MATE

Duncan's POV:

The scent hit me before the sight did.

Blood.

And it wasn't the usual metallic tang that filled Lucien’s estate every night, but something different. 

Something rich. Sweet. Powerful.

It slammed into my senses so violently that I stopped in the hallway, my hand pressing against the wall to steady myself.

What the hell-

Then I heard it.

A soft sound that almost sounded like a moan.

No, it was a moan. 

My brows furrowed as I pushed the door open slightly, not intending to intrude but curious enough to look inside.

The moment my eyes landed on the scene before me, the world seemed to tilt.

Lucien was kneeling with his head buried between Freya’s thighs.

For a moment, my mind refused to process what I was seeing.

Lucien.

The same Lucien who had spent centuries controlling every violent impulse in his body. 

And Freya…

Freya sat blissfully on the floor, her fingers tangled in Lucien’s dark hair as her chest rose and fell unevenly.

My first instinct was disbelief.

But that emotion lasted long enough to matter because the scent hit me again.

Freya’s blood.

My wolf lunged against the inside of my mind with a violent snarl.

Mine.

The word echoed so loudly in my head that I almost stepped forward before I caught myself.

I forced myself to stay where I was, half hidden behind the doorframe and my hand gripping the wood hard enough to splinter it.

Lucien didn’t notice me as his shoulders tensed while he drank, his body rigid with the kind of control I knew he was fighting to maintain.

Freya made another soft moan, her head falling back slightly.

My wolf snarled inside me once more, the sound vibrating through my bones. 

My chest tightened every time she moved.

Even though it was obviously not my business.

Lucien had bought her.

That alone should have been enough for me to turn around and walk away.

Instead, I stayed frozen in the doorway. 

Pain shot through my chest so sharply that it felt like someone had driven a blade straight through my ribs.

I sucked in a sharp breath as the force of it nearly drove me to my knees.

And then it happened.

The bond creeped into my senses and I weakened. She was indeed what i hoped she wasn’t. 

My back hit the wall as the air rushed out of my lungs.

Freya.

The name echoed through my head like thunder.

Mine.

The word was no longer just a thought, it was an instinct.

My hands clenched into fists as my wolf surged forward, claws scraping against the inside of my mind as if it was desperate to break free.

Shift.

The command pulsed through every nerve in my body.

Claim.

My breathing grew ragged as I forced myself to stay still.

My gaze snapped back towards her.

Freya’s head had fallen forward slightly, her breathing uneven as she held onto his shoulders and all I could smell was her.

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to cross the room and drag Lucien away from her. 

This had to be some kind of mistake.

The bond had been weak when I first met her. It definitely had to be the Blood Rage confusing me. 

I pressed the back of my head against the wall, breathing slowly as I forced myself to stay silent.

Lucien couldn’t know about this. 

Lucien’s shoulders had now relaxed slightly as he finally pulled back.

For a second, the room fell completely silent.

Lucien ran his tongue across the wound before leaning away.

The moment he stood, his posture shifted and the weakness that had clung to him earlier seemed to fade as colour slowly returned to his skin.

Lucien’s hand hovered near her thigh for a brief moment before dropping to his side.

That was when his head turned.

His red eyes locked onto mine instantly the moment he straightened and for a split second, something sharp flickered across his face.

Shock and then irritation.

I pushed myself off the wall slowly, stepping fully into the doorway now that hiding was pointless.

Freya followed his gaze a moment later and the instant she saw me, her entire body stiffened.

Shock and something else I couldn't recognise flashed across her face.

“Mate,” my wolf growled inside me, the word echoing louder with every time that passed. 

Lucien wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his red eyes narrowing slightly.

“Well,” he said coolly, “if you wanted to watch, you could have announced yourself.”

I folded my arms across my chest, trying to maintain my composure as I said, “You seemed busy.”

His gaze sharpened and Freya shifted slightly on the floor, clearly unsure whether she should speak or disappear.

Lucien glanced down at her briefly before looking back at me.

“You're early,” he said, his face void of any emotion.

“I didn’t realise visiting required an appointment,” I shot back, clearly unable to hide my emotions.

“Most people knock.”

“Most people aren’t your friends.”

A tension settled between us and only a fool wouldn't notice it. Freya shifted uncomfortably before she stopd up, pur attention drifting to her temporarily.

