The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast
BITTERSWEET PART 2: PANZER AND DEMI

Demi

I wrap my arms around my body and keep my eyes down at the forest floor. The tears I've beenfighting back are slowly threatening to choke me, and with the dull pain in my chest, I don't think I'llbe able to fight it any longer.

I thought by leaving it would make things easier for everyone. But now Noelle is dead, Levi is lockedup in a cellar and Liam blames himself for all of this.

How is a mate bond supposedly a blessing when it isn't always ideal? Are we just supposed to notbe happy with someone else until we recognize our mates? In this case, it doesn't even feel like ablessing because all it has caused is chaos.

What would Luna Mia think of me, I wonder? I ruined the trust we all had because I wanted to behappy with Levi.

Shaking my head, I push these thoughts away when the main pack house comes into view. If I'mgoing to be putting things to rest, now is a good time. Perhaps I can speak with Alpha Nikolaos aswell. Maybe he will forgive me after all.

“Demi,” a voice comes from behind me just as I reach the pack house, and when I turn around, I seeGianna, Eden, and Alessia walk toward me. The guilt I'm feeling right now as they look at me piercesthrough me like a hot poker.

Crossing my arms, I look down at the floor with my excuses ready, but before I can get a word out, Ifeel their arms wrap around me.

I am so shocked by their actions that I can't speak; the only reaction I have are the tears spillingdown my cheeks.

“You don't have to say a word,” Gianna starts. “We understand and want you to know we're here foryou no matter what.”

“And if you need anything at all, please come to us. We're all sisters here, and will always be here foryou.” Alessia quips, while Eden hums in agreement.

To think, I wanted to start a new life with him, have his children, slowly fall in love and live happily.Now, everything is damaged and I would rather be alone than ever go through that again.

What makes things more difficult is Liam resembling Levi so much that my heart hurts.

"Hey," I say sheepishly, feeling awkward. “So you remember everything, then?”

Levi's arms drop to his side and he looks to the floor as he nods. “I should have taken your words toheart, Demi, but if this proves anything, it's that I am not a good man.”

I shake my head. “You were a good man before... all of this. We were planning our lives togetherand sharing things—"

“I brushed off your words when you told me I was being rough with you, made you feel like youwere going crazy and I marked your skin with bruises. If I were a good man, I would have thoughtabout what I did. If I were... Liam, I would have.”

No matter what I try to say, nothing could defend this. He's speaking the truth about what he’sdone, but comparing himself to Liam isn't a fair thing to do.

Levi may have his faults, but so does Liam. He would readily run into the fire for his brother withouta second thought about what it would do to him. Levi, from what I have seen, doesn't like thatabout Liam. But that's what Liam thinks is loyalty.

He would die of thirst if it meant Levi had to drink to survive.

“I don't think you should be comparing yourself to Liam, not when you two are so obviouslydifferent from one another. You both have your strengths and your weaknesses, Levi, but the reasonI am here is not to absolve you of your sins.”

He actually looks up at me when I say this. “I don't want to be forgiven, not after what I did to youand Noelle. Not after nearly killing Liam and accusing you two of..." he trails off and swallows hard,then he smiles sadly.

"You two are fated to each other, and you have no idea how happy it makes me knowing theGoddess has blessed him like this,” he sighs. “But if it were me in his position, I would probably havedone the same.”

Those words make my heart burn with fury, and I scoff as I repeat them in my head. These two andtheir loyalty to one another will come to be their deaths.

I shake my head. “You both need to stop and think about just how toxic this loyalty between youhas come to be. Yes, being loyal is a wonderful trait to have, but once it starts to impede on yoursense of self, don't you think you need to step back and reassess?” I ask, watching as his eyes slowlywiden in surprise.

“I... never thought it was toxic. Liam and I only had each other growing up, and we always protectedone another. Our loyalty has never been questioned... not until this bond between you two. Buteven that being said, I don't want Liam to throw away this blessing because of his loyalty to me.”

A sliver of pain inches into my heart, and I cross my arms over my chest. “We didn't see it as ablessing at the time,” I admit. “We didn't want to hurt you, and Liam was adamant we neverprogressed past what we were. We were going to reject the bond once we were confident therewould be no side effects.”

Levi frowns. “Why? Because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings?”

I am about to answer him when a voice from the door makes our heads snap towards the sound“Because I valued our friendship over a gift from the Goddess.”