Chapter 11
Auren POV
I was stunned at how Sable changed her attitude in front of Alpha Lucien, hut I stayed quiet because I knew that even if I complained about her to him would be even believe me! 1 was nothing but an omega.
Alpha Lucien looked at me as if assessing me. When I turned my gaze to the ground, he gritted his teeth, but he came to stand next to me. I didn’t know what was he expecting out of me to have this reaction.
Tarian came to us and they started talking to him about the pack’s business. Alpha Lucien picked up a glass of rose champagne from a passing server and gave it to me.
A pole blush crept on my cheeks. “I haven’t had champagne ever in my life, Alpha Lucien,” I said in a low voce, scared that if others heard, what would they incur.
Alpha Lucien furroiced his brows so hard that they were in a straight line. “I asked you to call me Lucien,” he said in a low voice. “Now, take it and keep it in your hand. You may sip it. If you don’t like the taste, just keep it in your hand, okay?” he ordered.
I took the wine from him and stared at the sparkling liquid with interest. As he started talking again with Tarian, I sipped a little bit. Goddess, I didn’t know that champagne could taste so good. Before I knew it, I had gulped it all. Alpha Lucien’s gaze snapped at me, and for a moment he was jurprised, but he took the glass from me and gave it to a server. Then he picked up another one and handed in to me, saying, “Don’t drink it so fast”
I nodded, feeling like my body had heated in all places. And before I could stop myself, I had finished half of it. And then giggled. This is so good?”
Alpha Lucien stared at me with wide eyes. “Don’t drink anymore,” he said.
I giggled again and nodded. “Okay!”
The emcee of the event announced we need to be seated in our places so that the bidding for contribution to the cause may start. “What are we bidding for?” Lasked.
“The bear shifters” he said through gritted teeth.
“Oh! I’ve heard they are pretty handsome”
His facial expressions darkened and he resembled a dark thundercloud. So I straightened, but hiccupped. Goddess, what was wrong with him? Why was he so moody? He grabbed my hand roughly and pulled me in the table where we were supposed to be seated. I noticed Sable was also there, sitting next to Tarian, and two seats away from me. She looked at Alpha Lucien and smiled, blushing slightly. Though I didn’t like it. I stayed quiet. Not my place to say anything, because she had made it abundantly clear that she was going to take my place after me. Feeling sad. I gulped the remaining wine. A server came near us and 1 picked up the third glass.
Alpha Lucien leaned closer and warned, “You’ve had enough, Auren”
I blinked at him and rounded my eyes. “Okay!” And giggled. Why was he so grumpy about me having champagne? I placed my glass in front of me as the emcee started talking about the bear shifters who started climbing the stage. And by goddess–weren’t they gorgeous! I couldn’t help staring at them with wide eyes. Inadvertently, as the bidding for each of them started, I picked up the glass and sipped more wine. “They are beautiful?” 1
mustered
Alpha Lucien’s head snapped to me. He narrowed his eyes and in a flash of a second he pulled my chair to–him in a way that I was facing him.. “What did you say?” he said. A pin drop silence settled around us. I blushed so hard when his hands dropped to my exposed thighs. “Hmm?”
Every thought in my mind vanished as my breath lodged in my throat. I heard a clash and then some glass shattered. It was my wine glass. Wine spilled on my expensive strappy heels, I gasped, frar gripping me as I watched him with eyes going round. “Lucien”
“What did you say, Auren? Repeat.” He said in a commanding voice. His hand reached my leg, which he lifted to his thigh and started opening the straps of my heck.
1—” His touch was so soft and firm that my body tingled. Goosebumps lined my skin. I flanched as I tried to remove my foot, but he clasped it hard, not allowing me to pull it away. He removed the heel and wiped the wine from my foot with his hanky. My heart thundered in my chest like it had gone berserk. I couldn’t speak a thing because words just got destroyed in my mind, which was probably short–circuited.
