4 : The Deal

EVANGELINE

 

 

After what I had just witnessed, I stumbled down the staircase, my breathing uneven and frantic. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The man from my nightmares was now here, in front of me. How could this be happening?

 

 

I never believed he could be real and thought it was part of my imagination.

 

 

As I rushed down the stairs, I tripped on one of the steps but managed to catch myself before falling. My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and I could feel the energy and excitement radiating from Crystal. She was trying to say something to me, but I was too overwhelmed to listen. I could feel her strong emotions coursing through me, like an electric current.

 

 

I had never felt this way. But why?

 

 

When I finally reached the first floor, I was shocked to see that all the guests were still engaged in conversation, seemingly unaffected by the strange turn of events. But my parents, as well as Sean and Mia, were nowhere to be found. I felt a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach.

 

 

I sprinted past the doors of the hall leading to the grand foyer and my heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of Dad, gazing intently at the main doors. In an instant, the large mahogany doors flung open and the mysterious man from my nightmares strode confidently on the polished marble floor, the sound of his heels echoing on the lit walls. As he approached my parents with a group of bulky men behind him, I felt a rush of conflicting emotions as Crystal’s wolf instincts roared within me.

 

 

I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something wicked and alluring about him, and despite the danger that radiated from him, I found myself strangely drawn to this intriguing dark figure. My heart raced, mirroring Crystal’s intense emotions in response to this man’s presence.

 

 

Why?

 

 

As he stood right in front of dad, the tension between them charged the air like a storm about to break. The man’s unwavering gaze met dad’s eyes, and the lack of fear in his stare was a surprise, as very few, like my mom and Uncle Sky, could meet dad’s gaze without a hint of trepidation.

 

 

Who was this mysterious man that commanded such confidence?

 

 

His silver mask, perfectly matching his stark silver hair, concealed half of his features from view, yet I could make out the sharp jawline of his profile, lit by the blue light of the hall that cast beams of icy radiance over his face, adding to his enigma.

 

 

“Lucien,” my father addressed curtly, his displeasure palpable in the air as he cast a stern gaze at the mysterious stranger. “I don’t recall inviting you to this ball. Why are you here?”

 

 

So that was his name, Lucien. My nerves felt jittery as I tried to make sense of the situation.

 

 

“Alpha Dark,” Lucien replied smoothly, his deep voice tinged with a velvet edge that sent shivers down my spine. “I’ve been missing all of you so terribly that I couldn’t resist paying a visit, even if I wasn’t invited.”

 

 

Crystal stirred restlessly within me as if trying to voice her opinion. “M-m…”

 

 

‘Crystal calm down. Why are you behaving like this?’ She couldn’t speak and now she was trying to form words?

 

 

My Dad’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I didn’t think mating balls were your thing.”

 

 

“Recently, they have been,” Lucien responded coolly, his piercing gaze falling upon my mother. “And you must be Mrs. Dark.”

 

 

“You were there…the day…” my mother trailed off. What was she talking about?

 

 

Who was Lucien, exactly? How did my parents know him?

 

 

“Yes, I was present the day your child died and was reborn,” Lucien said, his voice slicing through the air like a silk-wrapped blade. He was referring to me, and the knowledge of my unusual birth made me squirm in my place. I knew many people whispered and gossiped about it behind my back.

 

 

“Seriously Lucien, why are you here?” Dad’s voice sounded impatient.

 

 

“Is that the way you speak to your new Lycan King?”

 

 

“I don’t care whose king you are. You know I don’t follow anyone.” Dad retorted.

 

 

“Oh yes, yes. But may I remind you…we had a deal. Remember?” he gesticulated with his hand and raised his perfectly arched brows.

 

 

“Yes, I do. What’s your point?” Dad asked, a scowl on his hard face.

 

 

The man’s eyes suddenly sparkled with mischief, sending shivers down my spine. He declared with a calm voice, “I am here to collect the debt you owe me as part of the agreement.”

 

 

My parents didn’t even flinch at his statement. Agreement? What agreement was he talking about? I was filled with confusion, not understanding what was happening.

 

 

This man, who had haunted my nightmares, now stood in front of me, revealing that he had made a deal with my parents. I was shocked. I thought I knew the story of my parent’s love, but it seemed as though there were parts that had been left out.

 

 

Dad looked a little concerned, “What is it that you want?”

 

 

“It’s not an ‘it’ but rather a person I want.”

 

 

“Who?”

 

 

Silence.

