CHAPTER THREE

LUCIAN’s POV.

Something about him kept drawing me to him even though I knew I shouldn’t. He was not a wolf, he may not be into the kind of fantasies I was into but somehow, I found him intriguing and interesting. His face, his body, his eyes. Everything about him. I haven’t felt like this in a long time and I was not ready to forget it.

And the fact that he just sat there talking about himself to me meant I had some kind of power over him. Not everyone will agree to tell his or her story to his boss but Dominick..

“Hmmm” I groaned softly when he was done talking—I loved how soft yet deep his voice sounded and I could listen to it all day without being tired.

“So why don’t you have a girlfriend?” I asked after he was done talking, “you are young and vibrant, you should have one or maybe a boyfriend. I mean” I shrugged, watching him closely, “everyone is open minded now, no one will judge you even if you are into men”

“I am not into men, sir” Dominick hastily replied, “and I don’t have a girlfriend because we recently just broke up”

“Oh, I see”

That was good then. A good enough reason. I wouldn’t have to share him with anyone when the time came.

“Alright then. Welcome on board, Dominick”

“Thank you so much sir”

My eyes never left him, I wanted to reach out and hold his hand which was weird because he just came and I was already feeling like an entitled bastard.

This thought made me chuckle as I leaned against the couch and threw my head back. What the actual fuck? Even my wolf was teasing me. Mate. It was sex! Maybe because I haven’t had sex in a long time, that was why I was behaving like this. Because how do I explain what the heck was going on?

I checked my watch, it was still early but I knew I would be messed up for the entire day so I made up my mind—I wouldn’t let someone like him make a mess of everything I am.

“Lamita will hand you my schedule and everything else, she will explain everything you need to know and we can start from there”

“Okay sir” he frantically nodded and I smirked—hard.

“I have got to go now” I further added, pulling my body off the couch, “I have a meeting in a few minutes”

“Do I need to come with you?”

His question ignited something feral inside of me and I swallowed hard, he clearly has zero idea of what his voice does to me.

What the actual fuck? When the heck did I become such a—such an asshole?

“You will be tainted for life if you come with me, Dominic” I told him in all sincerity, “so don’t bother. You can stay here and relax. Make yourself at home, consider that my welcome party for you”

“Thank you so much sir” he added with a slight bow, “you are—“ his voice trailed off and his eyes almost bulged out of their socket.

His statement piqued my interest and I turned my full body towards him. Not everyone dared to speak in front of me but he—he didn’t look scared, he only had a look of realization on his face.

“You were saying something”

“It was the slip of the tongue, sir”

“Say it” I urged.

“I don’t…

“It’s an order, Dominic” l said again, “say it”

He let out a sigh, fear and frustration somehow colliding on his face.

“You are different from what people say” he finally said it and his statement intrigued me. I graced my  pant pockets with my hands while I continued staring at him. The more I looked, the more fascinating he seemed.

“And what do people say I am, Dominick?”

“It’s nothing sir, I just—

I corked an eyebrow as I tilted my head to the side, he knew better then to lie now.

“Some call you a monster” he finally dropped the bombshell, “I have read things about you and I have heard some of the staff say things about you too”

“Hmmm” this was getting interesting and I would have loved to stay back but I may do something crazy if I stayed. He was slowly evading my mind in ways he shouldn’t—it was scary.

“And what do you say I am?”

“You are different” he hastily answered, “from what I imagined”

Naïve humans. Once someone shows them a little kindness, they start to see the person as kind. How was he able to survive in this world with that kind of a mindset?

I took one step closer to him, I was only just a little taller than him but I loved the idea of looking at him from up here. I wanted him to be sure who the boss was, I wanted him to know that I am everything and everything he would want when the time comes.

“I am only nice to people I want to fuck, Dominick” I whispered.

His jaw dropped faster than he could say his name and this made me smile—genuinely.

“So don’t see me as kind unless you know that I am going to fuck you in the end”

“You talk like you like men!” He was fearless at this point, was he also trying to tease me? I could see a mischievous glint dancing around in his eyes—this fucking intern!

“Should I show you?” I took another step closer to him. His scent! His scent was intoxicating, I could already imagine myself moaning out his name in the nearest future.

Dominic didn’t say a word, he was only looking at me with awe and confusion which was good. I wanted him to always have that at the back of his mind.

“Good” I whispered as I raised my hand to adjust his tie, “I thought as much”

Without another word, I turned around and hastened out of the office. I couldn’t trust myself anymore, I would do something if I remained there with him.

***

My car pulled up in front of empire noir and I quickly alighted, making my way inside.