He didn’t make me wear my heels, but be carefully put my leg down. Then he wrapped his hand around the ankle of my other leg put it on his thigh and removed the heel. As he wiped the wine off my skin, he looked at me from under his lashes. “You didn’t answer my question.
“Wh–what?” I whimpered, stifling a moan and looking up at his face. Even sitting, he was so much taller and broader than me. I felt so prise and
tiny in front of him.
The way he was wiping my foot looked like foot–porn. It was like either I concentrated on what he was duing to me or what he was telling me. I was somewhat aware of how everyone in the room, including the emcee, was silent. The place, which had been buzzing with activity and laughter, now felt eerily quiet. Like crickets. From the corner of my vision, I saw Sable glaring at me with clenched teeth.
\When I didn’t—couldn’t say anything, he leaned toward me and said, “I think it’s time for us to leave.” He got up and offered me his
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Chapter 11
hari, and not knowing what I did to him, to leave the event so abruptly, I took his hand. He pulled me up immediately, his grip tight. Then he
med to Tarian and said something via mind link.
Tann nodded, and Alpha Lucien walked out with me from the charity event. As we walked on the red carpet towards the exit, he carefully held the straps of my heels in one hand while I walked barefoot beside him holding his other hand in mine. When we reached the exit suddenly. Alpha Lucten scooped me in his arms bridal style. I squealed as I clutched his shirt for my life. “What are you doing?” I asked, bewildered.
“You think I’ll allow my Luna to walk barefoot in the garden?” he said in an irritated voice.
“But I can. I’m used to walking like this” I argued, feeling embarrassed.
He dropped his gaze at me and narrowed his eyes. “This is a show for everyone else.”
Chapter 12
Auren POW
I could feel the brat crawling up my neck and spreading across my cheeks like fire licking at dry wood. I bit my bottom lip to stop my embarassment. My face must’ve been as red as the tomatoes I used to slice in the park house kitchen back at the Crimson Howl pack. I tried to look anywhere but at him, while his gaze remained forward as he carried me to the car.
No one had picked me up in their arms. Maybe my parents had done that when I was a babe. So this was new, and wa
- warm.
The harder I tried to steady my breath, the more my blush deepencil, spresiding over my skin. It was as if my cheeks had turned into glowing embers for everyone to see.
Alpha Lucien made me sit in the car and then sat beside me. However, the moment he ut, he saw a red stain on the leather seat. His eyes narrowed and anger flared in his eyes. “Show me your food” he said darkly
When the wine glass had shattered next to my feet, one of the pieces scattered next to me. So when Alpha Lucien pulled me up and I started walking, I stepped on a tiny shard. It was lodged in my skin but I didn’t make a fuss about it because everything was happening so fast. I was used to so much more abuse that this little wound lundly affected me.
“It’s nothing” I said, shrinking under his dark gaze. And hiccupped
“Show, Me. Your Foot He said a little loudly.
I must have been a bunny in my last life. His loud voice made me jump so hard that I instantly slapped my left foot on his thigh. He jerked his face back 1–I’m sorry.” I said, giggling when I should have scolded myself. What the hell was happening to me? When I tried to pull away in a hurry. he grabbed my ankle, his eyes landing directly on my skin where the shard was lodged.
A muscle feathered in hi
his jaw. “Why didn’t you tell me about it!
“It’s absolutely nothing.” I reminded him. “Back in my old pack-
“I don’t care what happened in your old pack, Auren,” he cut me off sharply. “This is my pack. You can’t walk like this with a shard stuck in your Cool You understand?”
1 hiccupped and then bobbed my head nervously as he focused on removing it using his claws. The moment he removed it. I hissed in pain. He muttered something under his breath and then took out his hanky, which he tied like a temporary bandage around my foot. And for the rest of the journey, he didn’t allow me to keep it down. When we arrived at his home, once again, he scooped me in his arms and carried me all the way to my room, taking the stairs like I weighed like a feather.
ly eyes darted to his beautiful bow–shaped lips and my breath lodged in
As he set me on my mattress, our faces were merely a few inches close. My eyes my throat
Hr
Ir covered me with the blanket and said, “We will not leave the house for the next two days, okay!”
