Chapter 8: Calming the Beast

Selene’s POV

The bar had been unusually quiet for two weeks. Lucian had not shown up since that last intense encounter, but his absence seemed to have cast a shadow over the place. Fewer customers were coming in. The regulars who once filled the space with laughter and chatter had grown scarce. Even the rowdier factions, who normally thrived on chaos, seemed to avoid the bar like the plague.

I wiped down the counter, my mind wandering as the landlady, Lilian, approached, a worried expression etched on her face. “It’s Lucian,” she began, her voice low, as if even speaking his name might summon him. “Ever since he stopped coming here, things have been… different.”

“How so?” I asked, even though I had a nagging suspicion I already knew.

“Several factions have been wiped out recently,” she continued, glancing nervously at the empty tables. “People are scared. They don’t know who’s next, and no one wants to risk being seen in the wrong place. Even the regulars are too frightened to come out for drinks.”

I furrowed my brow, the pieces beginning to connect. “Do you think it’s because of what happened here? Because of Lucian?”

Lilian nodded. “I think so. He’s been on a rampage, it seems. And no one knows why. It’s like he’s sending a message, but no one knows what it is.”

I leaned against the counter, thinking back to our last encounter. Lucian had been distant, cold even. But there had been something in his eyes that day, something more than just anger or power. It was almost… a plea. It was absurd, I told myself. Lucian was the Rogue King, ruthless and unyielding. Why would he have anything to plead for?

Shaking off the thought, I tried to focus on the present. “Have you seen Kate?” Lilian asked suddenly, her voice breaking my reverie. “She went to fetch supplies hours ago and hasn’t returned.”

My stomach tightened. Kate was part of Lucian’s faction. With his recent actions, there was no telling what kind of retaliation might be in play. If someone sought revenge against him, they could easily target his people, including Kate.

“I’m going to find her,” I said abruptly, setting down the rag. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

Lilian nodded, her worry evident. “Be careful, Selene.”

I hurried out of the bar, the cool night air biting at my skin. The streets were eerily deserted, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by an uneasy silence. I moved cautiously, avoiding the obvious faction patrols that were still out. It took some time, but eventually, I found Kate in a secluded alley a few streets away from the bar.

She was in deep conversation with a man, her face etched with urgency. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized him as one of Lucian’s men. My instincts went on high alert. Why would Kate be speaking to him? And why there?

“Kate!” I called out softly, keeping my voice low but firm.

Kate turned, her eyes widening with relief when she saw me. Without a word, she rushed over, grabbing my arm. “Selene, you have to help us. You have to help Lucian.”

I blinked, taken aback. “Lucian? What’s happened?”

She glanced back at Lucian’s subordinate, then back at me, her expression frantic. “He’s hurt. Badly. There was a confrontation with a rival faction, and he got injured. But that’s not all… His condition has worsened because he’s been suppressing his Heat phase. His wolf is… tearing him apart from the inside.”

I frowned, trying to process the information. “Why haven’t they gotten Maria to help? She’s the Healer, isn’t she?”

Lucian’s man stepped forward, his face grim. “Lucian won’t let anyone near him. He’s refusing help from everyone.”

I shook my head, confusion and frustration battling within me. “Then what makes you think he’d accept my help?”

Kate’s grip on my arm tightened, her eyes pleading. “Because you’re different, Selene. You’ve seen how he looks at you. I’ve known Lucian for years—he’s like a brother to me—and I’ve never seen him react to anyone the way he does with you. Please, he trusts you, even if he won’t admit it.”

I hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in. Could it be true? Could I really have some kind of influence over Lucian? And even if I did, what could I possibly do for him?

“Please, Selene,” Kate whispered, her eyes welling with tears. “He saved me once. I owe him everything. You’re my only hope.”

Looking into her eyes, I saw the fear and desperation she tried to hide, the weight of her concern for a man who had become a brother to her. Despite all my doubts, something inside me softened. I had been in a similar place once, feeling helpless while someone I cared about was in danger. I couldn’t let her go through that.

“Alright,” I said finally, my voice steady. “I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.”

Kate’s face lit up with a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Selene. Thank you so much.”

Lucian’s subordinate nodded, his face still serious. “We need to move quickly. Follow me.”

I followed them, my mind racing with uncertainty. Lucian was a powerful werewolf, so calming him in his current state would be no easy task. I was no fully trained Healer, just a woman with some untapped abilities and a lot of determination. But I couldn’t deny the pull I felt—the strange connection between us that seemed to defy logic.

