the door opens and Sophia walks inside.

"So..." She takes one look at Leah before smiling politely. "You're the human."

"And you're not? By the way I have a name." Leah looks up from her phone.

"I'm sure you do." Sophia slowly walks around the room. "I came to save you from embarrassing yourself."

"Oh?" Leah raises an eyebrow.

"Lucien is simply grateful you treated his injury. Don't mistake gratitude for interest."

Leah remains silent while Sophia continues. "He's known me for years. Our families are close, everyone knows I'll become his Luna." She glances at Leah's simple clothes.

"You, on the other hand..." She points at Leah. "...don't belong here."

"Really?" Leah smiles.

"Really." Sophia folds her arms confidently.

"Then why are you standing in his house trying to convince me?" Leah tilts her head.

"For someone so confident..." Sophia's smile falters, Leah continues before she can recover. "...you seem awfully worried about a nurse."

"You don't understand your place." Sophia's jaw tightens.

"I understand it perfectly." Leah stands up.

"I'm the one in this room and you're the one introducing yourself. Doesn't sound like you're winning." She shrugs casually.

"You think you're special?" Sophia's expression hardens.

"I think you're trying very hard to prove you are." Leah walks past her. "Here's a little advice. If a man has to be convinced to choose you..." She looks at her, "...he already hasn't." Sophia's face drains of color.

"You'll regret saying that." Never in her life had anyone spoken to her that way. Especially not a human.

"Get in line." Leah smiles sweetly.

Sophia storms out, slamming the door behind her.

Barely a minute later… Another knock comes. This time, Lucien enters alone.

His expression remains unreadable.

"So..." Leah doesn't wait for him to speak.

"Is kidnapping everyone who saves your life a family tradition?" She folds her arms.

"You aren't my prisoner." Lucien calmly says.

"The lock disagrees." Leah glances toward the locked door.

"It's for your safety."

"So I've been kidnapped for my own good?"

"I'm grateful for what you did." Lucien ignores the sarcasm. "I suffer from an illness. Our physicians haven't been able to cure it… I want you to continue treating me."

He places a document on the table.

Then another. Finally, he placed a black bank card.

Leah looks at the amount written in the contract. “$100,000,000,000?”

"You can't be serious." Her eyes widen.

"I am."

"That's enough money to buy a hospital."

"I don't need a hospital."

"I need a doctor who isn't afraid to argue with me." Leah looks at him for several moments, then she slowly places the contract back onto the table.

"Fine. I’ll treat you." A faint look of relief flashes across his face. "But I have two conditions."

"What are they?"

"First..." Leah meets his gaze without flinching.

"You contact my friend and tell her I'm safe." She pauses.

 "Second?"

"...you're going to call my boyfriend and tell him exactly where you've taken me…"

Lucien's expression instantly darkens.

“You have a boyfriend?”