Chapter 4

The car parks at its usual spot and Klein shuts the engine. I lift my view from my phone and we make brief eye contact through the rearview mirror. He nods at me as if in encouragement and lights, closing the door after.

In the few seconds I'm alone inside the vehicle, I slide my phone into the clutch that goes with the dress and take hasty but deep breaths. “Okay Lisa, try to be calm.”

“Nicholas might just be playing with you,” I tell myself and quickly shake my head at that assumption. “No this doesn't seem like a joke.”

“However,” I inhale a long breath as I sight Klein walk to my car door. “You can do this. You've been through worse than this.”

My door is pulled ajar and I offer Klein a ready smile as he offers me a hand. I grab it and carefully step down from the car, my heels planting on the concrete flooring.

Immediately I step out of the vehicle, the eerie feeling hits me again. Unconciously I drop Klein's palm as I sense someone watching me. He frowns for a second but realization seems to set in and his face return to normal.

To confirm my suspicions the entrance of the house is opened and out comes the devil in all his menance. Klein hurriedly halts and bows while I climb the flight of stairs, the overflowing material of the dress in my right palm, the clutch on my left.

“You are here,” he declares in a thick voice as he meets me. I nod in response, unable to form words at our proximity. He lifts a brow at my silence and wraps his arm around my waist, closing whatever distance was left between us.

His breath fans my neck as he whispers in my ear. “You look ravenous in this dress.”

A shiver runs down my spine, a foreign sound leaving my lips, inciting me to quickly slap a palm over my mouth to prevent another one from escaping.

‘Coming from someone who is the perfect description of a Greek god,’ my subconscious answers for me hence I am rendered mute and unable to speak.

I couldn't argue with her because she was right. To make matters worse, he appears more attractive than normal thus it's my first time seeing him in formal attire this close and not through magazines or social media.

He is clad in an all black outfit of a crisp button up shirt, the first two buttons undone and giving a compelling peek of his broad chest. Below it is well-ironed slacks coupled with black boots.

A rolex watch is situated on his wrist which is visible from the rolled up sleeves of his shirt. His hair is styled to perfection and his ears glinting from the diamonds that fill his piercings.

“Fuck,” I blurt out before I can think.

“What?” He inquires, a brow raised.

“Nothing,” I utter, resisting the urge to give myself a slap on the forehead at my loose mouth. Putting on a brave face I send him a smile and ask. “Shall we?”

He seems taken aback at my demeanor and I discreetly smile as my subconscious screams ‘ten points for Lisa!’

“Yes.” He bobs his head in retort and spreads his palms on my back causing heat to spread through my bones and pushes me forward to fall into step with him. “My mother and the elders council are here.”

‘Say what?’ I mutter in my head and almost trip as I hear those words, his hold on me enough to keep me from pummeling my face.

“The elders who?” I interrogate after regaining my composure. “You said nothing about some old judgemental people.”

He snorts at my words and shake his head, a grin forming on his lips. “You are right about that one.”

“Did you just agree with me?” I ask in a gasp just as he grabs the door handle. I reach for his hand and halt his movements. “Wait.”

“Why?” He questions.

“I need to give myself another pep-talk,” I convey my thoughts.

“I thought you were ready,” he argues.

“I was when I didn't know about the elders whatever,” I muttered in a breath fearing they would hear me.

“Really?” He mocks.

“I have a feeling you are laughing at me,” I grimace, releasing his hand. “Okay you can open now. I'm going to face this head on.”

“That's the spirit,” he encourages in a serious voice, however his eyes were twinkling in amusement.

“Oh get on with it,” I say and kick the door open. It takes only a second for me to regret my actions as the object hits the wall with a loud bang, inciting all attention of everyone within to direct at us.

My jaw practically hits the floor and I can sense Nicholas blue eyes glaring daggers at the side of my face without even turning in his path.

