The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast

I look over at Niko with a frown on my face. We’ve stopped in front of the gilded gates where the Elders supposedly live and from what he’s told me, they don’t know he’s here. I suspect he’s about to retaliate for what happened, but I cannot be sure.

“Are you going to tell me why we’re here?” I ask, a sliver of unease slipping down my back. “You haven’t mentioned a thing and to be honest, this is all freaking me out.”

It’s nearly 8 PM; the Gammas are on foot, Maxim is overseeing things back home and Ares is asleep on the backseat in his little chair. Why would he have the Pente out here with us if it wasn’t an infiltration? What does Niko have planned?

Niko reaches over and touches my chin. “Do you trust me?”

I scoff. “What kind of question is that? Of course, I trust you!” I say, then he leans over to place a kiss on my lips.

“Then trust me now. No matter what you see or hear in there, trust me and my words,” he says cryptically and gets out of the car. Walking over to where Ares is, he removes him from his little seat, and hands him over to me with a warm blanket.

I hate being out here in the cold and dead of night with him, but Niko has something planned so I should just trust in him for now.

Taking my hand, he leads us up the stone steps to the mansion while holding something in his other hand. I feel the Gammas are close, but not too close to cause attention to be drawn to them.

I don’t see any guards stationed around the perimeter at all, which I thought was odd until I see Ghost slip around a corner and realize something that makes my heart drop.

Nikolaos might be taking out the Elders tonight.

“Not a word, little rabbit,” he says as he opens the front doors. He knows me so well already that he can pick up on my thoughts and it makes me smile even as unease sets in my heart.

His loud footfalls echo throughout the mansion and yet I still see no guards approaching. The place feels more like a museum than a packhouse - art displayed everywhere, antique furniture and unique contraptions I realize are all torture equipment.

Oh, gross.

We turn a corner where I hear voices; then he walks into what seems to be a dining room where four people are seated having dinner together. They seem ancient, graying, and well dressed; but they jump up when they see Niko, surprise and some fear in their scents.

“What is the meaning of this, Nikolaos?!”

“You can’t just barge in here!”

“Where are the guards!”

They all clamor to get their annoyance and surprise out, the looks on their faces now becoming masks of anger. While they’re looking at Niko with disgust, no one seems to notice me.

in while you’re having dinner together. But you’ve given me no choice, seeing as you’ve refused to

“So you decide to sneak into our home like this? Unforgivable!” she says, slamming her fist on the

asks, looking down at Niko as

them apart, but then he chuckles, looks back at me, and winks.

This is when Niko reaches into the back bag and pulls out something that makes me dry heave - two severed heads - then

return what’s left of your daughters,” he says, and screams erupt around the table. One of the women screams

he whispers,

our agreement; not only do I have a Luna, but an heir,” he says proudly,

high. I’m really not sure what the point of this interaction was, so I turn to Niko with a frown

as we walk down the steps again. “You dragged us out

and shrugs. “Oh, you

close while my jaw drops open at what I’m looking at - Niko has just blown up the mansion with the Elders still inside.

here I slowly hear the four heartbeats

voice low, but he simply shrugs and pulls me close while we walk away.

he says, grinning and I remember his last warning to them. I’m still shaking as he walks us to the SUV, uncertainty gnawing in my gut. This

us?!” I now shriek, knowing this

says with a smile and opens the SUV door

worry about something like this? Niko has put targets on our

only tried to have you and Ares killed, but they’re the reason Mischa killed Bastien’s mate and why my mother was so messed up. Everything starts and ends with them; there was no other way.” He

I say don’t worry, I mean that everything is already taken care of. There will be no blowback from the Elder's family because they all wanted them eliminated; some of them washed their

take a deep breath and allow this news to wash over me. “So…they

my hand to his lips. “They did. I wouldn’t lie to you about something

out a sigh, I lean forward and kiss his stubbled cheek. “Thank you for taking care of the

I have a feeling that I won’t be getting much sleep tonight, seeing as I can already

and a secret smile crosses my lips. Somehow this feels like we can breathe easy after this, but I don’t want to get my hopes

***

Nikolaos

greet the six women who will be arriving from various packs. Maxim tried to get out of getting married, but I told him this needed to be done to secure alliances with these Alphas. just because I acquired Mikhail's territories, doesn't

to my living room to see Maxim and the Gammas waiting. They’re all wearing somber expressions, especially Divan, but I

on your way to a funeral?” I growl as I step inside and the Gammas straighten up but Maxim just rolls his eyes at me. He doesn't say