I wake to pain.

Pain and an unbelievable pressure on my chest.

Am I dead? I don’t know, but if this is death somebody lied because this pain is ridiculous! After huffing out a few pained breaths I know I’m not dead but… how is that possible? I’m positive I died, I was shot in the chest, that’s not usually something you live through and besides, that Lycan poured that stuff on me and made it hurt even more. Getting shot in the first place wasn’t the most comfortable experience but that stuff somehow made it worse. It’s a strain but I manage to open my eyes and am surprised to find the room I’m in is dark. Frustratingly, I can't move beyond that. The blanket covering me feels more like a sheet of lead than a quilt. I decide that if this is how I’m supposed to spend eternity after dying I am going to get very bored, very quickly. I try to speak, maybe if I can call someone's attention I can get some answers about what the heck happened and where I am (dead or not). The effort just to get the air out is a strain however, and all I hear is a thready moan… Well I sound alive, and pretty terrible.

There's a rustle to my left and I try to look over but it takes too much effort. I can hear whoever is there walk away though and then I hear a door open. The light that filters in is too bright even though I’m pretty sure it’s dim, I still hiss in reaction and the sudden throbbing in my head.

“T-to bright…” I rasp out my throat aches but at least I say actual words this time, that’s an improvement.

“Say that again woman? I could not hear you properly from the doorway.” A voice says to me from I assume the direction of the door. It was elegant, smooth, and formal, very unlike the way the Lycan man had spoken. There's an accent there, not east coast, something older, richer but I can’t say where it’s from. When I risk my eyes opening again the door must have been closed to only a crack. The filtering light still makes my eyes water but it’s easier to adjust to and I let out a breath. Before I can reply to the person beside me I can hear hurried footsteps, like whoever was approaching was not running but only just barely restraining themselves. The door opens fully once more. At least by now my eyes have adjusted to the light so it’s not searing when it floods the room illuminating what turns out to be a thick fancy canopy of the bed I’m lying in. The steps approach and I hear a voice before a face comes into my line of sight leaning over me, feeling the bed dip a little where he must be bracing himself.

“She’s awake? Hey, can you hear me?” That voice belongs to the Lycan man from before. Only that doesn’t make any sense, why is he here, where is here? I have to many questions, and probably the most important is

“H-how…” The word is still hard and it makes my throat sting but I get it out and each word I can say is one more possible answer so I don’t mind the ache. The Lycan man smiles a little and huffs out a laugh. He leaves my line of site for a second then the mattress dips further and I realize he’s sitting next to me.

“A witches potion. It’s not going to bring back the dead but if you get it on a wound before someone dies it’s an almost guarantee it’ll keep you alive.” he explains. A potion? That’s kind of wild. I know potions are amazing, almost all my money went to them after all. The potions help my mom manage her pain much better then any of the current medications available. They aren’t cheap though just pain management ones keep us close to the poverty line. Something as powerful as what the Lycan man is suggesting is beyond a price I can fathom.

“Time’sit?” I slur out, I hate how weak I feel but considering the alternative I guess I should be glad I can speak at all.

“Well it’s about three in the afternoon… on a Wednesday.” the Lycan said glancing at a watch that probably cost more then my apartment. Each second I spend with this man is making me more and more uncomfortable with the realization he’s probably going to expect a heavy debt for this.

Wait…

“WED-” My yelp is cut off by harsh hacking coughs and pain ripping through my chest. The man moves to hold onto my shoulders stopping me from jerking too hard as I cough my way through the pain until I can breathe freely again. Note to self yelling is a bad idea.

“There you go, just take it easy alright? Just relax I can guess what you're going to ask I’ll bet, so I’ll try to explain. First, however; let me introduce myself. I am Lucian Ferris, Alpha of the Clawed. You're currently in my home recovering after you were shot during an altercation in the grey district… you saved my life.” he said adding the last detail as if it amuses him. The Alpha… he was the Alpha. Aside from wondering why the hell the Alpha of the Clawed was in the grey district at all I find myself vaguely ill with the realization I am at the mercy of one of two of the most powerful beings on the ‘other side’.

