Defying the Rogue Alpha-Chapter 23: Mara

Manic, his wolf, lost it.

A shudder ran through him, his body locking up as a primal instinct took over. The moment shattered, his release ripping through him with the force of a hurricane, and the only thing keeping him from losing himself completely was the shock that this woman—this tiny, maddening, insane woman—had just triggered something he never thought he'd see.

Ava's body went limp in his arms, her head lolling against his shoulder. She was bloodied but breathing, barely, but Lucas wasn't sure if she'd even registered what had just happened.

Then, in true Ava fashion, she exhaled a weak, breathless chuckle.

"And you thought I couldn't do it," she murmured against his ear. "Do you still want me to schedule a visit next time?"

And then she fainted.

Lucas stared at her, utterly spent, mind still reeling from what had just transpired. Then, finally, he groaned, tipping his head back and muttering to the ceiling:

"I have got a crazy woman on my hands."

With a heavy sigh, he barked out toward the door. "Get the spiritualist in here!"

*****

Kade paced the Alpha's chambers. The rumors had spread like wildfire—the Alpha's concubine was on the verge of death. And worse? The whispers suggested that it was after sex with the Alpha.

Kade didn't need two guesses to figure out which concubine it was.

Of course it was Ava. Because which wolfless virgin would be insane enough to climb into bed with Lucas Raventhorn willingly and walk away expecting to be in one piece?

The man had no control over his wolf, that was why everyone was afraid of him. not because they respected him but because they knew that once his wolf surfaced, it always wreaked havoc and the Alpha had no hold on him.

Or in this case... not walk away at all.

He scrubbed a hand down his face, barely resisting the urge to punch a wall. Lanaya, the spiritualist, had taken a trip to human territory weeks ago, and the timing couldn't have been worse. Kade was the only one who had any idea where she had gone, but that was days ago. For all he knew, she could be sipping coffee in a human café right now, completely oblivious that the Alpha's concubine was bleeding out on his bed.

The door creaked open.

Lucas emerged, and Kade felt his muscles tense. The Alpha looked exhausted. Which, under normal circumstances, would be surprising. But not today. Not when Ava was lying behind that door, broken.

For a fleeting second, Kade imagined strangling Lucas. Just a quick, satisfying pop of the neck, and the world would be rid of this reckless, impulsive maniac.

He shoved the thought aside and lowered his gaze. Pretend, Kade. Pretend to be the obedient fool.

"You say Lanaya isn't in town," Lucas muttered, his voice tight. "When did she leave?"

"Three weeks ago, Alpha."

Silence.

Then—

"THEN WHY IN THE HELL IS SHE NOT BACK YET?"

The roar shook the room. Kade clenched his jaw and bowed his head, swallowing the sarcasm that burned at his throat. Because she doesn't live to serve your schedule, Your Majesty.

Lucas exhaled sharply. "Find her. Get her back here. And if she doesn't return before Ava dies, I swear on the moon, Kade, I will personally feed her corpse to every vulture within a hundred-mile radius and shove it down their damn throats."

Kade didn't respond. Just turned on his heel and walked out, already praying to every celestial being in existence that he found Lanaya in time.

Lucas re-entered the room, and his stomach twisted at the sight before him.

Ava, writhing in pain, her body drenched in sweat, her fingers twitching against the sheets.

Damn it.

She was stronger than she looked, he'd give her that. Most people would have begged for mercy. And yet, despite the pain—despite the absolute wreck she was in—she had survived. Barely.

He sat beside her, running a hand through his hair. Manic, his wolf, whimpered in his head, his usual violent rage now replaced with something eerily close to regret.

Lucas exhaled. "I warned you, my little virgin," he murmured, his voice softer than he intended. "I told you—you weren't ready."

Ava, in her delirium, managed to smile.

And Lucas felt his heart stutter.

"Are you getting soft on me, Alpha Raventhorn?" she whispered, voice barely audible.

He huffed, shaking his head. "Yes... yes, Sweetie. I am."

Ava closed her eyes, exhaustion pulling her under. But before she drifted off completely, one last thought flickered in her mind.

Mission accomplished.

