Chapter 7

Lucas.

"We need to get our hands on another scientist to ascertain what's wrong with Elorai and protect ourselves from it," I announce, walking into Ronan's bedroom.

He's sprawled against the couch, a hand on his face, completely unmoving. When he doesn't answer, I continue speaking.

"Knox is already out of the house, so is Andre. We might be putting ourselves in more danger than we realize."

"I'll think about it..." is all he growls, his voice barely audible. I narrow my gaze, staring at him, my jaw clenched.

"Her scent isn't bothering you too, is it?"

I ask, and his gaze snaps towards me, indignation spread across his face. He looks angrier than I've ever seen him.

"No... of course not."

"Do you want me to call Adaline for you?" I press even further. He sits up fully, peeved.

"I'm not a weakling, Lucas."

"I never said you were. It's just that you look tense. That can't be a good sign."

Ronan makes to argue but lets out a sigh instead. "I'm fine, just thinking about something," he mutters, averting his gaze.

After a while, he adds, "We'll find someone who can explain what's up with the girl. You can leave," he says, dismissing me.

I watch him for a beat too long and turn around to leave the room.

"And... call Adaline for me..." he groans under his breath.

I pause, my lips pressed into a thin line, but I don't look back. With a sigh, I walk out of the room, closing the door behind me.

Brute.

.

.

.

Ronan.

I'm still in the same position Lucas left me in, staring at something unseen on the ground, doing my best to keep my breathing leveled and my wolf from lashing out.

I am agitated, but it's not because of that brat I locked away in that room.

Still, my thoughts were weirdly trained on her.

The arousal I'm feeling definitely isn't coming from being hooked on her scent. I just need to take the edge off.

Adaline shows up with a knock on my door, and without waiting for my response, she pushes the door open and walks into the room.

"You called on me," she murmurs, her voice soft and sultry.

My jaw clenches. "Strip and get on the bed."

There's a flicker of surprise, excitement, and dread in her eyes, but she blinks and it disappears.

Slowly, she pulls off the layers of clothing she has on and climbs onto the bed, getting in position, her back arched and thighs spread.

I stand up from the couch and mechanically unbuckle my belt, pulling down my pants, joining her on the bed.

Gripping my half-hard arousal, I stroke it for a moment before lining up with Adaline's core and thrusting in with one forceful snap of my hips.

The sex is rough, wild, and long, but the moment I release, cold revulsion crashes through me, sending me springing back from Adaline's shaking body.

I, of course, wasn't expecting to feel pleasure. I just hate that it didn't give me the much-needed relief I was seeking.

Adaline watches me with lidded eyes and parted lips as I walk away, the frown on my face even deeper than before. I pick up a robe and wrap it around myself, heading to the bathroom.

"Is something wrong?" she asks, stopping me in my tracks.

"Mind your business..." I growl under my breath, my eyes narrowing. "Leave my room now."

She tenses, but the fire in her eyes burns hotter. "You're dismissing me like that?!" she cries, stunned.

"I don't want to see you on the bed when I return," I say, walking towards the bathroom and slamming the door behind me.

My legs lead me straight towards a mirror, and I stand there, staring at my reflection for God knows how long.

Against my better judgment, my eyes drift towards the scars across my chest, and my scowl deepens.

I remember where I received them — back when I was still trapped in a laboratory filled with humans. It was such a long time ago, but the memories still scald and sting.

A snarl rips from my throat, my hands clenching into fists. The inhumane treatment I endured, those damned experiments I was put under, the way my mate died...

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to quell the tumultuous emotions rising in me.

I refuse to resurface that memory.

Why am I even thinking about it in the first place? Is it because that girl looks a bit like my dead mate?

I know she isn't her, but...

"Stop thinking about it, Ronan," I chide myself, opening my eyes as I glare at my expression through the mirror. You'll only make yourself feel worse.

I take several deep breaths, willing my shaking body to settle.

My wolf will take longer, though.

Elorai will still die, but for now... I want to see why she was created in the first place.

.

.

.

Adaline.

I return back to my room, fuming with rage.

Biting down on my fingers, I pace around the room, resisting the urge to pull my hair out.