He is the first to collect himself and locks my fingers with his. I allow him drag me inward, my heels clicking on the tiles as we make our way towards his guests who are settled on the couches that fill the living room space.

“Mother, elders,” he declared in a clear tone that carried power and no room for contest. “I present to you Lisa Violet Dayle, my mate and future Luna of our great pack.”

The room is quiet for some seconds and I hold my breath as each moment ticks by. I observe the people in my vision appraise me, their eyes looming from my head to my toes and beyond as if they can see out of the ordinary.

‘They might be able to,’ I say in my head, striving to stop a frown from creasing my brow. ‘They are supernatural creatures after all.’

His mother is the only female in their midst and she possesses the same powerful aura as her son. Not to add how exceptionally beautiful she is. She appeared not a day older than 30 and can pass for Nicholas’s sister.

She is wrapped in a free flowing dress of yellow with black green leaves decorating the exquisite material. It is the perfect dress to accentuate her black straight hair and blue eyes, making it softer despite her stern facial features.

I am so engrossed in admiring the woman that I jolt backward in shock as she immediately snaps to her feet, her red lips in a thin line. Unhurriedly she stalks in my path and I feel Nicholas’s hand move to grip my waist.

This makes me swerve to my left only to see his face the usual stoic and blank expression. If his fingers are not still planted on my waist I will have thought I imagined it.

His mother on the other hand stands inches from me and I bow on instinct as if compelled to by her aura. “It's a pleasure to meet you Luna.”

“It's good to see you have your manners intact,” she murmurs as I lift my head to meet her stare. Her left brow raises at my gaze in what seems to be surprise and amusement judging by the slight tilt to her lips.

Slowly she stalks around my form, a sniffing noise leaving her as she happens to carry out some sort of sniffing test. I stand rooted, Nicholas’s hold still present as she completes her test an returns to peet at me. “You are indeed a human.”

“I thought we established this the last time you were here Mother,” Nicholas almost growls, his tone deadly.

“It's a different case in this scenario where I'm standing face to face with her,” she counters in the same manner, thunder seeming to crack in her blue orbs.

“Well now you are, what's your conclusion?” He interrogates one foot placed forward, his mother and Luna stepping back a little.

She abruptly turns on her heel and heads toward the couch to grab her bag. I watch her quietly as she whirls back in our line of vision and sends a chilly smile.

“I don't want a weak human as my replacement,” she conveys, words and voice firm. A cold sweat breaks out on my back at her utterance and something like fear makes its way into my head.

“Elders, may we leave?” She turns to the ten men in similar appearance of blue overalls and white beards whom since we made our presence known have not uttered a word.”I don't think we have anything more to discuss here.”

“Does the fact she is my mate not make a difference in your decision?” Nicholas questions as they rise to their feet.

“I want someone powerful and graceful as the next Luna,” she fires back at her son and eyes me. “I don't see any power and grace in her form.”

“Well exc-” I start, already agitated but Nicholas cuts me off.

“Mother!” Nicholas thunders, and I flinch.

“You are a weak one son, and until you present someone capable and strong as the next Luna, I won't accept her be it your destined mate or not,” she declares in retort and walks off, the elders following after her. In half a minute that door is shut after they leave.

“Is it just me or do those elders seem like puppets?” I raise a question as Nicholas drops his hand from my sight, taking the warmth with him as he begins pacing.

“It's not just you,” he pauses and stares at at me. “They have been that way since mother took over rulership after dad was killed.”

“And I thought I had bad luck when it came to family,” I blurt and release a small laugh.

“Pack your bags,” he suddenly says and I scoff. “We leave for the pack grounds tomorrow.”

“What?” I ask, not getting his drift.

“Mother has held unto the throne long enough,” is the only answer I get in response as I'm abandoned alone in the living room with my thoughts.

My legs give out in moments and I drop into the closest cushion, the events of the day running through my head. “I guess my life had become a soap opera.”