Exhausted but Determined

"What did you do with Jack Chase?" Serena asked.

"We patched him up and have him under strict watch with some of our best guards," Jackson Maddox replied.

Serena nodded in approval. Jack was clearly working with a larger force behind him, and his involvement in such a grand scheme needed further investigation.

"You should get back to work, Director Maddox. I'll recover quickly and return to duty soon," Serena hinted that she wanted some time to rest.

Jackson waved his hand, dismissing the notion. "Take your time and recover, Serena. Consider this a much-needed break after everything you've been through."

Serena nodded, though she wasn't in agreement. She was determined, and once her mind was made up, no one could change it.

After Jackson left, Serena picked up the phone resting on the table beside her. She hesitated for a moment before dialing Lee Thompson's number—essentially, contacting the werewolf.

She wasn't sure if he'd answer, but she figured she'd give it a try.

No one answered. With a sigh, she set the phone down and settled back into bed to rest. ——

At that moment, Logan, the werewolf, was at home enjoying a hotpot with his girlfriend, Lily Nguyen, completely unaware of Serena's call.

He had hidden Lee Thompson's phone on a rooftop to prevent the Exorcist Bureau from tracking him to his home.

"Eat more, you need to recover," Lily said softly, continuously filling Logan's bowl with food, her eyes filled with concern.

Logan had returned home late the previous night, bruised and battered, with a swollen lump on his forehead. Seeing him in that state had left Lily heartbroken, and she'd been feeling down ever since.

"Nothing worth having comes easy, and besides, I heal quickly," Logan reassured her, smiling as he tried to lift her spirits. He didn't think much of his injuries—most of them had already healed.

"Then can you take me with you next time? I don't want to stay at home, constantly worrying if you'll come back," Lily's voice trembled, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Alright," Logan agreed without hesitation, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

His reasoning was simple. In a world plagued by aberrations, there was no room for keeping her sheltered like a pet. If Lily was to survive, she needed strength—and the only way to gain that was by confronting the blood, the death, and the horrors of the world head-on.

Keeping her hidden away would be disrespectful to who she was.

"You're the best," Lily murmured as she nestled into his chest, smiling through her tears. She had expected Logan to refuse her request on the grounds of safety.

"We'll run if things get tough, how's that?" Logan joked, teasing her.

"The enemy would be furious!" Lily laughed, her mood lightening as she wiped away her tears. "Oh, by the way, while you were out, I spent some time on the Aberration Web. I sorted through the list of creatures in our city."

Logan gave her a thumbs-up, grinning. "You're my right-hand woman!"

"Don't underestimate me!" Lily giggled, her eyes twinkling with joy.

"After dinner, let's map out our hunting routes," Logan suggested, his energy renewed. He had become addicted to absorbing the power of aberrations, driven by an overwhelming desire to grow stronger. "We'll be the beauty and the beast combo."

"But I'm hungry," Lily said, her voice suddenly filled with playful shyness.

Logan, momentarily confused, responded, "Well, let's eat then…"

But as he looked into her eyes, he understood the meaning behind her words. Smiling, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.

Blushing, Lily bit her lip and allowed herself to be carried away, her body relaxing in his embrace.

In the middle of the day, the room quickly filled with warmth, desire, and passion. ——

By the time nightfall had draped over the city of Yorebridge, Logan and Lily found themselves atop the high-rise where he'd hidden Lee Thompson's phone. Before embarking on their hunt, he wanted to check if the Exorcist Bureau had tried to contact him.

After all, he was still thinking about the Bull-Headed Aberration. Killing that creature could give him unimaginable power.

Seeing that Serena had called earlier, Logan decided to return the call, not caring that it was now two in the morning.

The phone rang a few times before Serena answered, her voice tired and hoarse. Lily's ears perked up immediately, growing suspicious.

Women always seemed to have a sixth sense about such things.

"Werewolf?" Serena's voice was direct and to the point.

"Yeah, it's me. Did Jack's method work?" Logan asked.

"It's effective. The situation should be resolved within the next couple of days," Serena replied. She found herself becoming accustomed to his gravelly voice—there was something oddly compelling about it.

"In the future, call between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. I'll be available then," Logan said, establishing a clear boundary to avoid any more missed calls.

"Don't I deserve sleep too?" Serena, known for her no-nonsense attitude, uncharacteristically complained.

"I'm out here hunting aberrations day and night, pushing myself to the limit. Please understand," Logan responded courteously.