CHAPTER 128: CHANCE TO DEFEND

Lucien, however, wanted to make sure he had heard it right. Leaning in, his teeth lightly grazed her earlobe as he whispered, "Do you really want more?"

Leia froze for a second, realization dawning on her as the weight of her own words sank in. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly shook her head. "No," she said softly, her hand pressing gently against his chest as she tried to steady the wild rhythm of her heart.

Lucien studied her for a moment, then let out a chuckle. "You do have good self-control, don’t you?" he murmured with a hint of amusement.

His fingers brushed against her cheek as he tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ears, then placed a soft kiss in the center of her forehead. With a playful smirk, he pinched her cheeks lightly.

"But," he leaned in once more before murmuring, "you should listen to your wolf... and your body... every now and then." And with that, he stepped away, leaving her breathless and slightly dazed in the silence that followed.

"Kieran didn’t return yet. Don’t you think you should call once and ask him where he is?" Leia suggested to him.

"He did drop a message earlier that he might be late today. But since you’re worried, I’ll ask him once," Lucien stated. He grabbed the phone from the desk and dialed Kieran’s number.

To his surprise, the number was unreachable. There was hardly any time when anything like this would happen. He again called Kieran, but the response was the same.

Frowning, Lucien mindlinked, but after a certain distance, even links didn’t work. Kieran appeared to be far from him as he was unable to establish any communication.

"What happened? Did he not answer the call?" asked Leia.

"His phone isn’t reachable," Lucien replied with a frown.

"Oh." Leia didn’t put much thought, thinking Kieran must be driving through a forest area. But seeing the worried look on Lucien’s face, she felt otherwise.

"You look troubled," she whispered.

"His phone hardly goes unreachable. I’m unable to mindlink either," Lucien said with a frown.

"Then, talk to his secretary," Leia suggested.

He was quick to dial the secretary’s number.

"Is Kieran there? I would like to speak with him," Lucien said in an urgent tone.

"Pardon me, Alpha. Kieran left for the house an hour ago," the secretary replied. Lucien ended the call upon learning that and again called Kieran.

But the response was the same.

Lucien stepped out of the study. Leia trailed close behind, her heart pounding with unease.

"There’s no way someone could’ve harmed him... right?" she asked, hiding the panic in her tone.

"No one should dare to," Lucien said as he quickened his pace.

In the living room, Ronan was mid-conversation with the house butler when he noticed them approaching. He immediately picked up on the tension in the air.

"Ronan," Lucien called out, "have you spoken to Kieran in the last few hours?"

Ronan frowned. "No. Why? Did something happen?"

"His phone’s unreachable," Leia answered before Lucien could. "And apparently, that’s very unlike him."

"He might just be caught up with work," Ronan offered, trying to ease the tension.

Lucien shook his head firmly. "No. I already spoke to his secretary. Kieran left the office over an hour ago."

He placed his hands on his hips, clearly agitated. "I’m going out to look for him. If he comes back, let me know immediately."

Just as Lucien turned to leave, and Kieran stumbled in.

His face was bruised, his shirt dirtied and jeans torn at the knee.

"Kieran!" Lucien rushed to his side, alarm etched into every line of his face.

Leia and Ronan followed quickly, surrounding him in concern.

"What happened to you?" Lucien asked, gently grabbing his arm for support.

"It’s a long story," Kieran muttered in an exhaustive tone.

Lucien helped him to the couch while the house butler, already reacting to the situation, called for the pack doctor.

Leia hurried to pour a glass of water and handed it to Kieran. "Here."

"Thanks," he murmured, taking a few sips. Once he was done, Ronan quietly took the glass and set it on the table.

Lucien knelt in front of Kieran, inspecting the bruises on his face and hands. The sight made his blood boil.

"Who did this to you?" he growled, eyes narrowing. "Who dared to lay a hand on you?"

"I don’t know exactly who it was," Kieran said, his voice hoarse as he leaned back slightly. "It was a wolf... but not just any wolf. He came out of nowhere, right in front of my car. His strength was unreal, Lucien. I’ve never encountered a wolf like him before."

Lucien’s brows furrowed. "A wolf attacked you?"

Ronan’s eyes widened. "Wait—what? You were attacked by a wolf? Where?"

"Just before the forest stretch begins on the way home," Kieran replied, his fingers absentmindedly touching the corner of his lips. The pain was still fresh, a dull throb that echoed the force of the blow he’d taken.

"He struck me hard across the face. I didn’t even get the chance to defend myself properly. He was too fast."

Lucien’s face turned cold with rage. Without wasting a second, he pulled out his phone and dialed Caleb.

"Search the entire forest perimeter, immediately," he ordered. "A wolf attacked my brother. I want that bastard found."

Leia gently placed a hand on Kieran’s shoulder while Ronan stood silently beside them.

"It seems the work of someone who have enmity with us," Ronan stated.

"No. As I said the strength of the wolf was unmatchable. No alpha holds such a strength in my eyes," Kieran said. "Both of his eyes were of different color and his wolf was bigger than even Lucien’s."

All the eyes fell on Lucien, who was also processing the information.

’Was it an engima?’ Lucien thought.

"I heard some drugs are created to increase the wolf’s strength. Maybe that wolf has taken such a shot," Leia opined.

"Leia, it wasn’t like that. The wolf I had a fight with was just built different," Kieran murmured.