“The bullet that shot you was made specifically for a powerful Lycan. We managed to extract it and stabilize you with the help of the witches potion but you need a lot more care. The potion kept you alive and helped with recovery but you still have a long way to go even with the help of that magic.” he explains gesturing to my chest or at least where it is under the blanket

“The bullet clipped your rib and was jerked up in trajectory, you’re lucky it missed your heart.” he explains as he taps the left side of his chest showing me where the wound is. “Between that and the meds we’ve had you on I’m not surprised you’ve been asleep so long. You came around a couple times but not fully and then went back down, and fell back asleep. I’m glad you're awake properly now, you gave us a heck of a scare a couple of times.” he says with an easy smile that I don’t know how to react to, it’s like he’s relieved, but wasn’t he mad? I had been in so much pain, I remember him holding me, pressing the wound, and the pain, heck it was the screaming that made my throat hurt now.

“I don’t… get it…” His head cocks to the side brow arched in mild confusion as if asking me to clarify before understanding dawns in his expression

“You don’t know why I helped you?” he guesses which allows me to just nod, a relief on my throat

“Well, aside from the fact you saved my life, even if we didn’t know the extent of it at the time, you’re one of the grey district enforcers aren’t you? I believe you are perhaps under the banner of Don Zora? He’s one of the dons who is willing to work with us on the other side and I respect his respect. I also understand he has very strict rules for his people. This whole situation was completely out of the norm from the beginning. The kid wanted a fight, he wanted to shoot a Lycan, obviously not me specifically but he had an end goal. Unfortunately in the fuss he was dealt with before he could be questioned. My aide had thought he’d managed to shoot me at first and acted on instinct. I ask that you forgive him, he certainly spoiled your attempts at saving the boy.” Lucian explains his eyes flicking to my left. That must be who was there and spoke before so the shadowy being was his aide?

“You have my apologies for my sudden action my Alpha.” that same smooth voice from before said in a prim tone not at all apologetic.

With a bit of effort I let my head fall to the side and look at the figure, no longer shrouded in shadow he’s startlingly pale. His figure is slender where Lucian is broadly built, his short white blond hair swept strictly back from his face and thin rim glasses perched on a long slim nose. He’s very strictly pressed and dressed and holds himself in such a way I’d have expected him to salute. Sharp is the best word I have. Everything about the man is sharp from the curt nod he gives me once I lay eyes on him to the ‘apology’ he offers in that same smooth voice which seems so different to his appearance. Then again who am I to judge?

“It’s ok? Con…considering the situation… I get it.” I manage and to my surprise there's a slight lift to the corners of the man's mouth as if he appreciates my reassurance. That does make me more aware of the situation we’re in though. Lucian said the bullet was made to kill a Lycan, those aren’t easy to come across, and for a newbie in the group there's no way the kid had funds or connections for something like that.

“There's a bigger problem.” I say simply a scowl on my face while Lucian nods at my words. I don't have to say it for him to understand it, that’s new…

“You’re a clever one too it seems. Yes we figured that as well, for the moment your survival from the shot has been… kept under wraps not even Don Zora is aware of your survival. Until we know all the details it’s simply safer that way, it’s entirely possible that whoever set this up will make a misstep having killed a mediator.” he hums out. I hate that, this guy is playing chess with my life as a piece and I’ve never wanted that. I only work for Demetri because of our history, an old and dear family friend. His father had been friends with my father and Demetri and his younger sister had been my friends. Then of course there was the incident which just solidified us as nigh on inseparable. Even when he took over the family business, so to speak, we stayed close. That doesn’t mean I am part of the ‘family’, I know that bothers some people but anyone with power is well aware of the arrangement and have accepted it. It’s this closeness we have that means I know without a doubt he has nothing to do with the attack.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Demetri is clean. He would never clear something like this and he’ll have ears in places you don’t, I say we let him know. I can give him the full account of the incident and he'll also be able to look into who was in charge of recruiting the kid.” I say wanting to sit up but lacking the strength. This is hardly a way to organize a plan for discovering what exactly was going on. I might not be the smartest when it comes to strategies but even I can tell something is wrong here.

