Chapter 10

Teya’s POV

“Touch her, and lose that fucking hand.”

The girls scattered like roaches under light. One moment they were predators, the next they were terrified. What the hell? Who was this guy?

The fear etched into their expressions was almost comical.

“Alpha Lucien—what are you doing here?” the ringleader asked, voice trembling. “You never come here. Are you looking for someone? We can help you.”

Gone was the venom. In its place, a purring tone like a kitten begging for milk. Bitch. 

Alpha Lucien.

The name slithered through me like ice, and when his eyes locked onto mine, it felt like the room spun for a second.

“I don’t need your fucking help for anything,” he bit out, tone low and sharp as glass. “Now tell me—what exactly were you planning to do to her if I hadn’t walked in?”

His fury simmered just beneath the surface, and even though I didn’t know him—didn’t want to know him, might I add—I knew I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of that anger.

The girls trembled. For a split second, I almost felt bad.

Almost.

They just tried to slap you and God knows what and you're soaked in freezing ice water genius.

Right. Go to hell bitches. 

“We were just having a friendly conversation,” the ringleader said with a forced smile, shooting daggers at me. “Right?”

Oh no. Big mistake, sweetheart.

I walked over to Lucien, the water squelching in my shoes. Standing beside him, I turned back to face them.

“‘Friendly’ my ass,” I said, voice louder, steadier. “They dumped freezing water on me and were just getting started. If you hadn’t shown up, who knows what else they had planned?”

Their faces went pale—corpse-pale.

“Leave,” Lucien ordered, voice like thunder. “All of you. Report yourselves to your dorm masters. I’ll deal with you later.”

They stood frozen, unsure whether to argue or run.

“Well?” he growled. “Go!”

They scrambled, tripping over each other as they fled. I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Actually I laughed.

But that sound died the moment I felt his eyes on me.

Lucien.

He watched me like I was a puzzle he didn’t know whether to solve or burn. My laughter caught in my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to breathe under the weight of his gaze.

“You just let people bully you like that?” he said, voice cold. “Let them treat you like garbage? Pathetic.”

My jaw clenched, fury rising like a tide.

“You don’t know shit about me,” I spat. “You think I was supposed to take on six werewolves by myself? Creatures who could snap me in half like a twig? Who’s the real idiot here?”

His jaw ticked. Good. Let him be mad.

“And by the way,” I added, stepping closer, “I didn’t ask you to save me. You think you’re better than them? You ran into me at the store and didn’t even look at me, much less apologize. You’re all the same—self-absorbed, arrogant assholes. So do us all a favor and get off your moral high horse.”

I was panting by the time I stopped, my chest heaving, my fists clenched. His stare didn’t budge.

And then.......

Lucien’s POV

My little mate has a fire.

My wolf growled in my head.

Mine. Ours. Like a damn mantra. I was getting a headache.

Her chest heaved and I could see the outline of her red lace bra through her shirt.

Shit. My dick tightened in my pants, pressing against my zipper as I continued staring at her chest.

My damn wolf wasn't helping matters at all—sending me flashes of her naked or in just that lace bra, doing things that would have her screaming my name. Worshipping her body, tracing curves I hadn’t even touched yet...

I shook my head and snapped out of it. Shrugging off my jacket, I handed it over to her—for the sake of her dignity and my sanity. Mostly my sanity.

"Take it and cover up. I can see your bra," I said, a little too harshly for my liking.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed with offense.

“Oh, sorry, Your Highness,” she snapped, snatching the jacket from my hands. “Next time I’ll wear a burlap sack so your royal control issues don’t get triggered.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

Fiery little thing.

She slipped on the jacket and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. Who knew what I’d have done if I’d kept staring any longer than that?

Might’ve pushed her to the wall to see if her lips tasted as soft as they looked. Slipped my hand down the waistband of that skirt and—

Damn you, I cursed my wolf in my head. The bastard was enjoying every second of my torment.

I turned around and stalked away, leaving her wrapped in my scent and asking myself why I even bothered finding her in the first place.

“Wait,” her voice came, not angry now—softer, uncertain. “Why did you help me? What do you want from me?”

I chuckled but didn’t slow down. She followed.

“Because you’re obviously the poster boy for altruism,” she muttered under her breath.

I smirked. She really didn’t know when to shut up.

“As you may know, it turns out that you are my mate,” I said, not bothering to soften the truth. “Now, I do not wish to be mated to a fragile, weak human for the rest of my life. So I came here to reject you. Then I found you in that situation. Now, if you would kindly follow me to my office, we’ll do it there. I do not want prying ears on this conversation.”

“Wow,” she said, mock awe in her voice. “Here I was, hoping we could go pick out matching sweaters and have a honeymoon in hell.”

I stopped walking. She bumped into my back with a soft oof, and I turned to find her rubbing her nose.

Cute.

“Didn’t realize nose injuries were your kink,” she muttered. “Noted.”

I bit back a laugh. Goddess, this woman...

We walked in tense silence for fifteen minutes until we reached my office. The shattered glass, the broken whiskey bottle—everything lay exactly where I’d left it. I winced.

“Do pardon the mess.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is this what you do when you get rejected too? Smash shit and sulk? Charming.”

I turned to face her, ignoring the jab—barely.

Her wide, silver eyes sparkled as they locked onto mine.

They were dangerous. She was dangerous.

“I do believe you understand the process of the rejection. It’s very simple,” I began. “I, Lucien Drazik, reject you—wait, what’s your name again?”

She smiled. Sweetly. Sinisterly.

“The girl who's about to beat you to the punch.”

I froze, blinking once.

She lifted her chin, voice slicing through the room like a blade.

“I, Teya Moren , gladly accept your rejection. Now go find someone whose ego can keep up with yours.” She stepped past me with a smirk. “Oh wait—does that person exist?”

My wolf howled in pain. I gasped for air. My chest felt so tight. 

Damn. I knew it would hurt but this was on another level. I looked up at her to see that her pupils had dilated. She stumbled and then straightened herself. 

"If that's all I'll take my leave. See you never." With that she left. Leaving me alone to feel like I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.