The Lancaster Estate

Elena’s POV

Rain followed us all the way to the Lancaster estate. The house was perched on a hill at the edge of the land, where one could see the whole territory. 

My car slowed as the old iron gates came into view, and my hands tightened around the steering wheel.

I hadn’t been here in six years, but I recognized everything as if I hadn't left. 

The long driveway disappeared beneath the trees.

Even the old tree at the entrance where we had picnics. Nothing had changed. 

My uncle Lenin taught me how to ride a bicycle in this very driveway. That day, I fell, and my tooth came out, at least I received a 50-dollar bill because Lenin was overcome with guilt. 

Tears were starting to build in my eyes, but I blinked them away. 

Loretta glanced at me from the passenger seat.

“You can still turn around.” She murmured, she was nervous. I had begged her not to come, but she insisted.

“I don't deserve you, Etta,” I bristled.

“I feel like I've failed. You're marrying the man who destroyed your family and stole your pack." She said with disapproval on her face.

I looked towards the house. My house. The house I grew up in as I drove through the gates. The guards didn’t stop us. They already knew we were coming.

The Lancaster estate looked exactly as it had in my memories. The mansion was too big, with so many floors stacked on top of each other and tall windows.

The gardens my mother had loved were still perfectly maintained. They were neat, almost magical, filled with flowers. 

I parked near the entrance and switched off the engine. For a moment, I couldn't move, Trisha either. 

“Ready?” She asked, I could feel her looking at me. 

“No.” My stomach violently churned, and I thought I'd get sick. 

“Good. At least we’re being honest.”

I finally opened the door, and as soon as I stepped outside, cold air brushed against my skin. I had dressed simply. Black trousers, a cream blouse, and a long coat that reached my knees.

My hair was loose, the waves falling over my shoulders as I walked toward the house.

I caught my reflection briefly in the car window and stared.

I looked like the same Elena Lancaster who had been dragged out of this house at twenty years old, but I had changed.

Loretta came around the car and we interlocked our arms as we walked to the front door. 

The doors opened before we reached them. Both of us caught our breath. 

A man stood there, still. A beautiful man with the face of an angel, but with a hint of the devil in her eyes.

I had heard about Lucian’s distant cousin. 

Percy Black was his right hand, his closest adviser and, according to half the Alphas in Blackridge, the only person reckless enough to tell him when he was being an idiot.

He was lean and broad-shouldered. Tall, sharp-featured, and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, with short dark hair that framed his face.

His cool gray eyes moved over me, and then she looked at Loretta, a small sneer forming on his face. 

"Welcome, Eliza," He says, curt. His voice is low and clear.

I exhaled, opening my mouth, but Loretta beat me to it. 

"First, it's Elena, and ..." 

"Right. Elaina,"

"Elena!" Loretta and I exclaimed at once. 

"That's what I said." He shrugged and walked away. Trisha gasped, glaring where he disappeared. Oh boy. I knew she marked him. My best friend hated him.

We took two steps inside when Lucian Black appeared. My entire body went still.

He wasn’t wearing the formal black suit from the night before. Today, he wore a simple dark shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and black trousers.

It should have made him look less intimidating, but it didn’t. 

His gaze moved slowly over my face before settling on my eyes.

“You’re late.”

“By three minutes.” I snapped at him.

“You’re still late.”

“Then you shouldn’t have invited me.”

“I didn’t invite you.”

He stepped aside to let me pass.

“I summoned you, dear.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming that he shouldn't call me that!

I counted down from five, and slowly I came down, and I could breathe normally. When I opened my eyes, Lucian's eyes were on me, almost amused, head tilted to the side. 

"You still do that?" he asked. Why couldn't I shoot lasers from my eyes?

I only snarled at him and walked past him, keeping Loretta close. I didn't want that bastard to even glance at her, let alone leave them together for a second. 

The inside of the estate was exactly as I remembered.

The marble floors, the grand staircase. The paintings. 

My chest burned and my face contorted. I could feel Lucian's gaze.

“This way, dear .”

“Don’t fucking call me that.” I barked, it's like all the breathing exercises I did were in vain. Oh, I'll kill this son of a gun one of these days and enjoy it. 

I was walking through my childhood home beside the man who had taken it from me.

We stopped in the old drawing room.

A priest stood waiting beside the fireplace, and my heart broke, color left my face. 

He wanted us to get married now. There was no wedding party or guests. Just the priest, who looked like he swallowed a rock, and Percy, who was looking at me with a deep frown.

"You can't be serious," I said, looking at him. 

"I'm always serious about you. 

"Unfortunately," I murmured, and his sharp gaze narrowed. I held his gaze, unflinching.

“We can begin.” The priest said, clearing his throat 

I stood beside Lucian. Our hands were joined for the ceremony. His palm was warm, and mine was cold.

The vows were short and simple..

When the priest finally pronounced us husband and wife, I stared at the floor with tears in my eyes, guilt eating me whole.

Tonight, I had walked back into this home willingly and married the man responsible for their death.

My parents would have hated this. 

Loretta came to me. She hugged me tightly.

“If you change your mind, I’ll help you run.” She whispered.

 “Oh, I know.” I smiled against her shoulder. 

A low growl came from Lucian, and Loretta flinched, I held her tighter. 

Silence settled over the room. A servant entered the room and quietly ushered Loretta out, followed by the priest, and then Percy left after giving me one distrustful look. 

It was just  Lucian and me. Husband and wife.

The words felt absurd. I turned toward him, breathing heavily. 

“So that’s it?”

“For the legal ceremony.”

“And the estate?”

“Yours.”

I stared at him, a little surprised. “Just like that?”

“You kept your end of the bargain.”

He stepped closer and leaned down. His voice was almost too calm.

Then he reached for my nape, I barely had time to react before his other hand settled around my waist and pulled me against him.

My breath caught.

“What are you-"  He dragged me towards him abruptly and kissed me. I froze.

Every thought I had just disappeared. His lips were warm, firm but soft. The kiss was intense, and desperate, shocking.

He suddenly bit my lower lip, and I gasped, my mouth opening. His tongue shoved inside my mouth and explored. 

I should have pushed him away and slapped him, remembering every reason I hated this man instead, my arms fell to my sides, and for a second, I kissed him back.

There was fire in my stomach, and I melted. I fucking melted in the arms of this man. 

I squirmed and pulled away first, I could barely breathe. My fists were clenched, restraining myself from hitting him. 

"Don't fucking kiss me!" I snarled, still glaring at him. My chest was heaving. 

Lucian's eyes searched mine. He looked pleased, and I wanted to bash my head against the wall for what I did.

“Good night, wife.” He smirked and walked away, wearing that stupid smirk.

 I grabbed the nearest pillow and buried my face in it, and I screamed. 

Why the hell was he unwaveringly into me?