Chapter 5

[ 973 words ]

Lucien Volkov:

“Hey, little one!” I touched Anika’s portrait that was hanging on the wall. She was wearing a gold medal and was grinning ear to ear.

My beautiful sister was closer to me than my other siblings. I still remember how she told me once she wanted to be a scientist.

“And that monster Victor Toussaint!” My hands balled into fists as rage slowly started consuming me, “He killed her.”

I placed my palms on her portrait and leaned my head against it.

“I swear… I swear I won’t forgive any of them. Let the elders decide that fucker’s punishment. But the whole Toussaint family will pay for it. I promise, love. And I’ll start doing it with their daughter. Arabella Toussaint.”

My beast straightened and started pacing in my head, “Lucien. Our mate. I think she is upset… and worried,” it growled in my head, but I pushed him back.

He could feel her pain through the bond.

“She is not our mate, Zorro. Now sit quietly!” My Alpha tone didn’t work on him. Obviously, why would it when he was my equal? The other half of me. As powerful as its human.

The thought of taking a pampered girl as my mate was revolting to me. I ran an investigation on the Toussaint family and was informed that they were spoiled brats who knew nothing except to show off.

They were mistaken if they thought I would let Victor live in peace. The only thing that was worrying me was Arabella’s attitude.

My beast couldn’t smell her wolf, nor did she acknowledge me as her mate.

I don’t know what Moon Goddess was thinking when she decided to pair me with her. She had just turned eighteen, while I was already twenty-six without a fated mate.

However, something about her felt … wrong.

The reports described Arabella Toussaint as a spoiled Beta princess who loved parties and attention. But the girl I saw yesterday looked exhausted.

Too exhausted.

Even after applying makeup, dark shadows were visible beneath her eyes. Her face was pale, and her body looked far too thin beneath that oversized gown she wore.

Her wrists were so fragile. Was she diet-conscious? Beauty-conscious?

My jaw tightened.

“She smelled weak and sad!” My beast muttered darkly inside my head, but I shook my head, “No, Zorro. She was pretending!”

I clenched my teeth in rage.

The Toussaint heir killed my sister, and the whole family was busy covering up for him. What did they think?

I wouldn’t let this go that easily.

Suddenly, my beast slammed against me inside my head, “Lucien. Our mate. She isn’t alright!”

“Let her suffer!” I said coldly. She was a slave, and slaves didn’t need cars or any kind of luxury.

I marked her only to calm my beast. He was getting restless in her presence. I had to come up with an excuse for marking her, or the elders would start suspecting the truth.

No matter what fate wanted from me. But Arabella Toussaint would never become my lawful wife.

“Zorro! Can you stop it!” I tried to push him back, but he was now struggling to break free.

“I need to go,” he growled furiously inside my head, “You may want revenge on her and her family, but for that she needs to stay alive!”

I tried to force him back, but he fought me even harder until my beast broke free from me… from its human body and stood before me.

Yes. My beast was powerful enough to get himself separated from me.

He raced towards the door but then stopped and looked over his shoulder, “I’ll be back once I’m sure she is alright, Lucien.”

With that, he vanished through the door before I could stop him, leaving me staring after him in disbelief.

“Damn it, Zorro!” I roared, “Get back here!”

***

Arabella Toussaint:

I had climbed onto a tree and was now shivering from the cold. In the darkness, I couldn’t see anything around me.

Under the tree, several wolves howled in anticipation. They must have smelled me and were now waiting for me to fall.

They wanted to tear me apart alive.

I thanked the Moon Goddess that wolves were not natural climbers, or I would’ve been dead already.

Not aware of how long I had to stay there, I yawned loudly. However, I couldn’t risk falling asleep.

Maybe this is the end! I thought miserably.

Maybe this is the punishment the royals have planned for me.

A sudden growl echoed through the forest. The wolves beneath the tree suddenly went silent. My heartbeat sped up.

What was that?

Then I heard it. Rustling of leaves.

Someone was climbing the tree with shocking speed. All my senses were on high alert.

“No…” My breath shook in fear.

The branches trembled violently as whatever it was kept getting closer. Faster.

I gripped the branch beneath me tightly as fear spread through my whole body.

Then the rustling suddenly stopped, and I found myself staring into two blazing eyes appearing in the darkness. Almost like lava.

I felt my breath catch in my throat when the creature came closer. It was not a wolf but a beast. Maybe a Lycan.

Far more terrifying. Huge. Wild. Monstrous.

The beast growled softly, and I thought I would die right there. My vision started spinning because now my weak body couldn’t take it anymore.

Hunger. Fear. Panic. Exhaustion. Everything started crashing over me at once.

This was the end. I could feel it. I was about to die right there in a tree.

My eyes rolled back, and just before darkness swallowed me completely, I felt strong arms wrapping around my waist protectively, stopping me from falling off the tree.

The only thing I remembered was his hot breath on my face.

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