The Devil Alpha's Fifth Bride

Four

Lucien's POV

Mate?

A sinister smile pulled at my lips.

So. I’d found my fated mate after years of not attempting to find her.

And it seemed she had more admirers than I’d expected.

I pulled the blanket up to cover her properly and turned on my heels when her hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t leave me alone.”

Her eyes were still closed. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

I looked down at her fingers wrapped around me.

Then back to her flushed face.

Did she feel the bond too?

I gently pried her hand away and sat on the edge of the bed.

Was she burning up?

I pressed my palm to her forehead.

Fuck. She was on fire.

Her body trembled.

What happened between her and my brothers?

I barely set foot in the main mansion.

Years since I was last here.

The last time I did, I ended up ripping someone's throat open.

' Get the pack doctor.' I mind-linked Vincent.

Less than thirty minutes later, a knock sounded.

Graham, the pack doctor entered with Vincent behind him.

“What’s wrong with her?” I demanded.

“I’ll need to run tests.”

“Then do it.” I ordered.

I watched as he worked.

My beast paced in my head, terrified of losing her.

Terrified of losing his mate.

I wasn’t sure what the hell I felt.

She was just another female sold for power.

Right?

“She has a fever,” the doctor said finally. “But she’ll be fine by morning.”

“But.,..”

My gaze snapped to him.

He swallowed.

“She needs to be monitored. Temperature checked every thirty minutes.”

Vincent’s words echoed in my head.

She looks broken and innocent. Yes.

What the f**k had she been through?

“I can stay with her,” Graham offered quickly.

“No.” The word cut through the room like ice.

“I’ll check in the morning, Alpha,” he bowed and left without arguing.

Vincent followed.

Silence fell again.

I could hear her heartbeat. Steadier now.

The night was still young.

I picked up the thermometer the doctor left behind.

Placed it in her mouth to check, just like he’d instructed.

She looked innocent, broken just like Vincent had said, and fragile.

Did I care about her?

I did because of the f*****g mate bond.

----

Anna's POV

My eyes fluttered open.

A dull ache pulsed through my head, but sunlight slicing through the glass forced me to slam them shut again.

Was I still alive?

Then it hit me.

I wasn’t in Xavier’s pack anymore.

I was in the Glimmer Pack.

His fifth mate.

I let out a shaky sigh.

It was only a matter of days, I told myself.

He would devour me like the others.

I wasn’t special. I wasn’t lucky.

Just then, the sound of running water pulled me from my thoughts.

My eyes snapped to the bathroom door.

Was someone in there?

Before I could think, a knock came from outside.

The door creaked open slowly.

An elderly man peeked in. “May I come in, Luna?”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me yet.

“Yes.” My voice came out small.

“I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep, Luna,” he bowed his head. “Forgive me.”

Right. I was mated to Alpha Lucien now.

Which meant I was called Luna as far as this pack was concerned.

But for how long?

“If I knew you were resting I wouldn’t have disturbed you. I could have delayed a little.” he added, glancing behind him.

Vincent stood there.

Lucien’s Beta. The only man the devil trusted.

“It’s fine,” I whispered.

“You had a fever last night,” Vincent said, his voice flat. “Graham is here to check on you.”

Fever?

I didn’t remember.

“By my judgment you seem well,” Graham set his bag down and approached the bed. “But I should confirm it.”

“Your temperature first, Luna.”

I swallowed hard and opened my mouth.

How did I get a fever?

Last night was a blur. I only remembered being too scared to leave the room after the breakfast encounter.

Wade had brought me dinner. I’d refused at first, but he insisted.

I wasn’t hungry. I took a few bites anyway.

And threw it up later.

Was it the food?

Did I eat something bad?

“The Alpha did a wonderful job,” Graham smiled, pulling the thermometer from my mouth. “Your temperature is back to normal. Amazing.”

My eyes flicked to Vincent.

“Your fever was severe,” he said. “But you’re almost healed now.”

He pulled a small bottle from his bag.

“I prepared this last night. Take it once a day and you’ll be fully healed.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, staring at the bottle.

How did I even get sick?

“And no hot baths for now,” Graham added.

I nodded.

The bathroom door slammed open.

My head whipped toward the sound.

Sandalwood. Danger. Power.

It flooded my senses all at once.

Standing there was a man.

Silver hair dripping down hard, muscular shoulders.

Sculpted like a god.

Eyes like a beast. Like an eagle.

Red.

Alpha-born red.

I’d never seen one. Only read about them.

History called them beastly Alphas.

Dangerously powerful. Unapologetically savage.

They’d gone extinct centuries ago after mixing with humans and other species.

Rare. Feared. Legends.

“Alpha Lucien.”

Graham bowed.

A gasp tore from my throat.

My face paled. My heart hammered.

This was Lucien Grey?

Half-naked. Only black sweatpants riding low on his hips.

Scars slashed across his chest like warnings.

Like he wanted them to frighten me.

“How is she?”

His voice was deep. Cold.

It vibrated through me like thunder.

“She’s recovering, thanks to your careful watch,” Graham said, head still bowed.

Careful watch?

I almost flinched when those red eyes landed on me.

He had the aura of a beast… but looked less like one than I expected.

“I’ll take my leave,” Graham said quickly and slipped out.

The air thickened.

I found myself praying to the Moon Goddess.

At least let me live long enough to find out what happened to my father.

“I’ll leave as well, Alpha,” Vincent said, his gaze flicking to my shaking body before he turned.

“Vincent,” I called. Low. Pleading. Pathetic.

He didn’t look back.

Panic shot through me.

Without thinking, I bolted from the bed toward the door

And crashed straight into his arms.

Solid. Hot. Smelling like sandalwood and storm.

His arms caught me instantly.

“ Trying to escape me, little mate?”