Semua Bab THE WOLF WITHIN:CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA: Bab 81 - Bab 90

INGRID“Mmh.. what is that smell?” Kira’s voice jolts me awake.I open my eyes slowly, disoriented for a moment.I look down and notice I’m still wrapped in a towel, lying above the comforter where I must have passed out after soaking my body in bath salts for almost an hour.My body feels relaxed, but my senses are immediately drawn to the sweet, mouthwatering scent wafting through the air.I sit up, stretch my feet out of bed, and yawn. Kira’s right, something smells heavenly.I drag myself to the dusty closet and open it only to find a surprising assortment of clothes that happen to be my size.I sift through them quickly and pick out a simple t-shirt and a pair of jeans, brush my hair, and tie it into a high ponytail.This somewhat makes me feel human again.I head downstairs, my bare feet silent against the old floorboards. The scent grows stronger with every step until I find myself standing at the threshold of the kitchen.Lucian is there, in the middle of the room, sleeves rol

INGRID.I hadn’t laughed like that in such a long time.It was refreshing seeing Lucian freak out like that, mainly because he always looks so uptight and in control. Like nothing could ever catch him off guard.But somehow... I did.After breakfast, he heads back upstairs, and I remain behind to clear the kitchen and wash the dishes just in case we need them later.Once I’m done, I decide to explore the house a little more, especially if we’re going to be stuck here longer than planned.I start on the ground floor, wandering from room to room, admiring the furniture and the paintings on the walls.They are everywhere. Like his parents were obsessed with art or something.Everything in this house looks custom made. Handcrafted and one of a kind. The other houses Lucian owns don’t come close to this.I make it to the end of the hallway and spot a narrow staircase leading down to what must be the basement.Curious, I head down to see the wine cellar Lucian mentioned to me.At the bottom

LUCIAN.I couldn’t believe what I was reading.Each page felt like a dagger to the heart — like I was being dragged deeper into a truth I never asked for.At first, I told myself the journals were just stories. Just fiction. Maybe even training manuals or old records from long ago.But the moment I read the words rogues and torture, the denial started to crumble.Page after page, it got worse.They had brought in a hunter and made a deal with him.His job was to “reform” the rogues or eliminate them if they were too violent. As if reforming ever meant to torture.I start to imagine how they might have convinced themselves they were doing it for the good of the pack. For peace, even order.But peace doesn’t come from pain. And order can never be built on blood.After Ingrid left the room, I found myself sifting through the letters and the rest of the journals she had tried to show me earlier — the ones I refused to believe.Among them, I found another journal.This one was my mother’s.

INGRIDIt’s been three days since we uncovered the truth about Lucian’s parents—and since we slept together for the second time.I haven’t had a moment to fully process any of it because too much is happening.Between the betrayal we discovered in those journals, the emotional storm we’ve both been riding, and the lingering tension between us, everything feels like a blur.We haven’t made any decisions yet about what to do with the information we found.And despite everything, neither of us has mentioned going back home. Probably because we both are too afraid of what we’ll find once we return.Lucian’s been quieter and even withdrawn, which I totally get. Because if I found out my parents were killers, it would rip me apart, too.But I’ve been thinking. I had an idea that might just turn the tide in our favor.If the hunters—Silas, or rather, Logan, now, assuming Silas is really dead—are still being funded, then that funding has to come from somewhere.If we can find the money trail L

INGRIDSleep finally claims Lucian, and he dozes off on the couch in the study.I, on the other hand, feel restless. I asked Kira to help me stay alert and focused while waiting for the email, and she obliged.She doesn’t speak, but her presence in the back of my mind helps me stay grounded, awake, and less alone in this whirlwind of chaos.Suddenly, I hear a sharp ping—the unmistakable sound of an incoming email.My heart leaps as I rush to the desk, and open the computer, my fingers trembling as I tap the mouse.The subject line reads: "Account Activity Confirmed."Seeing this, my pulse begins to thunder in my ears, and without hesitation, I open it.The screen floods with unfamiliar data—numbers, account codes, transaction logs—all unreadable to me.I spin on my heel and walk toward Lucian, who is half-curled on the couch, his arm over his eyes.I don’t hesitate. I nudge him hard. “Lucian, wake up!” I yell, practically towering over him.He jolts upright, his eyes blinking rapidly,