Three years ago

I watched him through the corner of my eyes, trying to decipher his thoughts. 

He kept a closed expression on at all times, leaving his profile void of all emotion. His gaze was fixed on the road. His car rolled into the driveway with ease, kicking pieces of gravel in its wake. He slowed to a halt and turned off his ignition.

"Thanks for defending me," I said, letting the car door open and getting out. He got out and shut his door behind him.

"It was nothing."

"You could've gotten hurt."

He chuckled. "That's almost an insult."

I lowered my gaze. "Thanks for tonight."

I watched him drive away, wishing he had stayed back. Or take me with him.

I let myself in through my room window and shut it immediately. As I leaned back against the cold glass, I bit my lip. I was done for. I took a shower and put on a robe, drying my hair as I walked into the room.

As though conjured by my thoughts, he was standing beside the window, looking out. I froze, the towel slipping from my fingers to the ground.

"Lucien?" I whispered, shock numbing my brain.

"I came back." He said, looking at me with quiet intensity.

"Why?" I said finally, my brain kicking into gear. I watched him walk closer, stopping right in front of me. He towered over me, his fingers digging into my hair. He closed a fist around my red hair tilting my head backwards gently.

"I felt it. That connection between us." He stopped. "If you don't, I'll climb right out that window and we'll never see each other again. So I came to ask, "Did you feel it too?"

I stared into his eyes, those gray orbs were looking back at me. My lips parted. Before I could reply, his head came down and he took my mouth gently, building up pressure with ease. 

Heat flashed through my system and I could feel Crystal stirring.

"Do you?' His lips whispered against mine-seductive and intense. I nodded wordlessly, swept off by a wave of desire stronger than anything I had ever felt. He tilted my head to the side as he backed me

up against the wall. His other hand came to cup my breast, kneading it and stroking the tip. I moaned into his mouth.

I had never felt this way before. So confident and bold. The sounds he made at the back of his throat urged me on, making me feel powerful. Lust-the sheer power it could wield-overwhelmed me. 

His kiss was different, unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. He was a very passionate male, and it scared and excited me. Made me want to explore things I had never done before.

He picked me up by my waist and instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist. 

He broke the kiss long enough to take the belt of the robe and undo it, making the lapels fall apart. He cupped both breasts, biting down on my lip. 

He places me at the center of the bed, disengaging long enough to throw his shirt off.

He unzipped his fly and shoved his pants and briefs down in one smooth motion. I stared down at him, scared and excited.

"That..."

He chuckled, kneeling on the bed. "It'll fit in perfectly." He whispered, placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck and chin. I could feel his hand circle my thigh, angling it. He placed his hand over me, teasing but not entering.

 I grazed my hips instinctively, chasing after the release his fingers promised.

He slipped one finger in, pumping me and stretching. My back arched off the bed, pleasure coursing through me. 

He added another finger, making a "come-hither" motion with both fingers. He circled my clit and pressed down on it. I felt a blinding wave of pleasure and I had to bite on my lower lip to stop myself from moaning out loud.

My heartbeat quickened and my stomach clenched. I knew I was close when the pleasure increased to such a high pitch that I wanted to push him off.

"No," I said, my voice stretching out a few syllables and ending in a low moan.

"Come on, pet."

I fell apart, clutching both his arms as I came, my body convulsing. The whole room darkened in my vision.

I came down to earth in time to see him nudge at my entrance. He thrust in suddenly, taking away the ecstasy of the previous orgasm and replacing it with pain. I winced. He slowed to a pause, shuddering into my ear.

He leaned down to take one of my breasts into his mouth, sucking gently and increasing the pace gradually, making my stomach clench again. 

My breathing became labored and I clenched around him, trying to lift my hips to meet him.

He began moving. Slowly, at first, we set a pace we were both comfortable with. 

Then firmly and fast, forcing sounds out of the back of my throat. His lips clamped around my nipple again, sucking hard.

I came hard and fast, groaning out his name. He continued thrusting, squeezing my breasts again. I heard him growl and saw his fangs break out.

"Again." He growled in my ear.

We came together, the third climax almost blinding in its intensity. 

His teeth scraped my neck and I waited for it. Waited for him to mark me. He groaned his release in my ear and rolled off me, breathing hard. He pulled me into his arms and I stared, confused.

"Why didn't you mark me? I asked.

"I want to do this the right way." He said, staring into space. 

"We'll announce our bond tomorrow and have a mating ceremony. How's that?"

I nodded, smiling. I leaned into him, reveling in his warmth. "That's perfect."

When I woke up the next day, the space beside me where Lucien had slept well was empty, the scent of lovemaking and if he had been masked effectively, eliminating almost every sign of what had happened the previous night.

 I lay back in bed, playing through the memories in my head.

Present day

So pathetic, I think, strolling through the woods. I'm no longer the same girl I was then. No longer dreamy and lovesick. I've trained my senses and improved my skills. I can shift with ease now. I can defend myself.

