Chapter Two

3 Years Later

Lucas Blackwood jolted awake in a cold sweat, shaking with grief and his heart pounding uncontrollably from the same nightmare that's been plaguing him for over three years, struggling to keep his werewolf side under control.

Though it didn't always start out the same, it always ended up the same way every time. Him running back trying to save them and coming to see their mangled bodies. He rubbed at his eyes and blearily sat up to take in his well-furnished bedroom to convince himself that he was truly awake.

The walls were painted a calming shade of blue, and the king-sized bed was covered in luxurious silk sheets. The room was spacious, with large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

His bed with the rumpled covers atop it was framed by a sleek, modern wooden headboard, which was adorned with a few of his favourite books. A matching nightstand was situated on either side of the bed, each topped with a lamp that gave off a warm, soothing glow.

On the opposite wall, there was a large, flat-screen television mounted above a fireplace that was surrounded by bookshelves filled with his extensive book collection. The shelves were neatly arranged and curated with his favorite works of literature.

The rest of the room was well-furnished, with a comfortable armchair situated in the corner near the window, a writing desk that looked out over the city, and a dresser that held all of his clothes. A large, ornate mirror hung above the dresser, reflecting the room's natural light and adding to its sense of spaciousness.

 His heightened senses, a gift of his lycanthropy, made it difficult for him to shake off the intense emotions that came with the nightmare.

He could smell the stale sweat on his skin, and the scent of his own fear was overwhelming. His heart was still racing, and his muscles were tense, as if preparing for a fight.

He knew that he couldn't let his wolf take over, not now, not in this penthouse with so many humans living in the building. He turned around to see the time on his bedside table which read four am. The alarm must have helped him snap out of the nightmare. 

The last thing he needed was to lose control and risk exposing his true nature to the outside world.

Slowly sitting upright, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and focused on his breathing. He could feel the calm, steady rhythm of his heart, and he willed his wolf to retreat back inside him.

With great effort, he was able to push the wolf down, to keep it at bay. But he knew it was only a temporary respite; it was getting harder to suppress his wolf and he had a nagging suspicion why. He would have to keep his guard up throughout the day, always vigilant, always in control.

The struggles of keeping his werewolf side under control had become an ongoing challenge for him. Ever since the…incident, it seemed he was always a hair's trigger away from going on a violent rampage. It was an unsavoury thought since he had spent years mastering his transformation and learning how to control his wolf to keep it at bay. But the nightmares were a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked within him, threatening to take over at any moment.

As he got up from his bed, he slowly padded over to his dresser in the nude to put on his workout clothes which consisted of a pair of matching sweatpants and a tank top. He needed to clear his mind and burn off some energy. He went to the sitting room and turned on the TV, to hear some sounds in the apartment. 

After grabbing his headphones from the couch and sitting down to put on some sneakers, he picked up his phone from the table and opened his favourite Spotify workout playlist which immediately started blasting in his ears from the headphones as he stepped out of his flat to take the lift to the apartment's private gym. 

Starting with some light stretches in the empty gym, he then moved on to more intense exercises. It would be obvious to anyone who saw the ease and speed with which he performed his deadlift session that he wasn't human which was why he preferred coming in when it was free of people. He pushed himself, sweat pouring down his face, as he tried to work out his anxieties and frustrations. As his workout came to and end, he checked his watch and saw that it was already 5:15 am.

After he was done returning the equipments, he returned to his apartment and took a cold shower to help calm his nerves and anxieties, the fresh memory of the nightmare still haunting him. He had a couple of hours before he had to leave for work so he went into the kitchen and went about making himself a cup of sweetened coffee and toast, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep.

Being a lone alpha werewolf meant that he had no pack, no one to turn to for guidance or support on days like this. He had to keep his true nature hidden, even from his colleagues and students. It was a lonely existence, but he had grown accustomed to it. The sound of the prepared toast jolted him out of his reverie so he went to pick up his cup of coffee and the buttered toast and headed to the dining table.

He went over his lesson plans for the day while eating, double-checking everything to make sure he was prepared. After finishing his breakfast, he grabbed his suitcase and headed out the door dressed in his charcoal grey suit to his private elevator while making a mental note to stop by the grocery store after leaving the college. 

"Good morning Mr Lucas, hope you have a splendid day," the doorman greeted as he stepped out of the elevator.

"Thank you Mr Rickett," he nodded politely back at the aged man.

The cool morning air hit him in the face as soon he stepped out of the building, and he felt a sense of calmness wash over him. He was ready for the day ahead. 

As Lucas drove his sleek black car, weaving through the morning traffic with ease, he felt his wolf finally calm down. It seemed to love the feel of the rushing wind and adrenaline that came with driving at high speeds as it was reminiscent to running freely in his wolf form. 

Personally, It was one of the few things that made him feel alive. He turned up the radio, and was bopping his head to the familiar tune playing. 

As he neared the college, he could see the hustle and bustle of students making their way to their morning classes. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the day ahead.

He knew that he had to keep his guard up, always watching for any signs of danger. His werewolf senses were automatically on high alert, scanning the environment for any potential threats. He could smell the faint scent of fear and nervousness on some of the students, but he pushed it to the back of his mind.

As he parked his car and stepped out into the morning sun adjusting his glasses, he felt a surge of energy. He knew that he had a job to do, and he would do it to the best of his ability, despite his personal struggles. 

Straightening his tie and adjusting his jacket and suitcase in hand, he headed towards the college building with a sense of purpose. He was getting closer to finding the identity of the rogue pack and his wolf would finally be able to come out and play.