15

Nicholas stood near the center of the grand hallway, his body language shifting as he processed the question. He let out a low, breathy chuckle, tilting his head slightly while a flicker of dark amusement crossed his face.

"Hmm, now that is a surprisingly strange thing to ask," Nicholas remarked, crossing his arms over his chest as his posture relaxed against the carved doorframe. He leaned back, letting his gaze drift between us with a cool, unbothered look. "Lucien might be a whole list of terrible things. He’s cold, he’s ruthless, and he chain-smokes enough to fill a room with thick fog. But honestly? I really don't think he has any interest in touching a sixteen-year-old girl. So if you're worried about that, you're probably safe for now."

Beside me, Bakito’s entire frame stiffened. Her brows pulled together into a tight, heavy line, and a shadow of genuine anxiety fell over her features. She didn't look comforted by his words at all. If anything, the cold reality of her situation seemed to settle deeper into her chest, making her breath catch in her throat.

"But what if he changes his mind one day?" Bakito pressed, her voice dropping into a tense, hushed whisper as her eyes searched his face for answers. "What if he just wakes up tomorrow and decides he feels like it?"

The casual, relaxed air around Nicholas vanished in an instant. A quiet, grim expression took over his face, and he let out a slow, heavy sigh that rattled softly in his chest.

"Well... if we're being completely honest about how things work here, he can if he wants to," Nicholas admitted, his tone turning serious and unadorned. He made a subtle gesture toward the deep interior of the estate, emphasizing the absolute boundary of our situation. "He holds full legal rights over you. Your father signed you away to clear a massive debt he couldn't pay back. That means Lucien owns you now—your life, your choices, everything. He has the authority to do whatever he wants under this roof. So if you want to keep yourself safe, your best move is to stay on his good side at all times."

While the two of them spoke, my eyes drifted past Nicholas's shoulder, taking in the full sight of the master suite behind him. A strange sense of confusion stirred in my mind as I looked around. The room didn't fit Alpha Lucien at all. It was far too gentle, far too bright. The clean white paint on the walls and the soft, natural light streaming through the large windows created an atmosphere of pure peace. It made no sense for a man with such a dark, wicked, and feared reputation to sleep in a room so light and beautiful.

I glanced back over at Bakito, watching her nervously wring her hands together. Despite the danger surrounding us in this strange place, a sudden wave of warmth washed over me. I had always wished for a younger sister—someone I could care for, sit with, and look out for. Watching her stand there looking so small and vulnerable, I made up my mind right then. I was going to treat her like family and protect her in every single way I could manage.

Nicholas shifted his balance, tapping his fingers against his hip to break the heavy silence that had fallen over the corridor. A brief, polite smile touched his lips, though his eyes remained watchful.

"Well, that’s pretty much all I can tell you for now," Nicholas said, nodding toward the long stretch of the corridor. "Maybe I can show you both around a bit more when I actually have some free time on my hands. Or, to be honest, you’ll probably just end up learning how the pack operates on your own as time goes on. But trust me on this—despite how intimidating it feels, this is actually a good place. It’s a safe place for you two."

He turned around, gesturing with a simple wave of his hand for us to fall in line behind him.

"Let me get you both settled in your room first, then I have to head back and take care of my own work," he added as he started walking.

We followed right behind his footsteps, moving quietly down the polished floorboards. After a short walk down a quieter wing of the house, away from the huge master suite, Nicholas came to a stop in front of a plain wooden door. He turned the metal handle and pushed it open, stepping aside so we could look inside.

The room was decently sized, though it wasn't even half as large as Alpha Lucien’s massive suite. There were no fancy decorations on the walls, no expensive art, and nothing special to catch the eye. It was just a simple, straightforward room with basic paint on the walls and tall wooden cupboards lined up along the side for storage. It had all the basic necessities a person needed to live comfortably, but nothing extra or luxurious.

Four large, sturdy beds were arranged neatly inside, each fitted with clean, thick blankets and pillows. The beds were spaced evenly apart from one another, aligned with neat precision across the floor.

Nicholas stepped back into the doorway, gesturing toward the interior with an open hand.

"This will be your room," he said.