Chapter 8 – Felix blinked, shocked. "No mindlink? Are you saying… she isn't connected to any pack? Alpha, that's—"
"I don't know yet," Lucas admitted, stepping closer cautiously. "I can't tell if she's rogue or… the one we've been tracking.""Who are you?" Lucas asked, his voice low but edged with authority. "Are you rogue? Are you the one we've been searching for?"
The girl's lips curled into a small, incredulous smile. "Rogue? Maybe. Dangerous? Definitely. But attacking without understanding… foolish, Alpha."
Lucas's claws flexed slightly, tension coiling through his body. "I don't have time for games. Tell me who you are. Tell me what you are."
Before she could answer, Lucas lunged instinctively. But she raised a hand, and the world seemed to freeze. Both Lucas and Felix stopped in their tracks, caught in a strange, immovable force.
"Fudge sticks!" the girl thought, exasperated. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He just assumed I'm a threat!
The girl, Louise, stepped closer, her presence overwhelming and commanding. She tasted the energy of Lucas, the power of a true Alpha, and shook her head with a hint of amusement. I need to isolate him. Calm him before he does something irreversible.
Lucas struggled against the invisible hold, jaw clenched. "What—how—what are you doing to me?"
Felix tried to intervene, but his body wouldn't respond. Panic edged his thoughts. Alpha? Can you move?
Lucas's eyes narrowed as he finally spoke, realizing the girl had extraordinary control. "If you're here to harm anyone, I won't let you," he said, every muscle tense.
Louise's red eyes softened just slightly. "I am not your enemy, Alpha. Not in the way you think. But I cannot allow reckless attacks. Come with me, and you will understand."
Before Lucas could react, the world shifted. The forest blurred, wind whipping around them as if the trees themselves had opened a portal. In a blink, Lucas found himself in a castle chamber, the air scented with herbs and faint smoke.
He blinked, disoriented, taking in the high ceilings, stone walls, and ancient tapestries. His gaze immediately found her—Louise standing across the room, arms crossed, watching him with an intensity that made his chest tighten.
Felix, still trapped outside, pounded on the invisible barrier, confusion and frustration written across his face. "Alpha! What the hell just happened?! Where are you?! You can't—she can't just—"
Lucas shook his head, trying to center himself. "She… she's not like anything I've encountered before," he muttered, voice low, almost to himself. He felt a strange thrill—a mix of caution and fascination—as he stared at her.
Louise's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "You're curious. You're cautious. And yes… you're drawn to me. But don't mistake instinct for understanding."
Lucas's gaze didn't waver. "You've been hiding here in the forest… why? What are you?"
Her eyes flicked to him, serious now. "I am what you need to find, but not what you think. Your journey isn't complete yet. There are truths you must learn, but rushing will only end badly."
Lucas's jaw clenched, frustration bubbling. "I don't have time for games! Louise raised a single finger, and Lucas felt his muscles relax slightly, the tension easing just enough that he could breathe. "Then listen, Alpha. I will guide you, but only if you follow. You act on instinct—you are powerful, yes—but unchecked power will ruin you. And ruin the pack."
Lucas exhaled slowly, realizing he had no choice. "Fine. I'll listen… for now."
She smirked, a glimmer of victory in her eyes. "Good. Now… let us move somewhere safe."
Before Lucas could question her, she reached out, touching his chest lightly. The air shimmered, and the world warped around them once again. When the spinning stopped, Lucas was standing in a private room inside the castle—dimly lit, warm, and secluded from everything outside."You… what is your name?" Lucas demanded, keeping his green eyes locked on hers. "Why are you here? And what do you want?"
She stepped closer, unafraid, almost daring. "You can call me Louise," she said softly, her voice laced with teasing warmth. "And as for what I want… that's for me to know and you to find out."
Lucas' hands flexed, claws almost extending in his frustration. "You've been hiding from me? Playing games?" His voice cracked with emotion, his control teetering on the edge. "Do you know what I've lost? Do you know what they did to my parents?"
Louise's eyes softened. She could see the pain etched into him, the raw grief he carried like armor. "I've seen," she whispered. "I know what you've been through. I understand you… more than you realize."
Lucas swallowed, momentarily silent. His hands dropped to his sides, tension still coiling in every muscle. He wanted answers, but at the same time, he was completely aware of her proximity. Every step she took closer made him react against his will. His body betrayed him, responding in ways that shocked even him.
"You… react too quickly," she said, a playful lilt in her voice, noting the effect she had on him.
"What… what do you want from me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous, a mix of suspicion and desire threading through every word.
Louise's smile curved slyly. "You'll see," she said softly, moving even closer. The heat of her presence, her scent, the confidence in her gaze—it overwhelmed him. His breathing hitched. His mind raced, unable to focus, and yet he was still conscious enough to maintain control… just barely.
Lucas growled softly, a sound of frustration and longing. "I need to know… I need to understand why you're here. Are you a rogue? Did you have anything to do with my parents' deaths?"
Louise's red eyes locked onto his, unwavering. "From what I've sensed, you're searching for answers. But not all truths are ready for you yet," she said, stepping so close that their noses nearly touched. "You'll have to trust me… if you can."
The air between them seemed to thrum with tension. Lucas' body reacted again, involuntarily, a shiver running down his spine, his green eyes darkening with both anger and desire.
"You… you're impossible," he muttered, trying to mask the way his body had betrayed him.
She laughed softly, the sound melodic, teasing, and dangerous. "Perhaps but I didn't expect an almighty alpha to turn to stone so quick I mean you're already hard",Lucas' hands tightened into fists. He wanted to strike, to assert control, to demand the answers he craved—but another part of him, a new, unfamiliar part, kept him rooted. He could only stare, frustrated, aroused, and confused all at once.
She leaned even closer, so close that the heat of her body was undeniable, and whispered: "You'll see."