Lucero

Chapter 3

LUCERO

He had received the invitation three days ago; a formal dinner between packs. The meeting was political. Necessary... A Waste of time.

His father had insisted he attend, saying it was beneficial for the peace and progress of his pack as the next alpha.

But he knew better.

Now he sat in the private conference, surrounded by older alpha’s expensive liquor and cigarettes, and the daughter of Alpha Bennet elegantly seated across from him.

They all chatted and laughed with each other. The woman said something to his father who laughed out loud and praised her.

Lucero barely noticed. His attention was solely focused on his phone in his hand hidden under the table.

After the single hour of sleep he had gotten a week ago, Lucero hadn't closed his eyes since.

His condition was worsening.

His wolf paced restless beneath his skin, agitated and vicious. The violence brewing inside him grew stronger with each passing day.

Three servants had already run away this week. The drugs prescribed by the pack physician were losing their effect. What once knocked him out for hours now barely lasted minutes.

Soon, even they would stop working.

There was only one cure. A unique and addictive scent he could never forget. One breath of it had done what years of medication, training, and restraint never could.

Since that day, he had searched relentlessly for its owner.

And failed. Every. Single. Time.

Alpha Bennett had been talking for a minute now. Lucero had not heard any of it.

His father’s smile faltered when he saw this.

“Lucero.”

Lucero slowly, reluctantly dragged his lazy eyes from his phone. “what?”

Vivian chuckled politely to lighten the mood.

“Father was just asking if you would attend the gathering with me tonight?”

Silence.

They all stared at him, waiting for his answer. Lucero blinked once.

“No.”

The answer was instant. Without hesitation. Vivian’s smile twitched.

“Lucero you—“

His father started talking, his face red in anger. Lucero didn’t respond. His thumb moved lazily across his phone screen again.

His mind wandered.

‘Would she be there?’

His fingers paused. A memory surfaced without permission.

He saw her standing in front of a classroom door, adjusting the sleeves of her dress repeatedly. She didn’t notice him standing behind her.

“This doesn’t make my boobs look bigger right?” She muttered under her breath. “No wonder nobody looks at me.”

Lucero frowned. He hated the thought of another wolf looking at her. He found himsmovingoving towards her. He had a pressing urge to let her know that HE looks at her.

He glanced at the dress. In all honesty, he liked her in the dress.

“You’re wasting time worrying.” He didn’t know why but he blurted out these words. She turned around sharply, her eyes wide in shock but he was already walking away.

“I wasn’t asking for your opinion.” She yelled after him.

“And yet you keep talking loud enough for others to hear it.” He snapped back, quickening his steps.

“You look fine.” He muttered. But when he turned to look at her, she was nowhere to be seen.

He remembered feeling like his heart was about to jump out of his chest, his steps were unsteady.

Even now, remembering it made his heart quicken. His lips lifted slightly.

“Lucero.” He heard his name again. The voice sharply cut into his thoughts.

He sighed and raised his eyes.

Alpha Bennett was speaking happily with his daughter giggling beside him.

“She’ll make an excellent Luna someday.”

There it was.

The real reason for tonight.

At that moment his phone rang with a notification. It was a message from someone, attached to it was a video.

‘Look who I found.’

Lucero’s brows furrowed as he opened it.

The footage was shaky and the music was loud in the background. Wolves were laughing and talking. The camera shifted and Anais appeared on the screen.

He stiffened.

He stood up suddenly, startling everyone in the room.

“Excuse me.” He mumbled, pushing his phone into his pocket.

His father frowned. “Lucero”

He didn’t stop, he was already out the door before any other words were said. Vivian stood up immediately. She flashed a quick smile to the others.

“I’ll talk to him.” She said and ran after him.

She caught him in the hallway. She stood in front of him, panting slightly. Lucero’s brows tightened when he saw her.

He looked at the woman properly this time.

She was beautiful.

And that was it.

“Where are you going?” She asked.

“To handle something.” With that, he walked around her, making his way out.

Vivian gritted her teeth in anger. How could he just leave like that? Does he know who he was talking to?

she swallowed her anger and started again with a strained smile.

"You've been acting strangely all evening."

Lucero didn't answer. The closer she got, the stronger her perfume. His head throbbed.

It was almost torture. Every breath he took only made the pounding behind his eyes worse. His fingers curled into his palms. He increased his steps but she ran after him.

"Lucero?"

She reached out, intending to stop him, The instant her fingers brushed his sleeve...His footsteps halted. A strange surge of irritation washed over him without warning.

His breathing became ragged and uneven. His jaw clenched so hard the muscles twitched. His fingers clenched and unclenched so hard that the vein could burst at any moment.

Vivian frowned when she noticed something strange.

"...Are you alright?" she took a step back when his aura changed.

He slowly looked down at the hand on his arm, his eyes where glowing. His gaze was so cold and frightening that she instinctively let go.

Lucero closed his eyes. Took in a slow breath. Then another. When he opened them again, his eyes had returned to normal. But still very frightening.

"Never touch me again.” His voice was quieter than usual. Without another word, he walked away.

Vivian stared after him. She had no courage to chase after him. Something about him...

Didn't seem normal.

It took him five minutes to get to the venue.

Lucero had just stepped in when he heard the outburst. Normally, he wouldn't be bothered by the affairs of common wolves, so he ignored them.

He was about to take a step into the hall when he froze.

The scent.

He stopped. His pupils contracted. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. The scent drew closer and faster, and Lucero turned towards its source. His heart skipped..Then slammed against his ribs.

The headache that had plagued him for days eased.

The tension in his shoulders loosened. The irritation that had followed him all evening melted away as though it had never existed.

For the first time in weeks, the constant growling in his head fell silent. His wolf stopped pacing.

There was a light ‘pitter-patter’ before he realised what was going on, something soft and small rammed into his chest.

It was the source of the scent.

The small figure stumbled, he reached out instinctively, grasped her waist, and pulled her closer.

Lucero stiffened as soon as the soft figure touched his body. He instinctively bent his head to her neck and took in a deep long breath. He did this three more times. He could feel the soft figure in his arm could hardly breath.

He raised his eyes to see a very familiar golden blonde hair. Her fair shoulders shook slightly.

His fingers slowly relaxed around her waist.

When she raised her face, recognition hit him harder than he expected. His eyes flashed. His calm that just returned disappeared, replaced by a raging emotion.

Anger.

His grip on her waist tightened again.

Pheromones left his body Like waves. Anais Whimpered.

Everyone stopped. No one dared to breathe too loudly. They all stared at Lucero with wide, amazed eyes. Anais parents held their breath in, they glared at Anais.

“How dare you! You shameless whore, what kind of girl are you?” her mother burst out, she was too angry to think straight.

The girl in his arms moved away from him, Lucero frowned. He reached out again and pulled her close. His grip this time was too firm.

She winced.

One of the elders stepped forward, eager to placate the situation and please Lucero.

“Lets all settle down And—”

“Who are you talking to?” his voice boomed all over the hall.

The pressure in the air deepened. The lower wolves whimpered, struggling to breathe.Someonee swayed and collapsed.

The elder jumped. He bowed his head and quickly went back to his table. His legs shook slightly.

In his arms, Anais trembled in fear. She struggled against his arms and was able to break away. She looked up at the man who spoke up for her, and her heart dropped.

Him?!