Page 90 of His to Possess
"Oh, he'll face justice for his crimes. But don't think this is the end for him."
"What do you mean?"
His eyes glinted with something dark and dangerous. "Let's just say that it doesn't mean Alain won't meet his demise later. Much later."
"What are you saying?"
Luka leaned in close, his voice low. "Laurel, you need to understand something about us. About Rex, me, and the others. We protect our own. And you? You're one of us now, whether you like it or not."
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. Luka continued, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Alain hurt you. He threatened you. In our world, that's unforgivable. The legal system might deal with him for now, but trust me, his story doesn't end there."
"But… that's wrong," I stammered. "You can't just…"
Luka cut me off with a laugh. "Oh, Laurel. You still have so much to learn about our world. But don't worry, you'll understand in time. If you want to."
I stood up from the bench, my legs trembling slightly as I followed Luka's lead. My mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened—Alain's arrest, the revelation of Rex's involvement, and the sudden shift in my circumstances.
"What happens now?" I asked.
Luka turned to me, his expression softening slightly. "You'll have to deal with the police again, I'm afraid. They'll want your statement, to tie up loose ends."
I felt my heart sink. The thought of rehashing everything, of having to relive the nightmare of the past few weeks, made me feel sick.
But before I could spiral into panic, Luka continued, "Don't worry, though. Rex's already taken care of that too."
I blinked, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"He's assigned you a top lawyer," Luka explained, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Should be here any minute now. They'll handle everything, make sure your name is cleared once and for all."
I stared at him, stunned. "And after that? What then?"
Luka shrugged, a casual gesture that belied the weight of his words. "After that, you're free. Your name cleared, your reputation restored. You can do anything you want with your life."
The enormity of this statement hit me like a tidal wave. Freedom. A concept that had seemed so foreign, so unattainable just hours ago. Now, it was within my grasp.
"Anything?" I repeated, my voice small and unsure.
Luka nodded, his expression serious. "Anything, Laurel. That's what Rex wanted for you. The freedom to choose your own path."
I stood there, stunned by his words, trying to process the complexity of Rex's actions. The man I thought I knew, the one obsessed with control, had orchestrated all of this… for my freedom?
"How can it be," I murmured, shaking my head. "Rex… He's always been about control. But this…"
Luka nodded, a wry smile on his face. "Yeah, he's a walking paradox, isn't he? Control freak one minute, selfless hero the next."
"Has he changed?" I asked hesitantly, hope creeping into my voice despite my best efforts.
Luka's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me shiver. "Don't make that mistake, Laurel. None of us can truly change who we are at our core."
"But what he did for me…"
"Doesn't mean he's suddenly a different person. Rex will always have that deep, devouring need for control. It's part of who he is."
"Then how do you explain all of this?" I gestured vaguely at the surrounding chaos.
Luka sighed. "When Rex cares about someone, really cares, he's more open to compromise. But don't be fooled into thinking you can change him, Laurel. Just like he can't change you."
