THE SCENT

Lucien's POV

I punched the wall so hard my knuckles cracked.

“What the hell was that?” I snarled, glaring at the kitchen door Kieran had just slammed shut.

My wolf was going insane inside my head—pacing, growling, demanding I go back in there. Demanding I find that girl again and never let her go.

But I couldn’t. Because what just happened made no sense at all.

That smell. That incredible, perfect scent that made my whole body shake with need.

And then seeing her face—feeling something snap into place in my chest like a missing puzzle piece finally found.

The mate bond.

But Kieran had felt it too. I saw his face. I felt his shock through our twin link.

How could we both be mated to the same girl? That was impossible. It had never happened in our pack’s history.

“Lucien,” Caelan grabbed my arm. “We need to talk about this.”

“Talk about what?” I yanked away from him. “Talk about how our lives just got completely screwed up?”

My hands were shaking. My wolf was so angry I could barely think straight. He wanted to go back in there. He wanted to claim what was ours.

But she wasn’t ours. She couldn’t be ours. We were meant to mate with Elaria—or some other Beta’s daughter. Not some random pack member who smelled like heaven and looked at us like we were monsters.

“Did you see how scared she was?” Caelan asked softly.

Yes. I saw. And it made my wolf whine like a kicked puppy.

“She should be scared,” I said, though the words tasted like lies. “We’re the Alpha’s sons. We’re scary.”

“Not to her,” Kieran said, his voice rough. “Never to her.”

I looked at my brother—perfect Kieran, who never lost control. Perfect Kieran, who always did what was expected. Perfect Kieran, who looked just as messed up as I felt.

“This can’t be happening,” I muttered.

But it was. The truth burned in my chest like a fire that wouldn’t go out.

“We need to find out who she is,” Caelan said.

“We need to stay away from her,” I snapped back. “Whatever this is, it’s going to cause trouble. Big trouble.”

But even as I said it, my wolf laughed at me.

Stay away from our mate? Never going to happen.

I could still smell her. Even out here in the hallway, her scent lingered—honey and blooms and something sweet that made my mouth water.

“I’m going back to the party,” I said, because I needed to get away from that door before I broke it down and terrified her even more.

The pack house was full of people celebrating our return. They were laughing, drinking, enjoying themselves. But all I could think about was her.

Who was she? Why hadn’t I noticed her before? How long had she been part of our pack?

I grabbed a drink and tried to act normal—to smile, to joke with the others like I always did.

But my wolf was hunting. Searching the crowd for any sign of that intoxicating scent.

Then I caught it again.

Faint, but definitely there. Coming from the direction of the dining room.

My feet started moving before my brain caught up. I pushed through the crowd, following my nose like a bloodhound. People called my name, tried to talk to me, but I couldn’t hear them over the roar in my head.

She was close. Very close.

I turned the corner into the dining room—and froze.

There she was.

Her back was to me, a tray of dirty dishes balanced in her hands. Her dark hair was tied back in a simple knot. She was small and delicate, but the way she moved made my wolf go still—graceful, careful, as if she was trying not to be noticed.

Why would anyone try to be invisible in their own pack?

I took a step forward. She must have heard me, because she turned around.

Our eyes met for the second time.

The world tilted sideways.

The mate bond hit again—stronger this time. Like lightning striking the same spot twice. My knees almost buckled from the force.

She was beautiful. Not the polished, perfect beauty Elaria flaunted.

This girl was naturally beautiful—quietly, effortlessly so. The kind of beauty that made my chest hurt.

Her eyes were wide and dark, filled with fear.

Of me.

That hurt more than I wanted to admit.

“Hi,” I said, because my brain had completely stopped working.

She dropped the tray.

The dishes crashed to the floor, shattering like gunfire.

“I’m sorry!” she gasped, falling to her knees to clean up the mess. “I’m so sorry! I’ll clean it up!”

Her hands were trembling so badly she could barely pick up the pieces. A shard sliced her finger, and she winced.

The scent of her blood hit me—and my wolf went berserk.

She was hurt. Our mate was hurt.

I was across the room and kneeling beside her before I even realized I’d moved.

“Don’t,” I said, catching her hands to stop her from gathering more glass. “You’re bleeding.”

Her skin was soft. Warm. Touching her sent electricity shooting through me.

She looked up, and I forgot how to breathe.

“Who are you?” I asked quietly.

“Aisla,” she whispered. Her voice was soft, musical. “I’m… I’m just an omega.”

Just an omega.

Like she was apologizing for existing.

My wolf snarled—not at her, but at whoever had made her believe she was just anything.

“Aisla,” I repeated, tasting her name. It felt perfect.

She tried to pull away, but I couldn’t let go. Didn’t want to let go.

“You’re bleeding,” I murmured again, glancing at the small cut on her finger.

Without thinking, I brought her finger to my mouth and licked the blood away.

She gasped.

The taste of her blood ignited something wild in me. My wolf howled in triumph.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

“Lucien!” Kieran’s voice sliced through the haze. “What are you doing?”

I looked up to see both my brothers standing in the doorway—Kieran furious, Caelan tense and worried.

But the worst part wasn’t them.

It was Elaria, standing just behind them, her face twisted with rage and something close to murder.

“What,” she said in a voice like ice, “is going on here?”