Mischief in the Candlelight

“What are you up to, my Alpha?” she teased.

Lucious's eyes gleamed with mischief, the candlelight catching the amber flecks in his irises. He reached across the table, capturing her fingers between his own.

"Nothing nefarious, I assure you," he said, though the slight curl at the corner of his mouth suggested otherwise. "Just ensuring tonight is perfect for you."

Beneath the table, his foot tapped with nervous energy that he'd never admit to feeling. Lucious, second-born of the Alpha sextuplets, rarely felt uncertain, but tonight was different. Tonight was about Annabella.

The waiter approached with a small, velvet box on a silver tray.

"Your requested item, sir," the man said with a respectful nod before retreating.

Annabella's eyes widened, her heartbeat quickening as she stared at the box. She'd never been one for extravagant gifts, had never expected them, especially not from someone of Lucious's standing.

"This isn't..." she began, her voice catching.

"It's not a ring," Lucious assured her with a low chuckle, understanding her concern. "Not yet, anyway. That comes after your shift."

Miles away at the packhouse, Knight slipped away from his brothers, their laughter following him down the corridor. Their mockery of Annabella had grown increasingly difficult to stomach. He made his way to the east wing, where a small balcony overlooked the forest and, beyond it, the lights of the town where Lucious and Annabella dined.

"You're a fool," he whispered to himself, leaning against the stone railing. His wolf whined in agreement, both of them knowing they'd waited too long, said nothing when they should have spoken.

Back at the restaurant, Lucious slid the box across the table to Annabella.

"Open it," he urged softly.

With trembling fingers, she lifted the lid. Inside lay a delicate silver ruby pendant in the shape of a, inlaid with tiny diamonds that caught the light like stars.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, lifting it from the box.

“It's a mating token, my love, to show my intent to make you mine in every way possible.”

Annabella held the pendant between her fingers, feeling its weight, both physical and symbolic. No one had ever given her anything so meaningful, so intentional. For a girl who had spent her life being overlooked, this tangible proof of Lucious's commitment left her momentarily speechless.

"May I?" Lucious asked, rising slightly from his seat.

She nodded, gathering her hair and lifting it away from her neck as he circled behind her. His fingers brushed against her skin as he fastened the clasp, sending a shiver down her spine. His touch lingered longer than necessary, and the wolf within him growled with satisfaction as his scent mingled with hers.

"There," he murmured close to her ear. "Now everyone will know."

What he didn't say, what he couldn't fully explain, was how the wolf inside him had chosen her long before his human side had recognised the connection. For three years, he'd fought his brothers' mockery, endured their disbelief, all while knowing what they couldn't, or wouldn't, see.

As Lucious returned to his seat, the restaurant door swung open. A cold draft swept through the warm interior, causing the candle flames to dance. Tate entered, followed by Drake and Adrian, their expressions a mixture of amusement and disdain.

"Well, well," Drake drawled, loud enough for nearby diners to turn their heads. "The Alpha's son and the little mouse. How...predictable."

Annabella's fingers instinctively moved to touch the pendant at her throat. The joy she'd felt moments ago threatened to dissolve under their collective gaze. Her brother's presence hurt most of all, his betrayal a wound that had never fully healed.

Lucious's jaw tightened, his posture shifting subtly into something more predatory. "This is a private dinner," he said, his voice carrying the unmistakable edge of command.

At the packhouse, Knight paced his room, his wolf growing increasingly agitated. Something was happening, something that concerned Annabella. He'd always been more attuned to her than he cared to admit. Without conscious decision, he found himself grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

Raymond, seated in his father's study reviewing territory reports, felt his brother's distress through their bond. "Knight?" he called out, but received no answer. The firstborn sighed, setting aside the papers. Knight had been acting strange for months now, ever since Lucious had made his intentions toward Annabella clear.

Back at the restaurant, Adrian leaned against a nearby pillar, his smile not reaching his eyes. "We're just checking in on our dear brother. Making sure he hasn't forgotten about tomorrow's hunt." His gaze slid to Annabella, dismissive and cold. "Though I see he's already found his prey."

Tate laughed, the sound grating against Annabella's ears. She'd once cared what her brother and his brothers thought, but she no longer did. “Lu, I’m not hungry for dessert. We should go. I’m sure you have other things planned for tonight.”

Lucious's eyes flashed dangerously as he watched Annabella's face carefully. He could feel his wolf rising beneath his skin, furious at the intrusion and the barely veiled insults. Three years of this had worn his patience thin, but tonight of all nights, he would not allow them to ruin what he had planned.

"Actually," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "I insist you join us for dessert."

Tate, along with Drake and Adrian, exchanged surprised glances. This wasn't the reaction they had expected.

Annabella's fingers tightened around her napkin beneath the table. She understood Lucious's strategy, facing them down rather than retreating, but her heart still pounded with anxiety. The pendant felt suddenly heavy against her collarbone, a tangible reminder of what was at stake.

"How generous," Drake drawled, pulling up a chair uninvited. "Though I doubt they serve anything suitable for mice."

The waiter approached, clearly sensing tension but professionally maintaining his composure. "Would the gentlemen care to order?"

"They won't be staying long enough," Lucious said, a smile on his face but ice in his tone. He raised his hand, signalling for the check. "In fact, we were just discussing how we need to leave for a more...private celebration."

The implication hung in the air, causing Tate's face to darken. The thought of Lucious truly choosing his sister as a mate rather than a temporary diversion was clearly unsettling to him.