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R E U N I T E D

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"What sort of relationship do you have with Irina?" Lucas inquired as the two men walked side by side, the moon lighting their path and guiding them along the way. He was not usually this straightforward and impulsive, especially when it came to a mere stranger. Even while he was amongst friends, Lucas was always rather cautious with his words. Tonight, however, it seemed like he had no control over his curiosity. For years he had been searching for a lead which could possibly help him locate the missing princess but never was he able to catch a break. Not until tonight that was. Now that he had finally found someone who knew of her whereabouts, he couldn't allow the opportunity to slip through his fingers. He had to make amends. It was the only way to relieve his heavy heart.

Xavier tilted his head back and stared up at the sky. His mind then wandered to Lyra and his heart shriveled a little more, wilting like a flower with the arrival autumn. His jaw then tightened, the muscles twitching as his eyes darkened. "I don't believe that's any of your business," he answered coldly. Xavier wasn't a fool. He knew exactly who Lucas Vanderbilt was. He was the nephew of the current king, the man who had been in charge of having his beloved and her family publically executed in front of the entire capital. The man Xavier hated with a fiery passion because he had taken away the only thing he had ever loved.

Although Lucas and Edwin had the same blood running through their veins, giving Xavier a justified reason to kill him without burdening his conscience, he couldn't bring himself to do so. From the information he was able to collect, it seemed like Lucas was innocent. He did not have knowledge about his family's treasonous plot, which meant he could not be held accountable for the actions of his kin. If Xavier allowed himself to be blinded by rage, he would be no different than those monsters. He also couldn't allow Irina to suffer the same miserable fate he had experienced when he had lost Lyra. She might claim to loathe Lucas with every fiber of her being but that was her brain speaking, not her heart.

All of these years Xavier had been keeping an eye on Lucas, monitoring his every move in order to understand what kind of person Irina's mate was. And, as much as he hated to admit it, Lucas Vanderbilt was as righteous as they made them. He was a detective who believed in protecting the weak and punishing the corrupt. He was a man who was adored for his bravery and dedication. He was a man who'd sacrifice his own life in order to save someone else's. His father and uncle may be spawns of Satan, but Lucas surely was not.

It was because of this very reason Xavier was convinced that he could leave Irina in Lucas's care. Although Xavier found Lucas trustworthy, he couldn't help it as he still had his doubts. He'd witnessed firsthand how greed could easily taint the hearts of humans, turning them into beasts who did not know better. Thus, he could only pray Lucas was not one who'd be swayed by the power his family had so desperately craved for. The test has only begun. He must have figured out her identity by now. There was no way he could still be in the dark about that. However, despite her title as a fugitive and being a threat to his family, Xavier was positive Lucas would not harm her. He had risked his own life by crossing over into the lands owned by the Rogues for crying out loud! It was simply not in his nature.

As they continued to tread through the vast forest in silence, Lucas scanned their surroundings. Every half mile or so, he would take note of certain landmarks that would help him find his way back in case things went amiss. There was no harm in playing it safe. He did not know a thing concerning the man who was accompanying him which meant precautions were a must. One mistake and Lucas could very well end up cold before the morning sun even had the chance to rise.

As a detective, he often believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt, but that did not necessarily mean he'd let his guard down. He's learned through experience that the world he lived in could be a horrifying place, a never-ending nightmare nobody could escape. As they continued to tread through the vast forest in silence, Lucas scanned their surroundings. He didn't notice anything peculiar, but he still remained on high alert.

"Wait here," Xavier ordered as they came to a halt in front of a two story cabin with a fence as high as ten feet bordering it. Lucas was certainly taken aback by the scene as he examined the structure, his interests peaked. He'd always heard that the people who dwelled in these lands led a rather barbaric lifestyle. However, from what he was seeing now, this seemed like anything but barbaric. Utterly fascinated, Lucas watched as Xavier pushed the gate open and sauntered inside. At the door, a middle-aged woman greeted him and Lucas couldn't help but question her identity. She couldn't be Irina. She looked much older. Perhaps she was someone who knew of the fallen princess?

After a brief exchange, Xavier returned. He made sure to shut the gate behind him before he prodded Lucas to follow along. As they drew closer to the Alpha's home, Irina's scent grew stronger and stronger. Xavier's heart became anxious and he did his best to calm it down, afraid he'd give himself away. There was no turning back. He was really going to do this. To be candid, Xavier did not know what he was expecting. This stunt of his could go either way. Lucas could wind up being the rope that pulls Irina away from the edge of the cliff or the last push, which sends her over to her demise. At this point, they'd just have to wait and find out. Hopefully, he would be the former.

