Chapter 0268

Athena

His hazel eyes narrowed sharply.

He knew exactly who I meant.

Yet the gun remained firmly aimed.

“That treacherous snake is still breathing?” He snarled, his jaw tight.

“Yes. Hopefully not for long.” I offered a tentative smile, hoping to diffuse the situation.

He didn’t return it. “We require assistance.”

“Is she speaking the truth?” He demanded, looking at Theodore and Sebastian.

“Seraphina is the reason we’re here,” Sebastian stated coldly. “Now lower the damn weapon.”

“No. You trespass on my land. I make the rules. If you want her to keep her pretty head intact, start talking. Now.”

“Here?” Theodore questioned. “We’ll draw human attention.”

“Look around! It’s the dead of night. No other houses for miles. Why do you think I led you here, you fool?” A cruel smile finally twisted his lips. “Fucking pack morons.” He spat on the ground.

They told him the story. Almost all of it.

I felt the gun’s pressure lessen at times, only to be jammed back against my skin moments later.

I could heal, but the pain was real.

I remained perfectly still. I wouldn’t give him another reason to pull the trigger.

“You expect me to believe that fairy tale?” Lucas Adler growled, his gaze never leaving me.

“Seems too elaborate to be a lie, don’t you think?” I muttered.

“I’ve known expert liars. That serpent is one of them.”

“Seraphina?” What had she lied to him about?

“The very one.”

“Can we discuss this properly?” Theodore asked. “Wolf to Wolf?”

“You have more to say?” He sounded amused.

“So much more,” Theodore muttered. “If you’re willing to listen.”

Lucas seized my wrist, spinning me around.

He locked his arm across my chest, pulling me backward.

“You have five minutes,” he told them.

Sebastian’s expression was unreadable as he and Theodore followed.

Lucas dragged me into a dimly lit kitchen.

Black and white striped tiles covered the floor.

Black cabinets with black marble countertops lined the walls.

The interior was nothing like the dilapidated exterior.

I shouldn’t have judged the book by its cover. Or the house by its outside.

Sebastian and Theodore entered, moving to opposite sides of the room.

“Split up or stay together. I don’t care. One wrong move, and she dies. Now, convince me why I should let her live.”

“What do you want?” Theodore asked.

“Seraphina,” Lucas muttered.

“Many want her. Both Alphas. Another Lycan. Her.” Sebastian pointed at me. “She causes problems. You’ll have to get in line.”

“I’m certain she ruined my life first,” Lucas snarled. “Take me to her, and this one lives.”

This was not why we came.

“What did she do to you?” I asked.

“She murdered my parents.”

“Why?”

“Because they were Hunters. They destroyed your kind.”

I had walked into another hostage situation.

This one felt far more lethal.

“But you haven’t told me everything. Why is a Lycan Alpha mated to a Wolf Alpha?”

“They are mates,” Sebastian stated.

I wondered if that was the worst thing to say.

Lucas burst into laughter.

A deep, roaring laugh that echoed through the kitchen.

He shoved me away.

Sebastian caught me, pulling me close with a protective arm around me.

Lucas was truly unhinged.

“You people are completely insane!”

He thought we were the crazy ones.

“You pack Wolves are so predictable.” He pointed between the men. “I assume one of you is the Beta, since the Alpha isn’t here.”

Neither Theodore nor Sebastian spoke.

They seemed as confused as I was.

Theodore had been quiet for a while.

“Anyone want a beer?” Lucas asked, opening the fridge.

“What is happening?” I was used to unpredictability, but this was extreme.

From gunpoint to a beer offer, like a casual social call.

This guy had to be on something. “You just held a gun to my head!”

“Precautions.” He straightened, muscles tensing.

I reminded myself why we were here.

“A few things you should know about me, Lycan.” He popped the cap off his beer and took a swig. “I know when I’m not getting the full story. I know she,” he pointed at me, “was Rogue once. I know exactly what a Rogue is. I’ve hunted them for twenty years. You told me little I didn’t already know. I’m certain there’s more. So, what’s the catch?”

“We seek Lycans. The female Lycan Alpha requires support,” Sebastian told him.

“Then why doesn’t she link them? She’s the last one, right? Powerful? She can call them in.”

"Uh..."

"Like I said. I know my shit."