As I was led down the narrow, dimly lit corridor toward Lucian’s room, a sense of foreboding settled deep in my bones. The air grew thick with tension, almost tangible, pressing down on my shoulders with every step I took. The two men escorting me, both members of Lucian’s inner circle, exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. Even before we reached the door, I could feel the powerful aura emanating from within, an oppressive force that seemed to pulse with each beat of my heart.

When we stopped just outside the door, one of them turned to me, his face pale under the dim light. "This is as far as we go," he said, his voice low and tense. "You have to go in alone. He won’t let us near him."

I nodded, my hand hovering over the handle. A low, feral growl came from the other side—a sound that sent a chill racing down my spine. It was a sound of raw, primal anger, a clear command for me to stay away. I hesitated, the intensity of it making me second-guess my decision. But I had come this far, and I couldn’t turn back now, not with Kate’s desperate plea echoing in my ears and the knowledge that Lucian was suffering.

Steeling myself, I pushed the door open. The room was dark, lit only by a single flickering lamp in the corner. The shadows seemed to dance along the walls, twisting and turning as if alive. Lucian was seated on a battered sofa, his posture rigid and his body tense. Bloodied bandages were wrapped haphazardly around his torso and arms, and his hair fell in wild disarray across his face. His eyes, once an enigmatic ink-blue, now glowed a predatory yellow, wolf-like and cold as they locked onto mine.

“Leave,” he growled, his voice a guttural snarl, the words more animal than human. The sheer force of his anger hit me like a wave, making my head spin, but I refused to back down. I took a deep breath, pushing through the mental assault that his presence seemed to bring. I could feel the turmoil inside him, a violent storm of pain and rage tearing at the edges of his sanity.

“No,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “I’m here to help you, Lucian.”

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something—fear, or perhaps anger—flashing through them. “I didn’t ask for your help,” he spat, his words sharp and laced with venom. “Get out.”

Ignoring his command, I moved closer, each step feeling like I was walking against a powerful wind. I reached out and took his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine. His muscles tensed beneath my touch, but he didn’t pull away. I could feel the power of my Healer’s abilities begin to stir within me, responding to the skin-to-skin contact.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Lucian growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You shouldn’t meddle with things you don’t understand.”

“I understand enough,” I said softly, focusing on the energy flowing between us. “You’re in pain, Lucian. Let me help you.”

For a moment, there was silence, the air thick with tension. Then, slowly, I felt his grip tighten around my hand. Not out of anger, but as if he was holding on, anchoring himself. The energy I channeled seemed to ease some of the turmoil within him. His breath evened out, and his posture relaxed ever so slightly. I could feel the chaotic storm within him begin to settle like waves calming after a violent tempest.

But the relief was short-lived. A sudden, guttural snarl ripped from his throat, and his expression contorted in agony. His body tensed again, muscles straining against the pain that tore through him. I could feel his inner wolf rebelling, fighting against the calm I was trying to bring. It was like trying to soothe a wild beast that refused to be tamed.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath. This wasn’t going to be enough. If I was going to help him, really help him, I needed to get closer to the source of his power, closer to the core of his wolf.

I released his hand and moved to kneel in front of him, bringing my forehead to his. The moment our skin touched, a jolt of energy surged between us, stronger than anything I had felt before. It was as if our minds were connecting on a deeper level, the chaotic energy within him pouring into me. I closed my eyes, focusing all my concentration on channeling my healing power, trying to bring calm to the storm raging inside him.

I could feel Lucian’s breath on my face, hot and ragged, his body trembling beneath the strain.

“Lucian,” I whispered, my breath mingling with his. “Let me help you. Let me in.”

His eyes flickered, a war of emotions raging behind them. For a second, I thought he might push me away, shut down, and retreat back into his pain.

Then, a faint whisper brushed against my ear. It was so soft I almost thought I imagined it.

“You came to me willingly,” he murmured, his voice barely a breath.

“What?” I whispered back, struggling to comprehend his words, my focus still on maintaining the flow of energy between us.

“You came to me willingly,” he repeated, a strange note of satisfaction in his tone, despite the pain.

Before I could fully register his words, his hand moved to the back of my head, his fingers weaving through my hair with a possessive grip. My eyes flew open. Before I could react, he pulled me toward him with a force that left no room for hesitation, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that was fierce, desperate, and utterly consuming. The shock of it was like being caught in a storm, his raw energy pouring into me, mingling with my own—a volatile blend of power and vulnerability that sent a jolt through my entire body.

For a heartbeat, I was too stunned to move, my mind reeling from the intensity of the moment.