I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.
patréon/emperordragon
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The silence that followed Derek's accusation wasn't just quiet—it was oppressive, thick like fog clinging to the skin, pressing in around all of us. You could feel it, taste it, the weight of unspoken thoughts, of doubt.
All eyes were on me. Their stares weren't curious or neutral—they were sharpened, loaded with suspicion, caution, maybe even fear. I could see the calculations behind their gazes: weighing my presence, dissecting my motives, silently debating whether I was a threat.
This could spiral—fast. I had to stop it before it gained momentum.
"It's true," I said, keeping my voice calm, deliberate. Not defensive, not aggressive. Just... honest. "But I didn't lie to you. I came here alone."
I shifted my attention to Laura, met her gaze fully. She was the one I had to reach first—calm her, convince her.
"I was the one who gave Isaac the Bite."
The words landed hard. The air in the room changed instantly.
It hit them like a thunderclap.
Laura's mask cracked—but only slightly. A flicker. A flash of emotion in her eyes too brief to define. Shock, maybe. Or just surprise. But it was there.
Derek, on the other hand, didn't bother hiding anything. His reaction was immediate, physical. He stepped forward, jaw tight, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles went pale. His eyes flashed with that telltale glint of blue—just for a moment, but enough to remind me that he was still dangerous. Still a Hale.
Malia's expression was harder to read. She looked between all of us, caught in the crossfire of tension, her confusion plain. She hadn't seen this coming. None of them had.
They hadn't expected me to be an Alpha.
Laura was the first to recover. Fast. Too fast. That was impressive. She didn't speak right away, just studied me—more closely now, like she was reassessing everything she thought she knew. Not just about me, but about the entire situation.
Good. That meant she was still thinking.
I turned to her fully, keeping my tone even, composed, but clear. "I've heard that you and Susan are close friends."
Laura gave a small nod. Measured, but firm. "We go back a long time."
"Then you know I never planned to come to Beacon Hills. I had no intention of crossing into anyone's territory. I came here because of her. Because she asked me to."
Another nod. This one slower. She was still listening.
"I know how this looks," I continued. "I get it. The Argents are moving into town. And the three of you... you're all that's left of the Hale pack. The last thing you need right now is a stranger—another Alpha—showing up unannounced."
Derek scoffed under his breath. No words, just disdain and a whole lot of tension. His body was still half-turned toward me, like he hadn't ruled out a fight. His hands were still balled into fists, but he was holding back—for now.
I didn't flinch. I didn't move. I held my ground.
"You don't have any reason to trust me. And I won't insult you by pretending otherwise. But I'm telling you the truth."
Laura tilted her head slightly, something flickering behind her eyes again—sharper now. "Then why are you really here, Lucas?"
She wanted more. She deserved it.
I nodded, appreciative that she was at least willing to hear me out.
"There's one more reason I asked for this meeting," I said. "I need your help."
That did it. All three of them perked up in different ways—Derek stiffened again, Laura narrowed her eyes, and Malia tilted her head, curious. They weren't expecting me to say that.
"What kind of help?" Laura asked.
I took a breath. Not for nerves, but to pace myself. To be clear.
"Now that Isaac's been turned, he's going to need help. Real help. Someone who can teach him how to control the shift. Especially during the full moon. That's not something you can just figure out on your own."
Derek jumped in instantly, his tone edged with distrust. "Why can't you do it? You turned him. He's your responsibility now."
"I know that," I said, nodding again. "And I take that seriously. I'll protect him with everything I have. That's not in question. But I've never struggled with control. Not once. I don't know what it's like to lose yourself to the wolf—and that means I don't know how to teach someone to fight it."
That cracked Malia's expression. Just a little. Her eyes softened, the barest sign of understanding. She knew that struggle.
"I'm asking you," I said to the room, "to lend someone from your pack to help him. To give him the guidance I can't."
Derek looked like he was about to argue again, but Laura raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Malia will do it," she said.
Everyone turned to her in unison.
Laura's tone didn't waver. Calm, steady. Certain. "You've lived through it. You know what it feels like to lose control. And more importantly, you learned how to fight back. That makes you the best person for the job."
Malia met my eyes. She didn't look thrilled about it. But she wasn't rejecting the idea outright either.
After a moment's pause, she nodded. "…Fine. I'll help him."
I offered a nod in return, sincere. "Thank you."
Laura stood slowly, her eyes locked on mine the entire time. When she spoke, her words were careful but clear.
"I still don't trust you, Lucas. Not yet. But you took a risk to save someone's life. That matters. We're not allies—but we're not enemies either."
"I can live with that," I replied.