I know Ronan wasn't satisfied, but I also can't help the nagging feeling that he's slipping away from me.

I loathe it. I loathe it so much!

I can't stay idle. If I let this be, these men will only grow obsessed with this pheromone-leaking imbecile and be unable to move on from her.

I refuse to lose Ronan to anyone, much less an abomination that should not have existed in the first place.

Picking up my phone, I call my father, waiting for him to pick up, the phone pressed against my ear.

It takes a while, but the call eventually goes through.

"Hello, Ada..." he greets me, his deep voice calming my simmering anger for a little bit.

"Hi, Father... How are you doing?"

"Doing well... I hear you went to see the Nacklethorn Alphas."

"Yes, I did. Did you hear the reports?" I ask, keeping my voice low so no one can overhear me.

"Yes... They found the laboratory experimenting on werewolves and burned it to the ground. Killed all the successful experiments too."

"Well... Not all of them, Father," I whisper, and the line goes quiet.

"What?" he mutters quietly, but he might as well have yelled it.

"There's a successful one with them. They kept her alive," I announce.

"What?!"

I stiffen at the shock in my father's voice but don't take my words back. Being an elder in the werewolf council that gave the order for all lab creations to be killed, he's aware of the consequences of letting one live.

"What do you mean they let one live? Give me details, Adaline," he orders.

I take a deep, shuddering breath but start speaking, telling him everything I know. By the time I'm through, I'm already winded.

There's a long silence, with just my father's heavy breathing filtering through the phone.

"It's okay, I've heard all you have to say. I'll alert the council and we will take the necessary precautions," he tells me. "The alphas will also be punished for defying orders," he adds with a menacing growl.

"Yes, Father."

"Now, get out of there and come home to me," he orders, his voice as sharp as a blade.

I stiffen but nod as if he's there and end the call, hiding the phone away.

Staring into the empty room for a moment, I take a moment to collect myself before packing the little things I brought for the visit to leave.

Hopefully, I won't rouse any suspicion. The alphas used to let me come and go as I please.

Swinging the bag over my shoulders, I take a deep breath and walk towards the door, swinging it open.

My steps come to a halt as I find Lucas and Ronan standing outside my door, their expressions terrifying.

My blood runs cold. Did they hear everything I told my father?

"What did I tell you?" Lucas asks, his voice deceptively calm as he walks forward.

My heart begins to pound, dread flowing through my bloodstream at the horrifying look on his face. I open my mouth to speak but no words get past. It's as if I'm under a spell.

He stands directly in front of me. "Don't tell anyone," he growls, staring into my soul. "You don't listen, do you?"

"It's not what it looks like!" I rush out, raising my hands in panic.

I don't get to say much. He punches me in the face, knocking me out.

When I finally slip back to consciousness, I'm tied up to a chair in what looks like an underground cell, devoid of windows, fresh air, with a sharp blue light that stings my eyes and dulls my senses.

Groaning, I wait for the haze in my eyes to clear, then look around me, struggling with my binds.

My gaze falls on three men, all menacing-looking, glaring down at me.

The look on their faces is one I've never seen before.

My dread returns with full force.

"You told your father..." Ronan growls, tilting his head to the side as he pins me with a glare.

My heart is pounding, but I try not to answer anyway. "Yes... Elorai is a risk. You are making a mistake by keeping her. I had to do what I had to do before she puts us into any more trouble!"

"I've been too lenient with you," he adds in that same detached voice, pulling away from the wall and walking towards me.

The remaining two part to give him more space.

I can hear the alarm bells ringing in my head, and no matter how hard I try to scramble free, I've been rendered immobile.

"Ronan... please!" I start to plead when he uses his alpha will on me.

A piercing scream bursts from my lips, needlepoints of pain inserted into my body. My wolf whimpers and cowers, curling into a ball inside me.

"You're making a mistake! She should be dead!" I scream, ignoring the blinding pain pressing down on my body, thrashing against the chair.

"No..." he states calmly. "You should be dead."

My heart skips multiple beats. What did he say?

He raises a hand high in the air, and I watch in a split second as they transform into claws.

The last thing I see is him bringing it down to my chest and...

Darkness.