chapter 4

Lucian’s POV

I ran into my office faster than my legs could carry me, unsure about what I felt but aware of its implications.

Once there, I locked the door and sat amongst my thoughts.

I felt it. I was sure I felt it. How could she be my mate? I don’t even know her. I thought Christie would be the one, but this is proof beyond all reasonable doubt. This can’t happen. She can’t be my mate.

A while later, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Layla.”

“I don’t wanna talk, Layla. Not to you, or anyone else.”

“I know. I just want to tell you that Martin is here. And for some reason, he insists on seeing you.”

I sighed and got up to open the door. What could he possibly want right now of all times?

He walked in, obviously concerned about me. “What’s going on? The little wolf said you aren’t in the mood to see anyone.”

“Yeah, that’s about someone she brought in the house.” I got up and fetched a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from atop the shelf, then poured some for him and I.

“She brought someone in?”

“Yeah. Name’s Esita. Just lost her pregnancy, she crashed into Layla while she was coming back from her friend’s.”

“And she brought her home because?”

“Apparently her husband served her divorce papers instead of footing the medical bill. So I footed it and Layla asked that I bring her home with us.”

“So far I haven’t heard anything that would make you this troubled, Lucian.”

“That’s because I haven’t gotten to that part yet, Martin.” I finished my glass and poured myself another one.

“Well get on with it then.”

“You see, our hands touched while I was handing her luggage to her. And I felt it inside me, so strong that I couldn’t think of denying it. She’s my mate.”

He stared at me in silence for a while, then drank the last bit of whiskey left in his glass.

“When’s the wedding then?”

“What wedding?”

“Between you and her, since you said she’s your mate.”

“There’s never going to be a wedding, Martin.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“She’s only here till Layla recovers fully. Once that is done, I will send her on her way.”

“And what about the pack?” I looked up at him. “What about it?”

“There have been mumblings of discontent among the wolves, Lucian. They feel their Alpha should have a wife, someone to show the little wolf how to conduct herself in her future Alpha’s home.”

“You are my Beta, Martin. It is your duty to ensure that order stays in the pack at times when I cannot. And that does not sound like a very orderly pack to me.”

“I shut the feelings down as soon as I discovered them, Lucian. I’m just letting you know that they have reared their ugly head already. And where one wolf isn’t happy, it will soon be two.”

“That isn’t going to change my mind. This is not going to happen. I don’t need anyone else.”

He got up, sighed, and left the room. I drank some more whiskey as he walked out.

In a fortnight, Layla was fully recovered. And with that, came the time to come true on my decision. I didn’t fully want Esita gone, Layla was really happy with her around.

But I knew that the longer she stayed around me, the harder it would be for me to reject her when that inevitable day of confrontation comes.

The night before I was to send Esita on her way, Layla came to my room. I was drinking some whiskey – I found that it somewhat helped me brace up for the decision I knew I was going to have to make.

“May I come in?”

“Of course you may, Little wolf.” She walked in, eyeing me as if to determine if I was drunk enough to accept whatever she said without putting some serious thought to it. I smiled internally at her tricks.

“You look like you’ve been drinking for a while, Dad.”

“I have. Care to join me?”

“No. One of us has to stay sober in this house. Your rules.”

“Oh right. I remember when I told you that. We were in the middle of mourning your mom, and none of us could do anything because we were both drunk all the f*cking time.”

“Yeah. Please don’t remind me of those days.”

“So what is it you want to speak to me about?”

“It’s about Esita, Dad.”

I sighed and got up. “What is it about that Esita girl anyways, huh? Three weeks ago you didn’t know her and now you’re acting like you couldn’t breathe properly if she isn’t in the house.”

“It’s called getting attached, Dad. You should try it.”

“Not interested. What do you want?”

“I want her to be my personal maid. You don’t have to see her all the time since you clearly can’t stand her, but I love being around her.

We haven’t had a feminine figure in this house since mom passed and we could really use one. Of any sort.”

I sighed heavily.

“Let me sleep on it. I’ll let you know what I think in the morning.”