“You don’t really need to worry about that, you can just rest and trust us to handle it.” came the smooth voice of Lucians aide and despite what I assume is an attempt at reassurance I shake my head.

“No,” I say firmly, noticing the aide's startled expression but going on, “I may not be a Zora but Demetri is as close to me as a brother, if somethings going on with his people he could be in danger too. I’m not going to leave him flapping in the wind for whoever thinks they can overstep their authority in the family. I appreciate the offer to handle things but I’m not staying out of this. Injured or not.” I state firmly noticing that same odd smile curving Lucians lips before he gives a nod

“I think that sounds reasonable.” he says again with a hint of amusement in his voice, what is it about what I say that he thinks is so funny?

“You know, you really pushed the line for a while there. We really thought you were going to die but here you are barely awake for an hour and ready to run in guns blazing. What exactly does a man need to do to win that kind of loyalty?” Lucian asks, leaning close. Stuck as I was I couldn’t lean away even if I wanted to so instead I meet his gaze steady and unwavering.

“Not whatever you’re thinking I’m sure. I have two people in life I care about at all. My mom and Demetri, they are my family and I will protect them, simple as that.” I state plainly my eyes never looking from his and for a moment I swear that grey turns to a molten milky silver, but a blink and it’s gone a figment of my imagination and the darkness.

“I can’t help feeling at a disadvantage laying here like this though, can you at least help me sit up?” I ask after a moment of silence. Lucian nods and between him and the aide whose name turned out to be Reginald, he preferred Gin, I’m sitting up resting back against a pile of pillows. I feel a little better already just being upright, but getting there was more exhausting than I want to admit. A glance around now gave me a better idea of the room. It is… really nice actually. All the furniture is a rich dark wood polished to an almost mirror shine, antique brass fittings and elegant scrollwork carved into the wood, the kind of craftsmanship that I can only dream about. The kind of thing I wish I could provide for mom. The bed itself is huge, a beautiful canopy with heavy velvet curtains that were tied back with fancy gold cord ending in puffy tassels. I’m on the left most side close to the edge, and frankly I bet beside me three whole other people could fit in the thing. This is not a bed meant for one person.

On the wall to my right are two large swaths of heavy velvet curtain effectively cutting out the light from the room. Across from me against the facing wall is a large dresser and a charming ladies makeup table with an elegant heavy mirror. I manage to catch my reflection in the mirror and realize then just how bad I look. My skin is normally pale, I’ve never held much colour but now I just look like death. My eyes and cheeks are a bit sunken as if I’d gone a few weeks without eating as opposed to a couple of days, then again the potions mom takes require her to eat a lot so that makes sense. I guess magic just burns through your energy, seems like a pretty low cost for such amazing power.

“Is everything to your liking?” Lucian asks finally and I can’t help chuckling and giving an exaggerated sigh that I regret almost instantly

“Well I guess it’ll do.” I hum out while Gin makes a disgruntled noise not seeming to realize I was joking, however Lucian let out a rumbling laugh

“Well that’s reassuring after all I can’t have the woman who saved my life be unsatisfied.” he said, again bringing that up. It’s more than a little embarrassing, why is he laying it on so thick? Is he looking for something, did he think I have some ulterior motive? I hate not knowing. Even sitting up I still feel like I’ve been tossed into a chess game with new rules no one explained to me.

“Look I appreciate all your care. You could have left me there to bleed out but you didn’t. Right now though? I feel like you're trying to dig something from me I don’t have so, can we be straight with each other please? I’m not good at mental games on the best of days and right now I’m just too tired to be playing whatever game you have going.” I state frankly, Lucian looks surprised at that before huffing out a sigh. Before he could speak he was raising a hand as Gin made to object to what he probably saw as me being rude, and ok yeah I probably am. My energy and patience is wearing thin.

