What Shouldn’t Have Been

Lucien’s POV

I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath like I’d just run a damn marathon. My head was pounding, my body still hot, foggy with the kind of exhaustion that didn’t come from lack of sleep—but from something else entirely.

The bed was a wreck, and the air reeked of heat and sweat. Sheets tangled, pillow crushed, the faint outline of a woman’s body still lingering like a ghost. I couldn't stop my skin from tingling.

I raked a hand through my hair and muttered a curse. “What the hell happened last night?”

Memories flashed violently in my head like broken shards of glass: her rough skin against mine, the warmth, and the distinct scent of wildflowers and fear. I could still feel her, hear her moan, and taste her on my lips.

A shudder ran through me.

My fingers curled around the door handle.

There was no way in hell that was real.

A bitter laugh scraped from my throat. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I remembered my hands gripping her curvy waist. Damn it, there isn’t another chubby woman in this entire pack—just her. I couldn't help but growl her name. Calla.

I froze, the name burning through my thoughts.

No. No, that couldn’t be right. It couldn’t be her.

Calla Greystone. The Beta’s pathetic daughter. The chubby girl with the dull hair and the acne scars. The one who always lingered in the corners during the feast, trying too hard to be invisible. There’s no way in the Spirits’ name that I—

I cursed under my breath and slammed my fist against the wall.

“It was just a dream,” I told myself. “A damn fever dream.”

But when I glanced at the bed again, the sheets were still warm and tangled, the air heavy with a scent that wasn’t mine—sweet, wild, and maddeningly familiar. Her scent. I could still feel her heat clinging to me, the ghost of that reckless passion lingering on my skin. Then my gaze caught on a faint red spot smeared against the sheet.

My stomach dropped.

“Damn it,” I muttered. “It was real.”

My pulse kicked hard like crazy. All I felt was anger crashing into my confusion. I needed to know how it happened—how the hell I ended up in this bed with her.

I tried to remember what happened after the Moonfire Feast. There had been wine, music, and too many toasts to the Moon Goddess. The elders had insisted I drink more than usual to “honor the new season.” I remembered Calla standing awkwardly in the corner, looking lost. Then… the mating heat had started clawing at me from the inside, the same night the guards reported strange herbs mixed into the wine.

Someone had tampered with it.

My jaw clenched.

“Spirits damn it,” I hissed, snatching my phone off the desk and hitting a number. The screen lit up instantly. “Fenric,” I growled into the receiver. “Get your ass in here. Now.”

It didn’t even take a minute. The door burst open, and Fenric Hale—my Beta and personal guardian—stumbled in, hair sticking up in every direction, shirt half-open like he’d just rolled out of bed.

He blinked at me blearily. “Alpha, it’s barely dawn—what—”

“Something happened last night,” I interrupted sharply. “After the Moonfire Feast.”

His posture straightened immediately, sleep gone from his eyes. “What kind of something?”

I looked away, clenching my jaw tightly. “That’s what you’re going to find out. Quietly.”

Fenric frowned. “You want me to investigate the feast?”

“No. I want you to investigate me,” I said through clenched teeth. “Who came into my room. Who drugged the drinks. And if anyone saw me with—” I stopped myself before saying her name. “—with anyone.”

Fenric studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Understood.”

“Discreetly,” I warned. “Not a single whisper reaches the Council and the Elders. Not even the servants.”

He gave a half-smirk. “Got it. But if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly am I looking for?”

I met his gaze, my voice dropping to a growl. “Proof that last night was just a damn dream.”

But deep down, as Fenric left and I sat back on the bed, I knew the truth that clawed at my gut—it didn’t feel like a dream at all.

It was nearly midnight when Fenric finally returned. I was waiting impatiently for him in the courtyard. When the doors opened, I turned.

"So?"

Fenric hesitated. "Well, there's good news and bad news."

"Bad news first," I said.

"No one was caught drugging the drinks," Fenric replied. "The kitchen staff swears they prepared the wine as usual and had no idea anyone had tampered with it. Even the guard at the cellar was certain no one else had gone in or out after the feast."

"Damn it," I muttered, clenching my fists. "What about the other thing? Who was in my chambers? Was it—"

"Calla Greystone."

The name sent a sharp bolt of anger through me.

"I knew it," I snarled, turning away. "That girl is nothing but trouble."

Fenric gave a low laugh. "Oh, you've no idea, Alpha."

"What does that mean?"

"She was the one who stopped the Elders from bursting in and embarrassing the hell out of you. Apparently, she was hiding in the hallway."

"Calla? Waiting outside my room? That's—"

"Impossible? Hardly. You've seen her this morning."

My chest tightened. I knew what he was referring to—the way the girl seemed to slip through the crowd and the shadows like she wasn't supposed to be there. Like she didn't want anyone to notice her.

