Chapter 19: My failure.

(Yvonne’s POV)

What???

The words of General Lucas sent a chill down my spine as I stared at him. “What the hell do you mean, ‘compromised’? Start explaining, or I swear I’ll throw you out the same window as the couch.”

Lucas turned to the broken window again, and to the place where the couch once was, understanding what I had done to it, before running a hand through his hair. 

He looked stressed, his usual stoicism cracking just about to show a little bit, a flicker of concern. “Can I at least get something to eat?”

“Driving for days just to get to the far ends away from the pack did no justice to my age. I truly am famished.”

I growled. “If it was not that you’re my only accomplice, I would have your head rolling on the ground now,” I said, showing him my kitchen. “Look for yourself. Do I look like I have even gotten a meal for myself in two days now?” I said, and as if on cue, my stomach grumbled, signifying I filled it up. 

“I have been starving and the little bit of soup I planned to make is nothing but a burnt waste now.” I raised my hands in exasperation as I began passing the room. “Back to business, Lucas. What do you mean we’ve been compromised?”

He turned to face me, his expression grim. “Our cover’s blown. Alpha Kayden knows you’re involved in Haisely’s disappearance.”

“What? How did he find out?”

Lucas shook his head, resting against the wall, as there was no place for him to sit. “I don’t know, really. I was summoned and he—“

My eyes narrowed. “He what?”

“He, just. You know—“

“You exposed me,” I interrupted him, already knowing what was happening. “You told him I was involved in Haisley’s disappearance,”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t have any choi—“

I didn’t let him finish. One minute I was standing across the room, watching the pathetic excuse of a man standing there, and looking hopeless, then the next, I raced towards him, lifting him off the ground by his neck. 

I held him there, dangling in the air as his hands clawed at mine. It didn’t hurt. I couldn’t even feel the pain. 

Instead, his clawing only made me tighten my hands around his neck. He choked, his face turning purple as his boots scraped against the broken tiles of the floor, but I didn’t loosen my grip. 

“You had one job, Lucas,” I hissed through clenched teeth as I glared up at him. “One job,” the rage boiled inside of me, demanding an outlet, and Lucas was the perfect target, not some useless couch. 

His face reddened, his lips moving as he struggled for air, but none came. “Y-Yvonne… please. Let—me—,” he choked out, his voice barely audible.

“What did you say?” I said, bringing my ears closer to his lips, mocking his incoherent words. 

“Le-let me…go…please,”

I scoffed, my claws tearing the side of his neck. “Why shouldn’t I kill you right now and be done with your incompetence?” I growled, shaking him slightly. “Your job was simple. You were supposed to protect me, to ensure my plans went smoothly and had no mishaps. And the person who was supposed to protect me is the author of my discoveries. You just ruined everything again.”

He clawed harder at my hand, his mouth opening and closing as he gasped for breath. For a moment, I considered squeezing just a little harder, just a little more, and I'd snap his neck and rid myself of the dead weight he’d become. 

But who else would help me? 

He was my only getaway and connection back to the pack. 

And even so, I needed answers. 

“Such a waste,” I muttered, throwing him to the side like a rag doll, watching him collapse to the ground in a fit of cough. 

He clutched his neck, wheezing heavily. 

I stepped back, crossing my arms across my chest as I watched him struggle to breathe. “Don’t waste my time as you catch your breath if you don’t want me to snap your neck. Don’t try me, I was close before.”

General Lucas stood up slowly, his face reddened from trying to catch his breath as he continued to massage his neck. “You…almost killed me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I won’t waste my energy killing you, even if you wish it to be.” I walked over to the window, watching the bustling city beyond. 

“What next would we do?”

I thought about his words. What next would we do? I—I don’t really know. 

I’ve just been so focused on getting by in this apartment and way of life that I had momentarily forgotten my truest objectives. 

“I asked what we would—“

“I heard you the first time,” I snapped, my back still facing him as the wind whisked my hair. I took a deep breath but instead of a cool fresh breath to reach my sensitive nose, I was greeted by chemicals and dirty air. 

I gagged, closing the window. “I want to go back to the pack. Back to nature.” I regretted saying these words because it portrayed weakness. It showed just how much I had missed home. 

Lucas slowly walked over to me, his footsteps echoing across the wooden floor. He reached his hands to my shoulders, slowly massaging me. “That’s why I’m helping you get your freedom, Yvonne.”

I smirked, knowing what he wanted. “And why are you so desperate to help me?”

“Because,” he wrapped his hands around my waist, his crotch on my ass as he rubbed himself against me. 

“Because?”

“Because,” Lucas whispered, his breath fanning my neck, making my legs go weak and a cold shiver running down my spine. For so long, I hadn’t had sex. Damn. 

I gasped as Lucas collided his body harshly against mine, his lips sucking my clavicle. I moaned, falling into his embrace as I felt his hardness. I was only able to regain myself as he stopped stuttering butterfly kisses all over my neck. 

“Because I love you, mate.”