Chapter 69

The scent got stronger with every step she took, pulling Lucy forward like a siren's song but the further she followed, the more uneasy she felt. Her boots clicked softly against the stone path and the night seemed to grow quieter, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

She rounded a corner, her heart thudding against her ribs, and in no time, stepped into a space that seemed utterly forgotten. The clearing was small and enclosed by crumbling stone walls, patches of moss creeping up the edges. The moonlight itself barely reached there, though it still gave its dim light.

At first, she thought the space was empty. But then her eyes caught a figure standing still in the center. Her breath hitched that instant.

It wasn't Aiden.

The figure was humanoid in shape but unmistakably wrong. Its skin was sickly green, a hue that gleamed faintly under the faint light. Its upper body was barely, revealing corded muscles that seemed carved from something unnatural. Long black slacks clung to its lower half, and its claws, sharp and glinting, curled menacingly at its sides.

Then there were its eyes—two burning orbs of crimson that locked onto her the moment she entered.

Lucy's body froze, her blood running cold. What is that?

Her first thought was of Aiden. Was this… him? Some part of her screamed no. This wasn't the man who had called her here, who had spoken to her with such gentleness. Yet the scent—led her here, which means it was his, wasn't it?

She wanted to call out his name, but the fear lodged in her throat, thick and immovable. Her lips parted, trembling, but no sound came.

What kind of wolf is this? The thought struck her like a blow. She had seen wolves in various forms—but never something like this. The creature seemed to radiate a dark, unsettling energy.

Her legs shook as the figure took a single, deliberate step toward her. Its claws scraped lightly against the ground, the sound sending shivers down her spine. She instinctively stepped backward, her heels wobbling against the uneven ground.

Her mind raced. Why did the scent bring me here? This isn't Aiden. Can it? This can't be. This doesn't look friendly but scary.

A dark possibility crept into her thought, its weight kind of heavy. Was this all a trap? She thought of the guard who had delivered Aiden's message earlier that day. His words had been vague. Has he lied? Was the message never from Aiden to begin with?

Her heart sank as her mind turned to Isabella. The venomous glint in her rival's eyes, the constant misunderstanding between them—it made too much sense. Could Isabella have orchestrated this? Sent her here, to this secluded space, knowing she would follow the scent and walk straight into danger? 

Lucy's breath came quicker, shallow and panicked as she remembered how she got rejected by Leo the first time Isabella sent Marie to inform her about Leo wanting to see her. She compared it to this moment and could see there was no difference.

She tried to steady herself, her hands curling into fists at her sides. She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat.

The figure tilted its head, a slow, unnatural movement that sent another wave of terror through her, its lips curled into a grin, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth.

Lucy's eyes darted toward the path she had taken to get here—a narrow, uneven trail that seemed impossible far now. Her thoughts raced as she considered her options. If she tried to run, the figure standing only a few paces away would catch her in an instant. Its claws glinted under the faint light. Its muscles, taut and ready to pounce. She didn't stand a chance against it.

Her voice trembled as she broke the silence, barely able to push the words past her dry throat. “Who… who are you?”

The figure took two slow steps forward. Each echoed ominously in the quiet space.

Lucy shivered and instinctively stepped back, her palms clammy as they pressed against the almost crumbling wall behind her. “Please,” she stammered, her voice breaking. “don't come any closer.”

The figure tilted its head, almost an animalistic gesture, before speaking. Its voice was low, guttural and strangely familiar. “Are you afraid?”

Lucy froze, her breath catching in her throat. The voice—it sounded like Aiden's. But deeper rougher as though it belonged to a version of him she didn't recognize.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to steady herself. “Aiden?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Is… is that you?”

The figure straightened slightly, its crimson eyes narrowing as if in recognition. “It's me,” he said, his voice softening just a fraction. “Are you that afraid? You shouldn't be. You should trust the scent that brought you here… remember my guard told you that.”

His words should have been comforting, but they only added to her confusion. This wasn't the Aiden she knew—the figure was a little bit scary. What her eyes were seeing wasn't the Aiden she had expected to meet. For him, she had prepared herself and been at her best.

Lucy swallowed hard, trying to suppress the tremble in her voice. “If it's really you,” she said, “then… then shift back. Shift back to your human form.”

Aiden's expression shifted, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. “You still don't trust my voice… you still don't trust me,” he said, almost amused.

