Chapter 31 Lucien

I woke up feeling refreshed, that same energy from when I came in from Coralridge’s Bonding Ceremony.

Except the problem was, I wasn’t waking up in my bed, next to my mate.

I was in my office, with the door locked and a guard posted outside, not letting anyone in.

I heard Vanessa try and get past the guard at some point in the middle of the night. He didn’t let her pass. That guy needs a promotion AND a raise.

Outside the world still slept, all was quiet. The skies were a dark gray, a storm was coming in from the north, a big one from the looks of it.

There was a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a while.

With the door still locked, I stripped and went into the adjoining bathroom for a hot shower, enjoying the few minutes I had to myself before the pack started knocking at my door.

Or Vanessa.

I don’t imagine she’ll be the loving housewife today after I intentionally didn’t come up to bed. Once I was dressed in some blue jeans and a hoodie, comfortable clothes for my second full day of pack duties, I opened my office door.

I thanked the guard and told him to let Kane know I gave him the day off. His broad smile was proof a day off was good medicine for everyone.

Maybe I needed a day off, but I’d had too many of them already.

The cause for those days off was heading my way.

I heard heels clicking down the stairs and hall. Strong and purposeful. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the onslaught of bitchiness.

On some level, I deserved it. On another, no I didn’t.

“Lucien,” she called, as if she didn’t know where I was.

She rounded the corner into my office, appearing to be out of breath, but I knew better. “Oh, there you are. I was so worried when you didn’t come up to bed last night.”

“Yeah,” I said, looking at the papers in front of me. “Sorry about that. Important Pack business.”

“More important than me? Your mate?” She demanded, hands on hips, standing right in front of my desk.

I looked up and met her blazing eyes, as if challenging me to answer. Never one to resist a challenge, I answered, “Yes.”

Her face contorted with fury. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but nothing came out. It was actually nice…I might have to be blunt more often.

“But we’re newlyweds,” she pouted, switching moods almost faster than I could shift.

I just shrugged. “Pack business. Couldn’t wait.”

“Is that going to happen often?” she asked, fiddling with those ever-present bracelets. They must help her with anxiety or something. She never took them off. Even in bed.

Whatever. If they helped her, so fricken what.

“I honestly don’t know. Never ran a pack before.”

She perked up a bit. “Daddy could help.”

“No thanks,” I replied smoothly. There was no way I’d invite some stranger to help me run my pack. Even if he was my mate’s father.

“If you’re going to be in your office day and night, then can the girls come live in this house?” she asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

“What girls?”

“My besties. From Ravenhall.”

“They have a house.”

“But it’s not here, and you’ll always be busy. I’m very alone in a strange pack.”

All the relaxation I felt earlier was gone. I didn’t need this shit. Who in their right mind would want a bunch of mindless twits living under their roof regardless of work schedules. But I also didn’t need her going off at the moment.

“I’ll think on it.” I said dismissively. Hoping she’d get the hint and leave.

She didn’t. “What is there to…”

That’s as far as she got before Elder Ansel came in. I really didn’t need his shit right now. The only thing he ever spoke about was the stupid bond with the dead girl.

“Oh good. You’re both here.” He said calmly, his hands clasped in front of him. “We need to speak of your bond.”

“Getting stronger every day,” Vanessa blurted in an extra cheery tone. “We light the herbs every day, multiple times a day. Our wolves are very close.”

I almost choked. Our bond was nothing like that. Auron hid every time she lit those herbs. If a wolf could boycott life, he’d be right there leading the line.

He was not a happy wolf these days. He answered me in clipped tones, and was often downright rude.

Before I could refute her claims, Ansel did it for me. “Do not lie to me named Pack Luna. I am the High Priest and Elder. You are not the mate Luna chose for our pack. Regardless of what Selwyn tells you, the bond will not take.”

“Of course it will,” Vanessa replied as if she was talking to a child that needed to see reason.

Ansel turned to me. “The Bond is still in the house. I felt it the moment you arrived back from Coralridge.”

“How?” Vanessa prodded. “The girl is dead. There’s no bond that can survive death.”

Selwyn arrived, rushing in as if hoping to thwart whatever Ansel had to say. “Stop interfering Old Man.”

The two of them started bickering between themselves. 

Vanessa turned back to me whining about her besties being so far away.

They lived fifty feet from the fountain outside the door.

Kane walked into the madhouse and stopped short.

“I hate to interrupt,” he began. “But we got word of a hunter in the north quadrant. A couple of pups were shot at.”

“What the…” I said, shooting up from my chair.

“Want me to get a par…” Kane started.

“No. I’ll go.”

I shifted in an instant, shredding my clothes in the process. 

I didn’t fucking care.

Golden fur rippled across my skin as my bones resettled in their new form.

I needed out.

I blazed through the house, and out of the kitchen door that Rosa opened right before I blasted through it.

The first drops of rain hit my fur, but I didn’t care.

Kane was hot on my heels in his gray wolf form. I let out a deep growl and bared my teeth. He stopped and shifted back to human.

I took off without looking back.

I didn’t stop for miles, heading north.

When I finally stopped, I was out of breath, with no idea how far I’d run, or where I was.

Not the most level headed move if there was a hunter trespassing on Pack lands.

By then the rain came down in buckets. I was drenched.

I sniffed the air.

I sniffed again.

Something was out there. Something that didn’t smell right.

Something sick, weak, and tainted.