Leah's POV
"No, Lucas. Don't..." I shouted, trying to push him away.
"Leah, my love. You're so naughty today." Lucas said as he ripped my skirt off. "You like it rough today, don't you? I feel like playing it rough today. Let's play it rough."
I could feel his hot breath on the nape of my neck, his hands gripping my hips with a force that made me gasp.
I tried to push him away, but his strength was too much for me.
I could feel his hardness pressing against me, and I knew what he wanted. But I just didn't want to give it to him.
Not now. Not like this.
I wanted to use my Lycan force, but when I opened my mouth, my voice was gone.
I tried to push Lucas away, but my arms and legs became noodles.
In despair, I closed my eyes.
"Leah, stop protesting. This is your destiny." A voice appeared in my mind.
It was the same voice I heard when I was floating in the ocean.
"Moon Goddess. Are you there? Why'
Leah's POVI didn't know how long I had been running on that day.I was running across busy streets, running over bridges and rivers, running past forests and hills.A Lycan had great stamina, but on that day, I completely lost control. I used every single dash of my stamina until I became absolutely exhausted until there was nothing left.Lying in a clearing in the forest, I looked at the sky above me. The everchanging cloud was silently cruising in the sapphire background of the sky. I wondered if I could float in the sky like a piece of cloud. When I felt tired, I could just melt and become rain, dropping to the ground.The contrast between the lightness of my dream and the gravity of reality was suffocating.I hate Lucas. I thought to myself. I hate Jalin. I hate Finn. I hate Darren. I hate Troy. I hate every man that I have ever appeared in my life except my Father and brothers."Leah." The voice in my head appeared again.
Leah's POVThe Moon Goddess Temple was located in a hidden valley.From outside, it looked like an abandoned mining ground.My Father purchased this land and hid it away from human beings, just to provide a secluded area for the worship of the Moon Goddess.As I limped into the grand temple, my breath came in ragged gasps and my heart pounded with fury.My eyes blazed with anger as I approached the ornate altar of the Moon Goddess, feeling as though the very walls of the temple were closing in around me.The temple was a marvel of grandeur and sophistication. Its walls were adorned with intricate patterns of gold and silver, while the ceiling was a shimmering expanse of stars and constellations. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and the soft glow of flickering candles cast dancing shadows across the room.But I paid little attention to the splendor around me.My attention was focused solely on the statue o
Darren's POVAs I walked into the dark alley behind an abandoned factory, I smelt it.The smell of a mixture of cheap perfume, vomit, dead mouse, sperm, and cigarettes.This place was known as Dark Market in Mediland, where rogues, outlaws, and drunkards dwelled like cockroaches at every corner of the alley.My brother used to tell me that people should live with a purpose. If a person loses their purpose in life, they usually end up staying in places like this.The disgusting drench of low lives. The rock bottom in this world by any standard."Hey, handsome biker. Do you want to come inside? I'll show you a good time and let you ride me." A woman with messy make-up and hair slurred at me. Several of her teeth were gone and there was a big scar on her face."I'm looking for a woman," I said to her."I'm a woman," she said. Then, she bent over and lifted her short skirt. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, so she was basical
Darren's POVI looked around. This place looked like a shit hole.The bar was dimly-lit with the pungent odor of stale beer and unwashed bodies. The smell plainly hit me like a freight train.The patrons were a motley crew of disheveled characters, their faces twisted in various stages of drunkenness and rage. The cheap, disgusting alcohol flowed freely, fueling the chaos that swirled around me. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and the walls were coated in a layer of grime that seemed to have accumulated over many years. The tables and chairs were mismatched and worn, some missing legs or arms, others so rickety that they threatened to collapse at any moment.I couldn't help but notice the poor souls slumped over their drinks, their eyes glazed and unfocused. A group of men in the corner were arguing loudly, their voices slurred and angry."Fuck you, Billy!" a man shouted. "You're possessed by that fucking brunette at Damian's fu
Leah's POVAs I walked into the Green Point Inn, everyone's head was turning at me.I ignored the whistles and lewd talks, walking directly to the bar."I need Green Rabbit Old Ale," I told the bar attender."You don't belong here, young lady. Go back to where you belong." The bar attendant said without lifting his head. "We've got enough trouble for tonight.""I'm not looking for trouble," I said. "I'm Uma and Damian's friend. I was at their funeral earlier this morning."The bar attendant raised his eyebrows to look at me.He was in his sixties. His face was etched with deep wrinkles that spoke of years of experience and wisdom. Despite his age, his eyes still sparkled with a keen intelligence that hinted at a life well-lived. His crisp white shirt was neatly tucked into a pair of dark slacks, and his polished leather shoes gleamed in the dim light."They died because of me. I have to do something," I held the edge of t
