9

Jade’s POV

The deep, commanding voice still echoed off the high stone walls as I slowly turned around to see who had spoken.

A tall man stepped into the vast hall, his long dark hair flowing over his shoulders in smooth waves. The moment my eyes landed on him, my breath caught in my throat. The resemblance was undeniable—he shared the exact same sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and striking physical stature as Alpha Lucien. But where Lucien looked like a terrifying force of nature carved out of cold granite, this man carried an air of effortless grace. He was remarkably handsome, perhaps even more handsome than his brother, and his face lacked the harsh, ruthless edge that made Lucien so terrifying.

As my gaze traveled down his broad shoulders, I noticed something else: his arms and chest were completely clean. There were no dark, jagged tattoos inked into his skin, no menacing aura radiating from his body, and no cold sneer twisting his features. In fact, a soft, warm smile played on his lips as he walked toward us. A tiny spark of hope flickered in my bruised chest. Maybe he isn't a monster like his brother. Maybe he actually has a heart.

Before I could process his presence, he crossed the stone floor with long, fluid strides and stepped right up behind me.

Without warning, his large hand reached out and rested gently against the small of my back. The sudden physical contact sent a jolt through my nervous system, making my entire frame tremble like a dry leaf in the wind. I froze, my muscles locking up as his broad chest hovered just inches behind my shoulders.

He bent his head down slightly, his soft breath brushing against the shell of my ear as he whispered, "You just arrived here today, and you girls are already causing a scene?"

I couldn't move. My hands stayed clenched at my sides, my pulse hammering wildly against my ribs.

Before I could step away, his arm tightened slightly around my waist, pulling my body back into his firm chest. His fingers rested lightly against my hip, holding me close as he leaned down once more, his voice dropping into a smooth, velvety whisper.

"What is your name, little warrior?" he murmured gently, his tone laced with genuine curiosity.

My mind raced, my throat feeling completely dry. I swallowed hard, my bottom lip trembling as I forced the words out. "J... Jade," I stammered, my voice barely louder than a breath.

The man let out a low, thoughtful hum that vibrated through his chest against my back. "Hmm... Jade," he repeated, letting the syllables roll off his tongue as if tasting the name. A small, amused chuckle escaped his lips. "A fine name. A beautiful name. It suits your personality perfectly. A fighter. A warrior. Someone who refuses to take any rubbish thrown at her. A truly strong female."

He gave my waist a light, reassuring squeeze before releasing me. He stepped around my side, his warm eyes lingering on my face for a brief second before he turned his attention toward the front of the room.

Lucien was still sprawled across the obsidian throne, completely enveloped in a dense cloud of gray smoke. The thick haze hung heavily around his head like a dark storm cloud, obscuring his face as he continued to puff away in total silence, completely detached from the world around him.

The handsome brother shook his head softly, a look of quiet concern crossing his handsome features as he walked up the raised dais toward the throne. He stopped a few feet away from Lucien, his voice low and measured, yet carrying clearly across the quiet hall so every single one of us could hear every word.

"Brother," he began, his tone a mix of frustration and quiet worry. "You requested these captives, and now that they are standing in your hall, you don't even care what they do?"

Lucien didn't answer. He didn't even shift his gaze. He simply raised the cigarette to his full lips, taking another long, slow drag.

The brother took another step forward, his jaw setting as he pressed further. "Brother! Look at me!"

Still, Lucien remained entirely motionless, blowing a thick stream of gray smoke toward the high vaulted ceiling.

The brother let out a heavy, tired sigh, running a hand through his long dark hair. "You cannot keep smoking like this every single hour of the day, brother. It isn't healthy for you. How long do you think this smoke is going to help you cope with the stress? How long will it hide the pain you carry? You have to face reality eventually, brother!"

Lucien slowly lowered the burning cigarette from his mouth. He inhaled deeply, a long, quiet breath filling his massive chest before he slowly exhaled another thick cloud. His dark eyes flicked toward his brother, cold and completely devoid of emotion.

"You do not tell me what to do," Lucien growled, his voice deep, gravelly, and laced with absolute authority.

The brother held his hands up slightly in defense, letting out a frustrated breath. "Fine. You summoned these slaves to your hall. What do you actually intend to do with them now?"

Lucien leaned his head back against the carved stone of his throne, his eyes tracking the smoke as it drifted toward the rafters. "Show them around the fortress," he commanded coldly, his tone as flat as steel. "I will decide who to execute after I finish smoking."

The brother's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. He gestured toward the three girls standing near me, his voice rising with clear irritation. "You never finish smoking, brother! You know that! And look at them—two of them are practically children! You cannot sit here and discomfort them with your thick smoke and toxic weeds."

Lucien paused. Then, a low, terrifying sound rumbled from the depths of his throat.

He threw his head back and began to laugh—a harsh, cold, dark laughter that echoed off the stone walls and made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

"Discomfort?" Lucien repeated, his dark eyes snapping open as he glared down at his brother with pure, unadulterated venom. "Are slaves supposed to be comfortable in my house?"

Before anyone could react, Lucien moved with blinding, violent speed.

He surged up from his seated position, his massive frame launching off the throne with incredible force. As he stood, his heavy boot kicked backward with terrifying strength, slamming straight into the base of the massive obsidian throne.

CRASH!!

The grand stone throne tipped backward and slammed onto the hard floor, shattering into heavy chunks of black rock. A deafening roar of thunder echoed through the vast hall, the force of the impact shaking the very foundation of the fortress beneath our feet. Tiny cracks spider-webbed across the floorboards, and dust rained down from the high ceiling.

The loud crash sent a wave of pure terror through the room. The little girl on the floor let out a sharp scream, covering her head, while the rest of us trembled violently where we stood, our bodies vibrating with fear as we stared at the terrifying Alpha.

Lucien stood tall amidst the rising dust, his broad chest heaving with dark, explosive rage. His crimson eyes locked onto his brother's face, his voice dropping into a lethal, terrifying whisper that chilled the air in the room.

"Do not complain about my smoking ever again, brother," Lucien growled, stepping over the shattered remains of his throne as his terrifying aura flared out across the room. "If you ever speak of it again... I will kill you where you stand."