Chapter 2

Selena's POV

I crashed hard onto the scorching floor.

The wolfsbane had spread to my chest—every heartbeat felt like knives stabbing through my ribs.

In my blurred vision, that tall figure drew closer.

The sharp scent of cedar mixed with cold metal in his pheromones made me instinctively want to submit.

Pure Alpha dominance.

Lucas, Alpha of the Blackwood Pack.

What was he doing here?

Wasn't he supposed to be thousands of miles away at Blackwood Corporation headquarters?

I struggled to open my eyes to see his face clearly, but my eyelids felt heavy as lead.

A massive burning beam broke loose from above, plummeting straight toward me.

I didn't even have the strength left to dodge.

But the expected agony never came.

My body lifted into the air, landing in a broad, solid, and cold embrace.

BOOM!

The beam that could have crushed me to pulp was shattered by the force of Lucas's single hand, exploding into countless sparks.

"Selena."

His voice was deep and rough, with a slight shake.

I managed to crack my eyes open and met his arctic eyes.

The usually aloof and ruthless Alpha now had bloodshot eyes.

"You..." The moment I opened my mouth, I coughed up black blood.

Lucas's expression instantly became terrifying, the air around us seeming to freeze.

He saw my mangled right leg and the sickly green wolfsbane poison seeping from the wound.

"Who left you here alone?" His voice was ice-cold.

"Derek..." I smirked weakly. "He went to save his true love."

Lucas's jaw tightened, deadly intent flashing in his eyes.

"He's a dead man."

Without another word, he stripped off his expensive tailored suit jacket and wrapped me tightly in it.

"I've got you," he said quietly.

He was incredibly gentle, moving with extreme care as if I were made of glass.

It was a complete contrast to the savage power he'd just displayed crushing that beam with his bare hand.

Leaning against his chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat, my frayed nerves finally snapped.

My eyes suddenly stung, and I fought back tears.

In my past life, I had screamed and despaired in the flames until I turned to ash, and no one had come for me.

But now, this man who stood at the pinnacle of power in the shifter world had charged into this inferno for ME.

Lucas carried me out of the blaze in long strides.

The night wind hit my face and cleared my head.

Several black helicopters circled overhead while dozens of fully armed elite wolf guards had secured the scene.

"Alpha." A lieutenant approached respectfully, shock flickering in his eyes when he saw me.

"Get the medical team—I want the BEST trauma unit ready NOW," Lucas barked. "And seal off every exit. Nothing leaves this area."

"Yes, sir!"

I was carefully placed in the helicopter's medical bay.

Doctors immediately swarmed around me, beginning treatment on my wounds.

Lucas remained by my side the entire time, his cold hands gripping mine without ever letting go.

"Bite down on this if it hurts," he said quietly, offering his forearm.

I looked at the solid muscle of his arm and shook my head.

"This pain is nothing," I said coldly.

Compared to the betrayal I'd suffered in my past life, this physical torment was barely worth mentioning.

Lucas's gaze darkened as he gently brushed away the sweat-dampened hair from my forehead.

"No one will ever hurt you again." His voice was quiet but meant every word.

Looking at him, I understood—this man wasn't making empty promises.

As the helicopter slowly lifted off, I gazed through the window at the camp below, now reduced to ruins.

Derek, you thought you were abandoning dead weight?

You threw away a destiny you could NEVER reach in this lifetime.