BOUND BY THE ALPHA'S DARK SECRET

Chapter 4

“Into the Wolf’s Den”

Ariana’s POV

Every muscle in my body froze the moment the scent got to me. Lucas? I could smell it, despite how faint it was—just a whisper on the breeze. I was connected to it for years, loved it before, and now it makes my skin crawl. I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, wondering what I should do next.

He left here. Not precisely yet. Not this rapidly.

I tried to be calm and inhaled deeply. If Luca was close, my window of control was closing faster than I had expected. I had to move quickly, but I could not afford to act hastily.

Turning back toward the mansion, questions whirled in my thoughts. Had he followed me directly here? Alternatively, this was merely another one of his schemes, entering spaces he did not belong in. Seeking a conflict, my wolf moved, but I pulled her back. There was no time for allowing emotions to control. I have to be a creative thinker.

When I reached the edge of the estate, Caleb was standing near the gate with arms crossed over his chest. His lack of surprise at seeing me arrive simply made me more uncomfortable. He constantly looked to be poised for a grab, which made one uneasy.

You seem tight, he said, his voice light but with that recognisable edge of pleasure.

I responded quickly, "I'm fine," moving by him.

He wrinkled his eyebrows. You seem to be not good.

I stopped and turned to meet him. "Did you sense it?"

Caleb's eyes narrowed somewhat, but he didn't reply immediately. "Exactly what are we talking about?"

"Luca". He lives nearby.

His smile lost its amusement value and was replaced by something rather frigid. He went closer, his voice low. "Are you sure?"

I nodded, yet felt my heart pounding. "I get his presence.

Caleb stopped speaking for a moment. He studied me with his dark, hard, analytical eyes and then turned toward the bush. "If he's here, he's speeding more than we would have expected. That distinguishes things.

No kidding, I murmured, running a hand through my hair. I have to confer with Sebastian.

Caleb said nothing, but the silence between us said volumes. He was not as easy to read as Sebastian, even if I could tell he enjoyed the scenario less than I did. He nodded lastly. Right now she is at his office. I shall be here with you.

Together, we went across the estate, the tension between us heavy in the air. The weight of what was happening crushed down on me; the hallways seemed darker than usual. Though I had just arrived a few days before, already things were spiralling out of control. Originally here for revenge and a plan to erase Luca, I had no idea who was controlling the game any more.

When we got here, Caleb knocked once to unlock Sebastian's office. Sebastian sat behind his desk, his keen blue eyes rising to meet me right away. His way of staring at me gave me the impression he could see straight through me.

"What is it?" asked. Sebastian asked, his voice calm yet faintly frustrated.

I went forward, trying to be quiet. "Luca's next neighbour."

Sebastian's expression kept the same, but I detected a brief flicker in his eyes. He stood purposefully, slow at first. "Are you clear?"

Certainly. I could smell him. I'm rather clear about it.

Sebastian was silent for a minute, fixed on me as though he was considering the truth of my words. Once more he nodded, then turned to stare out over the forest beyond the estate from the window.

"This shapes things," he said gently.

I crossed my arms, fury boiling just under the surface. "So what is the strategy?" asked We cannot just wait here for him to make contact.

Sebastian turned back to me, his expression blank. Ariana, I spent some time getting ready for this. Luca not only has plans.

His composure irritated me. Luca was already whirling; how could he be so orderly? Every sensation in me was wrenched to act, to strike before Luca could. Sebastian was not like that either, though. He was patient and tactically minded. He delayed until the game was already running his way.

Caleb stepped forward; up until now he had been silent. "Luca's here won't be by itself either. For that, he is very careful.

Sebastian nodded then turned back to see through the glass. Specifically. He will be watching for the perfect chance to relocate. We must get ready.

My silence burst through: "We have no time for waiting! Luca is dangerous; he already lives just next to.

Sebastian turned to look at me, and for the first time I felt a flutter of something darker—something deeper. "You believe I am ignorant of that?" Though gentle, his voice had steel-lined clarity. "You thought I hadn't been getting ready for this since the day he turned on me?"

I started to answer, but the words died on my lips. Sebastian was in the room, his frozen rage almost physical. This was personal, not just a game to him.

His voice calm but deadly, he whispered, "You came to me for revenge, Ariana." "But you're not the only one that wishes Luca suffering."

Between us, his words hung weighty and unambiguous. My heart was still racing; I choked hard. Sebastian's point of view was different. This went beyond me right now too. It touched something considerably more magnificent.

"Fine," I said gently. "But I'm not going to watch and do nothing."

Sebastian's lips curved slightly even if he saw it. "I would not expect you to."

Later that evening, I was standing outside once more, the chilly breeze caressing my body. The estate was silent, yet there was a tension in the air not previously felt. Luca was somewhere watching and waiting.

Perched against one of the stone columns, my ideas were disorganized. Sebastian's words kept resurfacing in me. Others also want Luca to suffer—not only you. His voice made me cold; his suppressed rage underlined his words. Sebastian came here not just for power. For him, this was personally relevant. I could clearly see it.

Still, even knowing that, I couldn't get rid of the sensation that I was going somewhere far more dangerous than I had anticipated. Other perils existed here besides Luca. Sebastian's life was driven by power struggles and betrayals; I had no clue whom I could trust.

Footfall sounded from behind, and I turned to find Caleb walking toward me. Though his approach was more serious, he moved with the same relaxed certainty as before.

Going to stand next to me, he said, "I thought I would find you out here." Like mine had been doing all evening, his eyes roved the forest.

Still low, my voice said, "I needed some air."

Caleb nodded, his gaze still set far out on the forest. "You worry."

It was not a question; I made no effort to disprove it. Of course, I'm worried. We are just here waiting for Luca to arrive. She is out there.

After a silent minute, Caleb turned to face me. You have excellent cause to be worried. Sebastian, however, is convinced of what he is doing. For years he has been planning toward this.

Still flaming with anger, I crossed my arms. "I basically enjoy not feeling as though we are under attack."

Caleb smiled faintly. Ariana, here the prey is not you. Not now.

Startled by the serene intensity in his words, I looked at him. I had not seen before what his eyes carried. It was respect rather than just showmanship or flagginess.

"You're stronger than you believe," he said kindly. "Remember That."

For the first time since arriving at the Blood Moon mansion, I experienced a flutter of anything more than anger. Caleb's words, his certainty of me, shocked me. But both of our eyes followed a brief move in the treetops before I could respond.

I halted, my heart leaping into my throat as a figure emerged from the night. Luca, I thought, had at last moved—for a fleeting second. But as the guy came into the light, I knew it was not Luca at all.

She was a woman.

She had long, silvery hair flowing down her back and dreadful brilliance in her eyes. She was tall. She appeared otherworldly, something that made my wolf bristle uneasy.

Caleb went ahead, his posture straight right away. You are someone?

The woman started to smile slowly, predatory. She went on, "I'm here for Sebastian," her voice lovely and gentle but slightly edged with danger. Tell him Selene has shown up to pick up.

As the words of the mysterious woman lingered in the air, another layer of danger grew. Selene here; what debt Sebastian owed her? Ariana now had to cope with more than just Luca; the stakes were rapidly rising. Selene's presence provided the fight with a totally different perspective