Chapter: 19

I worried my lower lip between my teeth. "Can I ask, though... why did you do it? Everyone was protecting what mattered to them; we don't even know each other."

He shook his head, his smile fading into something softer. "You may not know me, but I know you."

He slipped a hand into his pocket and then stretched it to me. My eyes scanned the contents.

"Out of the Shadows," I read out loud, looking up at Lucian in question.

"Im the Alpha of the Shadowveil Pack in the south," he said.

"And the president of—" I glanced at the card again. "Out of the Shadows.”

Lucian nodded. "It's a relief organization dedicated to helping wolfless and vulnerable wolves—Omegas, outcasts, rogues." He shrugged. "If a wolf needs help, OTS is there."

Well, that explained a lot.

"That's..." Noble, impressive, awe-inspiring. For someone who had spent her whole life being ridiculed and cast aside for being wolfless, it was a dizzying relief to find out that there was someone out there —a whole ass organization—who cared that much for my kind.

"You said you knew me," I said. "How?"

Lucian leaned in, bracing his elbows on his thighs. "I did some business with your late father—my condolences, by the way."

I shrugged, ignoring the twinge of pain in my chest. It felt strange and uncomfortable receiving condolences for a man who'd hated me up until he drew his last breath.

"But there was another reason why I attended his funeral,” Lucian continued.

I cocked my head, frowning as he said, "I heard Edward Lockwood's eldest daughter was wolfless."

I could almost hear my mental walls slamming up, iron gates locking.

"What is this?" I hissed. "Were you targeting me? Did you save me so you could—"

"I saved you because you were in danger," Lucian said simply. "And I'm here to check up on your well-being."

"Are you checking up on all the other wolves you saved?"

"No," he answered honestly.

"So... why me?" "Because I want you to join my organization." I blinked. "What?"

He nodded. "You're an Alpha's daughter, an Alpha's sister, and an Alpha's wife—"

"Ex-wife," I corrected immediately.

Something twinkled in Lucian's eyes as he nodded. "Forgive me—ex- wife. Either way, I believe your identity and experiences could inspire many werewolves facing similar... disadvantages." It was a kinder word than the ones I'd heard my whole life: disability, problem, impairment.

I snorted. "I'm not role-model material."