I wanted her in my arms. I wanted her far away from him. 

My wolf was pacing inside my skull like a caged animal waiting to go feral. 

Every time Freya moved, the bond in my chest pulled tighter.

It took every ounce of control I had not to look at her again.

But of course, nothing could get past Lucien. 

He furrowed his brow as his gaze flicked between us.

Once.

Twice.

Then he said slowly, “You came all the way here to comment on my manners?”

“I came to see if the rumours were true,” I said, glancing around just to avoid eye contact with either of them.

“And which rumours would those be?”

I tilted my head slightly, then said with a smirk, “That the great Lucien has lost his control again.”

Freya inhaled sharply behind him and Lucien’s lips curved faintly.

“If I had lost control,” he said quietly, “you wouldn’t be standing there so comfortably.”

“That confident, are we?”

“I don’t rely on confidence.”

My wolf snarled again, but it wasn't at Lucien. It was the scent of Freya’s blood in his bloodstream. It still hung in the room, warm and intoxicating.

Lucien seemed stronger now, the sickly pale colour was now gone from his skin.

I forced my voice to stay casual when I said, “You look better.”

Lucien gave a small shrug.

“She was… helpful.”

My hands tightened into fists before I could stop myself. It was as if he was teasing me and the smirk he had confirmed it. 

“What's your problem?” Lucien asked with a sort of irritation in his voice, obviously done playing games. 

“Maybe I’m trying to understand why you’d drink from a human slave when you’ve spent centuries preaching restraint.”

Lucien’s expression hardened slightly.

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

“No,” I said lightly. “You rarely do.”

Freya’s voice interrupted the moment when she said, “Maybe this isn’t-”

“Freya,” Lucien said her name, turning to give her a little smile. 

Something unpleasant twisted in my stomach as my wolf snarled at the sight.

It was enough to silence her again.

Lucien’s gaze returned to mine.

“You sold her,” he said calmly.

The words landed like a stone between us. I had explained what really happened and he knew that to an extent, my action was valid but not executed well. 

“You let her die,” I spat venomously and Lucien visibly recoiled.

I knew better than to play that card, but I just couldn't stop myself. Not when he drank from my mate and felt no remorse.

“He doesn't know though,” my inner voice whispered, but I shut it out. 

“Who?” Freya asked, but we ignored her, staring at each other intensely. 

She swayed slightly as she stood, but neither of us acknowledged that. 

“You always did enjoy testing limits,” Lucien said.

I hated the fact that he always acted like nothing affected him. It was the same way he reacted when she died. 

“And you always enjoy pretending like you don’t have any.”

Lucien’s eyes flashed and he said lowly, “You're pushing your luck tonight.”

I laughed softly.

“Luck?”

The room felt smaller suddenly as Freya stepped closer to us.

“You two are friends, right?” she said nervously.

Neither of us answered as Lucien’s gaze never left mine.

“You should leave,” he said.

“Or what?”

His voice dropped slightly, “Or we stop talking.”

My wolf surged forward eagerly, welcoming the distraction.  

Freya’s voice rose slightly, “Please-”

Neither of us heard her or maybe we did, but neither of us cared enough to stop.

Lucien took another step forward and now there was barely a foot between us.

“You came into my home,” he said quietly.

“You left your door open.”

“And you stayed.”

“And?”

His eyes flashed.

“And now you're testing how patient I feel tonight.”

My wolf pushed harder against my control, the shift itched under my skin.

Freya’s heartbeat fluttered rapidly, a bit too weak and too fast. 

“You’re welcome to try throwing me out,” I said.

Lucien’s smile this time had no humour in it, “I might.”

“You know pretty well that your pretty father loves keeping me here so I don't think a half-blood has that authority.” 

I had played dirty again.

Freya’s voice came again, a bit louder this time, “You’re both acting insane!”

However, neither of us looked at her. 

The tension between Lucien and me had reached a razor edge.

Then suddenly, there was a soft sound. 

A thud.

Lucien’s eyes flickered away first and mine followed instantly.

Freya was on the floor, unconscious. 

For half a second neither of us moved, then the bond in my chest exploded with panic.

My wolf roared.

Mate.

Lucien reached her first but I was already moving.