Claimed

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

Lucas POV

Since the six other packs around the world have been destroyed most of the hunters have been slaughtered by the rogues. Why the hunters joined the rogues in the first place didn’t even make sense to me.  I was irritated that no sightings have been seen of the strange rogue pack since they attacked the England pack. My father told me that it wasn’t important and I should just focus on our pack, but some part of me just couldn’t let it go. 

Tonight I felt agitated and I didn’t understand why. My pack was safe and this was my tenth art expedition and first one in New York. I should be calm and enjoy this time Edward and I had to ourselves away from our responsibilities. I walk through Hilgards gallery as my Beta Edward reports to me how the patrols went back home. 

“No rouges have been spotted and the hunt went smoothly, Jake is still struggling with his direction and Catherine almost attacked Stephen again like usual. There have been strange sightings at the Scarlet pack..” I don’t hear his words as the most intoxicating smell hits my nose. Sweet vanilla, but it’s muffled by something. Something doesn’t seem right about it but I can’t ignore the pull.

“Mate Mate mate!”  my wolf Thor barks in the back of my mind and I halt. My head and eyes start darting around trying to locate where the smell was coming from. 

“What’s wrong Alpha?” Edward gives me a puzzled look, but something in his stance makes me wonder if he smells it too. 

“My mate,” I softly growl, “is here.”

I close my eyes trying to compose myself as I feel the humans watching me. When I open my eyes I make eye contact with one of the buyers Hilgard told me was interested in most of my pieces. I can’t help but ignore him. Our pack had way too much money anyway. My mate was here and at this moment that was all that mattered. Of all days. 

I felt my frustration building that I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her scent as I looked around.

“But I only smell humans, you don’t think she could possibly be..” My beta mutters and I silence him with a warning glare. I understood his worry, but I needed to find her first.

I started following the scent and as it got stronger I spotted a small crowd forming around where the live music was about to start. I make my way through the crowd and felt my irritation growing every passing second that I couldn't find her. I finally spot her and see Hilgard kissing her hand. I can’t stop the growl that escapes my lips and some of the people who stood close to me jumped a little. 

“MINE!” Thor growled in my head and I shook in agreement. I didn’t like that pig's hands on my mate. My breath catches as I start to study her.  How she carried herself in a way that forced the respect and attention of each man in the room. Her form was petite but strong. She was tall in a way that would make human men uncomfortable, but to me, she was perfect and almost intimidating. I take in her long lean legs that I would love to wrap around my waist. 

She moved elegantly and each muscle under the material of her dress rippled in a way that had my patience hanging on a thread. I could see that she was physically strong and knew how to reach when people were watching her. She turns around before I get the chance to study her face. Her long black hair tumbles down her shoulders as she walks away. 

It takes everything in me not to run to her and make her look at me. I take a deep breath and bite the inside of my cheek to calm myself. 

She bends down and I imagine what it would feel like to stand behind her and let her head rest on my shoulder as I discover her body. I want to touch her. Take in every curve. I want to know how her body would feel against mine. I want to sculpt her more than I have ever wanted anyone before. To learn her body and every piece of her soul that is reflected on the surface that I can capture with a stroke of my fingers. 

 I want to know her body and make her feel what it feels like to be truly wanted. She suddenly stands up with a microphone in her hand. She slowly turns around, but her eyes are closed in focus. The moment I took in her face I knew she would be the death of me. She was so naturally beautiful it took my breath away. I watch how her lashes brushed her cheeks. Her nose was small compared to her big eyes as she scrunched it up in concentration. Her full lips slightly curved as she took little breaths. The first song begins and her eyes slowly open and it feels like we’re the only two people in the room. I felt my pulse quicken as I took in the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. A face I knew I would go to war for. Her eyes were a light grey and full of confidence, but something felt wrong about the color. I laughed at myself for thinking something so up-surd, why would I think that her eye color was wrong? It was the first time I have ever laid eyes on her. She starts to interact with the crowd and I feel my wolf Thor wanting to take over because he hated the way these men were all gawking at our mate’s legs and body. I try to fight for control and then she suddenly stops right in front of me and our eyes meet. Heaven.

