9

EVELINE

The bathroom door suddenly swung open without warning. Eveline nearly jumped out of her skin, spinning around with a gasp.

Lucian stood in the doorway, completely unfazed by the sight of her standing there naked.

“What the fuck?!” she roared, snatching a towel off the rack and wrapping it around herself as fast as she could. “Don’t you fucking knock?!”

Lucian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “You seem to forget you’re in one of my rooms. I own this house. I don’t need permission to enter any room I want.”

“what?! You gave this room to me,” she snapped, glaring at him.

He looked amused for a second, but then he held up his hands.

“You're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have scared you like that.”

She didn't reply, still glaring at him from behind the screen, with the one hand gripping the towel tightly.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, though,” he said.

“Could you get out?”

“I’ve seen that beautiful body before,” he said. “There’s no need to hide now.”

Eveline’s face felt hotter. His eyes were amused, but then, she could feel them tracking the rest of her body. She couldn’t decide if she was mortified or…flattered?

Her wolf purred that it was definitely the latter.

‘Shut up.’

She turned back to Lucian and asked, “Do you want something?”

“Dinner is ready. Come on, before it gets cold.”

“This could have waited until I was done bathing,” she snapped.

“I don’t have that much patience.” He shrugged. “Besides, I'm doing you a favour.”

He took a step forward, and Eveline felt her breath catch.

“There are hungry wolves in this house,” he said, taking another step and drawing closer. “They could…. leave you with nothing but water and bones, if you don’t hurry. And you don’t look like you could survive on either.”

He was close enough that she could fell her wolf fighting to get out, to rip at his clothes and launch on him wild…

Then her stomach chose that exact moment to grumble loudly.

Lucian looked even more amused and that angered her.

“Get out so I can finish,” she said, clutching the towel tighter.

He stepped back, but let his gaze drag slowly from her head to her toes, then back up. She felt her knees quake for a second, and she started considering begging him to leave.

A slow smile spread across his face, like he read her mind, before he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

Eveline felt her breath come in short bursts, as she tried to wrap up the feelings that threatened to burst forth.

He loved catching her in weak moments, it seemed. She found that to be a massive red flag, and yet…

Her phone rang on the bed. She hurried out of the bathroom , still wrapped in her towel. It was Tammy.

“Girl, you got me worried!” she said in a high pitched voice. “Where the hell have you been? And how were you away from your phone?”

“Hey, Tam. I'm sorry…” Eveline scratched her head, searching for a decent excuse. “I got to the doctor's safe and healthy. Don't worry, I haven't been eaten by wolves or anything.”

“Mm, well…something tells me you might eventually get eaten out.” Her voice carried a hint of a tease, and I could imagine her smirking as she said it.

I clicked my tongue in disapproval. “You do know my dad is ill, right?”

“Of course, of course. Sorry.” She paused. “How is he?”

“Well, he had one of those fits. But he's fine, Lucian fixed him up.”

“Oh, he's Lucian now, hmmmm?”

“Ugh, Tammy! Look, I have to go take my bath.”

Her friend laughed. “Alright, no pressure. Just uh…try not to get pregnant.”

“Tammy!”

Eveline ended the call and went for her bath.

—---

The closet was almost as large as her room back in college, and it had a set of clothes already lined up. Sl

She glanced at them, from light and comfortable to thick and classy. She wondered who might have used them, or if Lucian had them purchased already.

She turned away, chosing a light, comfortable jorts and t-shirt from her own bag.

And, (on what she told herself was pure impulse) she sprayed a little of the cologne she found on the dresser. The scent filled the room instantly, a soft, sweet peachy smell.

She took a look at herself in the full size mirror, and ultimately decided to leave her hair thrown over one shoulder. Again, she told herself it was not because of Lucian, but her wolf knew that it was.

She would have gotten lost in the huge villa on her way to the dining area, if she had not tracked the scent of the food.

The dining room was spacious and elegant, with a long polished oak table at its center and a crystal chandelier hanging overhead. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the wide green gardens, and gave a beautiful view of the setting sun.

Lucian and Howard were seated already, and were having a conversation like old friends. Not like alpha and servant, as she would have expected. Or as most alphas would have done.

They looked up as she walked in, and Howard started to rise to help her pull out a seat.

“No, it's okay,” she said. “I got it, thank you.”

He gave her a nod, then changed his location to another chair. Leaving an empty seat between me and Lucian.

The table was loaded with dishes here and there. Eveline wondered who cooked them all up, and wondered who else would be in the house.

Most of the dishes were made with lots of meat. She was used to it, as it seemed to be all that alphas ate.

Eveline fixed herself a plate of fresh salad instead, opting for a boiled egg to go with.

“You won’t handle me with that little food,” Lucian said with a chuckle.

“I already told you nothing is ever going to happen between us. So no need to worry about ‘handling’ anything,” she said sweetly.

“Is that so?”

She turned and met his eyes. “It is.”

“Alright.” He tucked into his food, licking his lips. “That was a crude joke to make, though.”

“Right.” She paused. “How's my father?”

He turned professional for a second. “Last I checked, the old man was sleeping peacefully. Like a baby.”

“Thank you.” She took a spoon of the salad. “So…you're like a healer?”

He lifted a brow and she added, “Howard said you were a healer.”

The steward froze, a fork of meat halfway to his mouth.

“My mother was.” He said, dabbing a kerchief at his lips. “I didn't inherit her powers directly. Not all of it, mostly her skills. They helped me through medical school, and with my patients.”

“What about your brother? Did he inherit those skills too?”

Lucian's face went cold. “I don't particularly enjoy talking about my brother.”

She turned, and caught Howard's eye. He shook his head at her, then returned to eating.

“Enough about me.” He leaned back, studying her. “Tell me about yourself. I can’t keep remembering you only as the woman from that random night.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but asked, “What do you need to know?”

“How did you end up with my crazy nephew? Or even get engaged to him?”

“Two things: we fell in love in college and my father needed his family's alliance. The reasons were too perfect, too good to be true, so…”

His eyes twinkled and he said, “If something's too good to be true, doesn't that make it false?”

“You know, for someone who claims to be so charming, you sure are a certified prick.”

He chuckled loudly. She found herself surprised by the sound. Sure he smiled and teased, but actual laughter? It was a deep, rumbling sound that she didn't want to end.