Leah's POVJust as the headless zombie was about to knock us down, I heard another gunshot.Almost at the same time, the zombie dropped to the floor like a defalted doll.Darren stepped forward and kicked it away. It rolled on the floor for a few seconds until it was stopped by a man's boot.I looked up and saw a tall, tanned man standing right in front of me.He was tilting his head, checking on the dead corpse, holding a shotgun in his hands.As I looked at his dark tanned skin, I couldn't help but be drawn to his rugged, masculine features. His chiseled jawline was accented by a hint of stubble, and his piercing eyes are a deep shade of brown that seem to hold a hint of mystery. His muscular physique was nothing short of impressive - each bulging muscle seemed to ripple under his skin as he moved. His broad shoulders tapered down to a lean waist, highlighting his powerful chest and abs. His arms, thick with sinew and veins, lo
Leah's POVOK, great. As I expected, Darren abandoned me for another woman. And now he risked his life for this woman again without even considering my safety."Does this woman have a name?" I folded my arms and asked."Leah, please..." Darren whispered to me. "This doesn't concern you. It's my own business. I shouldn't have got you involved.""Darren, you've heard me. What is this woman's name?" I said."Her name is Josephine Solis," Diego replied.I opened my mouth and closed it again.I was completely shocked.Josephine?! The Josephine who had abused me in the past five years?! The love of Lucas' life and the apple of his eye?!Josephine?!Didn't Lucas banish her?!Why would she come back and haunt me like a ghost in my life?And why Darren was trying to save her instead of me?!I felt so confused and shocked at the same time that I couldn't even say a word.At that time,
Leah's POVJust as my mind was racing fast, I heard Josephine's quirky voice -"Leah Lewyn, did someone send you here to pry on what we're doing?"I stared into her eyes and said, "I've got no idea what you're talking about. I'm here to ask for your assistance in protecting innocent people's lives. I didn't expect that you guys wanted to create chaos, which would result in thousands of people in Mediland losing their lives."Then, I turned to Darren and asked, "Are you in this as well?"Darren looked shocked and hurt at the same time."Leah, after all this time, I can't believe that you would have such a low opinion of me." He said in a low voice. "I just wanted to come and take Josephine away. She's completely consumed by her anger.""And then, what?" I asked.Darren clenched his fists and lowered his head, "I'm planning to hide her away from the public for a while.""Hiding...?! Are you kidding me, Darren?!
Leah's POVA pang ripped through my chest, sharp and unwelcome. I didn't want to know what Lycidas had done - didn't want to picture the claws, the needles, the hunger in that bastard's gaze. Darren wasn't the man I'd known anymore; he was a husk, cracked open and spilling fear. My fingers found the lock, bending the steel like it was clay, the cage door groaning as it gave way. He lunged at me, wild and blind, and I struck fast - knocked him cold with a blow that felt like betrayal. His body slumped, limp and heavy, and I hauled him into the cart, draping a cloth over him like a shroud.I shoved the cart toward the door, every nerve screaming, when a shadow blocked my path. The hotel manager, all puffed-up indignation, glared down at me. "What the fuck? Who are you?! Why are you here? Don't you know this whole floor is reserved...?"His words choked off as my fist met his jaw. He crumpled, a sack of meat, and I dragged him back inside, stuffing him into the cag
Lycidas' POVA pause, heavy with his worry. "Lycidas, don't let anyone hurt her. Protect her. The ritual has to be done."Finn's pace quickened, his throat tightening around me, and I gripped his hair harder, forcing him to take more. "Don't worry, brother. I miss you. I'll be back soon. Put Jalin on, will you?"The line shifted, and Jalin's cold "What?" slithered through.My voice turned razor-sharp. "If you dare touch my brother again, I'll pump you full of suppressant, make you a fuck toy, and toss you to the slave market. Every hole in your body will be stuffed with cocks for the every minute in the rest of your fucking life. Do you understand?"Silence. Finn gagged, his throat spasming, and the pleasure spiked through me. "I'm talking to you," I snarled into the phone."I understand, Your Highness," Jalin muttered, subdued at last. I hung up, tossing the phone aside, and turned my full attention to Finn. He sucked harder, desperate to p
Lycidas' POVThe lazy afternoon sunlight in Miami pressed against me like a lover's claw, the moon long gone but its bloody echo still staining the sky. I stepped out of the limousine, and the red carpet unfurled before me like a tongue, wet with the flash of cameras and the screams of the crowd. The hotel loomed, a glittering beast of glass and steel, its jaws wide with fans clawing at the barriers, their voices a feral hymn to my name. I was Lycidas, the Lycan Prince, a Hollywood god carved from hunger and shadow, and they worshipped me with every ragged breath.I strode forward, my boots sinking into the plush scarlet, and the air thickened with their adoration. The paparazzi swarmed, lenses glinting like predatory eyes, but I owned them all. My lips curled into a smile, sharp and deliberate, as I waved - a king acknowledging his court. The noise swelled, a tidal wave of sound, and then a voice cut through it, high and desperate."Lycidas! Lycidas!" A female
