Lucien Volkov:
I was reviewing border reports with my top warriors when something slammed into my chest. I had to stop speaking as the pain ripped through me so quickly that I had to grab the edge of my table.
For one horrifying second, it felt as though someone was pulling the life out of my body.
"Your Majesty?" One of the warriors asked me in concern, but I barely heard him.
"Lucien!" Zorro roared inside my head, "Our mate!" My beast suddenly got frantic.
I tried to push him back while trying to overcome my pain, "Control yourself, Zorro."
"She’s hurting," he snarled in my head, "Can’t you feel it, you pathetic piece of shit? Something is hurting her. Either go to her or let me go!"
Another wave of pain crashed into me, making my vision blur. I was sure the wooden table must have groaned beneath my grip.
I always had my fair share of pain during battles, during ugly fights with my competitors who wanted the royal throne. This one was different.
The strange ache was spreading through my chest and was sharp enough to make my breathing difficult.
"Our mate!" Zorro’s panic seeped into me until it became my own, "Find her!"
Without another word, I shoved my reports aside. My bones had already started cracking, and the warriors in the room were confused about whether they should shift along with me.
My muscles stretched, and black fur burst across my skin. Within seconds, I landed on all fours as I broke the door to get out.
The pain was becoming unbearable, and I didn’t even know where she was.
"Go outdoors!" Zorro told me, "Remember? You didn’t want to see her face?"
His remark hurt me more. With a furious growl, I moved forward.
Warriors scattered out of my path as I tore across the training field. I let the royal garden flash past me in a blur.
Then came the fields where her scent had gotten stronger.
Those damn butter croissants and Lime. Fuck!
"Mine!" I growled, taking the workers in the field by surprise. They jumped aside with terrified screams as I charged through the farm.
"There!" Zorro barked.
A few workers were gathered around her in confusion, while she was trembling, writhing in pain on the ground.
There was a faint electronic beep sound coming out of her metal collar around her neck. Blue sparks were dancing around it.
My blood turned cold when the smell of burnt skin reached my nose. Something inside me snapped as rage exploded through my veins.
The pressure of my alpha aura burst from me in waves, and the workers dropped to their knees instantly.
I didn’t spare them a second glance and reached for her body that was convulsing again and again. A strangled cry escaped her lips.
The sight nearly drove Zorro insane, "Mate!" he roared in my head.
The collar beeped again, and before the next shock could hit her, I slid one of my claws beneath the metal band, dropping to one knee.
The smell of burnt flesh was driving me mad.
The metal was digging into her burnt skin. Carefully, I hooked my claw deeper beneath the collar, making sure not to cut her neck. Another warning beep sounded.
With a savage jerk of my paw, I tore the collar apart. The metal snapped with a sharp crack and flew across the field.
Her body stooped convulsing, and a weak whimper escaped her lips. She struggled to open her eyes and watched me. A faint smile appeared on her lips, "Y... you came... again... to save me..." she whispered before her head lolled to the side.
"Mate!" Zorro whispered. I lowered my muzzle and nudged her cheek gently. Without wasting a second, I slipped my arms beneath her body and scooped her up.
She felt too light and too fragile.
Then I got to my feet and ran. Rage and fear churned inside me at the same time as I looked at the red burns circling her neck.
Clutching the girl against my chest, I sprinted across the royal grounds. The same girl was not only the murderer’s sister but also an accomplice in the murder.
She killed my sister along with her brother, yet I was trying so hard to hate her.
"Y... you came again to save me." That was what she said to my Lycan. She knew me as a menace... a nightmare, but trusted my beast.
The same beast who was a monster to everyone but her.
***
Sitting outside the treatment room, I was waiting impatiently. The doctors had to push me out to treat her.
I could still feel conflicting emotions. When a hand landed on my shoulder, my eyes opened instantly.
"Lucien."
I looked up to find Brad standing over me.
"Is she alright?" he lowered himself into the bench beside me. I looked towards the closed door and shook my head, "I don’t know."
I always had plans. Always had answers. But this Chapter— my life was getting too complicated day by day.
"That’s unlike you, Lucien."
A bitter laugh escaped me, "Tell me about it."
I leaned back against the wall and rubbed my forehead. At this point, nothing made sense. How can I get angry with anyone when I was the one who put that damn collar around her?
I asked Helena to assign her outdoor duties.
My beast was quiet. Maybe it also wanted me to think. Allowing me some time and space.
I at last turned toward Bradley, "Help me. Her pack members. Our investigators. They tell me a different story. And here... she never even threw a tantrum. Being Beta’s daughter..."
I trailed off as I ran a hand through my hair.
"Is this what’s bothering you? If she’s a Beta’s daughter, why isn’t she being difficult? Demanding?"
"She... she was just screaming, trying to bear that pain. She wasn’t asking for help. What should I do? What’s going on? Is she even the Beta’s daughter or not?"
Several lines appeared on Bradley’s forehead, "When the people at the top know too little ... or too much, go to the bottom, Lucien."
"Bottom?"
He nodded as he looked at me meaningfully, "The people nobody notices are usually the people who notice everything." I frowned as he continued speaking, "The Omegas. The gardeners. The kitchen staff. Cleaners...Remember our Alpha-Beta classes?"
For the first time since arriving at the hospital, my thoughts cleared.
I wasn’t asking the wrong questions. I was only questioning the wrong people.