Liar. Crystal says. I want to kick her.

"I can defend myself," I argue.

Not against him.

"Well it's a good thing I'll never have to. He's never coming back." I am conscious of a bit of uncertainty that makes my voice waver.

Liar

"You came." I hear a voice whisper. It feels like it's in my head, but somehow, I know it's not.

Lucien.

My heart skips a beat and starts to race again as I turn, giving myself a good look at him. I pray that I'm dreaming. 

This can't be real. He couldn't possibly come back after exile.

He doesn't look like a dream. He is too real to be a dream. He is the same. Just....

Better. Older. 

He has gotten stronger. I can sense it in the cool poise he had taken on. He seemed better off, too. His clothes were expensive, but subtly so.

"Do I get to kiss the bride?" He says sardonically, tilting his head to the side to look at me. I look around, panicking for a moment. As he takes a step forward I mirror it with a step backward. Why was no one here?

Well you're in the middle of the woods, it's hardly a public place, Crystal reasons.

I wonder why she doesn't feel scared. Doesn't she feel the restrained anger emanating from him?

The lethal energy masked by his harmless stance?

"You should never have come back," I say, staring into his eyes and forcing myself to hold his gaze. 

He stalks closer to me and I instinctively step backwards. He backs me against a tree, crowding with his body. I can feel the heat from his body. There was bravery, and there was stupidity. Going against Lucien was the second. It screamed for a second.

He kept his expression distant and cold. "To my pack?"

"Dante exiled you. He'll kill you if he finds out you came here." Lucien's lips curve into a half-smile. "Dante is a joke to other packs."

He studies my reaction, leaning in. "And judging by your lack of reaction, you already know. Do you know that the pack is in financial ruin? That other packs are closing in, trying to kill Dante and take over it?"

I hesitate, my lips parting and closing up again.

He chuckles. "You know."

I lift my chin a notch. "Leave before Dante finds out you came," I say softly, trying to reason with him. "I won't tell anyone you came here but I can't hide you if Dante finds out."

"Your worry is unnecessary and poorly placed." He replies coolly, stepping backward.

 "Go tell the groom I paid a visit." He throws over his back as he begins to walk away. "Tell him I'll be back for the celebration tonight."

He pauses in his tracks and forgets to start. He turns and walks over to me slowly, giving me a once-over, cold and clinical.

"And tell him he has gotten himself a beautiful, passionate bride and a beautiful property. Every garden deserves a serpent, doesn't it?"

With a humorless smile, he turns and walks off.

"I never thought of you as the alcoholic type."

I am holding a tumbler and putting whiskey into it when I hear the voice behind me.

 I turn to see Dante at the door of the study, already dressed for the wedding. I shudder and empty the glass of whiskey.

"What's got your panties in a knot?" He asks, walking to me and putting his arms around my shoulders from behind. 

I felt crowded and restricted by his oh-so-sudden show of affection. Dante was not an affectionate man.

"Did you know it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?" I say, wiping my lips and putting the glass back in the cabinet.

"I don't believe in luck." He whispers, his hot breath fanning my ear.

I turn, getting his arms off me. 

 "Did you know that the pack is in debt?" I ask, staring him down.

He evades my eyes, picking up the whiskey bottle I had just been drinking from. "You have quite the alcohol limit, darling."

I know he is trying to buy himself time. Dante is proud and unintelligent, but not outright stupid. 

"Talk."

"I answer to no one. I won't start with you." He says coldly.

"Oh, that's huge!" I say sarcastically. "Let's throw your ridiculous ego in, shall we?"

He stares at me, his eyes flashing. "You've been listening to gossip." He says, trying to intimidate me with his size. 

Compared to Lucien, he is like a petulant boy who throws regular tantrums. I walk around him, trying to hide the way my face is flushed. It was an inappropriate time to think of Lucien.

Dante stills suddenly, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

 I take a step back and he mirrors my action with a menacing step forward. He closes a fist painfully in my hair, making me wince. 

He forces my head back. I look into his eyes and see an anger I have never seen before.

"You have his scent on you."

My eyes widened. I had to mask Lucien's scent. It seems as though Lucien had wanted Dante to recognize his scent. 

To know that he has been here and that he is returning.

"Where is he?" Dante asks, his eyes flashing. I could see the blue in his eyes redden till good eyes were the same shade as the sun at dusk. 

He is more furious than I have ever seen him.

"Where is he?" He repeats

"Gone." I ground out, gritting my teeth. He lets go of my hair and watches me step back and massage my scalp.

He runs his fingers through his hair thoughtfully. "He'll be back. And I'll be ready when he does."

Before the wedding that night, a maid tells me that Dante had fortified pack security, setting up ambushes and traps around the pack house.

Like that would keep him away. Crystal snorts "Crystal ." I growl under my breath.

We both know it won't.

Deep down, I know that even an army of soldiers can't keep Lucien away if he wants to get in. I fidget with my hairpin, looking out my window to the woods. It's a full moon, like the one I had met Lucien under.

