Chapter 97

Lucas’s POV

There wasn’t much I could do to disguise myself, other than wearing an itchy wig and adding some fake skin to my face to change the shape slightly.

However, it doesn’t seem to matter because getting through the Domain’s security is far too easy. The guards on duty barely look at our fake IDs before waving us through the front doors. The interior guards do the same, letting us through without any resistance.

Harper glances at me with a questioning gaze, but I shake my head. It’s too smooth. Too easy.

I guide her forward, keeping my eyes on the guards in case they decide to pounce, but they continue what they were doing. They don’t give us a second glance as we move through the doors into the Domain.

That sets me on edge, which in turn, sets Harper more on edge.

After the chaos of helping her escape last time, security should be much tighter. Either they’re careless, or they’re arrogant, but neither of those makes much sense. They sent people after us, so that shows me they care and are very keen on keeping their secrets.

Forcing myself to calm down, so I don’t scare Harper, I lead her inside. I can hear her heart beating quickly, and if anyone else listens, they’ll hear it too.

“You’re too nervous. Take deep breaths and calm down,” I whisper into her ear. She jolts but sinks back into me when she realizes it’s just me. While I’m glad she’s at least leaning on me, I hate that she’s so nervous.

The Domain looks the same as I remember it the last time I was here—before I beat a lot of the guards and created chaos—with the vendors shouting from their booths. I help Harper weave through the crowd without getting hit or trampled.

A man from a booth full of books reaches for her, but I swat his hand away before it can touch her.

Loud voices echo around us, and someone bumps us from behind. Harper stumbles. Her hands wrap around my forearm, holding tightly to keep from falling, so I snake my arm around her waist.

“Keep going. They won’t hurt you,” I remind her as we slip through the crowd of bodies. We blend in like we belong, moving with the flow of the crowd and avoiding the more aggressive vendors and customers.

Through the crowd, I spot Mason. He’s lingering on the other end of the large building by the door we’ll be exiting through. His broad frame is easy to pick out, but the hood conceals most of his face.

My other men scatter through the market like we planned, leaving me and Harper to find our way into the halls that hide the wolf souls.

To anyone else, my men are clients, but to me, they’re the people I can count on when shit hits the fan. They’re the men who will help me protect my mate if I can’t.

Harper’s anxiety burrows under my skin. Every movement she makes, each flick of her nervous gaze, and the tightening of her hold on my arm; everything about her tells me she’s reeling even though she’s trying to stay calm.

“You okay?” I ask softly, guiding her around a woman who waves a smoking piece of incense through the air.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m just nervous,” she murmurs.

“Just relax. Let me do all the work.”

Again, she nods, and I can’t stop myself from leaning down and dropping a kiss on her forehead. I didn’t mean to kiss her. It just seemed like the natural thing to do, but it seems to do the trick. She tenses up, but it only takes a moment before she leans into me and finally relaxes. Her heartrate spikes then slows to a calm thump.

Now, she follows my lead, moves with me, and allows me to shield her. We weave through booths, pretending to look at potions and baubles. Harper picks up a few things, asking questions and acting like we’re not here for another reason.

Guards walk the floors, and when they come close, we duck into another booth. The booths serve as our shields from the guards, letting us escape their notice.

To anyone around us, we look like a loving couple shopping, but in reality, I’m mentally mapping the area ahead. We have to make it into the back halls without being detected, and not only that, but we must also get there without either of us getting hurt.

Especially Harper.

Across the room, Mason’s eyes find mine. He dips his chin once, the signal to let me know everyone is in place. Just in time too. The guards that were nearest to us turn the corner and make their way off.

I make sure they’re out of sight before pulling Harper toward the back wall. We’re not far off. Harper and I drift through the market, coming along the main wall where we can enter the back hallways.

I give Mason one more glance as he settles near the door he’s supposed to be positioned at. With him at the exit, I don’t need to worry about getting out of here.

The doorway ahead shines like a light in the dark, and I make my way toward it. To keep from looking suspicious, I speak with Harper about random purchases and products. Most people don’t pay us any attention, which is better for us.

As we get closer to our target, I shift Harper in front of me to make entering the back halls easier.

Two rights and a left. That’s the path we found to where they keep the wolf souls. Three hallways, which also means there will be three sets of guards to fight through. I’ll need to take them out before they can get to Harper because I won’t let her be captured again.

My brave little mate clutches my arm tighter as we slip through the first door and into the first hallway. The darkened hallway is silent, showing no sign of anyone being present at first. Singular lights dot various places in the ceiling, but it’s still dark enough that Harper stumbles.

I catch her, making sure she doesn’t fall, and pray that there will be more lights soon. I let Harper cling to me as I bring my wolf vision forward. The long hallway

“Keep close. From here on, it’s going to be more difficult,” I whisper. “There will be guards at each hallway we reach. Three groups unless we run into more.”

She nods, looking around.

“Keep your weapons hidden unless I give you the signal. Understand?”

“I understand. I won’t use any weapons unless I have to,” she murmurs, watching me. Her eyes are slightly wide with lingering anxiety, but I can also see the determination there.

“Good. I’ll protect you,” I promise, brushing my knuckles across her cheek. She leans into the touch and says something I wasn’t expecting.

“I’ll be safe with you.”