Chapter Seventy-FourLucan Trinigad. The dining hall buzzed with activity, filled with the cheerful chatter of pack members and the playful laughter of Caden's lively children. The atmosphere was brimming with a warmth and vitality that I had rarely experienced in my own home.Seated at a sturdy, long wooden table, Alexander and I indulged in a hearty meal while the vibrant conversations of the pack members around us buzzed like an orchestra of curiosity. The topic of mates and relationships was the focal point, and it seemed everyone had a question or a story to share.A middle-aged woman with a warm, inviting smile approached us, her eyes gleaming with friendly intrigue. "Alexander," she began, "have you been fortunate enough to find your mate?"Alexander paused for a moment, a playful glint in his eyes. "Not yet," he replied, his tone light. "Still keeping my eyes open for the one, hopefully I see the person on time."The middle-aged woman beamed at Alexander, her eyes dancing wit
Lucan Trinigad. It was a new day and I found solace in the heart of the forest, the lush greenery serving as a soothing backdrop to my racing thoughts. My body moved methodically, muscles contracting and releasing as I engaged in a rigorous workout. Yet, I couldn't escape the lingering remnants of yesterday's dream, like a stubborn stain refusing to be scrubbed away.The dream was a reminder of my own shortcomings, the disappointment that always coursed through me whenever I was caught in the act. I couldn't deny it any longer; the emotions I harbored for Alexander ran far deeper than mere care and concern. I was in love with him.As I continued my exercises, my mind drifted back to a conversation I had in the dream this morning again, one that had left my heart aching. I recalled the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke, his voice carrying the weight of his own doubts."Lucan," he had said, his voice soft but filled with uncertainty, "I don't know if I'm ready for this... for us."I ha
Two months later, when I thought my feelings for Alexander would only diminish the more I got to know him and see him as just a male werewolf, I had been fooling myself. However, I couldn't fool my heart. It still thugged whenever I was in his presence. His mere presence was enough to evoke a reaction within me, and recently I had started seeing him more often in my dreams.What bothered me the most was the fact that my dreams weren't normal or what society would deem as acceptable. Wet dreams involving two people of different sex was deemed normal, but between two men? I could tell something was definitely wrong with me. I felt Sophia's hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my daze. I had been in my garden immediately after breakfast. I had no work to attend to so I decided to while away my time tending to the flowers in my garden. Besides, I had woken up ashamed of myself because of a wet dream I had about Alexander Kuiper."I was in your room, but I didn't see you there. I only
Alexander sent me a white envelope through Barton, one of the guards in the palace, and I had received the envelope with a joyous heart. I opened the envelope within the confines of my room, and read the lengthy letter thrice because I almost couldn't believe what had been written in it. He was personally inviting me to Sophia's wedding as his esteemed guest. I placed the letter on the bed next to me as I thought about the content. Of course, I planned on going to Sophia's wedding even without Alexander's invitation. After all, Sophia was my best friend and I ought to be there on her wedding day. Yet, the fact that Alexander had written a letter with his hands just to invite me to my best friend's wedding personally fueled some sort of hope within me. Was he trying to invite me for a date? I wondered. I wished I could talk to someone about all what I was feeling, but I had no one to talk to or ask for advice from. Sophia and I hadn't even seen each other since yesterday morning af
Alexander sent me a white envelope through Barton, one of the guards in the palace, and I had received the envelope with a joyous heart. I opened the envelope within the confines of my room, and read the lengthy letter thrice because I almost couldn't believe what had been written in it. He was personally inviting me to Sophia's wedding as his esteemed guest. I placed the letter on the bed next to me as I thought about the content. Of course, I planned on going to Sophia's wedding even without Alexander's invitation. After all, Sophia was my best friend and I ought to be there on her wedding day. Yet, the fact that Alexander had written a letter with his hands just to invite me to my best friend's wedding personally fueled some sort of hope within me. Was he trying to invite me for a date? I wondered. I wished I could talk to someone about all what I was feeling, but I had no one to talk to or ask for advice from. Sophia and I hadn't even seen each other since yesterday morning af
The stars were out to play with the moon as Alexander led me outside the hall, taking me to wherever I didn't know, and in all honesty I didn't care as long as I got to be with him. He excited me in ways I couldn't really explain.Once he left my hand, I felt a bit frustrated because I wanted to continue feeling the warmth of his palm against mine. We were in a field, one close to a paddock and there was a vast land before us. Alexander sat on the grass, looked back at me as he tapped on the empty space beside him. "Come sit next to me," he said.I didn't argue, nor did I waste anytime in falling next to his side. I sat down quietly, enjoying the opportunity of getting to sit next to someone I loved. He said nothing as he stared at the stars in the sky, while I quietly enjoyed the view that was him. The way the wind blew against his hair made him look like an ethereal being that was out of this world.However, I couldn't help but wonder why he had taken me out of the wedding hall whe
"Is this truly your real appearance?" I turned the page towards Alexander, my eyes wide with disbelief.He deliberated for a moment before affirming, nodding gracefully. "Yes, it is indeed my true being."On the third page of the first ever version of the enchiridion was a daunting portrait of a deity which greeted my eyes. It was an image of Dhruv. The god possessed a monstrous horn at the center of his head, fiery red eyes that burned with an intensity unmatched, and a velvety long midnight blue hair cascading down to the ground. His ethereal skin as white as freshly fallen snow. Dhruv, in his majestic Lycan form, emanated an intriguing air of allure, mingling danger with mischief. A smattering of blood marred his midnight blue fur, evoking both the primal beast and the insatiable thirst for blood. This was the true appearance of Alexander, a god-like being that defied my wildest imagination. I had envisioned his true form to be pure, innocent, and resplendent, far from the daunting
Even as I tended to the flowers in my garden, I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. It still felt like a dream. The kiss Alexander and I shared felt surreal. His lips on mine was the most beautiful thing I had ever felt. He was gentle, nibbling carefully on my lower lips. I had always imagined Alexander returning my feelings and confessing them to me, but never did I think it would become a dream come true. Seven days had gone by since our first kiss, and I couldn't get the feel of his lips away from mine. Every night I dreamt about the kiss. Even in the presence of my father, my mind replayed moments from the kiss. It had also been seven days since I heard from him last. I was so flustered by the kiss that I could barely hold eye contact. I had pushed Alexander away, ran off the field back into the hall and out again into the carriage that brought me back to the palace. I didn't even get to see Sophia, nor did I even tell Sharon that I was leaving the party — she still holds a gr