Chapter four

A week ago…

~Lucien

The banquet was well under way by now, the atmosphere was lively with hushed conversation. My twenty seventh birthday banquet was a waste of time but Rielle and her antics won this time.

A maid refilled my glass and walked off. I downed the glass in one gulp. I would need alcohol to get through the night. I would have preferred boxing practice with Grayson to this unnecessary party.

My throat felt dry all of a sudden even though I had just drank.

"Alpha, Alma is asking for you." My younger brother, Tanner informed. "It seems urgent."

Everything was urgent to Alma in her old age, she always believed she was a second away from dying but I had seen her get back up enough times not to worry anymore.

"What's it about?"

"Something about a foreboding…" Tanner answer tentatively.

"Oh really?" The alcohol was working. The buzzing had intensified but something felt wrong for some reason

"Let me guess Haught is coming with his men right now?"

He looked unsure. I clapped a brotherly hand over his shoulder and got up. Or attempted to because my legs were almost completely numb. Had I been sitting that long?

"Alpha, what is wrong?" Tanner sounded worried.

My head was light, it was as if I was floating but it felt all wrong.

"Lucy," My sister's voice came. She was the only one who would dare to call me that. By now I should have fixed her with a glare but I could barely turn my head.

Something was definitely wrong. "hey…"

I stumbled. I actually stumbled. Grayson caught me in time. "Hey, dude…" I did not hear the rest of what he said. My head was buzzing. The world tilted and then nothing.

*****

I woke up in my room surrounded by family members. Rielle was the first to notice that I was awake. She had tears in her hazel eyes. She took my hand in hers and squeezed.

"Lucien…" She choked through her tears.

She placed her head on my chest and hugged me but it did nothing but hurt. Everything hurt. Everyone was talking at once asking how I was, but my tongue felt heavy in my mouth.  

"Quiet!" A voice rang out.

Everyone went quiet.

My head was turned and I met the crone's gaze. Her eyes roamed my face. She touched my body and I winced everytime.

"Um…" She mused when she was done.

"What is wrong with him?" Rielle asked.

The crone cast Rielle a bored look. "It's poison, alright."

There was a gasp, followed by whispers.

What the hell was going on? Poison? Who and why? Did it have anything to do with Haught? My mind was spiraling.

Suddenly, the door was slammed open and the security team entered with a maid in tow. She had bloody bandages on her wrists.

"We caught her trying to end her life." One of them informed. That much was clear.

She was made to kneel. She had tears in her eyes. Everyone went rigid.

Before anyone could move, the crone was on her feet with a blade in her hand.

"You poisoned the Alpha." It was not a question, it was a statement.

The maid said nothing but continued to cry.

"Or would you like to lose an eye before you speak?" The crone would do it.

The maid shook her head.

"Then fucking talk, goddamnit."

The maid shook and she looked at me. Did she really hope for mercy from me?

Rielle got up as well and took the blade from the crone and poised it to the maid's throat.

"Fucking talk or else…" Rielle threatened.

The maid blanched.

"But you made me do it." Her eyes were on Rielle. After that the words stumbled out, syllable after syllable, word after word until all I felt was seething rage.

"The Luna gave me the poison, she told me to  put it in your drink." She revealed.

"You paid me."

"You fucking liar, you deserve you to die!" Rielle screamed and attempted to plunge the blade in the maid's chest but Grayson was quicker.

"Not so fast."

Rielle blinked at us. "You believe her…"

I said nothing.

"Where is the car that Lucien bought you last summer?" Giselle asked, her voice hard.

"And the ten grand that was withdrawn from the account?"

"You… you…"

But she did not need to speak. I knew she was lying. I loved Rielle and I knew the woman I loved. I knew that her tricks well enough to know when she was lying. The quirk of her brow, the way she balanced all her weight on her left leg. It was all there. My chosen mate tried to kill me. Fate was such a bitch.

*****

Present day…

She stood over me, examining me. Her touch was feather light and I was tempted to lean into it. She smelt like vanilla and something earthy. Ever since the poison started wreaking havoc in my body, my wolf, Kaz has slowly been fading. If he faded completely, I would die. The poison Rielle had given the maid had no antidote. It was meant to kill me. When nothing else had worked, the crone told us of a human doctor.

Going to human territory for a cure was so far beneath us but we had no choice. That was why I was here now, letting a wolfless creature touch me. I heard a low growl, it was the first time I had hear Kaz since the poison. It seemed the human was already working her magic. Still, I could not shake the feeling that I knew her.

"What can you do, doc?" Giselle asked, her tone hopeful.

Silence. "I need my bag." Was all she said.

"No way!" It was Raven's grating voice. "Just say you can't do it."

Silence but I could tell that Grayson had glared at him to be quiet.

The human took a deep breath. "I need my bag." She repeated.

There was a loaded silence before Giselle spoke. "I'll accompany you to get it."

"Sure," Her voice was calm and collected. Was she not scared of her kidnappers?

They returned after a little while but by then I couldn't even will my eyes to open. She stepped close to me again and her scent wafted through the air.

"This will sting a bit, okay?" Her voice was so soothing. Then it did sting and I winced when she injected me. It took a minute before I felt anything more. A cool sensation washed over me and felt my tightening muscles, relax and my stomach settled. My head stopped buzzing. The relief was heaven. I was still weak but I felt better already.

Kaz was also gaining strength under my skin. I opened my eyes to see her above me, those brown eyes studying me. Electricity buzzed in the air and every instinct screamed at me to claim her and find out if her lips were as soft as they looked.

'Mine,' Kaz growled. 'She's mine,'