Chapter 3

Lucien

I shouldn’t have accepted this marriage; having a new occupant in this cabin might awaken the wolf that has been dormant for centuries, hidden within me. But it’s too late now. Besides, Luna needs protection. Her family doesn’t want her, doesn’t accept her for who she is. I took her out of pity and because I need her help at the stronghold. Only for that reason. “I tell my inner wolf not to get too excited about the new companion.”

“You can rest, but later we’ll go to the village to buy new clothes. After all, your father didn’t even bother to bring your luggage. He preferred to deceive you with kind words,” I said as I returned from the bathroom after washing my hands.

“We can go now,” she responded confidently, coming towards me in the hallway.

I watched her remove the luxurious cloak, an expensive garment from her lineage. Perhaps the only possession she had inherited solely from marrying. Married to someone who could never love her as she deserved. This girl’s dreams would be crushed by another who would pass through her sad life as a wolf. Maybe in the near future, I could free her from this matrimonial bond.

I kept my eyes on her as she did with me, and soon realizing that we had been staring at each other for too long instead of simply acting, she handed me the heavy cloak to hang on the wall hook.

“Could you hang this for your wife?” she asked, using the kindest tone possible. The wolf roared within me.

I calmed it internally, telling it to not get too excited and to view her as just a sister.

“Speak for yourself, Lucien, because I want her and I claim her for myself!” it declared inside my head like a petulant child. It had been years and years since it last communicated with me, and now, suddenly, it was irrevocably attracted to this human? What a shame!

“Lucien, I’m waiting. I can’t reach, your hooks are too high, so I can’t reach them.”

I immediately closed the distance between us, catching her by surprise. I lowered, bringing her legs up to help her place the piece properly. The wolf was thrilled, rejoicing at the closeness. “Poor thing, it has slept so long that it’s easily enchanted by this creature.”

“Hey, you could have warned me earlier,” she said, somewhat annoyed and shy, as she placed her feet back on the wooden floor and moved away, giving her space to breathe.

“Who told you not to grow tall enough to perform such a simple task?”

Those dark eyes turned to me with enormous anger.

“Are you criticizing me too? Is this the kind of man that predominates in our midst? What a wretched life I have,” she said, upset.

I crossed my arms angrily over my chest, puffing out my chest in a virile manner. Her eyes tenderly traced that area, suppressing a soft moan. A sound only a man with animal hearing could have heard, as the girl made sure to minimize any sign of her enchantment. A sensation of pure feminine wonder.

“Listen, I just stated a fact; you, Luna, are short. But that doesn’t bother me, in fact, nothing about your physical, personal, or moral characteristics bothers me.”

Her face showed a mix of emotions.

She hugged herself, showing that she was embarrassed by my utmost conviction.

“Will you be okay without your cloak? It’s very cold outside because of the snow.”

“Yes,” she quickly affirmed, taking a deep breath.

She placed her hands on her hips, encased in a red wool dress. Highlighting all the curves of her curvaceous body, apparently warm and inviting. Layla had never experienced any carnal pleasures; I knew that from the moment my eyes fell on her, making my caged animal even more obsessed with tearing off that thick little dress with its sharp claws, combined with my humanoid state. Automatically, the wolf compelled me to share his undue appreciation. Luna has excellent childbearing hips.

“Why does the alpha look at me like that?” she asked, uneasy.

I slowly raised my gaze, wishing time would stop. However, all I could do was memorize this moment to give the wolf at least some consolation for the night ahead. Long nights and short days are what await us at the North Pole. Nights like these make me think more of her, of my Lia.

“You won’t like to know, so…” I looked her directly in the eyes, noting her fingers slowly sliding down, leaving her arms hanging around that narrow waist and considerably advantageous hips for a shorter woman.

“So…” she continued, following up on what she was saying before I was distracted by her beauty. Curious to know the rest of the sentence.

“Forget it, let’s go. You must be eager to change clothes and get comfortable in your home.”

“My home?” she asked, puzzled. “If we’re having a marriage of appearances, we’ll sleep in separate beds. Is there another room in your dwelling?”

“Our dwelling.”

I emphasized; she needed a true home. To feel like she owns her space. To take possession of something that is solely hers.

“And speaking of the matter…” I huffed, masking an annoyance that my wolf wanted more than anything. “You’ll have to sleep with me, beside me. We only have one room, one bed.”

I reported, noticing her dark eyes widening, dilating in a way that left no doubt. “The sleeping wolf inside her desired me, Lucien, the man.”