“Okay.” I somehow managed to say.
“If you want anything from me, ask Tarian, and he will pass the message.”
I nodded, my gaze now darting between his eyes and lips. “You’re so beautiful!” I breathed.
He raised an eyebrow and I slapped my mouth with my hand for being so daring and also because I couldn’t stop giggling. Silence hung between us for a few moments after which Alpha Lucien straightened. Then without a word, he turned and left. And only when he shut the door behind him, I loosed my breath Goddess, he was so intimidating and huge and strong that couldn’t help feeling like a bunny in a wolf’s den.
Ten minutes later, the doctor of the pack, Dr. Kenny, arrived. He was an old wolf with gray eyes and a receding hairline. He shook his head as her saw my wound “Lucien sounded like it was a deep gash, but this is so tiny that it doesn’t need my intervention. It could have healed on its own in
That night I didn’t change and went off to sleep in my formal dress However, at night the weather outside turned bud
The wind outside was loud, howling like an angry wolf. It shook the windows, making them rattle in their frames. Kain poured down hard, harring the glass so fast it sounded like someone was Growing tiny stones. Thunder rolled far away at first, a soft rumble, but it got louder anst louder unul it felt like the whole house was trembling. I pulled my blanket tighter around me, but i didn’t help. I felt scared, alone as my teeth chattered. The storm ounide felt like it was trying to get inside my chest, making me uneasy and cold.
1 lay down and closed my eyes, but the noise wouldn’t let me rest. Each crack of thunder and flash of lightning made me jump. After what felt like forever. I fuually drifted off, but my dreams turned dark.
In any nightmare, I was running through a forest. The trees were tall and black, their twisted branches reaching for me. My feet burt with every step, bleeding from shurje rocks and thorns. The moon shone above, golden and beautiful, comforting for a moment. I stopped for a moment to watch the full moon. Suddenly, thick thorny vines started climbing my body and reached my back, squeezing me tight and crawling under my skin. The thorns dug into my flesh, drawing blood that dripped down the vines, and the moon’s light began to fade. My back started to buri like fire. I
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Chapter 12
tried to steam, but muxund came out.
That’s when 1 feli
scream filled the room. I sat up so fast my blanket slid off. My heart was pounding fast, and I was sweating even though stime flashed lighting up the walls for a moment before plunging the room back into darkness. I sat up, shaking, trying to
someone was there. The room was quiet except for the rain, but I could feel it–like someone was standing in the dark. winching me: I reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on. As soon as the room was lit. I took a deep breath and examined it, but there was no
Perhaps I was going insane. I had never had this kind of dream earlier
Feeling restles, † bolted my door from inside and curled beneath my blanket, closing my eyes tightly. I don’t know when I drifted off to sleep, but
I woke up. I had a terrible headache.
Chapter 13
I groaned, bolding my head when I woke up. This was such a nightmare. I’ve never had wine in my life and yesterday I had three glasses. Tossing
Blanket away, I got down but noticed a glass of orange filer and tum pills on the side. There was a note on the side.
Have these pills with the juter. This is for your headache
surprised acto what had pit them here. I darted my gaze to the door, but it was bottel My heart pounded in my chest because it meant that room luas a secret door of which I wasn’t aware of. There was a soft krock on the dent, breaking my reverie. I covered the gap to the door with sluky legs and opened the door only troser Vivi stanilnig there.
She boned to me with a smile. “Lady Auren,” she said. “You are requested to come down in an hour. The Alpha of the bear shifters, Magnus Blackwood, will be coming to meet Alpha Lucien When I just blinked at her, confusion still swirling in my mind, she added, “I’ve come to help you to get ready”
“Vici” Tsaid. “Who has put that juice and pills on my bedside table?” I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder at the bedude table.
Visa preped in behind me and shrugged. She entered the room and said. “I don’t know……”
Now wanting to raise an
to raise an alarm over a small issue, I closed the door, dismissing it. But I promised myself that I would find the secret passage if any that came to my rooms. I picked up the pills and downed them with juice.