She shook her head, her fingers gripping the edges of the wall for support. “Please, if it's you… I just want to see you…,” she said, her voice steadier now. “Please.”

There was a pause, a moment of silence. Then, without another word, Aiden began to shift.

The transformation was both mesmerizing and terrifying. His green skin shimmered and rippled as it began to fade, replaced by the warm tan of his human form. The claws retracted, his muscles shrinking slightly but still maintaining their strength. 

The crimson glow in his eyes dimmed, replaced by the familiar deep green she knew.

In moments, the monstrous figure was gone, and Aiden stood before her, bare-chested and undeniably human. His hair was tousled, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on his skin, but his expression was calm.

“Is this better?” he tilted his head 

Lucy's knees nearly gave out from the relief that washed over her. She stood rooted to the spot, her mind spinning. Her heart hadn't slowed since Aiden shifted back and yet her thoughts lingered to his monstrous yet oddly captivating form moments earlier. She took a hesitant step forward, her voice laced with disbelief.

“Aiden,... Yuh scared the shit out of me.”

Aiden smiled softly, the corners of his lips curling upward in that calm, disarming way of his. “I didn't mean to,” he shrugged, his voice warm. 

He took a slow step forward,his movements zigzag. “You know, right? I would never hurt you, Lucy. If anything, I'd protect you—always.”

Her cheeks flushed at his words, the sincerity in his tone wrapping around her like a gentle embrace. She quickly turned her head, attempting to hide the heat blooming across her face. Stop blushing, Lucy. Get it together.

She cleared her throat, forcing herself to focus. “What… what was that?” she questioned, gesturing vaguely to where his wolf form had been moments ago. “I've never seen anything like it before. You looked… humanoid. Different from any wolf I've ever seen and known.”

Aiden held her gaze for a moment, his dark eyes steady and filled with something she couldn't quite name. “That's because I'm not just a wolf,” he said finally, his voice low. “I'm a Lycan,”

Lucy blinked, the word unfamiliar to her as she pondered for a few seconds. “A Lycan?” she repeated.

He nodded, his expression calm. “It's…an evolution of sorts. Stronger, faster, different. It's rare, and not many of us exist anymore.”

Her eyes widened as she tried to process this revelation. “Rare?” she echoed, her voice quieter now. “And you… you're one of them.”

Aiden nodded again, his gaze unwavering. “I am, including my father… but it's been a while since he shifted… he's not used to it anymore.”

Lucy shook her head, her curiosity outweighing her unease. “How? I mean… how does that even happen?”

Aiden's lips flickered into a faint smile. “It's in my blood. My lineage,” he shrugged. “And what you saw earlier—that form—it’s just one of the abilities that come with being a Lycan.”

She bit her lip, glancing at the ground for a moment before looking back up at him. “So… why did you show me? Why not just stay in your human form?”

His smile softened and for a moment, he hesitated. “Because you're different… because you're my mate… you need to see and get used to my true form.”

Her chest tightened at his words, but before she could respond, another question slipped out. “If you're stronger and faster, then why did you let Leo win?”

Aiden raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. “Leo?”

“Yes,” she replied immediately, her tone firm now. “On the training grounds. You let him beat you. Why?”

He chuckled softly, his gaze momentarily drifting to the side. “I thought you would've figured it out by now,” he said, stepping closer to her.

Lucy frowned, confused by response to her question and curiosity. “Figure out what?”

Aiden turned back to her, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “It was because of you,” he simply said.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Me?”

He nodded, his voice steady. “Fighting him wasn't that important… not yet… but your presence distracted me. I could've fought back… I wanted to… but I didn't see the point. Winning didn't matter, not yet.”

“I… I don't know what to say,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You don't have to say anything,” Aiden said, his voice soft and low.

She realized then just how close he had gotten. They were standing mere inches apart, his presence enveloping her like a warm, steady current. She could see the faint stubble along his jawline, the way his eyes seemed to hold entire worlds within them.

Her breath hitched as he leaned slightly closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “Lucy,” he said, his voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

“Y-yes?” she stammered, her heart racing.

He smiled, his expression softening further. “You're safe with me. Always.” 

He rubbed her chin gently with the back of his hand. “Lucy, you don't have your wolf. Do you?”

She became startled by his sudden question.