Defying the Rogue Alpha-Chapter 24: Manic

Lucas stayed up all night, staring into his glass of whiskey.

It did make Lanaya's words easier to swallow.

A Child of the Moon... A strong Alpha...

He poured himself another drink. Had Alpha Leon known about this?

The thought made his jaw clench.

If Leon did know, then it explained everything. Maybe that was why he sent Ava off with him.

Spineless bastard.

Leon had always been the kind of Alpha who would rather send his problems far, far away than actually deal with them.

Lucas huffed, shaking his head. Not his problem anymore.

Instead, he had a new problem.

If he mated with Ava, the pros were—

One, he would have a Luna that kept him busy and entertained albeit completely unhinged.

Two, he would be something close to happy—whatever the hell that felt like. Not that he needed happiness. Happiness was overrated.

Three, he would have a child with insane powers, according to Lanaya. One who could stand up to Dennis if someday Lucas was gone and couldn't protect his pack anymore.

But the cons?

One, Ava would drive him crazy. He would lose his mind in days, turn senile, and probably start talking to trees.

Two, the concubines would start a full-scale war, especially Sarah. She already acted like she owned him. The last thing he needed was her rallying the others into a rebellion.

Three, what if Ava betrayed him? What if she went back to her fated mate?

He groaned, rubbing his face with one hand and downing another glass of whiskey with the other.

The last thing he needed was another Mara situation.

A woman who'd looked at him, at everything they could have been and chosen someone else.

Lucas let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

Maybe Lanaya was right. Maybe Ava was meant to be his Luna.

Or maybe?

Maybe the moon goddess was laughing her ass off right now, watching him suffer.

Either way, the whiskey wasn't helping.

*****

Ava woke up feeling like she'd been reborn. Every ache and pain was gone, her body thrumming with energy. Damn, had she died and come back stronger?

She sat up slowly, blinking at her surroundings.

Lucas was slumped in a chair across the room, one boot propped up on the table, a half-empty bottle of whiskey at his side.

His head was tilted at an angle, lips slightly parted, and for a fleeting moment, he looked...peaceful. Innocent, even.

Ava snorted.

Too bad that illusion would shatter the second he opened his mouth.

Sliding out of bed, she reached for his discarded shirt and shorts, slipping them on before tiptoeing toward the door. She had no idea what time it was, but she had zero interest in sticking around for his inevitable bad mood.

Just as she reached for the handle, his deep voice rumbled behind her.

"What is this? Some kind of walk of shame? You don't say goodbye after a good fuck?"

Ava froze. Her eye twitched.

"You were pretending to be asleep?" she accused, turning to glare at him.

Lucas finally cracked one eye open, smirking. "You have much to learn about me, my little virgin."

"Right."

Lucas sat up, rolling his shoulders lazily. "Is this the thanks I get for saving your life?"

Ava crossed her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip. "Saving my life? Pretty sure you put me in that situation in the first place."

He ran a hand down his face, sighing dramatically. "Ah, back to being mouthy, I see."

Ava narrowed her eyes but took a breath. She had technically been at death's door. Might as well acknowledge that.

"...Thank you," she said softly, genuinely.

Lucas stilled, blinking at her. "That was too easy."

She shrugged. "Damned if I do, damned if I don't."

Lucas stood, stretching as he walked toward her, his presence filling the room.

"You scared the crap out of me," he admitted.

Ava held his gaze. There was something raw behind his words, something unguarded. It made her heart do a weird, stupid thing in her chest.

"So," he continued, rubbing the back of his neck, "I wanted to apologize for hurting you like that. I'll try to control Manic in the future."

Ava raised a brow. "Manic?"

"My wolf."

She nodded. "Truth be told... I knew what I was walking into."

Lucas frowned. "Then why did you?"

Ava hesitated. Then, with a deep breath, she said

"Because..." she paused. "You want the truth?"

"Absolutely."

