Chapter 34: Laws, Blood, and Broken Rules

A heartbeat later, the elevator doors slid open with a soft metallic sigh. Luka stood there, framed by the warm gold light pouring from the hallway behind him. For a split second his expression was pure shock—wide eyes, frozen stance—then it shattered and reformed into something far darker. His jaw locked. His nostrils flared. A quiet, controlled fury radiated off him like heat from a furnace.

He looked from me… to the massive black wolf at my side… then back at me. And the way his eyes moved over me this time made my stomach twist. This wasn’t a concern look. This wasn’t the soft warmth he usually gave me.

This was rage. Icy. Focused. Lethal.

“Who did this to you?” Luka’s voice was low, almost too calm, but each word dripped with barely contained violence.

Talk later. She needs care.

“No! I need to know what happened,” Luka snapped, stepping forward.

Don’t back-talk to me, boy. The wolf’s growl reverberated in the elevator like distant thunder. The Alpha here has it handled. Take her for care. NOW.

His growl echoed off the polished steel walls, making the small space feel tighter, heavier. Luka didn’t like it—every muscle in his arms and shoulders tightened—but he obeyed, stepping forward to gently scoop me out of the wolf’s hold.

“You understood him?” I asked, surprised by how weak my voice sounded in the enclosed space.

“Wait, you did too?” Luka looked genuinely startled.

“Yeah… I thought I was the only one. Joel said he couldn’t. I really thought I was going crazy.”

“You’re not crazy,” Luka murmured, tightening his hold on me as he stepped into the elevator. “But let’s get you looked at.”

The doors slid shut behind us, cutting off the noise of the VIP Lounge above. The elevator hummed softly as we descended. The air inside smelled faintly of cedar polish and warm metal, a strangely clean, sterile contrast to the scent of sweat and blood still clinging to me.

Somewhere above us, voices clashed—shouts, orders, frantic movement—but down here it felt muted. Distant. Like we were sinking underwater.

For one blessed moment, I let myself melt into Luka’s arms, the steady rise and fall of his chest grounding me. But then…

Jess.

A jolt of panic shot through me so sharp I nearly sat up.

“Is Jess and the twins okay?” My voice cracked. “I—I forgot to ask—how could I forget—”

“They’re all fine,” Luka said with a small, amused huff.

“What is so funny?” I demanded. The panic made everything feel too bright, too sharp.

“That you're worried about everyone else while you’re literally falling apart.” He shook his head, brushing a thumb along my arm.

The elevator chimed, and the doors opened with a rush of bright white light. It stabbed into my eyes, blinding at first. The hallway here was wide, lined with pale stone walls and warm wooden beams overhead. Soft yellow sconces cast long shadows across the floor, and the air buzzed with the sharp scent of antiseptic and the distant aroma of food from the communal kitchens.

“Oh my god—is that Danni?” Matt’s voice broke through the hallway noise.

“Go get me a car to take her to get looked at,” Luka ordered.

“You don’t want your truck?” Matt asked, jogging closer.

“No. It’s too much for her in this condition.” Luka replied

“What happened?” Kayla’s voice cut in, sharper, tinged with something I couldn’t place.

“You can use mine,” Matt offered quickly. “I’ll go pull it up.”

“Someone tried killing her,” Luka said bluntly.

The hallway stilled. Even the overhead lights seemed to hum quieter for a heartbeat.

“Who would be that stupid to try that here?” Kayla demanded.

I turned my head toward her. Why was she even acting as if she cared? The moment her eyes landed on my battered face, she flinched. Hard.

“Don’t worry,” Luka soothed. “They’ll find out who did it.”

“I know who did it,” I said, voice rough. “Monica and Chad.”

Luka stiffened instantly, his whole body going rigid as stone.

“He said my death would give him power, but Monica had to do it because of the laws? I don’t know. It makes zero sense to me, but Joel is handling it.” I glanced at Kayla’s narrowed eyes. She didn’t like me—everyone knew that—so why this sudden interest? “Not like you care, Kayla. But that’s what happened.”

She flinched again, and Luka’s glare snapped to her so fast she froze.

“Does she cause you problems?” Luka asked, voice so cold the hallway temperature seemed to drop. Kayla’s face went pale.

I regretted speaking instantly. The tension in the hallway felt thick enough to choke on.

“Here you go, Luka—my car is right here.” Matt jogged up, tossing the keys, but Luka didn’t catch them. He was still staring Kayla down.

“Did something happen?” Matt asked cautiously.

“No,” I blurted. “Luka—come on. I’m hurt.”

Our eyes met. Just like that, the fury melted out of him. His shoulders loosened. His jaw unclenched.

“You’re right, beautiful. Let’s go.” His smile softened as he carried me toward Matt’s car.

“I am far from beautiful right now,” I muttered, half laughing, half wincing.

“You are always beautiful to me.” Luka pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Can you sit? Or should you lie down in the back?”

“I can sit.” Matt opened the passenger door, and Luka settled me gently into the seat.

“Matt, tell the Holloways to meet me at my cabin. We have things to discuss.” Luka’s voice regained that commanding steel. “Have one of them bring you so you can retrieve your car. And thank you.”

“Not a problem. Danni didn’t deserve this,” Matt said, shooting me a pitying look.

“No, she didn’t,” Luka agreed quietly.

He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The parking lights cast soft reflections across the trees lining the drive—tall pines swaying lightly, their needles whispering in the night breeze.

As we pulled away, Luka lifted his phone and dialed.

“Hey Alex,” he said, voice tight. “I need you to bring all your medical equipment to my cabin. Danni has been attacked by a rogue.”