Leah's POVThe clock on my wrist ticked like a smug little bastard, each second a jab at my nerves as I stood there, plotting culinary carnage. Six hours until the Miami Mayor's Annual Seafood Charity Dinner, and I was about to turn a fancy gala into a symphony of gurgles and groans. The TV blared in the background, some chipper anchor rattling on about celebrity cars rolling up to the hotel—shiny Bentleys and Teslas, all ferrying the rich and famous to their doom. I smirked, imagining them clutching their pearls and their stomachs by night's end.I glanced over at Seth, who was practically hypnotized by Sharbo's lazy laps in the shark tank. The kid's mop of hair flopped over his eyes, and he looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here, plotting with me. I gave his shoulder a solid pat, jolting him back to reality. "It's time, Seth."He blinked at me, all wide-eyed and twitchy, then fumbled for his laptop like it was his security blanket. His fingers danc
Leah's POVThe moonlight was pouring down from the sky like cascade.I stood there, rooted, facing Darren, his eyes blazing with a storm of rage and grief that pinned me where I stood. The air hung heavy, thick with unspoken venom, prickling my scarred skin—the brands of the slave market I'd never outrun."Why are you asking this question?" Darren's voice cut through the stillness, sharp as a blade, edged with accusation.I didn't answer. Couldn't. My throat clenched tight, strangling the words beneath the weight of all we'd left unsaid.He stepped closer, his emotions bursting free like blood from a fresh wound. "Are you asking this to hurt me, Leah? Haven't I done enough for you all these years to earn your trust?"Tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and relentless, carving trails through the grime on my face. I felt nothing - no sting, no release - just the hollow rush of them falling, a betrayal of the numbness gnawing my bones.
Leah's POVI remained silent. Father killed his son. Justice was almost done.Al Cosa continued, "And my son Tommy... He was burned alive in an elevator. Forensic team said his charred, deformed body burned so badly that... they needed tweezers to collect him."Two fat tears carved paths through his ashen stubble. I mirrored his grief - shoulders curling inward, breath catching - as the incinerator roared to life behind him. Its hunger vibrated in my molars."They found nail marks," he whispered. "Inside the elevator door. My boy...my Tommy clawed iron hot metal until his fingers..." A wet choke. "You know what fire does to lungs before death comes?"I let my own eyes glisten. "Mr. Cosa, I...""You're about to find out."I pretended to be horrified. "Mr. Cosa, I'm...""Sorry?" The wheelchair lurched forward. "You shoved my Tony off a balcony! Trapped Tommy in that metal coffin!" Spittle hit my cheek. "And now you're standing he
Leah's POVThe neon sign above the night club buzzed like a dying wasp, its crimson glow pooling on the asphalt as I shoved through the club's sticky doors. Smoke clung to the air—cheap cigars and cheaper desperation - and there he was, slumped at the bar like a discarded marionette. Liam's fingers curled around a whiskey glass, his knuckles whitening with each swallow as if he could drown the words we'd never said.I slid onto the stool beside him, the leather sighing under my weight. "You look like someone pissed in your bourbon," I said, nodding at the bartender for my usual gin.Liam didn't turn. "Would've improved the taste." His voice was sandpaper rough, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Classic Liam - even half-drunk and brooding, he couldn't resist the bait.We drank in silence for three songs, the bass thumping like a defective heartbeat. When he finally spoke, it was to the smudged mirror behind the bar. "You shouldn't be here. You do
Leah's POVI turned my head, meeting Darren's gaze, those eyes still hungry, still pleading. "I know," I said, quiet, a sad twist to my lips.But knowing wasn't enough. Love wasn't enough - not when the howls kept calling, not when my scars ran deeper than my skin. I rolled onto my side, facing the window, the moon's bloody glow spilling over us both.The full moon hung there, swollen and silver, its light bleeding through the broken window and washing over the bed. I stared at it, unblinking, the pale glow clawing at something inside me - something feral, something I couldn't bury no matter how hard I tried. The air thickened, heavy with the salt of the sea and the weight of the night, and then I heard it - a low, guttural sound drifting through the dark. A howl. Distant, but unmistakable. Then another, and another, until the night was alive with their calls, a chorus of primal hunger that sent a shiver down my spine.My heart kicked against my ribs, the
Leah's POVThe sun bled out over the coastal city as Darren gunned the motorcycle through the weaving crowds, the traffic shuttling around us like a frantic pulse. I clung to him, my helmet pressing into his back, my arms locked tight around his waist, feeling the heat of his body sear through me. The sky was a mess of red and orange, spilling over the buildings like a wound, and the sea's salty stink mixed with the exhaust choking the air. Last night clawed at my mind—his hands, his mouth, his desperation sinking into me after years of waiting. We'd fucked all night, a brutal, beautiful collision that tore past every fantasy I'd nursed in the dark. It played over and over in my head, a sad, desperate reel I couldn't stop watching—every thrust, every whispered curse, every moment I'd surrendered to him. Thinking of it, I tightened my grip, my fingers digging into his leather jacket like I could claw the memory into permanence.He pulled the bike to a stop by the sea, t