Chapter 0269

“It’s not that simple. But she’s handling it.”

He leans on the counter, and my thoughts instantly drift somewhere inappropriate. I didn’t mean to—I blame Sebastian for leaving me so deprived.

A low growl rumbles behind me. That warning again. Sebastian’s hand presses firmly against my stomach, reminding me who I belong to. Lucas ignores it completely, hoisting himself up to sit on the counter.

“Packs always complicate things. Life’s easier when you only have to worry about yourself.”

“This is pointless,” Sebastian mutters. “He won’t help us, and we can’t give him what he wants. Let’s go.” He turns me toward the door.

“You sure about that, Blondie?”

I glance back. Lucas is grinning. “Plenty of people are willing to deal if there’s something in it for them. Me included. I can help you track your Lycans. I’ll point out which ones are still Rogue—and I get to kill those. You get your intel. I get my fun.”

“What if we don’t need to hunt?” I say softly. If he can really tell the difference, we might not need the Wolfsbane Toxin.

“Where’s the fucking fun in that?” He looks genuinely disappointed.

“Come back to the pack with us. I’ll explain everything on the way.”

“I’m nobody’s pack dog.”

“I thought you wanted to kill Rogues?” Sometimes it’s better to keep a madman close rather than let him roam free with information about us.

Surprisingly, he agrees faster than I expected. That might be a bad sign. Or maybe the chance to slaughter Rogues was too tempting to refuse.

Theodore and I wait in the kitchen while Sebastian follows Lucas around the house as he gathers weapons.

“Did you link Alexander?” I ask Theodore as another duffel bag hits the floor. Seven bags already. This guy is packing serious firepower.

“Done.” Lucas drops a fifteenth bag. He’s changed into jeans and a clean white tee. “Let’s roll. But the girl rides with me. Just in case.”

“If you touch her—” Sebastian starts.

“What’re you gonna do, Blondie? She’ll be dead before you even step out of your car. Simple. Don’t cross me, she lives.”

Despite Sebastian’s clear frustration, I agree.

We help Lucas load his truck. Before I climb in, Sebastian pulls me close. His lips meet mine. “Don’t do anything reckless. I don’t trust him.”

I nod and slip into the passenger seat. Sebastian shoots Lucas one last glare.

Lucas doesn’t ask me anything during the drive. He adjusts the music a few times but mostly stews in silence.

Shit. He hates Seraphina.

“There’s something you should know,” I blurt out.

“Knew it.” He pulls a handgun from his belt and aims it at me.

“It’s not what you think. You were right—we didn’t tell you everything. But not to hide it.” The words rush out. “The female Alpha looks exactly like Seraphina. The only difference is Athena has blue eyes.”

“Is this a joke? Did Seraphina feed you this crap?”

“I swear, I’ve seen them together.” I have maybe one second to convince him. And no proof. Think!

“Do you have a phone?”

I memorized the pack office number. Alexander made me do it when I first joined Obsidian Howl—in case of emergencies.

“Why?”

“So you can hear her voice. She sounds nothing like Seraphina.”

For a moment, he lowers the gun and pulls out his phone. I dial the number. Alexander answers.

I put it on speaker. “Alexander, is Athena awake?”

“Brianna, is everything alright?”

“I need to speak to Athena. It’s urgent. We’re almost at the pack.” All hell will break loose if Lucas thinks they’re the same person. He has enough weapons to take down half the pack. Maybe more.

“Hello? Brianna, is that you? Why didn’t you just link me?” Athena’s voice comes through the phone.

The car ahead with Sebastian and Theodore slows. Alexander must be linking them. Sebastian will know my heart is racing again.

“Ask her something,” I whisper to Lucas.

He reaches over and ends the call.

“Why did you do that? I was trying to prove who she is.”

“I heard exactly who she is.”

“You can tell, just like that?”

“Just like that,” he repeats.

“But how?”

“It’s a gift.”

“She only said ten words.”

“It was enough.”

Why do I feel like all my organs just dropped through the floor?