Avenging Luna
Chapter 74: The execution

Chapter 74: The execution

Drake’s POV:

After making sure Leila was presentable, I opened the door. Despite our best efforts to appear composed, any wolf walking in would definitely catch the scent of sex still lingering in the air. Lucas, of course, was no exception. The second he stepped inside, I saw it—the slight flush of his cheeks, the way his eyes darted anywhere but at me. He cleared his throat, awkwardly adjusting his posture as if that would help him regain some semblance of professionalism.

Behind me, I heard Leila giggle softly. She found Lucas’s embarrassment amusing, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. It was hard not to find humor in the situation—him trying so hard to act composed while struggling with the unmistakable scent of our earlier activities.

I raised an eyebrow at Lucas, silently urging him to get to the point. He coughed again, eyes still averted, clearly battling the discomfort. Leila leaned against my desk, arms crossed, with that teasing smile still on her lips, watching Lucas squirm.

"Well?" I finally asked, folding my arms across my chest. "You said there was urgent news about Marcus?"

Lucas straightened up, finally managing to meet my gaze, though the embarrassment still lingered around him like a bad cologne. He cleared his throat once more, obviously stalling for a bit longer than necessary before he began.

"Yes," he said, trying to regain his composure. "We found something... something concerning."

**Drake’s POV:**

"He’s been spotted several times going to the dungeon," Lucas said, keeping his voice low. "Not to any of the general cells, but specifically to Raphael’s. I don’t think Marcus can help him escape, but I suspect he’s sneaking in medicines and food."

Before I could even respond, Leila’s voice cut in sharply, her tone commanding. "Good. Declare Raphael’s execution for tomorrow, and bug the cell. We’ll kill two birds with one stone. First, we’ll find out whatever Raphael spills to Marcus before his death, and second, Raphael finally dies. Simple."

I glanced over at Leila, my brows lifting slightly at her quick thinking and absolute authority. Since her pregnancy, her alpha side had been coming out more, and it was becoming more prominent with each passing day. The fierceness, the leadership, the decisive attitude—it was as if every instinct she had been holding back had snapped into place.

And hell, I loved it.

There was something undeniably hot about her stepping into her role as an alpha with such confidence. Every time she commanded a situation, my heart swelled with pride. I couldn’t deny the way it turned me on. Watching her like this, fierce and determined, made me admire her even more.

"I like it when you go into alpha mode," I whispered to her, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "You make it look sexy."

Her eyes flicked to mine, and there was that spark again—the fire that never failed to light something deep inside me. She wasn’t just my mate, she was my equal, my partner in every sense. And seeing her like this only made me more grateful that she was mine.

I nodded at Lucas. "Leila’s right. Make the announcement—Raphael dies tomorrow. Bug his cell, and let Marcus think he’s pulling one over on us. We’ll be listening to everything."

Lucas looked between the two of us, clearly taking in the seamless unity of our decisions. Without another word, he nodded and left to carry out the plan.

As soon as he was out of the room, I turned to Leila, still marveling at her. I pulled her into my arms, kissing her forehead.

"You amaze me, you know that?"

She smiled up at me, her hand resting on her belly. "I’ve learned from the best."

I chuckled, brushing a stray hair from her face. "You’ve always had it in you, Leila. You were always meant to lead. And now, you’re doing it perfectly."

"Think our little one will turn out like me?" she asked, a teasing glint in her eyes.

I kissed her gently, savoring the moment. "If they do, I’d be the proudest wolf alive."

Leila’s POV:

As I fixed my hair in Drake’s office, trying to look somewhat presentable, I couldn’t help but grin at the situation we had just found ourselves in. It was becoming a bit of a routine—giving in to the pull of my hormones and that irresistible man I called my mate. There was no denying the primal connection between us, but what made it even more fun was seeing Drake try to compose himself afterward, like we hadn’t just ravaged each other moments ago.

Drake opened the door, and I stifled a giggle when Lucas stepped in, clearly uncomfortable. His expression was a mix of professionalism and discomfort, and it was obvious why—wolves could sense everything. The scent of sex was unmistakable, and poor Lucas was trying his best to keep a straight face. It was cute, really, watching him fumble awkwardly as he tried not to inhale too deeply. I bit my lip to suppress the laugh bubbling up.

Behind Drake’s broad shoulders, I found myself smiling mischievously. I wasn’t sure what I enjoyed more—Lucas’s embarrassment or the fact that Drake was trying to act so serious despite what had just happened. I loved watching him in his alpha role, but moments like these reminded me of the human, tender side of him.

I gave Lucas a quick nod, pretending to be all business, while still amused by the entire scenario. Drake raised an eyebrow, silently urging Lucas to get on with whatever news he had to share. Poor guy. He coughed awkwardly before finally speaking.

"He’s been spotted several times going to the dungeon," Lucas said, his voice slightly strained. "But not to any of the regular cells. He’s been going to Raphael’s. I don’t think Marcus is trying to break him out, but he’s definitely sneaking in medicines and food."

The moment Marcus’s name came up, my humor dissipated. The situation with Marcus had been gnawing at me for some time. My instincts told me he was up to something, and now we had confirmation that he was sneaking around. I wasn’t about to let that slide.

Before Drake could respond, I stepped forward, the alpha side of me taking over. I had no patience for traitors, and I knew what needed to be done. "Good," I said firmly. "Declare Raphael’s execution for tomorrow and bug the cell. We’ll kill two birds with one stone. We’ll get whatever Raphael says to Marcus before he dies, and we’ll put an end to him once and for all. Simple."

Drake looked at me with that familiar glint in his eyes. I knew that look well—it was the same one he always gave me when I embraced my alpha role. I could feel his admiration, and it filled me with a sense of pride. Ever since I accepted this pregnancy, I felt more connected to my alpha side, like every instinct within me was sharpening. Drake loved it, and honestly, I did too. I could feel his desire burning beneath the surface whenever I took charge like this, and the way he looked at me always sent shivers down my spine.

I wasn’t afraid to take control, to be decisive. This was who I was—an alpha, a leader. And being pregnant didn’t soften that part of me. If anything, it made me fiercer. My instincts to protect, to fight, and to lead were stronger than ever.

Drake agreed with me, and I felt a sense of unity between us as he instructed Lucas to follow through with the plan. There was no hesitation, no doubt. We were on the same page, as always. That’s what made us so strong together.

Lucas, clearly relieved to have the conversation shift back to business, quickly excused himself. As soon as he left, Drake turned to me, his eyes full of that familiar intensity. He pulled me into his arms, brushing a kiss across my forehead. I could feel the warmth of his affection, the pride he felt for me, and it filled my heart with a mixture of love and confidence.

"You amaze me, you know that?" he said, his voice low and filled with admiration.

I smiled up at him, my hand instinctively resting on my belly. "I’ve learned from the best."

He chuckled softly, brushing a stray hair away from my face. "You’ve always had it in you, Leila. You were born to lead."

I tilted my head, teasing him a bit. "Think our little one will take after me?"

Drake kissed me again, slower this time, as if savoring the moment. "If they do, I’d be the proudest wolf alive."

I knew he meant it. Drake wasn’t just saying those words to comfort me. I could feel it in the bond between us, in every look he gave me, that he truly believed in our future—our future as parents, as leaders, and as mates.

But even in this moment of intimacy, I knew the challenges weren’t over. We had Marcus to deal with, Raphael’s execution, and the looming threat of betrayal. Our world wasn’t perfect yet, but together, Drake and I would make sure our child was born into a world free of treachery.

As I looked into his eyes, I knew one thing for certain: We were ready for whatever came next.