Chapter 5 The Calling

Selene’s POV I stared at him, taking in every detail. The sharp angles of his face, the dark intensity of his eyes, the way his shirt clung to his sculpted body. Lucian was the kind of man who made women lose their senses and craved for just a one nightstand, but definitely not me. Placing the pen on the table, I slid the document back to him. I had lost everything already. No one wanted me, I was just a pawn in everyone’s game, ready to be used and discarded when convenient, without no one caring for her feelings…I thought my mate would care, I thought I'd get lucky with a mate at least in life but here I am, signing a contract loveless marriage contract!. I bit down on my lip, fighting back the tears threatening to spill, crying wouldn’t change anything. It never had. I’d learned to put on a facade, to pretend I was strong even when I was breaking inside. I bit harder, almost drawing blood, until his voice shattered the silence. "Are you trying to seduce me?" I gasped, my lips parting in shock as I quickly released them. My heart pounded, and I was about to stammer out a response when a sudden gust of wind sent a shiver down my spine. The next thing I knew, Lucian was standing inches from me. His index finger pressed against my lips, silencing me. Heat radiated between us, the mate bond crackling in the air, my breath hitched, as my pulse raced. The world around us faded, and all I could think about was him; his lips, his warmth, his scent. I could see the hunger in his eyes, feel the pull of the bond drawing him closer. For a fleeting moment, I thought he would kiss me. I wanted him to. But just as quickly as the moment came, it vanished. Lucian shoved me backward, gently, but firmly, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned away. "I'm going out," he announced, his voice colder than before. "Wait here." And just like that, he was gone. I stood there, too stunned to speak. A strange ache settled in my chest, but I swallowed it down. What was I expecting? A mate who cared? A man who would want me? Hopeless dreams!. With a sigh, I turned away, trying to push down the disappointment curling in my stomach. My gaze wandered across the room until it landed on a small shelf near the bed. A framed picture caught my attention. Curious, I stepped closer and picked it up. It was Lucian, with a woman around my age. His arms were wrapped around her, his eyes softer than I had ever seen them. My stomach twisted. Jealousy? I clenched my jaw. No, I had no right to feel that way. I didn’t care who he loved before. But then… "What are you doing?" The sharp voice startled me, and the frame slipped from my fingers. Crash! I gasped, staring at the shattered glass on the floor as my pulse spiked. Before I could react, a stinging slap landed across my cheek. "You stupid slave!" My head snapped to look at the lady who had the audacity to slap me. She hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "Do you have any idea what you just broke?" I slowly turned my head back to her, the sting of her palm fading into a deeper anger. "How dare you with Lucian most prized possession,to the point of breaking it" she continued, her lips curling into a sneer. "I told him to throw you out of the pack. I told he needed no sex slave, I Alison was enough, but he still decided to keep a filthy stray dog like you, a destroyer! You’re just a sex slave." Alison, oh that rings a bell. The foul witch, who think she can bully me, is Lucian's bedmate. I've sworn not to let any of this people walk over me, in this pack, I've gotten enough from my family…and I swear this Lucian plaything would be who I'd be making a stand with. I smirked. "And yet, here you are, wasting your breath on me. Sounding like a baby who got denied milk, and a dog barking. Tell me Alison, are you feeling threatened." Alison’s eyes darkened. "You…" She raised her hand again, but this time, I was ready. I caught her wrist mid-air, squeezing tightly before shoving her back. Her face twisted in rage, but then, unexpectedly, a smirk tugged at her lips. She glanced down at the broken picture, then looked back at me. "Do you even know who was in that picture?" she taunted. "That was Lucian’s first love. The only woman he ever cherished." Something sharp stabbed my chest. Alison’s smirk widened. "The last person who touched that frame? Lucian ripped their head off and fed it to the vampires." Immediately, all form of jealousy left my soul as I swallowed hard, my stomach turning cold. Alison leaned in, her voice dripping with mock concern. "Just imagine what he’ll do to you when he finds out…no, when I tell him you broke it." My fist balled at my sides as panic surged through me. Visions of the rogue and how father maltreated me while I cried for his mercy rang in my head, and I felt myself almost crumbling in fear. "Alison, plea…se…don't.." She scoffed. "Begging already? Pathetic whore." Just then, the door swung open and my gaze shifted there immediately, hoping that it wasn't Lucian and it actually wasn't. Aldric stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the scene. His eyes landed on the broken picture, then flicked to Alison, who immediately feigned innocence. "I warned her," she said, her voice trembling with fake distress. "I told her not to touch it, but she got angry that I was being rude at her and smashed it on purpose." Aldric’s gaze settled on me, unreadable. He had this cold gaze Lucian possessd, not as sharp as Lucian but more deadly. Fear tightened around my throat as silence consumer the room. Maybe he was mind linking someone…oh no…not Lucian please. After a while, he finally spoke. "Lucian has requested your presence." My worst fears had happened. Even though I acted all tough around Lucian, I've gotten enough info from Gavin to know that he was a deadly animal when angry, he showed no mercy and he is one not to be messed with. He was a psycho! I barely had time to react before Alison let out a delighted gasp. "Oh, perfect. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to punish your silly butt." My stomach clenched. No. No, I couldn’t go. If I go to Lucian, he'd end me, he’d… I stepped back, shaking my head. "No. I…I can’t…" I know I seemed like some possessed weak banana. "Come willingly, or I'll carry you," Aldric said flatly. Terror took over. "Please, I…" efore I could complete my sentence, in one swift motion, he suddenly lifted me over his shoulder. I screamed, kicking and thrashing, but his grip was like iron. "Let me go!" I begged, panic clawing at my throat. "Please!" He ignored me. Alison laughed and giggling, echoed following behind with a smug grin. "Enjoy your punishment, slave." I barely heard her. My blood roared in my ears as Aldric carried me down the halls. Immediately we stepped outside, my eyes widened at the amount of wolves gathered in about ten meters from Lucian Manor. Dozens, no, hundreds of werewolves gathered outside. My breath caught in my throat. Was my crime so severe that I had to be judged in front of the entire crowd? Terror turned my blood ice cold. Just then, my gaze locked onto the stage. Lucian stood there, his expression dark as the night. His eyes burned with something unreadable, but I knew one thing for sure. I was doomed.