Lucas caught a glimpse of what looked like uncertainty taking over the man's features and uneasiness consumed him, the pit of his stomach slowly knotting up. What if this had been a trap all along? Was he starting to feel guilty now? Possible scenarios began to whirl around in Lucas's mind and he mentally prepared himself for what may come next. He might be outnumbered, but he refused to go down without a fight. He was prepared to defend himself until death. Would it be a smart idea if he attacked first? With his hands clenched into fists and his jaw flexed, Lucas sucked in a deep breath as he counted down from three.

When he reached one, Xavier whirled around and caught him by surprise. Had he anticipated this? "You have to be ready," the man warned. His words, without a doubt, bewildered Lucas and he furrowed his eyebrows, unsure what to make of the situation. Had he been right? Did the guilt finally get to him? Was that why he was trying to warn him now? "Irina isn't the same girl she used to be..." At the sound of her name, the tension in Lucas's body dissipated as his expression softened.

"What do you mean by that?" he inquired. Was he referring to her personality or her physical state? It would not be strange if she did not look exactly like the girl in his memories since five years have passed. Everyone changed with time. As for her personality... the thought hadn't even crossed Lucas's mind. From the books he'd read, research had shown that most people had the same personality throughout their entire lifetime. Thus, he figured Irina would be no exception. However, he underestimated the influence a trauma could have on its victim and he would soon discover that the world was not everyone in the world was the same. Eventually, his naivety would lead to his demise.

"You will see," Xavier replied with a sigh. "Rest assured. I will do my best to protect you if things do go awry."

The muscles in his body tightened again as that perturbing feeling came rushing back, causing his stomach to lurch in anxiety. Why would his meeting with Irina go awry? Nothing was making sense to him. He wanted to ask the man to explain himself further but before he had the chance to do so, a third party joined them. Lucas's heart hitched at the sight of the familiar woman standing no more than ten yards away from him but he did not think much of the action. Those alluring auburn eyes of hers appeared, bringing the memories of that stormy day with them. She had most definitely grown and blossomed into a fair lady, just as he'd expected. Her presence had immediately put him at ease and the corners of his lips pulled up, a small smile now painted over his face. This hadn't been a trick after all. Irina really was here. She was alive and well.

His mouth then fell ajar as her name sat on the tip of his tongue. Unfortunately, Lucas was not granted the opportunity to speak as Irina's voice echoed through the forest first. He thought her words would be directed toward him but they were not. "What have you done, Theodore Hollandswey?" Her tone was clipped, nothing like what Lucas remembered. Anyone could tell she was all but pleased, yet he had not the slightest clue as to why she sounded so—hostile. Next, he stole a glimpse of the man beside him, whom he presumed to be Theodore, and glanced back at the young woman. Neither one of them uttered another syllable. Their eyes, however, spoke volumes.

* * *

As she thought of Kaleb's unruly behavior, Irina huffed in agitation. He could be so unbearably childish sometimes, and she hated herself for not being able to resist his seductive charms. She could not deny that Kaleb was incredible in bed, but that did not mean she was going to admit that to him or anyone else. His ego was already big as it was. It did not need to get any bigger. While her mind was occupied with ways to settle the score with him, her heart began to race. She took note of the peculiar behavior almost instantly, her hand now resting on top of the loud organ. What was going on? She touched her forehead but did not detect any signs of an oncoming fever.

Her brows kissed at the center of her forehead and she slowly rose to her feet. Suddenly, his scent infiltrated her system and her inner-wolf started to stir. Irina's eyes proceeded to double in size once she realized what was going on. Her mind was in complete disarray as she tried to get a hold of the situation. A flood of emotions crashed against her heart and she scurried out of the room in haste. She ignored the maids who greeted her and headed out through the back door. His scent was growing stronger and stronger and Irina skidded to a stop when she caught sight of them.

He was here. Lucas Vanderbilt was really here. A lump formed in the back of her throat, clogging her windpipe, and she could feel her body quivering. Those daunting nightmares slammed into her without mercy, bringing back the horror she had tried to forget, as tears began to well up in her eyes. She could not cry. She could not show them her weakness. Fighting against the urge with nearly every fiber in her being, Irina managed to hold her head high and shifted her gaze toward Xavier. How could he do this to her?

Angry wouldn't even begin to describe the chaos she was currently experiencing as a whirl of emotions bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Then, the stench of blood suddenly enveloped Irina, swallowing her whole. The agonizing shrieks of those people who'd once pledged their loyalties to her and her family rang loud in her ears and she shuddered involuntarily as she recalled their limp and lifeless bodies sprawled throughout the castle. Her head started to pound but before her condition had the chance to get worse, her claws and canines appeared. Consumed with spite, Irina turned back toward the trespasser and gnarled at him.

