My jaw clenched so tight it cracked. That fucking bastard.He was standing way too close. Closer than any man had a right to be near her. His hand moved like he might touch her arm or worse, her face. And that smile… like he knew something I didn’t. Like he thought he had a shot. And she wasn’t flinching. She wasn’t backing away. She was listening to him.My blood boiled. Heat shot up from my ribs like wildfire. My muscles twitched under the bandages barely holding me together. I didn’t care. I’d tear them open again if it meant I could slam my fist through Lucas’s smug face.I pushed forward. My first step wobbled, pain screaming through my body. My arm burned like fire, a sharp reminder of how useless I was right now. I couldn’t even raise my hand without pain shooting down to my fingertips.“Alpha?” a voice called from behind probably one of the guards but I didn’t answer.I kept going.I gripped the stair rail so hard my knuckles went white. Every step felt like thunder pounding i
DRAVEN'S Point of ViewThe moment she knelt to clean the broken glass, I should have looked away.But I didn’t.Liora's hair fell forward, the strands loose and dark, catching light like ink spilled across the floor. Her small fingers moved cautiously, sweeping the shards into her palm with the same care she gave my bandaged arm, too careful, too soft, like I was still worth preserving. Like she hadn’t learned her lesson yet.“Sweetheart,” Ms. Blackwood’s voice cooed beside me, dragging my gaze from the girl who should’ve meant nothing.I turned toward her, jaw clenched tight.“Should I help you back into bed?” she asked, already rising, her hand skimming over my thigh. “You need to rest that shoulder.”I gave a half-nod, and she took that as permission.“Liora,” I barked. My tone dropped like a blade.She flinched.“Leave.”She froze mid-motion, fingers curled around a sliver of glass, still kneeling.“I...” Her lips parted, but no words came.Ms. Blackwood was already pulling me up
LIORA'S Point of viewThe next morning, I jolted upright to the sharp crash of glass hitting the floor.My heart thudded as my eyes flew open but I was still on the sofa and blanket tangled around my legs. Cheek pressed against the cushion I’d buried my face in sometime after he’d barked his last order at me.But the sound wasn’t from a dream.Draven stood near the dresser, half-dressed, bare-chested, eyes blazing with silent fury. His right arm hung stiffly at his side, shoulder wrapped in bandages that peeked through his open shirt. A shattered water glass lay at his feet.He looked like a man ready to burn the whole house down.“Get up.”The words weren’t shouted, but they cracked like a slap.I shot to my feet, still blinking the haze of sleep from my eyes.“I...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...”He turned sharply. “Don’t talk. Just fucking move.”I flinched, and silence bloomed between us, thick and cold.“I can’t get this damn shirt on with one arm,” he ground out, holding it toward
DRAVEN'S Point of view“Liora,” I said, my voice sharper this time. “Get over here. Take off my shirt.”"What?" Her steps were soft, nervous. As if she forgot whose name she wore now. As if she forgot I owned her.“I need to take a shower,” I said flatly. “My right arm isn’t working. You’re going to help me.”Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. Smart girl. She moved closer, standing just inches from me now. I didn’t move. I didn’t have to. Even in this chair, I could make her kneel with a single word.She reached for the buttons, her hands trembling. I tilted my chin downward, watching her fumble like a scared little thing.“Pathetic,” I muttered under my breath. “You act like you are scared of me.”“I’m just… I don’t want to hurt you,” she whispered.I grabbed her wrist tight enough to remind her who the fuck I was. Her breath hitched.“Worry less about hurting me and more about obeying,” I said, voice like ice. “You don’t get to hesitate when
My fingers clenched into fists. I didn’t want to go in. Something in me screamed don’t. This wasn’t the old pack house. This wasn’t familiar.This was something else.I flinched when I heard footsteps behind me.“Liora,” a soft voice called, warm and familiar. I turned sharply, eyes wide. “Luna?”She approached calmly, barefoot, her soft curls dancing in the wind, a light shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her presence instantly soothed me, though I hated how much relief I felt just seeing her."Where are we?"I panicked.“Calm down,” Luna said, gently taking my hand. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”I hesitated. My throat tightened. “This isn’t the pack house… Where are we? Why did they take me here?”“This is the pack house now,” she said calmly, brushing her hand down my arm to settle my nerves.“Draven moved us here after the last attack. The rogues knew too much about the old location ,its tunnels, our routes, even our infirmary layout. It wasn’t safe anymore.”I blinked, still str
“Are you okay, Liora? What are you thinking?” Luna asked.“That man in the prison… my wolf recognized him, but I don’t know who he is,” I said, confused.“I think your wolf wants to save him. You have a kind heart,” Luna said with a soft smile.I took a deep breath to steady myself. I needed to focus on our safety, not that old man.The world passed in a blur of headlights and rain. My head throbbed, every bump sending pain through my ribs, but I stayed silent. I was too full of questions without answers.Why had Draven sent them?Why did I still care?When we reached the gates, guards swarmed the truck, weapons drawn. But the moment they saw Leo behind the wheel, they stepped back.The truck groaned to a stop by the medical bay. The back doors flew open. Hands reached in.Luna slid out first, limping. I followed, but as soon as my feet hit the ground, my knees buckled. I barely stayed upright.“Easy,” a medic said, but I pushed him away. “I’m fine.”I wasn’t. But I didn’t want his he