Lucas pov
I was taken aback by her courage, my heart racing with the implications. I gazed at her fragile form on the floor, my words catching in my throat. “Pull yourself together; you have work to do,” I said, trying to sound firm but feeling shaken.
My hands trembled as I turned to leave, but I paused at the door, my eyes locking onto hers. “From now on, you’ll be residing in the mansion. Veronica will escort you to your quarters.” I turned to exit, but suddenly collided with Amelia in the hallway; the tension between us was palpable. The air was thick with emotion, and our eyes locked in a silent understanding.
Amelia’s stance was tense, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you doing in the kitchen, Alpha Lucas?” The dim lighting highlighted her suspicious gaze, her silk nightwear fluttering in the cold breeze. “Why question me, Amelia?” I replied, sarcasm edging my tone. “Is it Harper you’re concerned about?” she pressed on, her eyes narrowing.
“What’s so special about her that you’d sneak around to spend time with her?” I shot her a disdainful glance, my patience wearing thin.
“I’m tired, Amelia. Your accusations can wait until tomorrow.” I brushed past her, leaving her curious gaze to follow me as I disappeared into the shadows, her eyes lingering on my retreating figure like a whispered secret.
Amelia’s voice echoed down the hallway: “Lucas!” I held the doorframe, my eyes locked on hers. “Keep your voice down; people are sleeping,” I whispered, my tone firm but measured.
My mind raced with the recent encounter and Harper’s acceptance of my rejection lingering in my thoughts. My wolf stirred; his discontent was palpable. “I’m not sorry,” I told him, trying to convince myself. “I have a fiancee, a vibrant werewolf, and I love her.” My wolf’s skepticism was palpable; his presence was unsettling. I fell onto my bed, my thoughts in turmoil. “You don’t love her, Lucas,” my wolf whispered, his words echoing my own doubts.
I tossed and turned, my mind racing with emotions. Finally, I rose from the bed and stepped out into the night, letting the cold breeze clear my head. The moon was overhead. Casting a silver glow over the landscape, I couldn’t sleep over the night.
******************************
“Alpha Lucas, it’s Rufus, your beta,” the voice echoed through the hallway. Urgent and low, a letter was sent from the crystal pack.
I sprang out of bed, my heart racing with a mix of surprise and trepidation. A letter from the Alpha Crystal Pack? It had been decades since our packs had last communicated. I hastily threw on a pair of combat shorts and a blue t-shirt, my mind racing with possibilities.
“Rufus, I’ll meet you downstairs,” I called out, my voice muffled as I quickly dressed. I glanced at the clock on my wall: 6:00 AM. What could be so urgent that it required a letter from the Alpha himself? And why now, after all these years?
I took a deep breath, my senses on high alert, as I made my way downstairs. The silence in the hallway was palpable, the only sound being the soft creaking of the wooden floorboards beneath my feet. I could feel the weight of the letter’s contents already, my instincts screaming at me to prepare for something monumental.
As I entered the living room, Rufus stood by the window, his eyes fixed on me with a serious expression. In his hand, he held a sleek black envelope with the Crystal Pack’s insignia emblazoned on it. My heart raced as I approached him, my hand reaching out to take the letter.
“What does he want from our pack?” I asked, my voice laced with a mix of anxiety and curiosity. I tore open the envelope, my eyes scanning the contents with a sense of trepidation. My body was tense, ready to spring into action if the letter hinted at war.
But as I read on, my expression softened, and my mind raced with a different kind of turmoil. “He wants to visit our pack,” I said huskily, my eyes still fixed on the letter.
Rufus’s curiosity was palpable, his eyes narrowing as he waited for me to continue. “Well, are you going to spill it, or do I need to ask?” He pressed, his tone laced with a hint of impatience.
I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning the letter once more, before I spoke. “He’s coming with a proposal,” I said slowly, my mind racing with the implications. “A proposal that could change the course of our pack’s history.”
Rufus’s eyes widened, his face tense with anticipation. “What kind of proposal?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I hesitated, my eyes locked on his. “That’s what we need to discuss,” I said finally, my voice firm. “Call a meeting with the top members of our pack. We need to be prepared for what’s coming.”
“Oh, come on, Alpha!” Rufus exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. “He’s probably coming in peace; why gather the elders for a peacekeeping visit? We should prepare the lovely ladies of our pack to entertain him, not the other way around.”
Rufus slumped into the couch, crossing his legs in a habitual gesture, his eyes fixed on me with a persuasive glint. “I will prepare the ladies and send your reply to the Alpha. Let’s see what he has in store for us.”
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. “You think a beauty parade will suffice, Rufus? This is a meeting with the Alpha of the Crystal Pack, not a social gathering.”
Rufus shrugged, his expression unrepentant. “Hey, a little charm never hurts, Alpha. And who knows, maybe he’s looking for a mate.”
“Very well, refuse. Send the reply and prepare the pack. But let’s not underestimate the Alpha’s intentions. We’ll be ready for anything.”
The Alpha of the Crystal Pack is a very smart person with a rare sense of understanding; let’s see what he has in mind.