Chapter 4: Hostile Welcome

The car’s engine purred quietly as we rolled through tall, iron gates. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but what lay beyond wasn’t it. The driveway seemed to stretch endlessly, lined with perfectly trimmed trees that framed a large stretch of estate in the distance. It looked more like a castle than a home, its towering form outlined against the night sky.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. This place didn’t just scream wealth—it roared power. Every detail was calculated, from the glowing stone walls to the fountain at the center of a circular driveway that shimmered in the moonlight. Even the air seemed different here, fresher, yet filled with something I couldn’t name.

Lincoln didn’t say a word as the car came to a smooth stop. The driver stepped out to open my door, but I hesitated. “This is your… house?” I asked softly, my voice barely audible over the gentle noise of the engine.

“It’s where I live,” Lincoln replied, a cryptic answer that left me with more questions than answers.

I climbed out slowly, my legs stiff from the ride. The scale of the place overwhelmed me. It wasn’t just the size—it was the energy. The way it lord over everything, both beautiful and intimidating.

Lincoln stepped out behind me, his presence commanding even in silence. He didn’t bother to look at the mansion; his eyes were on me, studying my reaction.

“Impressed?” he asked, his tone unreadable.

I nodded, unsure what else to say. Words felt inadequate.

“Good,” he said simply, then gestured for me to follow him.

The main doors were enormous, carved with beautiful designs that I couldn’t make out in the dim light. They swung open as we approached, as if the house itself was welcoming him—or maybe just recognizing him.

Inside, the grandeur continued. High ceilings with crystal chandeliers, polished floors that winked like mirrors, and walls adorned with artwork that looked more expensive than anything I’d ever seen. But it wasn’t just the luxury that made me uneasy. It was the silence. The space felt alive somehow, like it was watching me.

“Is this where you bring all the women you… purchase?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice sharper than I intended.

Lincoln stopped abruptly, turning to face me. His expression didn’t change, but there was something in his eyes—amusement, maybe. Or annoyance. “You think you’re like the others?”

I swallowed hard, not knowing how to respond.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a voice echoed through the room, cold and cutting. “This is a mistake, Lincoln.”

I turned to see a man standing in the shadows of the grand staircase. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of authority that rivaled Lincoln’s. His sharp features were brought to light as he stepped out, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as they landed on me.

“Jake,” Lincoln greeted him, his tone calm but firm.

Jake didn’t return the pleasantry. His gaze lingered on me, and I felt like a bug under a microscope. “This is the human?” he asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

Human? The word struck me as odd, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“She’s here, isn’t she?” Lincoln replied smoothly, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

Jake shook his head, his jaw tightening. “I don’t get it. What’s so special about her? She’s a liability, Lincoln. You know it. Bringing her here was reckless.”

Reckless. Liability. The words stung, even though I didn’t fully understand their meaning in this context. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Lincoln spoke first.

“You don’t need to get it,” Lincoln said, his voice low and dangerous. “You just need to trust me.”

Jake let out a bitter laugh. “Trust you? That’s rich. You’ve always been impulsive, but this? This is insanity.”

I shifted uncomfortably, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “I’m right here, you know,” I said, my voice shaking slightly but still loud enough to cut through the tension.

Jake’s eyes snapped to mine, and for a moment, I thought he might say something cruel. Instead, he smirked. “Oh, I know. That’s the problem.”

“Enough,” Lincoln said sharply, stepping between us. He didn’t raise his voice, but the authority in his tone was unmistakable. “Jake, this isn’t up for debate.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed, his posture rigid. “Fine,” he said after a long pause, though the word was laced with defiance. “But don’t come crying to me when this blows up in your face.”

With that, he turned and disappeared up the staircase, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

I exhaled slowly, realizing I’d been holding my breath. “Well, that was… warm,” I muttered, trying to mask my nerves with sarcasm.

Lincoln turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “Don’t mind Jake. He’s protective.”

“Protective?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow. “He looked at me like I was something he scraped off his shoe.”

Lincoln’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “He doesn’t trust easily. Give it time.”

“Time?” I repeated, my voice rising slightly. “I don’t even know why I’m here! You keep dragging me around, throwing cryptic comments at me, and now I’m supposed to win over your grumpy… whatever he is?”

“Beta,” Lincoln said casually, as if that explained anything.

“What?”

He didn’t answer, instead motioning for me to follow him again. “Come on. There’s something you need to see.”

Reluctantly, I followed him through the grand hall, my mind racing. Beta? What did that even mean? And why did Jake call me human like it was an insult? None of this made sense.

Lincoln led me to a smaller room off the main hall—a library, by the looks of it. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books that looked older than anything I’d ever seen. A fire crackled in the massive stone fireplace, casting flickering shadows across the room.

“Sit,” Lincoln said, gesturing to a leather armchair near the fire.

I hesitated but eventually did as he said. He took the chair opposite mine, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. For the first time, I was able to look him in the face.

“There’s a lot you don’t understand yet,” he began, his voice quieter now. “But you will.”

“That’s not an answer,” I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Why am I here, Lincoln? What do you want from me?”

He met my gaze, his dark eyes unreadable. “You will get to know in time Jane. I just want you to know, your life is about to change in ways you don't expect. This place… this life… it’s about to become yours.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, but before I could speak, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the room.

“Sir,” a voice called from the hallway. “There’s a situation.”

Lincoln’s jaw tightened. He stood abruptly, his commanding presence returning in an instant. “Stay here,” he said firmly before disappearing through the door.

I sat there, my heart pounding, the weight of his words pressing down on me. This place, this life… mine? What did that even mean? And why did I feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into something I couldn’t escape?