An hour later I was in the main hall where Alpha Lucien was already there, waiting for me as he tapped his foot restlessly. As soon as he saw me, be averted his gaze, picked up a book and started reading it. My brows furrowed as 1 watched him doing so. So I walked up to him. He stiffened. “What?” he asked, irritation apparent on his face.
1 pointed at the book. “It’s upside down,” I said and turned it for him to read it properly.
He clenched his teeth as his nose turned red. Did he blush?
Just when I was about to sit, the front door swung open, and I sane Tarian entering and behind him the largest man I had ever seen. He was taller than Lucien, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway. His dark hair fell neatly around his rugged face, and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth as he stepped into the room. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt that hugged his muscular frame, paired with brown trousers that made him look. both intimidating and approachable
Magnus Blackwood. The Alpha of the bear shifters. Though there were several bear shifters on the stage last night, but I didn’t remember seeing him
I couldn’t help but stare. He seemed like a bear in human form–strong, steady, and calm.
“Alpha Lucien,” the man said, his voice a deep rumble as he approached Lucien, extending his hand for a handshake.
Lucien, who stood beside me, gave a curi nod. “Magnus,” he said, his tone flat and unwelcoming
Alpha Lucien took his hand and after they shook, Magnus said, “Thank you for your generosity. I came to express my gratitude in person.
Lucien replied in a flat tone again, “It wasn’t necessary to come all this way”
He chuckled. “You are too generous, Alpha Lucien. You have donated us one million dollars and yet you say like this is nothing”
“Please sit,” Lucien said waving to the sofa opposite to him.
Magnus’s gaze landed on me and he bowed slightly with a smile before taking a seat. Tarian sat next to him
As Magnus and Lucien began speaking, I found my eyes drifting back to Magnus. He carried himself with such ease, unlike Lucien’s ever–present fension 1 wasn’t sure how long I was staring until Laicien’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Auren,” he said sharply.
I jumped, my checks heating “Y–Yes”
“This is Alpha Magnus Blackwood” Lucien vid, his voice laced with irritation.
Magnus turned to the with a kind smile. “And you must be Auren. It’s a pleasure to meet
et you.
“Hi,” I squraked, feeling small under his gaze. “You’re really tall”
Magnus chuckled. “Well, I am a bear shifter, lt comes with the territory”
I smiled back, feeling more al case
“That inakes
sense. You look really strong tou
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Chapter 12
Lucien cleared his throat loudly, his jaw tightening. “Magnus, let’s get to the point.”
The two Alphas began discussing the donation Lucien had made to the bear shifters. I listened quietly at first, but my attention kept drifting to what they were talking about. Magnus lud an easy charm about him, and his laugh filled the room
Magnus said. Tam thinking that a part of your donation should go into making a small airport for the shifters.”
“Good idea,” said Lucien. “But for that you would need more fund”.
“I know” Magnus sighed. “But this is my dream. Airports for shifters is a one in a million idea I know how difficult it is for the shifters to commute to the human towns if necessary. We have to travel a long distance by road, or we have to shift and run for hours.”
“In my opinion you should make small, modern inns for the shifters,” I chirped in.
Magnus turned back to me, his hazel eyes warm. “That’s a nice idea.” Then he gazed at me for a second longer, and added, “Lucien didn’t mention how lovely his mate is”
My checks burned. “Oh, um, thank you,” I stammered.
Lucien shifted closer to me, his hand suddenly on my lower back. “Auren,” he said, his tone strict, “Why don’t
it you let us finish our
ir conversation?”
I blinked up at him, his touch branding my back. Tingles ran down my body. “Am I interrupting?” I asked him.
Hat Magnus chuckled and answered. “Not at all. It’s refreshing to have someone so kind in the room with fresh, innovative ideas,”
Lucien’s grip on my back tightened ever so slightly. “I think we are done here. We’ll talk later,” he said to Magnus, his words clipped.
Magnus’s head jerked back in pure surprise as Tarian froze.
