8. Raphael
Raphael
I let the haven’s doors slide shut behind me, their click echoing through the quiet lobby.
My clothes still reek of the club—sweat, alcohol, Lily. Especially Lily. The memory of her makes my skin burn: the perfect swell of her breast in my palm, the taste of her tongue, the desperate sounds she made in that dark corner.
Even hours later, she’s all I can think about.
Something about her crawled under my skin from the moment we met, different from anyone else I’ve known. Of course, I had to push—acting cocky, leaning hard into my Alpha instincts. It’s what I know, what I’ve always done. Be strong, be the protector.
I did tell myself I’d try to be less of an ass in my approach, but I can’t seem to fully control my instincts around Lily.
The lobby’s wrapped in tense silence, Savannah hovering behind the desk like a ghost. In the sitting area, I spot Al and Leo. Usually, Al’s all calm, borderline unreadable, and Leo radiates warmth. Tonight, they look strained.
They break off their conversation the moment they notice me. Al’s scent is sharp with concern, and Leo’s is bitter with worry.
Mari mentioned an emergency back at the club. I was only slightly worried then. But seeing Leo and Al now—
“What happened?” I demand, anxiety coiling in my gut.
Al’s nostrils flare slightly, and his eyes narrow. “You smell like her,” he says quietly. “Like Lily. And…”
“And sex,” Leo finishes.
“So?” I say, shrugging, my eyes locked on Al. “What the hell happened?”
He exhales sharply, tension tightening around his eyes. “Security breach. Someone hacked our system tonight and accessed Lily’s file. Only hers.”
What the fuck? Protective fury boils in my veins. “Someone accessed her file?”
Leo’s scent darkens, laced with anger. “She says it’s her ex. Damian.”
The name tastes like poison. Someone is trying to claim what isn’t his. My hands curl into fists as possessive rage burns through me. “Damian,” I repeat, memorizing the name. “You’re sure it’s him?”
“Lily’s certain. She’s convinced he’ll find her.” Al rubs his neck, his jaw tightens. “Police are investigating.”
I sneer, heat building under my skin. “Right. They’ll investigate. And while they push papers around, she’s exposed.” My fists clench as I recall how shaken Lily looked when she left. “I’m not letting that happen.”
“She’s terrified,” Leo says, worry threading through his scent. “We promised to protect her, but we don’t know what this ex is capable of.”
“Then we find out,” I snap, baring my teeth. “Anyone scaring Lily is unacceptable. No way in hell I’m letting it happen.”
Al lifts an eyebrow, that familiar analytical calm settling over him. “And how do you suggest we do that?”
“I have resources,” I growl, my blood boiling. “Old contacts, private investigators. Money isn’t an issue.”
An old memory surfaces. Ambulance. Cops. Sirens blaring.
“I’ll handle it,” I snarl, shoving down the thought as I push past them.
“Raph, wait—” Al’s voice cuts through my rage.
I turn, my glare burning with fury. He meets it head-on, his scent steady and grounding.
“We do this together,” he says firmly. “The police won’t be enough, we know that. But storming off and handling everything alone won’t fix this either. We need a plan.”
Leo nods, his scent mixing with Al’s.
Of course, they’re right. We’ve been brothers since childhood, shared everything. I know they’re damn capable. We’re strongest as a pack.
I release a slow breath, forcing my emotions back in check. “Fine,” I mutter, my jaw still tight. “We plan. Together.”