Hidden behind a veil of polished stones and dark glasses, empire noir exuded exuberance and extravagance. Born out of a single idea, it was now one of the city’s most elite clubs. The beautiful outdoor and indoor decor was just little compared to what empire noir was actually about.  It was a member’s only club, all the rich and elite members of New York society were part of it. This was where I came to do my business and leave without having to look over my shoulders every time.

The moment the owner came to me with a partnership deal, I wasted no time in accepting it. I mean I loved my privacy so much and empire noir always gave me that.

“Welcome, sir” the security at the door greeted me and I nodded at him before walking past. 

Only a few people were here now since it was still morning but I couldn’t stay in the same office as Dominick or I might have had him against the wall in a few seconds with my tongue down his throat.

Owen, the manager was taking his usual morning tour when he saw me and his face immediately broke into a smile.

“Mr Lucian” he beamed as he got closer, “I didn’t know you were coming”

“Hmm” I nodded, “it was an impromptu decision” I added.

“I will ask for your room to be cleaned. You can sit and rest awhile”

“Sure”

Without another word, I made my way towards the bar. I usually don’t drink alcohol in the morning but now I need it to clear my head or I might lose it.

“Mr Lucian,” the bartender greeted me.

“The usual” I said, “but make it a double”

“Sure”

As I lowered myself on the chair again, my mind traveled back to him again. That boyish charm he had, that fearlessness he exuded, that tattoo on his neck. Dominic intrigued me, he intrigued me so much that I hated part of it. I was not a weakling to actually want someone the first day I saw them but he—he pulled out that beast in me and he did it unapologetically.

I needed a distraction, something that would remove the thoughts of him out of my head and that was why I was here—here to rid myself of any thoughts about Dominic because I don’t know what I might do the next time I see him.

“I didn’t fancy I would see you here” a voice called  out behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I didn’t bother to turn, I already knew who it was. How the heck was he even here? I thought he was not in town. The last time I saw him was six months ago when we had a members only party here at empire noir. We didn’t talk to each other, we didn’t even spare each other any glance at all. I was hoping he would keep that energy until the day he died. Derrick  may be a huge part of Empire noir since he co owned it but I was done with him—for life.

“You must be stressed if you actually came here this morning, Lucian” he continued as he appeared beside me.

“I didn’t realize you were in town”

My wolf sneered, it never liked Derrick from the beginning and I couldn't blame him. He was meant to love a woman not the other way round.

“Yeah, of course”

“Your drink sir” the bartender said as he pushed it towards me but I didn’t touch it, my attention still remained on Derrick.

He was my kind, he was a pack beta but we couldn’t be together because of the circumstances surrounding everything. I was an alpha, I was supposed to get mated to a Luna and breed other wolves for my bloodline—those were the rules. The rules I have lived by all my life. Derrick couldn’t make me break those rules and Dominick?

I shook my head to remove any thought of him, he was just another infatuation.

“What do you want, Derrrick?”

“You look a mess”

“It’s none of your business” 

Talking to him after our break up ignited nothing in me, I was done with him and done for good. It was a good thing, I didn’t need to feel like I owed him anything again.

“It shouldn’t but I can’t help it. Tell me, what’s going on with you?”

“How about you leave me alone?” I hissed, clenching my jaw tighter. He took a step backwards, he knew exactly what was coming next if he kept bombarding me with questions.

“Well, I hope you have a good life then!”

I slowly shut his voice off my head, he reminded me of every bad decision I made since the day I saw him. I was supposed to meet with a woman that day but what I didn’t expect was to come across him at the cafe that day and now—

But that was it—I snapped. This was maybe his fault. He should have looked away the moment I approached him.

Before he would walk away, I grabbed a hold of his hand and pulled him towards the elevator. It was his fault coming here and If I couldn’t forget about Dominick, then I could use Derrick to imagine him. Either works for me, I was too cruel to think about either of them at this point.

“What are you doing?” Derrick asked as soon as the elevator shut behind us but I slammed his back against the wall, my frame casting a shadow on him.

Right now I was desperate to forget about Dominic and if I have to be selfish enough to use Derrick then so be it. I was in control, he didn’t control me. He doesn’t have that fucking right. He just fucking came a few hours ago.

“Lucian, you can’t do this,” he continued, “how dare you touch me? We are no longer together and you—

“I do not want to also be with you” I growled, “I can go fuck someone else if you want me to. I mean..

“You are an asshole. How the heck did I even fall in love with a narcissist alpha like you?” He was furious, his jaw was clenched tight, “you—

“Shut up and enjoy it” I whispered, cutting him off, “I know you still want me” and with that, my wolf lunged before I did.