Every bone in her body felt shattered. Her insides felt like they had been set on fire and doused in acid.

But it was worth it.

*****

Lucas couldn't eat. Couldn't sleep. Hell, he barely even breathed as he watched Ava slip away before his very eyes.

Pack matters? What pack matters?

Being Alpha took a backseat. He waited on her like some personal servant—something that would have had his warriors snickering if they valued their lives enough to actually snicker.

Nelly had dropped by days ago, bless her heart, trying to help. All she managed to do was bring Ava's fever down, but that was it. The rest? Still a damn mystery.

And then—finally—Lanaya arrived.

Lucas was on her in a heartbeat, his hand around her throat before she could even say hello.

"Next time," he growled, squeezing just enough to make her very uncomfortable, "you tell your Alpha before taking a damned vacation."

Lanaya croaked, her hands scrambling at his wrist. "I went to get supplies for Ava, Alpha. Nolan told me I was needed to get her wolf to surface, but I haven't handled a case like this in years, and I didn't have any of the materials I needed."

Lucas stared at her. Damn it. She was telling the truth. He let her go just as quickly as he'd grabbed her.

"She surfaced briefly," he admitted. "I saw it in her eyes. That's the only reason she's still alive. But what I want to know is why I saw Mara in those eyes."

Lanaya's expression shifted, but she said nothing. Instead, she opened her bag and pulled out a collection of herbs and vials. "If I could just check on her, Alpha, I'll have answers for you."

Lucas didn't say a word. Just turned and led her into the bedroom.

The moment she saw Ava, Lanaya froze.

Ava was deathly pale, her skin almost white. She looked like a ghost, knocking at death's door, just waiting for someone to answer.

Lanaya wasted no time. She began chanting, her hands hovering over Ava's body. A faint white glow shimmered around her, flickering.

Lucas saw the spiritualist stiffen.

"You say her wolf surfaced briefly?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Do I look like a man who enjoys repeating himself?"

"Right. Sorry, Alpha." Lanaya hesitated. "If her wolf surfaced, then it's possible only her wolf can save her. I need to force her out for a couple of minutes."

Lucas tensed. "Won't a transformation kill her?"

"Not if I heavily sedate her. She won't feel a thing."

Lucas exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. He needed a drink. Or a run. Or—hell—maybe he just needed to punch something.

If only Ava hadn't challenged him. If she survives this, he swore to himself, I'm sending her to a house far, far away from me.

She was trouble.

Beautiful, reckless, suicidal trouble.

Lucas was sitting in the living room, glaring at a glass of whiskey, when Lanaya appeared.

"She'll be fine," she announced. "She just needs rest."

Lucas exhaled, relief flooding his system. But then he caught the hesitation in Lanaya's eyes.

"Oh, spit it out," he snapped.

"She's a Child of the Moon."

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Lucas stared at her blankly.

Lanaya sighed. "What I mean to say is, she's more powerful than she realizes. But her body isn't strong enough to handle that power yet, so her wolf is waiting until she's ready."

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "So how long will that take? A week? Ten years? Because I know her well enough to be sure she'll pull the same stunt that got her in this mess again."

Lanaya winced. "I can't say for sure. But I was able to draw some of her wolf's strength to help her body recover. She should be able to handle you now."

She grinned.

Lucas gave her a look. "Good to know."

Lanaya hesitated again. Then, cautiously, she added, "One more thing, Alpha—if I may dare—you might want to think about claiming her. A Child of the Moon carries incredible abilities. This could be... good for the next Alpha."

Lucas snorted. "I don't need to claim her to get her pregnant, do I?"

Lanaya barely held back a facepalm. "No, but to harness the power she carries, you do need to claim her."

"There's a reason I choose not to have children, Lanaya," Lucas pointed out.

"I know." Lanaya folded her arms. "You don't want to be bound to one woman ever again. But... you might want to consider it."

Lucas's expression darkened.

Which brought him to the one question that had been eating at him since the moment Ava's wolf surfaced.

"Why does her wolf look like Mara's?"

Lanaya hesitated. "I don't have that answer, Alpha. But I'll be back tomorrow to check on her."

She bowed and left, leaving Lucas alone with his thoughts.