STARLETTE
I wasn’t frightened by his sudden coldness. I was already used to his moods.
“I haven’t seen you since that day,” I said, unafraid, as I took a spot beside him and sat down.
“Yes.” He muttered, shifting his gaze back to the running stream. “You haven’t answered my question, Starlette. What are you doing here?”
His voice still held that cold edge.
“I came to see you. Obviously.” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“You should go back before your mate starts looking for you.” He picked up a stone and tossed it into the stream.
“So you’re scared of the big bad Alpha.” I teased.
He glanced at me, a smile finally tugging at his lips. “You wish.”
“Of course I’m right.” I impulsively stood up and ran into the running stream, splashing my legs in the water. It was so warm and felt good against my skin.
He rested both hands on his knees. “That’s not it.”
I raised a brow. “Then what is?”
“I’m just-” He trailed off and sighed. “I don’t want you to disobey your mate.”
“That’s nothing new.” I crouched, scooping water in my palm. A mischievous smile curled my lips as I glanced back at him.
His eyes widened as realisation dawned on him. “Don’t you dare-”
Before he could finish, I splashed the water in his direction, giggling
“Is that the game you want to play?” He chuckled as he leapt to his feet and jumped into the water. He splashed water straight into my face, and before I could open my eyes, another wave hit me. I dipped my hands into the water and splashed him back, laughing uncontrollably. As we continued playing with the water, I tripped and almost fell backwards, but Lucius quickly held me, and in a bid to steady myself, I jammed into his body.
“Sorry.” I quickly apologized before taking a step backwards. I gazed at our soaked selves. “Our clothes are so damn wet.” I pointed out, laughing.
“You wanted it,” he said with a grin before jumping out of the stream.
“Not exactly.” I stepped out of the water, squeezing the excess from my clothes. How am I supposed to return to the pack like this? I groaned internally.
“I have an extra pair of shirt and pants in my hut, if you don’t mind.” He offered as if reading my mind. But that offer, I rejected immediately.
“Maximus would kill us both if he finds me in your clothes.”
“Not if you wait for your clothes to dry and wear them back before going back to the pack.”
“He’ll smell you on me if I wear your clothes.”
“We’ve been in contact. He’ll smell me on you regardless.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s okay if you don’t want to wear my clothes. You could just go back to the pack wet.”
He was right; Maximus would smell him on me anyway, so I might just take up his offer. “Okay. Please give me your clothes.”
Without another word, he turned and walked towards his treehouse. I followed.
The treehouse was still as it was the last time I was here. The books were neatly arranged, and the atmosphere was still cozy.
He grabbed a shirt and pants and tossed them to me. Taking another pair for himself, he jumped out of the treehouse without using the stairs.
“Let me know when you’re done.” His voice echoed from outside.
I quickly changed into the outfit he gave me and joined him outside, spreading my clothes on a tree branch to dry.
“Lucius, I’m done.” I called out when I didn’t see him around.
My brows furrowed when there was no response.
“Lucius.” I shouted again. Still no answer. Panic started to set in. He couldn’t have gone far; he only wanted to change. I looked around, feeling confused.
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. I sighed in relief before turning to look at him. “You shouldn’t do that.”
“Why?” He asked, a smirk on his lips. “Did you think I had abandoned you?”
“If that was my thought, it would’ve been better.”
He chuckled. “Don’t tell me you thought someone had taken or murdered me.”
“With the recent Invicibles saga, nothing is impossible.” I waved my hands in the air. “They could have easily made you disappear without breaking a sweat.”
“You just hurt my ego. I hate your lack of confidence in me.” A smile touched his lips as he winked at me. “I am stronger than you think.”
“You overestimate your strength, you prideful prince.” I teased.
An eyes-splitting smile spread on his lips, and just then, his eyes flashed red. It was only for a second, but I was damn sure of what I saw.
A look of shock crossed my face as I slowly approached him. “Lucius.”
His brows furrowed. “What?”
“Your eyes…”
He tilted his head. “What about them?”
“They-they flashed red.” I muttered, still in disbelief.
Only a person with wolf, an Alpha wolf, could have their eyes change to that color. But Lucius didn’t have a wolf; how could his eyes flash red?
“Forget about that.” He said, quickly averting his gaze.
He wasn’t surprised; it seemed to be information he already knew. Could it be that-
“Are you pretending to not have a wolf?” I quickly shot the question at him.
“Of course I don’t have a wolf.” He groaned.
For some reason, I believed him.
“Then why did your eyes flash red? Your wolf is clearly trying to surface.”
“I said forget about it.”
“No.” Insisted.
“Starlette.” He ran his fingers through his hair sighing. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”
I shook my head innocently. “No.”
He sighed again. “It’s been happening for a few weeks now. I don’t know what it is, and honestly, I don’t care.”
“Your wolf is trying to surface; that’s hope. A big hope. We just have to trigger it.”
He raised a brow. “How?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find a way.”
“We?” He waved a dismissive hand at me. “You don’t have to do anything for me.”
Of course I did. I owed it to him. He saved me; I’m alive because of him, and I’ll forever owe him for that. I had always known that there was something different about his lack of a wolf. People without wolves had slow healing abilities, but he was different. He healed at a very fast rate. It all made sense now.
But it was one thing to not have a wolf at all. And another thing to have a wolf that was trapped within; it’s fragments fighting to surface. I read from somewhere that in situations like that, the wolves were purposely trapped. Who could have trapped Lucius’s wolf? And for what reason?
“Starlette?” He snapped his fingers, looking at me with a raised brow.
“Sorry.” I breathed sharply. “I was lost in thoughts.”
“I really don’t want you worrying about this.”
“Sure.” I shrugged, deciding not to argue. I already made up my mind. I was going to help him find answers, and not even he could stop me.
“Starlette?” He raised a suspicious brow.
He knew me too well. I wasn’t the type to give up easily.
“You don’t want to involve me. That’s fine.” A smile touched my lips. “I understand not to meddle in things that do not concern me.”
“Starlette.” He called again, still skeptical.
“You asked why I came here.” I simply changed the subject. “I haven’t had the chance to properly thank you. So-”
“No. You don’t have to.” He cut me off.
I went on anyway. “Words are not enough to show how grateful I am to you for helping me when no one would.” I closed the distance between us and held his hand in mine, my eyes warm as I sincerely showed gratitude. “Thank you very much, Lucius.”
He cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”
I nodded, a smile spreading across my lips. “And for the record, I’m not giving up on finding a solution.”
“You-”
I cut him off. “Don’t even try to stop me. You know me; I’m tenacious. And don’t worry, I won’t let anyone know about it. Not even Maximus. But-”
I had to make an exception. I needed her help.
He raised a brow, and I continued. “I’ll tell Bella. No one else.”
He shook his head. “You really won’t listen, would you?”
I shook my head, answering honestly. “No.”
He chuckled softly, poking my nose playfully. “Stuborrn.”
“Title accepted with grace.” I laughed.
“Starlette!” Maximus’s growl suddenly vibrated through the woods, and I gasped.
I had been away way longer than I should.