Lucian Black

Elena POV

My name is Elena Lancaster. I married the man who destroyed my family. There, I said it.

Six years ago, Lucian Black came for my family with an army, he crossed into our territory before dawn, and by sunset, the Lancaster name meant nothing. He killed my parents, the Alpha and Luna of our pack, and my brother, Julian, disappeared. For six years, I believed he was dead until I learned that he was alive

I hated Lucian Black and everything he had done to us, and I dreamed of making Lucian pay and reuniting with my brother, but I never imagined I would have to marry him to achieve that.

I had been born without a wolf, but I had never considered myself weak. My pack had. They had whispered about it behind my back when I was growing up, but I learned early not to care.

...

The gunshot echoed through the ballroom. I froze. For one horrible second, nobody moved, and then screaming started and chaos broke out. Women stumbled away from the dining tables and glass shattered across the marble floor. A man knocked over a server, and he came tumbling to the floor, champagne flutes covering them. People were rushing to the exit but I stood frozen, unable to move. My eyes were fixed on the man standing at the other end of the ballroom.

Lucian Black.

He was dressed in a black suit, his expression was calm as the body of an Alpha lay bleeding at his feet.The men around him didn't flinch. Everyone always knew. We just did. Lucian looked at the dead Alpha for another second, his expression cold enough to make my blood run colder. Then he lifted his eyes and those obnoxious onyx eyes locked with mine, drilling holes holes into my body, and my heart stopped. 

No, no, no. Not tonight. His eyes held mine as he walked toward me. His steps were soft and soundless, as if he wasn't taller and broader than everyone in the room. He could hear the pounding of my heart, and it pleased him. Everything quietened as soon as he moved, the screaming and chaos died down. People moved out of his way before he even reached them. I breathed through my nose, forcing my heart to be calm. He was getting closer. I inwardly counted his steps.

Five steps. Four. Three. Two ... One. 

My pulse hammered against my throat as he stopped in front of me, looking down at me. He didn't speak. I felt smaller standing like this with him, and my neck hurt from cranking it up. 

Leather, and warm amber. Lucian always smelled like leather and warm amber, with a faint trace of vanilla. I loathed his scent.

He was even more intimidating than I remembered. He stood so close there was no space between us.

“You came,” he breathed, almost relieved. As if he'd been hoping I would. But here it was the thing was, when Lucian invited you somewhere, there was no refusing. Especially for me. 

“Your invitation wasn’t exactly optional.” I bit out. Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement? No. It was sinister. His gaze moved over my face before settling on my eyes again.

“I don't like your attitude towards me. You should change it.” he said it like my disdain was a nuisance to him. 

“Maybe it's because I hate you. Have you thought of that before?” I barked disdainfully, gritting my teeth, voice controlled. The crowd around us erupted in gasps and whispers, tsking sounds were being made. The amusement disappeared from Lucian's eyes. I was truly trying his patience. Lucian leaned closer than he already was. His scent was choking me. 

“You should be careful, dear.” His voice dropped, almost a warning. His hot breath touched my skin, and goosebumps appeared on my arms. I hated that word, Dear. He said it as if I belonged to him already. I pulled back and glared at him.

“Don’t call me that.” I snapped, bubbling with a deplorable sensation.

“Why?” the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Because I hate it.”

"I’ll keep using it.” his smirk widened and my breath shuddered. My fist clenched at my side as I took deep breath. 

“Anyway, tonight, I have decided what I’m going to do with you.” He says, changing the subject. my stomach dropped to the marble floor at what he said. 

“And what have you decided to do?" I tried my best not to sound nervous even though I was a wreck inside.

He held my gaze butI didn't avert my gaze, I would never bow to him, ever. The Alpha reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, placing it in my hand. I looked down, and my blood ran cold. It was the Lancaster estate deed. My family’s estate.The home Lucian had taken from me. The home I hadn’t been allowed to enter in six years.

I glared at him with eyes that burned with rage.

“Why are you giving me this?” my voice trembled slightly. Lucian’s expression was unreadable.

“I’m not.”

He leaned toward my ear and his voice dropped an octave “I’m giving you until midnight to decide whether you want to become my wife.”

My breath caught. I stared at him, but he was already walking away, his shoes splattered with the blood of the Alpha he had just killed. I looked down at the deed again. My hands were trembling.

Years of wanting to enter the estate, and years searching for Julian, now Lucian Black had placed both within my reach. All I had to do was marry him. I swallowed hard.

Marry the man who destroyed my family… or lose Julian forever.