Chapter 4 : He Belongs to Another

Lucian’s POV

I walked into the private hall of the estate.

It was too quiet and the air smelt like roses. 

Selene was already sitting at the head of the table, she looked up and smiled.

 She was wearing a gold dress that hugged her body.

 But I didn't feel anything, I didn't feel any love or desire for her. 

“Lucian,” she said and her voice was soft. She stood up and walked toward me.

I walked to her and kissed her cheek quickly. “Evening,” I said.

She smelt like sweet flowers, too sweet. I stepped back.

We sat at the table, two plates of food were already served. 

Selene picked up the wine bottle and poured me a glass. “How is the company today?” she asked, and she tried to sound casual.

“Fine,” I replied.

She waited for more and I said nothing else.

She cut her steak slowly, like she was thinking hard and her fingers were perfect, nails painted light pink. 

“You have been quiet lately,” she said, her eyes on her plate.

I nodded. “Busy.”

She looked up at me. “Too busy to call me? Too busy to touch me?”

I didn’t answer.

She leaned forward across the table. Her perfume grows stronger. “I miss your voice,” she said “Even when it was cold.”

I looked down at my food, but I couldn't eat and my chest felt tight.

In my mind, I saw someone else.

I saw Kai.

I heard his voice and I remembered how he looked when I kissed his throat. The way he trembled. The soft sound he made when I bit him.

My fingers tightened around my fork.

Selene was watching me. “Lucian,” she said again, slower this time. “Are you seeing someone?”

I lifted my eyes to meet hers. “No.”

She smiled, but it was not real. “Your scent is different.”

My heart skipped.

She leaned back in her chair. She twirled her fork, slowly.

 “Most people wouldn’t notice,” she said. “But I’m not like most people. I have known you for years.”

I said nothing.

She took a sip of her wine. “You are hiding something. But it is okay.” Her voice was sweet. Too sweet. “I have time.”

“I’m tired,” I said. “Long days, meetings and night shifts.”

“Mmm.” She nodded slowly and her eyes never left mine. “Tired.”

We ate quietly and I counted every second until it was polite to leave.

After ten long minutes, I stood up. “I have work to do.”

Selene didn’t stop me. She just sat there, quiet.

But as I walked past her chair, she stood up and hugged me from behind. Her arms wrapped around my waist.

Her lips were near my ear and her breath was warm.

“Whatever it is,” she whispered, “I will find out.”

___

The next morning, I walked into the company building.

The lobby was filled with people, employees rushing, phones ringing, elevators opening and closing and everything looked normal.

But something didn’t feel right.

My chest tightened and my steps slowed. My wolf shifted under my skin, restless.

Then I smelt it. It was faint, familiar and sweet and I followed it.

I turned the corner, and stopped and there he was.

Kai.

He was standing by the front desk, and he was holding a folder. 

He was dressed neatly in a blue shirt tucked into black pants. 

His hair was combed and his lips were pressed together, serious.

His back was straight, but I could see the nervousness in his eyes.

Our eyes meet, and my heart hits my ribs like a hammer.

He looked away quickly.

“Mr. Reyes,” someone beside m ine said. I barely hear them. “This is our new assistant. Kieran Hale. HR just finished his paperwork.”

Kai nodded politely. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Sir.

He was pretending not to know me.

Liar.

I walked past him without a word, but my heart wouldn’t stop ringing.

I clenched my fists.

Later, I waited near the hallway until I saw him alone and I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward me.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed.

He pulled his hand back fast. “It’s a job,” he said..

“You used a fake name.”

“So what?” he snapped. “I needed work. You don’t own me.”

My jaw tightened. “You think you can just show up here? After everything?”

“You marked me,” he said, louder. “You didn’t ask. You didn’t explain anything. Then you disappeared.”

Someone walked by and we both went quiet.

I grabbed his wrist again and pulled him into the empty boardroom.

I slammed the door behind us.

The room was quiet, it was too quiet. The windows were shut. The air was heavy and I could hear his breathing.

Kai stood near the table, his arms were crossed and his chest was rising fast.

“You don’t get to be angry,” he said and stared at me. “You’re the one who bit me!”

“You kissed me too,” I shot back.

He turned red. “I didn’t know what that meant! I didn’t know anything!”

“You still came back.”

“Because I needed money!” he yelled. “Because I didn’t have a choice!”

I stepped closer.

He took a step back and his voice lowered. “Now I can’t sleep. I feel sick all the time. I hear your voice when I close my eyes. I smell you everywhere. I hate it.”

My heart ached “That’s the bond,” I said quietly.

“I didn’t want it,” he said, tears in his eyes now.

“I didn’t plan it.”

He wiped his face quickly. “Then why does it hurt so much?”

I moved closer and our faces were inches apart. “What do you want me to do?”

He opened his mouth to answer…

But then the door creaks and Selene stepped inside.

Her high heels clicked slowly on the floor.

She stopped just inside the room and her eyes moved from Kai to me. Then back to Kai.

Her lips formed into a soft smile, but her eyes still looked cold.

“I’m sorry,” she said, tilting her head. “Am I interrupting something?”

Kai went pale and his hands dropped to his sides.

I didn’t move.

Selene took one step closer. “Lucian?” she said, voice sweet as sugar. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new assistant?”