Ch. The Lucan Marked me 24 The Lucan Marked me 24

Chapter 24 

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Logan 

I stormed to the throne room with an anger that rivaled that of anybody else. 

Another traitor had been found. I’d suspected, known for a fact, Bruce hadn’t been working 

alone, but receiving Tobe’s message had sealed any doubt that had lingered at the back of my 

mind. Any hope I’d wanted to hold unto that would vindicate my warriors. The prophecy had 

warned me that my kingdom was going to be challenged. I just hadn’t expected members of 

my pack to be on the opposing team. 

The male members of The Inner Circle were gathered in the throne room by the time I 

stepped in. Kael was standing beside a trembling warrior whose name I didn’t care to know 

yet. He was a little younger than most warriors, looking like he hadn’t completed training so 

long ago with his armor slightly too big and barely strapped on right. Not the kind I’d usually 

call into this room, but he was somehow associated with the attack. 

And in this moment, that made him important. 

I took my seat. 

“Bring him forward.” 

He was practically dragged to the center of the room, eyes wide, throat bobbing as he 

swallowed hard. The first thing I perceived was the fear rolling off him in waves. The bastard 

had to be connected somehow, or he wouldn’t be shaking so badly. My wolf stirred, his anger 

at the traitor steadily rising. “What’s your name?” I asked, my tone deceptively calm. 

“L-Luke, Your Majesty,” he stammered, bowing with a jerk that looked more like a flinch. 

“You were stationed around Bruce on the night of the attack. Near the perimeter wall.” 

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Chapter 24 

“Yes, Sir.” 

“Tell me what you saw.” 

“I-I didn’t see anything unusual,” he rushed. “We-I was doing my rounds like normal. I 

swear it.” 

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I raised a brow, leaning slightly forward in my chair. He had to know he was already in deep 

trouble. He’d been summoned to the throne room. And he was leading with that? Still hanging 

on to the hope he could go unscathed without divulging any important information? I made a 

show of frowning. “Nothing unusual. So how did rogues cross the perimeter with no alarm, no 

sound and no blood trail? No noise whatsoever, until they were right inside our walls?” 

He froze. Mouth open. No answer. 

I stood slowly. 

That got his attention. 

He flinched backward like he thought I might shift right then and tear his throat out. 

Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely sure I wouldn’t. “I’m going to ask you again, and you’re going to 

give me a better answer,” I said, each word quiet but sharp. “Because if you don’t, I’ll start to 

assume you were in on it.” 

His eyes darted to Kael, then back to me, panic spreading across his face. “I-I did see 

something! But I didn’t think it mattered-I didn’t know it would lead to-I thought…” 

I stopped a foot away from him. “You thought what?” 

He dropped to his knees. “Bruce. He was acting weird that night. Kept walking the perimeter 

over and over even after his shift was supposed to be over. Said he couldn’t sleep. I didn’t 

think anything of it, he’s always been a little… off.” 

“And you didn’t report it.” 

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Chapter 24 

: 

He shook his head, ashamed, voice cracking. “I didn’t want to get involved.” 

Of course he didn’t. 

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No one wanted to be involved until it was too late, and they realized they already were. I 

wasn’t entirely sure I believed in it. I wasn’t sure how Tobe had known to bring him to the 

throne room, and I didn’t care. He was the key to finding the rest of the other traitors and 

that was all that mattered. I stared at him for a beat, then turned to Kael without a word. Kael 

didn’t need one. “Take him to the lower hold,” I said flatly. “See if he can remember anything 

else that might help us.” 

Kael bows subtly, immediately turning to him. 

Luke began to sob, but I was already walking away. His voice, his excuses; they all blurred 

together with the pulse hammering in my ears. Things were slowly getting more intense. And 

I had to deal with them all on my own. I needed air. I found myself walking and without 

meaning to, I realized I was headed towards the lower village. The path I used to avoid like it 

carried disease now tugged at me. With each step I took I asked myself where I was headed, 

even though deep down, I knew exactly where. 

Soon enough, I was standing in front of her old shack. 

It looked even worse now that she was no longer living in it, and no one had touched it since 

she left. I twisted the door open and stepped in. A gist of memories enveloped me. Had I only 

been here once? I could still remember the anger blazing in her eyes when I’d demanded to 

know why she had turned down my invitation. The way her eyes had sparked every time she 

challenged me with her words. 

Then the other memories came. The ones that happened outside of the shack. How soft her 

voice had gone when she’d said my name. The quiet nights I’d spent on the other side of this 

door, pretending I wasn’t watching over her. I’d taken something so precious from her, sent 

her away so harshly, and somehow, the only place I could breathe…was here. I turned and 

stepped outside of the shack. No use haunting ghosts. As I turned to leave, a single question 

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Chapter 24 

teased my mind. 

Woul carrying the weight of all the things going on in the pack be easier if she was around? 

Yes. 

Yes, it would. 

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The Lycan Marked Me and Walked Away