Chapter Eight

I encountered locked doors every time I tried to open one. Someone locked the pack house, which was more like a big mansion, from the outside. Beta Joseph and the high priestess were nowhere to be seen anymore. I was alone in this house. Trapped with a monster. Trying to run yet locked inside.

In unfamiliar territory, I felt trapped and helpless.

Lucas had turned into something I've never seen. All werewolf Alphas tend to have terrible tempers. Yet, even when an Alpha is angry, nothing matches the beastly lycan nature that my mate had.

I hid behind the door, trying to calm my breathing. I was dizzy, barely able to see in front of me as I peeped through the hole. I could hear his footsteps, and his scent was in the air, it drew me in like a magnet to metal. He was closing in, and I knew I had to stay hidden until I could figure out how to reason with him. Was it even possible? Could anyone reason with him? My heart was beating quickly and I could hardly keep my mind away from the idea that I was going to die in the hands of my mate. for some reason, but, despite my fear I trusted Him. in his intimidating figure and the fire behind his eyes I still trusted him. I still felt like I could be safe in his hands. wasn't that stupid?

I peered through the small hole in the door. The adrenaline in my veins blurred my vision. The room beyond was dimly lit, and my eyes struggled to adjust. I kept feeling dizzy. I could tell my neck was still bleeding. But, I did not know what to do. And, I wasn't sure if I could reason with my mate. now I understood why they fired him so much. why his name was a taboo and why no one dared to trifle with him. In his wolf form, people considered him a monster. and it was true. he looked like one. and he did monstrous things. the head of that girl is still sitting on the stair case. blood was still spotted on the walls and no one seems to care. everyone had abandoned me inside the mansion. left me to die in the hands of a man supposed to love me. how could I have expected otherwise? it was the same thing repeating itself again. my first mate couldn't dare love me and now my second mate wanted to kill me. I could hear his heavy footsteps approaching, each one sending shivers down my spine.

Lucas's form neared. I pressed my trembling hand against my mouth to muffle any sounds. They might reveal my hiding spot. The Lycan King was unpredictable, his emotions were like a storm.

The footsteps halted just outside the door, and I held my breath, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. Lucas was so close now that I could hear the faint growl emanating from his Lycan throat. He was searching for me. He was driven by the unyielding instinct to find his mate. But, what about my unborn child, who he'd rejected.

My eyes widened as I saw his massive shadow looming just outside the door. Panic threatened to consume me as I realized I was running out of time. I had to make him understand, to bridge the gap between us.

Still scared and shaken, I tried to find my courage. I whispered his name, "Lucas."

The room was silent, tension hang in the air like a dense fog. A short moment passed, it seemed as if he had heard me, as if the beast inside him recognized my voice. But it was a dangerous thing to hope.

"Lucas, please," I continued, my voice trembling. "I need you to listen."

His growl softened, and I took it as a sign of progress. But then, with a sudden surge of strength, he pushed the door open with a crash. I stumbled back, my heart in my throat, as Lucas's towering figure filled the doorway.

His golden eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of recognition settled in the depths of his pooly eyes. The beast within him was still raging, but there was sign of him somewhere inside. Or maybe i was trying to see things apart from what they were.

"Lucas, it's me," I pleaded, my voice quivering. "I'm not your enemy."

He took a step closer, his massive frame casting a shadow over me. I could see the internal struggle in his eyes as he fought to regain control over his lycan instincts. It was a battle I desperately hoped he would win.

He gripped me tightly, as if stopping me from escaping. This time I would not run from him. I had seen enough for what happened whenever I run. and so I stood there. Frozen. He was my mate. The moon goddess and given him to me. if he wanted to kill me then he had to do it now. I grew tired of running and fighting. I grew tired of begging. my life has been perfect. not easy or beautiful but perfect. I suffered a great deal but if this is how I would go then I wouldn't object to it.

The person who was supposed to take care of me and love me would have it in their hands.

How ironic is it that he had waited for a mate for over 400 years, yet when he got me, he wanted to kill me.

He knelt down, pressing one massive hand gently against my abdomen. His claws retracted. His expression softened. It was as if he was trying to connect with the tiny life growing inside me.

I couldn't help but gasp in surprise as his Lycan senses took over, and he focused on the life within me. His hand remained still for a moment, and then I felt a faint but distinct thump from within my womb. My baby's heartbeat. Lucas's eyes widened as he felt it too.

Relief flooded through me. Lucas wasn't trying to harm me or our child; he was trying to understand, to accept the truth. His Lycan form had been briefly subdued. He felt an undeniable connection to our unborn baby.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I whispered, "You see, Lucas? It's real. It's yours. The child is yours."

His gaze remained locked on my stomach, and his Lycan features softened further. A low, rumbling purr of contentment replaced the growl of frustration. He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against my belly. It was as if he was trying to show his acceptance and protectiveness to our unborn child.

I reached out and ran my fingers through his thick fur, comforting him as much as myself. At this moment, as our child's heartbeat echoed in the room, the barriers between us began to crumble. Lucas was starting to believe in the impossible, in the extraordinary bond we shared. He was beginning to erase the reality that he was not capable of having children. this was a miracle to him and I could understand that yet I couldn't help but feel that he should have at least had me out. he should have believed me when I said it instead of blatantly accusing me of Lying.

He continued to listen to our baby's heartbeat. I stared down at him. Then, I saw what he had wanted to do all along. Perhaps in his lycan form, he could tell whether the baby's heart rate steadied that of a lycan. And by the expression on his face, and the flash of guilt behind his eyes, he finally believed me.

I felt dizy but hopeful. I looked at him, unsure. the world around me was going in circles but I was trying not to fall. I kept to my feet, even though the stress and fear was taking a toll on me. But my hopes slowly dwindled when my legs continued to sway further. Reality claimed entitlement when my legs gave out. I collapsed on the floor, surrounded by darkness.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was Lucas. His form was shifting and contorting. He was turning back into a human. The massive Lycan body was shrinking and reshaping. Then, as if i weighed nothing, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me.

I was barely conscious, but i was trying my best to keep my eyes open. I could feel his heart beating against me, my head was laid on his bare chest. He carried me, craddled up in his arms with so much worry in his eyes. I didn't think he was capable of being gentle.

"Elara," he whispered, "I'm so sorry."

And then, with the weight of my unconscious body in his arms, he carried me away.