 

 

Despite the mask framing his face, I could make out the deadly smile he gave, “I want your daughter to be my slave. As part of the deal.”

 

 

Dad’s face turned red with anger, “You can’t be fucking serious. My daughter is not a possession to be traded. How dare you even suggest such a thing!”

 

 

My knees felt weak as I registered what the Lycan King demanded. Me? As a slave? What the actual fuck?!

 

 

The enforcers of my pack tensed up as they heard the Lycan King’s disrespectful comment about me. Their growls filled the grand foyer, showing their discontent and protective nature toward me.

 

 

The Lycan king’s face turned even more sinister, “Careful about how you respond, Alpha Dark. It’s a deal we made and I granted you the freedom from a deadly poison and stopped you from turning into a monster. Now it’s your turn to pay back the favor.”

 

 

“Ask for anything else,” Mom said, “Not our daughter.”

 

 

I held the wall near for support as my head spun with a myriad of feelings, none of them near to pleasant. My body felt like a ticking time bomb and Crystal’s constant howling and scratching at my insides made the matter worse. It was like every inch of my body was aware of his compelling presence like a wave of heat surging its way through my skin.

 

 

In a sudden burst of clarity, Crystal’s voice emerged, and her words echoed throughout my head, “M-mine.” She howled and all the color from my face faded.

 

 

My body convulsed to the floor, no one barely registered the impact as everyone’s attention in the foyer was focused on the Lycan King and his pack. Sweat covered my forehead as I rested my head against the wall, and the strange sensations I had experienced finally made sense. I was horrified to acknowledge the truth. How could it be possible?

 

 

Lucien shook his head, “I know what I want and I have stated it. It is Evangelin—”

 

 

“Don’t take her name!” Dad growled, his eyes glowing red. His wolf Asphalt was trying to take over him.

 

 

His eyes darkened, “Or what? You want to start a fight, Alpha Dark?”

 

 

“Why Evangeline? We have other powerful warriors and witches who are willing to work for the Lycan King. Our daughter is the future of this pack.” Mom argued.

 

 

He clicked his tongue, “I don’t answer anyone, Mrs. Dark. I want what I want and this time I want Evangeline.”

 

 

Crystal ran in circles inside me, excited by Lucien’s words.

 

 

‘Girl, he is asking us as a slave. Understand the difference!’ I shouted at her inwardly to knock some sense and respect into her head. But, as I soon realized, wolves were known to be unruly and lacked a sense of decorum, especially when they encountered their mate.

 

 

“You are not getting her.” Dad’s voice boomed through the room, filled with a mixture of determination and anger. His eyes had turned red, the tell-tale sign of his wolf taking over, and the black veins on his neck were prominent, further emphasizing Asphalt’s dominance.

 

 

Lucien’s gaze narrowed, and I could sense the rising tide of disappointment and anger within him. This elicited a soft whimper from both Crystal and me, as we felt the full weight of his disapproval.

 

 

“Looks like living on earth has blurred your memory, Asphalt. You must know…I take what I want. One way or the other.”

 

 

Asphalt snarled, baring his sharp canines. But Lucien’s eyes glowed back at him with equal ferocity. The air was thick with tension as the two powerful figures faced off.

 

 

“You shouldn’t have challenged me, Asphalt,” Lucien declared, and with a snap, Mom collapsed on the floor.

 

 

“Mom!” I shouted, shaking off the feelings that had been overwhelming me, and ran towards her.

 

 

“Avery!” Dad sat on his heels, cradling Mom in his lap. Her body was vibrating as if her life force was being drained. The lights in the foyer flickered.

 

 

“It’s a little trailer of what I am capable of doing if my orders are unheard. Give Evangeline to me peacefully or you can kiss your mate goodbye.” Lucien warned while he stood tall and exerted his Alpha dominance over us.

 

 

The sound of cracking bones filled the air as the warriors of our pack shifted into their wolves. Their fur bristled and teeth bared, surrounded us, forming a barrier of protection for their Alpha and his family.

 

 

Sean growled, “How dare you step into our pack and threaten us!” He took his stance and shifted into his wolf with ginger-colored fur. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.” The Blood Moon wolves never backed down from battles to protect our pack, no matter who we had to face.

 

 

Lucien’s eyes glinted with mirth as he cracked his knuckles and bared his canines, “On the contrary, I think you should be concerned about whom you have challenged. This fight is not going to end well for your pack.”

 

 

Sean’s wolf didn’t hesitate and lunged forward, jaws open and ready to attack. The rest of the pack followed suit, launching themselves into the fray with ferocity.

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