45. Shadows Of Duty.

Adrian’s POV

The morning light filtered through the tall windows of my office, painting sharp angles across the sleek floors of Wolfe Enterprises. I was leaning against the edge of my mahogany desk, black suit sleeves rolled up, fingers drumming a slow, deliberate rhythm. My mind wasn’t on the reports sprawled in front of me or the meeting I was supposed to attend. It was on her. Lucy.

Caleb leaned against the opposite side of the desk, holding a glass of water. His calm posture clashed with the tension radiating off me. “She hasn’t been around since last night,” he said, breaking the silence. His voice was casual, but I could hear the undercurrent of concern he always had for her—though he’d never admit it out loud.

I turned to him, letting the anger and frustration show. “She went to them. The council. They threatened her, Caleb. Stripped her of her powers if she refused. And she… she didn’t know what else to do.”

Caleb’s eyebrows rose. “They can’t just do that. She’s a general, Adrian. One of the strongest we have. And you’re saying they’d actually strip her powers away if she doesn’t… comply?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on my chest. “They don’t care who she is or what she’s capable of. They only care about control. The council wants her to do something unnatural—something that would bind her to their rules. And if she doesn’t, they’ll ruin her. Take away her name, her strength, everything she’s worked for.”

Caleb walked around the desk and set his glass down, leaning in slightly. His voice dropped. “And you’re planning to step in?”

I didn’t need to answer immediately. My gaze drifted toward the city skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Thoughts of Lucy—her stubbornness, her fire, the way she never backed down even when fear gripped her—made my jaw tighten. “I’ll protect her,” I said finally, voice low and heavy. “I’ve been thinking about the council’s threats, the ritual they want her to perform, the way they’re trying to use her. Next time she comes to me… I’ll make sure she’s safe. And… I’ll do what I have to with her even if I have to force myself.”

Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “You mean…”

I didn’t need to finish the sentence. My intentions were clear. The next encounter would be more than just protection.

He exhaled, a faint smirk appearing on his face, though the concern didn’t leave his eyes. “You’ve changed,” he said softly. “Before, it was just about duty, pack, the Alpha role... now trying to...”

I stiffened. “I care enough to make sure they don’t destroy her. Nothing more.”

Caleb laughed, shaking his head. “You always say that, Adrian. ‘Nothing more.’ Yet here you are, pacing, plotting, thinking about her like she’s the only thing keeping you grounded. Admit it. You can’t just let her walk into their trap.”

I looked him squarely in the eyes. “She won’t. And if they try to force her hand… they’ll regret it. They’ve never faced me like this before.”

He smirked, but his tone turned serious again. “Good. Because if they hurt her… I’ll make sure they pay too.”

I allowed myself a small, almost imperceptible nod. Caleb was right—everything now revolved around her. Even the careful balance of the Alpha’s authority, the power I commanded over the pack, the management of the company, the politics of the council… it all mattered less than keeping her safe. And keeping her free from their manipulation.

I turned back to the cityscape, letting the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. “We’ll need a plan,” I said. “If the council truly intends to strip her of her pride.... I won't allow that... Try to look into the council .”

Caleb nodded. “Already done, boss. I’ve got eyes everywhere. She won’t be alone, not for a second. And I’ll make sure you know the second they try anything.”

I allowed a short, genuine smile to cross my features. Caleb’s loyalty had always been unwavering, but this—this level of concern, the way he’d taken it upon himself to watch over her—it made the stakes feel heavier. More real. More dangerous.

---

Caleb’s POV

Watching Adrian in moments like these, I see the cracks he doesn’t let anyone else witness. The Alpha, the billionaire, the cold, proud man who can crush enemies without hesitation… he hesitates when it comes to her. Lucy. The situation is changing him and the fact Rose is gone, whether he wants to admit it or not.

I lean against the desk, sipping my water, and watch him pace. Every step measured, every breath calculated. But there’s a tension in the set of his shoulders, a weight in his eyes, that he can’t mask. I know it’s her. The council may be trying to manipulate her, but she’s done the impossible—she’s found a way to pierce the armor he wears so meticulously.

Caleb smirks, shakes his head, and for a moment, it’s almost like old times. “You’ve got that fire back,” he says. “Good. Just… make sure she knows it’s not about control. It’s about keeping her alive.”

I nod. “She’ll know. When the time comes, she’ll know. And if anyone tries to cross her… they’ll regret it.”

Caleb claps me on the shoulder and steps back, leaving me staring at the city below. The council, Lucy, the threat of the ritual, the future… it all presses down, but for the first time in a long while, I feel ready. Ready to face whatever comes next.

And I know one thing for certain: I will protect her. No council, no threat, no vampire or werewolf will stand in the way.