 I hug myself.

I almost expect it when I see Lucien stroll into the hall, looking like he has not just gone past a whole army of guards. Werewolf warrior guards. Still, I can feel the blood in my face draining.

 He looks elegant in a black tailored three-piece suit and black handmade leather loafers. The perfect wedding guest, I think humorlessly.

He commands attention just by walking into the room. Immediately, noise fills the hall. Whispers and comments. 

Comments about the rogue who dared to attend the alpha's mating ceremony. Who dared to even return to the pack after being exiled?

Crystal was right. The mating ceremony had not even begun. He hadn't needed that much time to incapacitate more than thirty mature warriors. And he still looks like he has just stepped out of a Vogue magazine.

Beside me, Dante stiffens, his fists balling up.

"What are you doing here, Blackthorn?" He asks, gritting his teeth.

Lucien begins an almost leisurely walk to the place where we both stood, obviously unbothered by the threat of a fight. "Is that how you welcome a guest?" He asks.

"Leave now," Dante commands him. "While I still feel generous enough to spare your life."

Lucien gives a lopsided grin. 

"You're not really this delusional, are you? What makes you think you can kill me?"

A guard begins to advance behind Lucien's back.

"Tell your man off so I don't have to pin him to the wall," Lucien says dryly. "It's an unnecessary waste of energy."

Dante nods to the guard and he steps away.

"What did you do with all the guards?" Dante asks, holding Lucien's gaze.

Lucien shrugs nonchalantly. "That is anyone's guess."

"So you decide to show your face once again after murdering my wife," Dante says, stepping toward him.

"After being framed for her murder, yes," Lucien says. 

"I have come to challenge you for the leadership of the clan."

For a moment, the hall goes silent. So silent I can hear the crickets chirping. 

I am also silent. Stunned into silence. Challenging Dante to a duel could only lead to one dead body and another as an alpha.

Dante looks at Lucien and I can almost see the calculating nature of his gaze.

 He was trying to size Lucien up and determine his level of strength. Know how much he has improved over the years. Dante didn't want to risk embarrassment and death.

"That is a bit too ambitious of you." Dante sneered. "Warrior turned murderer. 

You think you can just walk in here and demand a challenge?"

"Yes," Lucien replies, taking off the gold timepiece on his wrist and letting it fall to the ground with a loud thud. 

"Because I know you're too weak, too cuddled. Everyone has lost whatever trust they once had in you because they recognize you for what you are."

I can see Dante's will beginning to break at Lucien's words. The veins on his neck stand out angrily and his breath becomes shallower. He shook with anger.

 I could see where this was going, and it was not in Dante's favor. He was getting blinded by his anger, but Lucien was still calm and rational, shedding his suit jacket negligently.

"Weak, impulsive, and unfit."

Dante roars, the hair on his face thickening to fur and his eyes flashing.

"Dante!" I call, grabbing his arm and trying to stop him before he can shift completely and accept the challenge. He looks at me and sneers, flinging his arm back and sending me crashing into the opposite wall. 

I hear Lucien's growl as I straighten, a bit dizzy.

By the time I'm conscious enough to look, they have both shifted to their wolves, Lucien's black and Dante's white. 

They circle each other in readiness to fight.

They attack each other in mid-air, clawing and lunging at each other. What had been my wedding had been turned into a conquest.

Everyone stands back, watching with bated breath as they fight, tables and chairs and décor crashing around them. It is fierce and wild, lasting for what could have been an hour but feels like an eternity. 

It is painfully obvious who had better skill, however, Lucien seems to toy with Dante as one would an opponent he knew he had every chance of beating.

I know that is a high probability.

I look around and realize that nobody is fooled or harbors any illusions about this. They don't expect Dante to emerge victorious.

I wince when Lucien claws Dante's wolf to the floor, advancing on the already weak figure. I can see the motion of Dante breathing and I hold my breath, hoping Lucien doesn't deliver the final blow. It is a fight to the death.

Lucien's wolf turns and stares me straight in the eyes. I take a step back, swallowing. 

He seems to smirk at me before turning back to Dante's form on the floor. With his jaw, he picks Dante up by the neck and slams him back down to the floor with a loud thud.

 I shudder, bile forcing itself to my throat and threatening to bring up all the whiskey I had earlier today.

He picks him up again and slams him down with the same sadistic thud.

"End it, already!" I scream, surprising not just myself but everyone in attendance. Lucien does not turn towards me this time but he stiffens. 

"You're going to kill him, right? Do it and let it all be over!"

With a growl, Lucien attacks Dante's wolf once again but this time, he sinks his teeth into Dante's wolf's neck, crushing down slowly and jerking back in one swift motion, pulling Dante's throat out.

 I close my eyes against the gory sight of blood splattered against the floors and walls and Lucien's wolf holding Dante's throat between his teeth.

Softly, menacingly, I hear it clear in my head. Run.