Chapter 7: Owen 

"What are you really?" Leah’s voice barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on the dark, shinny blood in the glass vial. 

Lucien’s lips curled into a mocking smile, though a bead of sweat rolled down his pale temple. "What do you think, Miss Banks? After the assassins shifting in the street last night, the glowing eyes, the healings... are you truly that oblivious, or just desperate to remain in denial?"

Before Leah could throw back a sarcastic retort, the remaining color completely drained from Lucien’s face. 

An unnatural tremor wrecked his massive frame. He choked on a breath, his hands flying to his chest as his knees buckled. He hit the polished hardwood floor with a sickening thud, his fingers digging into the expensive rug as he gasped for air. 

"Lucien!" Leah dropped the vial onto the desk and lunged forward. 

She dropped to her knees beside him, wrapping her arms under his broad shoulders and attempting the physically impossible task of hauling a man twice her size up into a protective hold. She practically tried to princess-carry him off the floor. 

"Get off!" Lucien roared, his Alpha pride and blinding pain taking over he shoved her backward. The force of his arm sent her stumbling back until she hit the edge of the leather sofa. 

Leah caught her balance, her shock instantly changed into anger. "Excuse me?" 

Lucien was curled on his side, coughing a fresh drop of dark blood staining his lips. “I don't need you.” He didn't want her to see him like this.

"Fine!" Leah threw her hands up in the air. "Bleed out on your fancy rug! See if I care. I'm not getting paid enough to be physically assaulted by a stubborn patient." 

She spun around and marched toward the oak doors. She reached out and grabbed the brass handle but just then she stopped. 

“You're such a fool, gosh I act like I'm so desperate to be kind. Ah!” Leah squeezed her eyes shut, cursing herself and her stupid, inescapable Florence Nightingale complex. She let go of the handle, let out a furious sigh, and marched right back to the center of the room. 

She dropped back down to her knees, grabbing his broad shoulders and hauling him upright against the side of the desk. "I am not leaving, so deal with it," she snapped, ripping open a sterile gauze pad and pressing it hard against his side where the silver toxicity was burning him from the inside out. "Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Do it!"

Lucien’s eyes fluttered, locking onto hers. Despite the agony, he was entirely stunned. She was also the first to disobeyed him. No one shouted at him and absolutely no one came back after he pushed them away… not even Sophia.

Knock. Knock. Knock.The sound of a cane striking the door echoed through the study. 

"Lucien," a calm voice called from the hallway. "Open the door."

Lucien’s body went completely rigid. "Owen," he choked out, his voice a ragged rasp. "My uncle."

Leah looked down at Lucien. The invincible, terrifying Alpha King was currently gasping for air on the floor, barely able to keep his eyes open. Even without understanding the supernatural politics of a wolf pack, Leah understood human ambition. And from the look of it, If the man outside that door saw Lucien in this state, there would be problem. Lucien wouldn't just lose his pride; he would lose his throne… Gosh, why did she even care?

"Hide," Leah ordered, shoving Lucien further behind the desk so he was completely out of sight from the entryway. 

"What are you doing?" Lucien managed to grit out. 

"Saving your life. Again you dummy. I should really start charging by the hour." 

Leah stood up, smoothed down the front of her clothes, and took a deep breath, channeling every ounce of authority she had. 

She opened the door just enough to slip her body through, stepping into the hallway and pulling the doors firmly shut behind her with a click sound. 

Standing in the corridor was an older man, who looked so terrifying for his age. Owen Blackwood shared Lucien’s striking features, but where Lucien’s eyes were cold and always blank, Owen’s held a predatory, hungry gleam. He leaned on a silver-handled cane, flanked by two massive royal guards. 

Owen paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked Leah up and down, taking in her messy bun and casual clothes, he sniffed the air with disdain. "And what exactly is a human doing blocking my nephew’s door?"

"I am his private physician," Leah said, it wasn't a lie. He was going to pay her for her care after all. Folding her arms across her chest and planting her feet. She didn't flinch. "And Mr. Blackwood is currently in a highly classified international business conference call. He gave strict orders not to be disturbed by anyone. Not even me." She added the last part to show how important she was to Lucien.

Owen’s eyes flashed bright amber. "Do you have any idea who I am, little girl? Move aside."

"I seriously do not care if you're the President of the United States," Leah murmured, her voice completely even. "My patient's orders are absolute. If you want to speak with him, you can make an appointment with his secretary like everyone else."

The two guards behind Owen became visibly tensed, entirely shocked that a fragile human was talking back to a senior Alpha. 

Owen stepped closer, looming over her with a threatening gleam in his eyes. His wolf pushed against his skin, his aura flaring all over, it made the air in the hallway hard to breathe. 

"You insolent little human, how dare you." Owen snarled, his lips curling back to reveal elongated canines. "I am an Alpha of the Blackwood bloodline. You do not tell me no!" 

Without warning, Owen raised his heavy, silver-handled cane, swinging it down with bone-crushing force aimed straight for Leah’s head. “Ah!”