Xavier I awoke in the afternoon and discovered that Lauren was still asleep. The sight of her face covered in bandages continued to shatter my heart, and a burning desire for vengeance consumed me. I yearned to track down the person or people responsible for this heinous act. However, due to our exhausting return and the pressing need for both Lauren and me to rest, I couldn't reach out to Landon and Soren. In the meantime, Landon and Soren had settled into two rooms downstairs, serving as temporary bodyguards. I felt a profound sense of gratitude for their presence because, given the circumstances, they were the only individuals I could truly trust. There was an immense amount of work to be done, and having them by our side was reassuring. I lay in bed, my eyes wide open, contemplating my next steps. There were guards to question, a pressing need to understand why they had defied Soren's orders and refused to resume their duties. I had to unravel the mystery of how the assailant ha

Xavier "Now that we've cleared the air, what's our next step?" Soren interjected, attempting to dispel the lingering awkwardness in the room. "We need to infiltrate the hunters, gather intelligence on their plans, and expose the individuals in our pack aiding them. The only way to achieve that is by interrogating the dumbasses that refused to resume their duty post," Levi asserted, and I recognised the merit in his suggestion. "We won't stop at questioning; we'll also bring disgrace upon them and their families," I declared, aware that it might seem extreme. However, the reality was that if I appeared lenient and easily manipulated, it would only encourage betrayal. I needed to assert my authority and prove my father wrong. I understood the gravity of the situation and was determined to make things right with every fibre of my being. "Very well, they will serve as scapegoats. What about the flight crew?" Soren inquired. They held even more significance than the guards who had fa

Lauren The attack had brought me great misfortune, and even though I tried to mask it so Xavier wouldn't punish himself any more than he already had, I failed woefully. I thought I had caught a break and was on my way up. Stonegate changing their mind broke my heart, and when Uclea decided that they would cancel the interview altogether, it shattered my heart. I knew it had everything to do with the news and the public attention Xavier and I had been getting. No one wanted unnecessary attention. I would lie if I said this whole Isabella thing did not mess things up. Even though it had brought me blessings and I had discovered a world I was oblivious to, it had also taken from me. I was financially in the red, so keeping my apartment would be challenging. I knew Xavier had offered that I come to work for him, but wouldn't that confirm that I am a sponge and can't do anything for myself without him? I did not know how these things worked or if they would last, but I knew I had to

Xavier In the morning, I rolled out of bed while Lauren remained peacefully lost in her dreams. A faint snore suggested that she was enjoying a well-deserved night's rest. Perhaps I had pushed the limits a bit too far last night, but my need for her and my desire for her to accept the job was strong. I wrestled with the temptation to wake her and assert my dominance once more, but there were urgent matters demanding my attention, and they couldn't be handled within the confines of my home. Heading toward the bathroom, I decided that Jax and I would have to be patient and wait for our time with Lauren. I hurriedly dressed and set my phone to vibrate to avoid any intrusive calls. I was anticipating Gilbert's call, but so far, there had been no word from him. The events of the previous night had led to casualties, and I couldn't be certain if it had attracted unwanted attention. I knew it was only a matter of time before the hunters began to close in on me. I needed to devise a plan to

Xavier Soren and I left Neil to get acquainted with his new room. He wasn't getting out. I believe he sort of figured it out, and he had no reason to plead. He had orchestrated something that would have gone badly for my wife; there was no mercy for that, but I was grateful for the information he divulged. "So what are we going to do about everything?" Soren asked me while driving back to the city. "One thing at a time. We go home and rest, and then we get Everett tomorrow. I want you and Levi to pick him up tomorrow and lock him up. I want to deal with him personally. I have something special planned for the bastard." I said, and he chuckled. "There is a lot of shit going on right now, and you know what troubles me the most," he said and looked at me for a second before returning his attention to the road. "What?" I asked him. "We are yet to know how that bitch fits into the puzzle or who the fuck she is. Jacob is yet to figure her out. She is like a ghost." He said, and I knew