"I thought it was just my instincts," I admitted, shaking off the memory. "They're not exactly trustworthy lately. But why the hell would she be out there? What was she doing?"

Fenric shrugged. "Who knows? But the point is, she saved your ass. And yours wasn't the only one, apparently. The girl's reputation was already damaged by the whole mess with her mate, and the Elders weren't too happy to have their scandal quashed so publicly."

"Mate? What mate?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"Clearly not."

"She rejected her arranged mate during the feast. Some idiot boy. He was so angry that he tried to take the rejection out on her, and then you stepped in. I guess he didn't appreciate the humiliation."

My heart skipped a beat. "Is she all right?"

Fenric gave a short laugh. "That's what the Elders asked, believe it or not. But yeah, she's fine. No injuries, except maybe to her pride."

"That's good."

"Is it?"

I turned to him. "Why would you say that?"

"You're asking about her. After last night. That's what's unusual."

"Unusual?"

"She's a nobody—just a Beta's daughter. You've never taken an interest in her before, and she's been living here since birth. Why now?"

"Maybe I'm curious. Maybe it's my instincts."

Fenric smirked. "You've got a hell of a lot of those lately."

I ignored the jibe and folded my arms. "What's the good news?"

"About Calla? She's pretty cute."

I glared at him. "That's not the good news."

"All right, all right," Fenric said with a half-laugh. "The good news is the servants didn’t see Calla leave the hall until around midnight. You left first, and a few minutes later, she stumbled out—looked drunk and barely steady on her feet. I checked the surveillance after that… and yeah, she went straight to your room and slipped inside."

My breath caught. "So no one saw her in the morning?"

"Nope. Just you."

I shook my head. "That can't be right. She wasn't there in the morning, then..."

"Maybe your instincts weren't so off," Fenric said with a grin. "Maybe you did dream it."

I glared at him.

He raised his hands. "Just kidding. Obviously, the girl's hiding something. But what?"

"That's what we're going to find out."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to talk to her," I said firmly. "Today. Find her and bring her to me."

"Alpha, with all due respect, don't you think you should just let this go? We don't know what the hell's going on. Maybe you were hallucinating."

"I know what I did," I snapped.

"And you're sure it was Calla? You're sure it was her scent, her voice, her... body?"

"Yes."

"All right, all right. Just had to ask."

"Fine. Now go get her," I muttered, looking away. "But there's just one thing. And I don't want anyone else finding out about it. Not the Council, not the Elders, not even the servants."

"What is it?"

I met his gaze. "We were having sex."

He shot me a look, clearly not buying it. His eyes widened. "Spirits. You mean—?"

"It wasn't real," I snapped. "I wasn't in control. It was the wine and the heat. But if the Elders found out, they'd start whispering again. We can't let that happen."

"So you want me to find Calla and then... what? Cover up the fact that the two of you were together?"

"Yes."

Fenric grinned. "Now this is starting to sound fun."

"This is not fun," I growled.

"Of course, it's not," he said. "But trust me, the girl will come willingly."

"What does that mean?"

He smirked. "Let's just say she's got her own reasons for keeping quiet."

I scowled. "Explain."

"Her father has been a bit of a pain in the ass lately. Rumors are, he's been trying to set you up with her."

"Why?"

"Hell if I know. But whatever he wants, it's important enough that he'd probably do anything to make it happen. Including sending his daughter to you. In the middle of the night."

"You're joking."

"Unfortunately not."

I clenched my fists, a low growl escaping me.

"Easy," Fenric warned. "It's just a rumor. Don't go losing your temper over something that may not be true."

"But if it is," I snarled.

"Then the girl's as good as dead," Fenric agreed. "But if you go off and kill the Beta, then the Elders will lose their shit. So let's try to avoid that."

I forced myself to take a deep breath.

"Look, Alpha," Fenric said gently. "The girl's not the only one with a secret. We both know you're not going to hurt her. You've never killed anyone who wasn't trying to kill you first. You've always been careful, and you've kept your instincts under control. Hell, even the Elders are starting to think you're weak."

I stared at him.

He gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'm sure it's not true. If the Beta did send his daughter, then it's obviously for something stupid. You're a fair Alpha, and the pack respects you. And as far as the Elders are concerned, well, the best way to keep them quiet is to ignore them."

I gave a bitter laugh. "They'll never let it go."

"They will. Once they realize they're not going to get any gossip out of it."

"Fine," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Keep it quiet. Keep the girl safe. Make sure she doesn't tell anyone."

"Understood."

I turned away, my thoughts instantly taking off. There was no point denying it anymore—I had slept with Calla.

It had happened.

With all the stunning women out there, how the hell did I end up with her?