"I so badly wanted to be more to you than just a means to an end." Her voice wavered slightly, but she held steady. "I guess I was looking for one person to feel more for me."

Lucas exhaled sharply. He closed the distance between them and reached out, his rough fingers brushing against her cheek.

"You are crazy," he murmured. "You have no idea when to stop. No clue when to retreat."

Ava swallowed hard. "So you're saying I'm annoying?"

He shook his head. "I do feel more."

Ava's heart stuttered. She wasn't sure what to do with that. Now was the time to manipulate his feelings for her own gain.

"No, you don't. I know my position. I'm your concubine. I just don't want to feel less than the others." She forced out a chuckle. "I have been made to feel less for so long, and I wanted it to end. That's why I took the risk. So you don't have to say you feel more because you feel guilty.

"Guilty? Me?" His voice was low, dangerous. "I am Alpha Raventhorn. I take even when it is not given to me. You think I give a shit if someone comes to my bed and dies?"

She blinked. "Wow. Romantic... But you always made it seem like I was nothing to you," she pushed.

Lucas groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Because you drive me insane! You...you're a lunatic!"

Ava smirked. "Something tells me you like it."

He rolled his eyes. "I hate it."

"No, you love it."

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"I tolerate it."

"Sure, sure."

His hand snapped out, yanking her into a hungry kiss.

Ava melted instantly, her body responding before her brain could catch up. His lips were both demanding and gentle, possessive but careful. It was the kind of kiss that destroyed all rational thought. She sensed that feeling once more, something inside wanting to claw its way out only this time it was more pronounced, more intense.

Heat pooled in her stomach, her skin felt too tight, and her pulse pounded so hard she could hear it.

She reached for his shirt buttons, desperate to feel more. She wanted that same high that had almost killed her. She needed it.

Lucas pulled back suddenly, clutching desperately to the last shred of control he had left.

Ava let out a sad whine, grabbing onto him.

"What is it?" Lucas asked, his breath uneven.

"I don't know." She swallowed. "I feel... I don't know."

Lucas stiffened. Something in the air shifted. His head tilted slightly, sniffing.

Then, his eyes darkened.

"Lucas?"

He grabbed her arms, steadying her. When he looked into her eyes, his expression changed...

"Oh, fuck." He sighed.

"What?" Ava demanded.

"We have a problem. I think you're in heat," Lucas muttered.

Ava's eyes widened. "What?"

"And I think you have been for a while...I just didn't figure it out."

"I can't be."

"You are. Your wolf is at the surface...I see her and I smell her." he watched the battle going on in Ava's eyes as her eyes switched from gold to brown and back continuously.

Ava gritted her teeth. "Then why the fuck doesn't she just come out?"

Lucas hesitated. He had an answer. But he stayed silent.

Ava grabbed his hand, pressing it against her skin. "I need you to touch me."

Lucas groaned. "I think we should wait."

Ava growled. "I feel like I'm going to die if you don't."

"Ava..."

"Fine! I'll go help myself out."

Lucas let out a frustrated noise. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" he sighed exasperated as Manic took over.

Ava barely had time to react before he yanked her back, throwing her onto the bed.

In an instant, the shirt she was wearing was gone, ripped apart.

Ava blinked up at him, breathless.

Golden eyes.

Lucas wasn't in control anymore.

"Hey! Manic. Hi." She smiled flirtatiously.

Lucas was astounded. No woman had ever thought to converse with Manic before.

Manic growled lowly, leaning closer. "No one else touches you, not even you."

Ava licked her lips. "I need Lucas right now, Manic. Please. Make him touch me. I promise, I will only call your name." She begged, batting her eyes seductively at him.

Lucas, somewhere deep inside, growled furiously.

The manipulative little slut.

Manic satisfied with her submission retreated, shoving Lucas back into control.

Lucas scowled. "You sneaky little thing."

Ava grinned, breathless. "You like it."

Lucas exhaled sharply and bent over her exposed and erect nipples. It had been years he'd had total control over his own sexual pleasure.