First kiss.

“Hey, are you okay?” he inquired, scanning the face of Claudia to see if she was in any discomfort.

She swallows hard, eyes wide open, but says nothing because, unfortunately, words have suddenly failed her.

“Baby girl, are you in any discomfort? Are you still hurting? Because once we get to my pack house, I’ll order the pack doctors to tend to you,” Lucian said softly.

Claudia let out a loud sigh and forced herself to speak up. “Umm… can you please lean away from me?” she began, and almost immediately, Lucian leaned away from her, staring at her with care and concern.

“Are you in pain?” Lucian asked again because Claudia still hadn’t given him a reply.

She shook her head awkwardly and forced a smile across her lips. “You have called me ‘baby girl’ more than twice now, but my name… my name is Claudia,” she explained, and Lucian nodded.

He isn’t baffled by her words, and neither is he angry at her. All Lucian cares about is making sure his mate feels safe. “Beta Theo, drive. We have to take Luna to a safe place,” he orders, his once calm voice now laced with authority.

Theodore nods his head as he steps on the gear and begins to drive down the road. Claudia uses the initiative to avert her gaze toward the back of the car because she notices that their car has stopped in the middle of the road, yet there’s no other car honking at them.

Staring at the back, Claudia notices that there are black cars trailing behind them. Swiftly, she shifts her gaze toward her side and sees other black cars.

‘Does this mean that we’re being followed?’ she inquires within herself as her stomach twists in concern.

“Hey, there are cars trailing behind us,” Claudia whispers, her voice low and cautious.

“You don’t have to worry about the cars, baby girl,” Lucian says, but within seconds, as he realizes that he has just addressed Claudia as ‘baby girl,’ he quickly corrects himself. “Sorry for calling you that,” he apologizes softly. “Also, you don’t have to worry about the cars. They’re mine, and they’re just for security purposes,” he explains in a warm voice.

Claudia nods. She sniffles and lowers her gaze toward her fingernails, playing with them nervously.

Lucian notices the discomfort within her, so he decides to start a conversation between them. “So tell me, Claudia, how are you feeling?”

“Umm, I’m so scared right now,” Claudia begins as she pulls her gaze away from her fingers and stares at Lucian, her eyes tearing up. “I know that Alpha Derrick is the one behind all this, but I’m finding it hard to figure out why he sent you to drive me,” she says, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. “I already accepted the rejection of Alpha Derrick, so what more humiliation does he want from m—”

Claudia was unable to complete her sentence as Lucian leans in closer, once more grabbing her hands and giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I wasn’t sent by Alpha Derrick, Claudia, and I don’t want to make you feel confused or pressured, so I won’t say much,” Lucian murmurs, his gaze fixed on hers.

She nods, forces a smile while trying to pull her fingers away from his grip. Willingly, Lucian lets go of Claudia’s fingers, but he doesn’t lean away. At least, not yet.

“Let me introduce myself to you. I bet it would help you feel at ease with me,” he begins once more.

“Okay, that would be nice, but… but before you do that, can I at least know where you’re currently taking me to?”

“Fair enough,” he mumbles. “I’m taking you to the Bloodfang Pack.”

“And why is that?” Claudia inquires, her brows tilting upward in suspicion. She has never left the Silvercrest Pack and has heard countless rumours about the Bloodfang Pack and how it’s respected across the territories. From what Claudia has heard, she knows that the Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack is notorious, and from the rumours still imprinted in her mind, it is said that the Alpha of the pack kills anyone who stands as a threat to him.

To some people, they claim he’s a bloodthirsty Alpha, and that’s why his pack’s name is titled ‘Bloodfang’.

Lucian’s lips curve into a warm smile when he hears Claudia’s question. “I’m taking you there…”

“Is it to be locked up? I’ve heard rumours that the pack dungeon is like hell,” Claudia chips in, cutting Lucian words. “Am I being taken there because of what… was it because I killed that man?”

Her voice begins to quaver, her lips trembling with fright. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to hurt him.” Claudia stammers as the tears she’s been holding fall, tracking warm down her cheeks. “He tried to rape me and I only protected myself, so…”

“Shh.” Lucian shushes her, unable to bear her tears. Heat flashes across his face and his jaw became tightened, but he forces himself to stay calm. For Claudia’s sake.

“Theodore, get information concerning the families of the men who tried to defy my Luna,” Alpha Lucian purrs, sending the command through the mind-link to his beta. “They all need to be burnt alive.”

Since Lucian face was barely inches away from Claudia, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I won’t allow anyone to ever touch a strand of your hair again,” he said with a possessive yet soothing tone. “I can’t even breathe properly because seeing you cry hurts too much.” His voice was low, seductive, and filled with emotion as he leaned closer and planted a soft kiss on her eyelid.

His thumb gently brushed away the remaining tear from her other eye before he finally leaned away.

Claudia’s breath hitched as her gaze locked on him, her heart pounding rapidly in confusion and shock.

“Baby girl,” he began in a calm voice, “my name’s Lucian, Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack. And you don’t need to be afraid of me.” He paused, his emerald eyes holding hers. “I’m your stepbrother and your mate.”

Stunned!

Lucian’s words hung heavily in the air as his gaze locked with Claudia’s. The warmth of his breath brushed against her face, and she could feel the dangerous calm that lingered in his emerald eyes.

For a brief moment, the world around them fell silent. No engine sound, no wind, just the racing rhythm of her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

“Lucian…” Claudia whispered, her lips trembling as she spoke his name.

His eyes darkened with desire. “You don’t have to be scared of me, baby girl,” he murmured softly. “You’re safe now.”

Before Claudia could say another word, Lucian leaned in closer, his hand cupping her cheek gently. The heat of his touch sent shivers down her spine. His thumb brushed against her lips, and in that instant, she forgot to breathe.

Then, his lips captured hers. Slow, warm, and deeply possessive. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a silent vow, one that stirred something dangerous and unfamiliar inside her.

When he finally pulled away, their eyes met again, and Claudia’s chest rose and fell in quick breaths. “Lucian…” she murmured, dazed and unsure of what she felt because deep down she have mixed feelings which include fear and longing.

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. “Get used to it, baby girl,” he whispered. “Because this is only the beginning.”