Thor is suddenly calm as she takes us in. I study her eyes and find them full of desire, curiosity, and maybe fear? I wasn’t sure. It looked like she was fighting with herself. I’m suddenly frustrated that I can’t put my finger on what was wrong with her scent. I clutch my fists at my sides and narrow my eyes a little when the thought crosses my mind that she could possibly be a witch. I can’t help, but lift my brow in surprise when I see the look in her eyes change in a way and suddenly she is challenging me. Not a witch. She starts to sing as if my gaze doesn’t have an effect on her. I c**k my head and feel a grin tug at my lips as she still doesn’t break. She holds my gaze, both of us are fighting for dominance. How did she know how? She couldn’t be human. 

We are trapped both staring at each other. A competition that sent my excitement into overdrive, because I have broken the confidence of many Alphas with less than this. She was something else. 

I wanted to mark her right then for not cowering away from my gaze. She was brave. She was strong. I could sense it in her aura as it became stronger as I watched her. 

“Mate is strong!” Thor excitingly nips in the back of my mind. I can’t help it and just grin. She was beautiful and cocky. She was mine. The song stops and I take a step towards her. I wanted her right now. Edward grabs my arm pulling me back shouting in mind speak, “Alpha stop!” I break eye contact first and that makes me really want to rip off both of Edward's arms. “What?!” I shout back at him in mind speak. I can’t help it as I glare at him. “Alpha, you have to understand that you have the strongest pack in the world right now and we need a strong Luna, not a human..” Edward says in mind speak and quickly takes a step back. He knew his words would anger me. One couldn’t control your hormones when you found your mate and maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly.  I nod in understanding. It was every Beta’s job to give wise counsel as second in command. I shouldn’t take my anger out on him.

 “There is something off about her scent,” he only agrees with a nod. 

 “I want to find out who and what she is! There has to be a reason why the Moon goddess chose her as my mate.” I turn towards her again as I hear the next song beginning. 

“I will reject her and kill her if she is a hunter that somehow survived the rogue slaughter,” I tell Edward out loud for only him to hear because I couldn’t lie in mind speak. Thor is growling at my words and my Beta goes quiet. We both study my mate as she begins to sing again. I can’t help but just watch her. The way her lips moved made my heart feel like it was in my throat. I just can’t look away. She ignores my gaze in all the following songs. I couldn’t understand why, couldn’t she feel the pull?

My frustration builds with each song as I watch the men drool over her. Couldn’t she feel the bond like I did? The other singer announces it’s the last song for tonight and I realize I’ve been watching her for an hour without moving an inch. I close my eyes trying to get control of myself and Thor. I hated this feeling that she didn’t want to look at me. 

I listen to the words of the song and it makes me feel even worse. “You push and pull like a m…" I wanted her for myself. I suddenly feel her presence. I slowly open my eyes and our gazes lock immediately. She suddenly winks and smiles at me. The most beautiful smile and her eyes are filled with lust. f**k!

I c**k my head and raise both my eyebrows in confusion. Was she flirting with me?

She suddenly turns around and looks over her shoulder at me. Her gaze is one of seduction and I wish I could press her against the wall and take her right now. Then she bites her lower lip and I feel my pants become uncomfortably tight in a certain area.

Thor is whimpering in the back of my mind. He wanted to mark her badly. 

I gape at her as she smirks. What the actual f... 

She walks away and I know this woman will have me wrapped around her pinky in no time. There was no denying that she had me mentally begging for more.

Edward quickly comes and stands in front of me before I can run to her. 

“Lucas?” I finally look at him and I see he is panicking.

“Edward, calm down. I will approach her like a normal man and get her talking. Hilgard will handle the payments. Now let’s…” I say as I look over his shoulder and then realize she’s gone. The keyboard and everything was gone. How did they move so fast? Edward spins around when he sees the panic in my eyes. “How?” he exclaims and we both dart to the entrance following the scent.