Chapter Three

Lucy's POV

Finally, the monster who destroyed my family, enslaved my people, and forced me into a loveless marriage might soon face the consequences and I wouldn't have a hand in it. For the first time in years, I felt something unfamiliar— joy.

I hurried to my room, my heart pounding with excitement. Locking the door behind me, I let myself dream of a world without Daven. If he died without an heir, I, as his Luna, would naturally inherit his position. That is unless one of his right hand men got greedy enough to want to rule the pack, like his Beta, tried to usurp me. But I wouldn’t let that happen. I had been through too much to let my rightful claim be stolen.

“One step at a time and I'll reclaim this pack. I'll sit where I should sir and my people will be set free.”

I pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, my hands trembling with anticipation. I started writing down the first draft of my plan. The main thing to do was rallying my people—the remnants of the Bloodbath Pack who now worked in Daven’s mines. They were broken but not defeated. If I could get them to stand with me, we could take back what was ours.

I woke up with the sunlight on my face. I got off the bed, still giddy with my hope of a better life now that Daven was closer to his death.

I dressed carefully, choosing a simple yet flattering outfit. My reflection showed not a defeated captive but a determined woman ready to reclaim her life.

My first stop was the dry-cleaning area. Rosa, one of the few people in this pack I could confide in, might already have heard the news. Sharing it with her would double the satisfaction. But Rosa wasn’t there. Instead, I overheard some workers talking in hushed tones.

“Important guests are coming to the packhouse today,” one of them said.

“Who do you think it could be?” asked another.

I frowned. Guests? What kind of guests were important enough to warrant such secrecy?

Before I could hear more, a deep voice startled me. “Luna Lucy.”

I turned to see one of Daven’s guards standing behind me. His expression was neutral, as always, but his presence irritated me.

“Yes?” I said, trying to keep my tone even.

“Alpha has been discharged from the hospital. You are expected to dress appropriately to welcome the guests later today.”

“Who are the guests?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He ignored me, turning on his heel and walking away without another word. Typical. They acted that way after delivering their message.

I sighed, filing the information away for later. Whoever these guests were, they weren’t my priority right now. I had more pressing matters to attend to.

Instead of heading back to the packhouse, I slipped out unnoticed. If I wanted to free my people, I needed their support, and the best way to know their level of willingness was to visit the mines. It was risky, but I had no choice. Most of the surviving members of the Bloodbath Pack worked there, enduring backbreaking labor under Daven’s cruel rule.

When I arrived at the mines, the sight before me made my blood boil. My people looked like shadows of their former selves, their faces gaunt, their bodies bent over from exhaustion. The air was thick with the stench of sweat and anguish. It took everything in me not to rush in and scream at the guards who oversaw them like heartless machines.

I found a secluded spot behind a pile of rocks and tried to get the attention of one of the workers. “Psst!” I whispered, waving my hand.

A woman glanced in my direction but quickly looked away, her fear was clear in her eyes. My heart sank. They were too scared to even acknowledge me.

I tried again, this time directing my whisper toward an older man who used to be one of my father’s most loyal warriors. His eyes flicked toward me briefly, but before he could respond, one of the guards turned in my direction.

Panic gripped me. I crouched lower, praying I wouldn’t be seen. Just as I was about to retreat, I turned and collided with a solid wall of muscle.

The contact knocked the breath out of me. I stumbled back, looking up to see who—or what—I had bumped into.

“Watch where you’re going,” a deep, smooth voice said.

Standing before me was a man unlike anyone I had ever seen. He was tall—easily over six feet—with a broad chest and arms that seemed capable of bending steel. His chiseled jaw and high cheekbones gave him an almost regal appearance, while his piercing blue eyes held a mixture of curiosity and amusement. His dark hair, slightly ruffled, framed his striking face perfectly.

For a moment, I forgot where I was. The world around me seemed to fade as I stared at him, captivated. My heartbeat doubled, and a strange heat spread through my body.

He cocked an eyebrow, clearly amused by my reaction.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“I—yes, I’m fine,” I stammered, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.

We stood there, locked in each other’s gaze, as if the rest of the world didn’t exist. My mind screamed at me to move, to say something, but I couldn’t. His presence was overwhelming, almost magnetic.

“Shaun!” A male voice broke the spell, sharp and hurried.

“What the fuck are you still doing there? Haven’t you seen everything you wanted to see? Seth and I are leaving in the next sixty seconds, so hurry up if you don’t want to walk all the way to meet Dad.”

The man—Shaun, apparently—sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Relax, Seth,” he called back. “I’ll catch up.”

He turned back to me, his expression softening into a sly, almost mischievous smile.

“I hope we meet again,” he said, his tone laced with something that made my stomach flutter.

Before I could respond, he walked away, leaving me standing there like a fool. My heart was still racing as I watched him go, his broad shoulders disappearing into the crowd.