Finally, it dawned on Lucas. Was she, perhaps, already aware of his identity and the role his kin had in the persecution of her entire family? Was that why the man had offered Lucas his protection? Irina had every right to be furious. Lucas could not blame her. What his family had done went beyond the realms of cruelty. However, he refused to believe she'd hurt him. She couldn't possibly do such a thing. He was proven wrong when she lunged for him, arms outstretched, and an inhuman growl escaping her lips. Her claws nearly ripped off a piece of his flesh but he managed to jump back and avoid her attack. True to his word, Xavier had stepped in and used his own body to create a barrier between the two of them.

"Calm down, Irina," he ordered with his hands placed in front of him. "You don't want to do this. You're only going to regret it if something bad happens to him." Rendered speechless by what had just occurred Lucas could only watch as the young woman continued to glare at him, her auburn eyes burning with nothing but pain and hatred. Lucas felt his heart plummet into his gut once he realized that the people whom he shared his blood with were responsible for this. The guilt that had been troubling him thus far intensified, gnawing away at his insides as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. She looked so—hurt. How foolish she must have felt when she had learned she'd saved the boy she had every reason to despise.

"How about you let me kill him first and we'll see whether or not I regret it or not," she returned, her voice stone-cold. "I can promise you that I won't though." One corner of her lip twitched upward and an army of chills ran down his spine as Lucas tried to remain composed. She was serious. She wanted him dead. The girl he'd met years ago was nowhere to be found. No matter how hard he searched, there were no remnants of the old Irina for him to salvage. She really wasn't the same girl she used be. How was he supposed to mend the wounds her heart was clearly covered in? He couldn't even begin to imagine how much she must have suffered alone. How was he supposed to move on with his life when she was still trapped in the dreadful past?

"You know there's no way I'm going to allow that to happen," Xavier said firmly. Over the years Irina's strength might have improved, but she was still no match for him. They were both well-aware of that fact which explained why she hadn't made her next move. If he didn't have the ability to protect Lucas, he would have never brought him here. It would be no different than granting the lad a death sentence! Xavier wasn't that reckless. "He's going to be leaving this place alive."

"Very well," hummed the girl. "Tearing a few of his limbs will be just as satisfying." Before Lucas's brain had the time to process her words, Irina shifted into her wolf form, the dress she had been wearing ripped into shreds. With a single leap, she got rid of the distance keeping them apart and Lucas clamped his eyes shut, waiting for the impact. It never came though. Instead, a gust of wind passed by him. A loud thump soon followed. Slowly, he opened his eyes and his mouth fell ajar when he found the white wolf lying on the ground next to him. He glanced up at Xavier before he crouched down beside Irina.

"What did you do? Is she hurt?" he panicked as he examined her for any injuries.

Xavier exhaled and tucked the small vile away for safe keeping. "Relax. It was only sprinkle of Wolf's bane. It will keep her tamed and behaved for the time being." Lucas looked back up at him with his eyebrows bunched together. It was obvious he was not please and Xavier quirked an eyebrow in response. "Unless, of course, you prefer having your body parts not attached to your body. That can still be arranged."

Lucas didn't speak another word and let out a defeated sigh. "You're positive it won't harm her? I heard that flower can be lethal."

"If it came into contact with a mere human, yes. It is, indeed, deadly," Xavier explained, nodding his head. "To us wolves, however, the effect is not as extreme. We're weakened a great deal depending on the amount we are exposed to but it wears off, eventually. In a few hours, Irina will be able to mutilate you again but by then you'll be back in Elysium and she won't be able to do a thing. Now give me your coat."

"Why?" Lucas questioned. He heard soft moaning and turned to check on Irina. His eyes rounded at the sight that greeted him and a deep layer of blush cascaded over his cheeks. Hastily, he averted his gaze. She was human again but completely naked this time! Flustered and baffled by the sudden change, Lucas shrugged his coat off and covered her with it while his attention was focused on a random tree across the way. He should have just done what was asked of him instead of being so damn curious! The vibrant color in the younger man's complexion did not go unnoticed as Xavier stifled a chuckle and shook his head.

Lucas Vanderbilt truly lived up to his reputation.

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Author's Thoughts: It's been forever. I'm sorry; classes have been hectic but the semester is almost over. I hope you all can wait for me! Please take care of yourselves for the time being, okay? Please do leave comments. I'd love to hear what you think.