LUCAS

Being blindsided by the enemy sends pure rage through my body, but I struggle to keep it contained, to hide the depth of my fury from my sweet little mate and her human friend.

They''re busy blaming themselves, and I''m ready to burn the world down for bringing this onto their shoulders.

This Mad Prince has gone too far once again. I already have a large blood debt to pay; this has brought it back to urgent priority.

Aurum paces beneath my skin as I watch my mate push a bowl of stew into Lisa''s trembling hands. The human''s face remains pale, her eyes haunted. Even after proving her strength in battle, she looks fragile enough to shatter.

"You need to eat." Ava''s voice carries that gentle tone she uses with injured wolves. "Please, Lise."

Lisa stares into the bowl as if it holds answers rather than meat and vegetables. "I''m not hungry."

"Just a few bites. The protein will help."

"Kellan." I keep my voice low as I motion him closer. "We need to implement those changes now."

He nods, following me to the corner of the room. "The rotating patrol schedule?"

"Yes. I want the best trackers we have checking the perimeter twice daily."

I tap my fingers against my thigh, considering our options. "Our supply runs will need double the guards. Make sure we have them staggered so no one knows where they''re going. We''ve been too complacent, shopping too close."

"And the taint?"

That''s the real problem. Without Ava''s purification, the corruption will spread. But we can''t risk her, either.

"Any sign of taint, the area gets quarantined immediately. No exceptions."

"The hunting parties won''t like that."

"The hunting parties can starve or adapt. I won''t lose more wolves to this corruption. She''ll still be purifying, just at a slower rate. That''s all."

"Lucas." Ava''s voice draws my attention. She''s gotten Lisa to eat half the bowl, but the human looks ready to fall over. The shadows under her eyes speak of bone-deep exhaustion.

"Deal." I press a kiss to her temple. The familiar spark of our connection tingles across my skin.

Our bond pulses between us, a living thing demanding attention. My fingers tighten in Ava''s hair as her breath warms my chest. The rage still burns hot in my blood, but my focus—our bond''s focus—shifts. The need to hunt transforms into something else entirely.

"You''re tense." Her hands slide up my back.

A growl builds in my chest. That single gentle touch sparks a possessive need to claim. To mark. To lose myself in her scent until nothing exists but us.

In a perfect world, I''d hide her from everyone, burying ourselves in each other as the world burns, just to keep her safe. But life isn''t that easy, and too many people are under our protection.

"Lucas?"

I capture her mouth with mine, knowing the passion burning in me is a byproduct of fear. Fear of losing her, fury at the audacity of our enemies.

She tastes like the savory stew she forced her best friend to eat. And exhaustion. And home. And love.

Her soft gasp feeds the fire burning through my veins. My hands drop to her hips, lifting her against me.

"Need you." The words come out rough. Primal. "Right now."

"Now?" Her eyes are glazed with passion and confusion. "But we..."

I silence her with another kiss, deeper this time. More demanding. Her fingers curl into my shirt as she melts against me. The bond in my chest thrums with approval, with want, with need. It demands more.

I can''t feed it the blood of our enemies, but at least I can deepen the connection between us.

"Now," I confirm. Her neck is warm, her scent blooming from her skin. I can already smell the desire dampening between her legs.

Her pulse races under my lips. "We''re supposed to be planning—"

"Later." I nip at her skin, drawing a sharp inhale from her. "Let me have this moment with my mate. Isn''t our bond screaming for it?"

She shivers as my hands slip under her shirt, tracing the soft skin of her back. The bond floods with her desire, matching mine, amplifying it. The anger transforms completely into raw need.

"You''re impossible." But she''s already tugging at my shirt, her touch eager despite her words.