6: No Fixed Date

Opening the shoe box, I noticed the small black velvet box beside it. I put down the shoe box and got it instead. Now I see what ring Lucius meant. It’s this.

The diamond ring made me gasp. It is simple but elegant. Back then I always thought the ring I would put on my ring finger would be given by my mate, but look how it turned out. I shook my head with a bitter smile on my lips, sliding the ring through my finger.

While drying my hair, I can’t help but wonder if Lucius had met his mate. For us wolf shifters mates are our other halves, the only ones destined for us. No one can hold our hearts like they do. That is how powerful a mate bond is. I haven’t met my mate yet. I haven’t felt that strong pull, that deep connection with someone. I wish he’s strong and capable. Someone who can free me from Lucius’ grip and help me take back my pack.

Thinking about it, Lucius must haven’t met his mate yet. For him to pick a random girl to be his fiancée all of a sudden, his mate wouldn’t surely allow it even just for the sake of vengeance. 

I was a little nervous walking to the dining hall. Four pairs of amber eyes were looking at me including Lucius’ and I wasn’t sure if my knees literally wobbled or if it was only in mind.

Lucius is sitting on the head of the table. On his right are two women, one was obviously in her forties while the other seems to be my age, and a man who’s probably close to Lucius’ age.

“Who is she?” The older woman questioned, raising a brow. “This is a family breakfast, dear Lucius. You didn’t tell me you have a guest, or is it a new servant?”

“Does she look like a servant to you?” Lucius questioned back with the same sarcastic tone.

I stopped near Lucius but didn’t sit yet. When he held my hand and brought it to his lips, I almost jolted.

“She’s Madeline, Aunt Roselle. My fiancée. Isn’t she lovely?”

The mention of “fiancée” didn’t sound well to me. But of course I tried to hide my annoyance and offered a polite smile to the older woman whose jaw dropped to her stomach. The younger girl choked up on her drink while the other guy, who looks calmer than the two, narrowed his eyes like it was the announcement he least expected.

“Take a sit, Maddy,” Lucius said and I took a seat on his left.

“Is this for real, Lucius?”

“Yes, Sophie.”

The girl named Sophie looked at me with dagger eyes. “What pack does she belong to? I’ve never seen her before.”

Lucius chuckled. “The world is big, Sophie. You can’t expect to meet every person in the world when you stuck yourself with your friends who only take interest in hunting men.”

“Lucius, isn’t this too… sudden?” asked his aunt. “You never told us that you’re in a relationship with someone.”

“That is Lucius, mother. He never says anything unless asked. He didn’t even tell us that he broke the bond with his mate the second he met her.”

What? He broke the bond with his mate? Why? And is that even possible? Based on what I know, only death can break the bond between two mated shifters. I’ve read about breaking the bond through the power of blood or something, but the way it is done isn’t stated in the books and even the elders have little to no idea about it.

“Isn’t she mated?” Sophie asked, giving me a look as if she’s disgusted with me.

“Her mate is dead,” answered Lucius before I could utter a word.

I gave him a look, not liking what he said. He smirked and raised an eyebrow as if telling me to behave like a good pet. I want to stab him with the fork. If only I can do that without risking my life.

“So what pack is she from?”

“She’s a rogue,” Lucius’ answer made my lips fall apart. How could he? Rogues are considered to be outcasts of our kind. They are the wolf shifters whose hearts got corrupted.

If there is a disease that could turn a wolf’s life upside down, it is the wolf's corruption. A wolf’s heart is considered corrupted when it turns black and there are specific reasons why it could happen. The corrupted wolf will turn into nothing less than a monster who has lost its sanity.

“She’s pretty tamed for a rogue, Lucius,” his male cousin said with a smirk as if he knew Lucius was kidding. Meanwhile, the two women were rendered speechless like they couldn’t believe it.

“Come on, I was just joking. She’s from an elite pack in Vancouver. Daughter of an alpha. Do you really think I’d pick someone who didn’t make the cut?”

Sophie rolled her eyes while his Aunt Roselle was boldly scrutinizing me. The male cousin whose name was yet to be mentioned had his attention on his breakfast as if the little play was so normal that it didn’t bother him.

“I thought you were staying in North Carolina until next month, Bernard,” Lucius said in the middle of cutting the meat on his plate.

“Changed my mind. I got some work to do here. Already done with Vista Grande’s project?”

“Still on it.”

The two men continued to talk about work casually until Lucius’ aunt cleared her throat to speak.

“I’m sure the wedding isn’t anytime soon. Am I right, Lucius?”

“Wedding,” Lucius gave the woman a crooked smile. “Maybe next week?”

His aunt spilled the coffee from her mouth and hurriedly wiped the mess she had made. “Next week? Lucius, you can’t decide about your marriage just like that!” The woman was almost hysterical. Even I was surprised. But with Lucius’ playful nature, I’m sure he didn’t mean it.

“Why not?” Lucius asked innocently.

Sophie released an exaggerated sigh while her mother was fanning herself with her hand. Bernard only shook his head as if he couldn’t stand his family’s drama.

Lucius laughed. “Just kidding. There is actually no fixed date. If we feel like marrying tomorrow, next week, or next month, then so be it."

"What do you think, Maddy?”

Now all their eyes are on me. I looked at Lucius and noticed the wicked smile playing on his lips like he wanted to see if I’d heed his words and not say a wrong word.

Without tearing my gaze from him, I said, “Yes, we’ll get married whenever we want.”