“You’re right. I apologize you must understand, attempts on my life aren’t uncommon, and so there is the concern that you may have been involved from the beginning. Frankly I haven’t thought so, you were earnestly trying to deescalate the situation back there, you tried being respectful but I could see your temper when I called you Doll, you’re honest in a way I can’t quite explain in human terms. I suppose the best I can offer is, instinct.” he says musingly as he seems to think about how he could explain it.

“Ok, that’s fair I guess. Look I don’t know how I can convince you I had nothing to do with that mess. Except explain how things work for the Zoras with the confidence you won’t go blabbing.” I say arching a brow Lucian nods touching his chest in a slight bow that feels oddly formal despite his awkward sitting position, I can’t help trusting the motion.

“Dimitri is not just unique in how willing he is to work with the ‘other side’ He has very strict expectations of his people only those who prove themselves are even allowed to have guns and even then only once they reach a certain rank within the family. This is important to not only prevent skirmishes from becoming massive fights that cause casualties outside of the family but it’s also to keep younger over eager members from gaining any kind of power. If a member is too eager to get their hands on a gun then they aren’t a part of the group for the interests of the group so there's no way they’ll get any kind of power. They’ll remain but they’ll be strictly controlled to keep them from causing trouble in other places. Dimitri…” I pause trailing as I consider how to best describe him

“Most dons on the human side are interested in money and power and what those two things can get them. Demitri sees his position more as one of responsibility. Yes he has money and power but he respects that he didn’t earn that on his own, he also understands that the people who aren’t part of the family but under his purview are just as important and deserve to be taken care of.” I explain sighing

“He’s more of a soft touch compared to his father but he’s not a pushover either. He can be very hard when he needs to be, and something like this will not be tolerated, his rules were flagrantly broken in the grey area under his protection. He'll feel not only responsible for what happened but also like it’s his responsibility to see it never happens again. It’s entirely possible this was a play to make a move on him and you just happened to be the Lycan there. You may not have been the target, just the convenience.” I explain, Lucian and Gin glance between each other before nodding. They may have thought of that as well but saying it all out loud helps me organize my thoughts.

“So then if that is the case what would you suggest?” Lucian asks after a moment. Despite the spike of pleasure at his confidence in me all I can think is, no don’t put me in charge! I take a breath and let it out carefully to not aggravate the wound, it’s aching a bit more now, pain killers wearing off maybe?

“First, Demitri needs to be contacted directly on his private line and told I’m alive. I’ll give him a full report of what happened and hear what he was told by not only the police, but also his own people who would have gone to investigate as soon as news broke about the attack. From there we determine if he has an accurate account, if not then it’s likely he was the end goal. If so then it’s someone acting out for another reason and you were the target and that low level was just unfortunately part of the Zoras. Maybe even a way to try and urge some bad blood between you and Demitri because he’s so openly accepting.” I suggest rubbing my forehead there are so many other possibilities but those are the two big ones that come to mind

“I also agree that keeping my survival a secret for now is a good idea. While I obviously wasn’t a target, taking out a mediator is going to cause problems no matter who the initial target was. Both sides need us to keep the peace, so this incident isn’t going to be easy to bury like it might have been, so keeping an ear out on anyone showing too much interest in me or what happened might be a good idea. From there perhaps, waiting a few days following movements of groups around the grey district, Demitri can keep an eye on movements of his people to see if there's anything odd going on there.” I say finally, it’s the best I can think of but Lucian smiles seeming satisfied

“Not a bad idea, but for the moment I think you need to go back to sleep you’re still not well, Zora can wait a few hours while you get some of your energy back hmm? And some food in you.” he says as an afterthought making me laugh as I sink a little more into the pillows letting out a long breath as I relax. That sounds like an amazing plan and once I stop fighting I realize how much I want to do just that. I must pass out immediately because I don’t remember anything after I finally let my eyes close.