No one touches her

Clara Anderson rushed down the stairs as soon as she heard the murmurs of Xavier’s arrival. Excited, she hurried toward him with her arms open, ready to wrap them around him.

Xavier paused at the sight of her and frowned deeply, forcing Clara to stop in front of him instead.

“I told you not to leave your bed, your body is still weak,” Xavier scolded her, but Clara only smiled willfully and inched forward to hug him, giggling.

“You’re back. I missed you so much,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist since she couldn’t reach his shoulders.

Xavier stiffened but didn't push her away.

“I was only gone for two days,” Xavier replied, but Clara refused to let go and he pushed her arm gently.

Clara was his master’s daughter, and before his master’s death, he had entrusted Xavier to keep her safe and to find a cure for the poison in her body. 

That was why Xavier had brought her back to the Pack house, making sure the doctors treated her daily in hopes of finding a permanent cure.

“Why are you out of bed? Where is Doctor Luke?” Xavier asked, loosening his tie.

“He said he had to visit his grandmother, who fell ill, so he left two days ago,” Stephen reported instead. Xavier’s brows furrowed, displeased.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” Stephen apologized.

“How long has he been treating her?” Xavier asked thoughtfully.

“Three years now,” Stephen replied after a pause.

Xavier narrowed his eyes, surprised it had been that long with no cure found. The first healer he had hired had also worked for over two years without success.

“Inform him not to bother returning. Find a better doctor even if you need to search the whole world” Xavier ordered, and Stephen nodded in understanding.

“No, Xavier, I don’t want to have another doctor,” Clara protested, grabbing his hand. Xavier pulled back gently and held her shoulders.

"I'm fine with just spending time with you," she said, and coughed.

Xavier looked at her worried, and exhaled slowly.

"I promise I won't let you die," he told her.

Clara smiled, her face sad. The poison in her body has been there for years now without any improvement.

"I'm already satisfied to have you care so much about me. I want nothing more than that." She grinned, resting her head on his shoulders.

"It's what I should do," Xavier muttered. That's not even enough to repay his debt to her for saving him.

"About the relic," Stephen began, and paused.

“King Xavier, how about we search for it in other packs?” Stephen suggested, handing him a tablet. But Xavier shook his head.

“That will arouse suspicion. It could make it more difficult to get our hands on it,” he replied, dropping the phone and rubbing his temples.

“What about...” Stephen began, but Xavier sharply cut him off with a raised hand. His eyes burned red and fiery.

Surprised, Clara placed her hand on his shoulder. 

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Xavier rose slowly, placing a hand over his chest to stop the strange, gnawing sensation inside it. His face twisted, eyes closing briefly as irritation rippled through him.

The sound, the same one he had heard from Raina earlier, echoed again, baffling him.

She wasn’t even near him, yet he could sense her emotions and distress as if they were already bonded.

It didn’t make sense.

Xavier’s sharp gaze cut to Stephen as the noise in his head grew louder.

“Where is she?” he roared, gripping Stephen’s shoulder.

Stephen blinked, surprised by his urgency, and realized he was referring to Raina.

“I told the guards to place her in the dungeon with the others,” Stephen answered. Clara, clueless and curious, looked between them.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his jaw flexing.

“I ordered you to lock her in a room, not with prisoners,” he snapped, his tone dangerously sharp.

Stephen furrowed his brows, perplexed by Xavier’s sudden anger. But before he could respond, Xavier’s head snapped upward.

A cry sliced through his mind, sharp and terrified, clawing at his insides.

His wolf lunged forward violently without warning.

She’s in danger.

Xavier’s body trembled as his teeth elongated. His skin tore as bone and sinew shifted, his wolf breaking free in a violent ripple. 

Black fur burst across his body, expanding until the Lycan stood on all fours. Massive, terrifying, and furious.

His red eyes glowed like molten coals.

In a blur, he bolted out the door. The stones cracked beneath his claws as his growl thundered across the courtyard.

He followed the faint sound to a detached building and paused briefly, listening.

Inside one room, two guards loomed over Raina, their shadows blotting out the weak light.

One had her pinned against the wall, his claws digging into her thin arms. The other reached for the ties of her coat, throwing it aside and exposing her body once more.

“Stop! Don’t!” Raina whimpered, her wrists jerking against the chains.

She had faced this before with guards in her pack’s dungeon, barely escaping thanks to Marcus arriving in time. He had forbidden anyone from guarding her cell after that. Now, unbelievably, it was happening again.

The guards only smirked, enjoying her cries.

“The breeder wolf wants to play,” they mocked, cornering her.

But before they could touch her again, the heavy doors exploded open.

Xavier filled the doorway like a massive shadow wrapped in rage. His growl shook the walls.

The guards froze, their bodies rigid with fear.

“K…King Xavier,” they stammered.

In a blur, Xavier lunged. His massive jaws clamped down on the wrist of the one pinning Raina, ripping a scream from the man as blood gushed.

The guard dropped her instantly, clutching his mangled arm.

The second stumbled back, wide-eyed with panic.

“She...she tried to seduce us! We had no choice...” he stuttered, scrambling to shift the blame.

Xavier turned his head slowly, his muzzle dripping with blood. His red eyes burned like hellfire.

He hadn’t been here, but he had felt it. 

“Lie to me again,” he snarled, his voice half-growl, half-human, 

"And I will end you immediately.”

Both guards dropped to their knees, trembling.

Stephen and Clara rushed in with others, their eyes widening at the sight.

“King Xavier…” Stephen began, breathless.

Xavier turned on him with his fury.

“How could you leave her with these two idiots?” he snapped.

Stephen bowed deeply, scratching his head.

“Forgive me. I thought she wasn’t that important,” he admitted.

“I bought her for a huge price. She’s mine. No one touches her. Ever.” Xavier growled.

His roar shook the room, a warning none dared ignore.