Fated To Him

CHAPTER 6 — THE WARNING

Annabelle sat on the edge of Lucien’s massive bed, her hands clasped together so tightly her knuckles whitened. She tried to calm her racing heartbeat, but every sound in the room amplified her fear.

Footsteps.

Slow, heavy, purposeful.

Lucien entered, shirtless, a deep scratch still bleeding along his ribcage. His skin glowed faintly in the low light; heat radiated off him like a living flame. He wasn’t healed yet. That alone terrified her.

Nothing ever hurt him like that.

He closed the door quietly behind him.
Not softly.
Quietly.

A warning in itself.

Annabelle stood.
“Lucien… what was that thing? Why did it come after me?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked toward her with that silent, predatory stride that made the room feel smaller. His eyes were deep silver, glowing with a mixture of anger and something else she couldn’t name.

He stopped in front of her, close enough that she felt his warmth.

“Annabelle.”
His voice was low. Controlled. Too controlled.
“That creature wasn’t hunting you randomly.”

Her throat tightened.
“So you think… someone sent it?”

He nodded once.

“And whoever did, knew exactly where you’d be.”

Annabelle’s breath hitched.

Lucien stepped closer, lifting a hand to brush his knuckles gently against her cheek. A soft touch — but it made her tremble like his claws were still out.

“They’re tracking you,” he murmured.
“But they can’t have you. I won’t allow it.”

Annabelle swallowed.
“Lucien… what am I?”

His hand stilled against her cheek.

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

“You’re not human,” he said quietly.

Annabelle’s knees nearly buckled.

“What?” she whispered.

Lucien caught her waist before she could fall, steadying her with strong hands. His touch was grounding, warm… protective.

He guided her gently to sit back on the bed, then knelt in front of her — an Alpha on his knees, something no wolf would do lightly.

“Annabelle,” he said softly, “I didn’t tell you sooner because I needed to be sure. Your scent… it’s different. Familiar yet impossible.”

Her voice shook.
“Lucien, please. Just tell me.”

He held her gaze, silver eyes burning with truth.

“You’re not wolf. But you’re not human either.”
A pause.
“You’re something older.”

Annabelle’s breath froze in her lungs.

“I–I don’t understand.”

Lucien took her hand, threading his fingers through hers.

“When wolves shifted for the first time, thousands of years ago… they weren’t the first creatures of the forest.”
His voice dropped to a rough whisper.
“There was another bloodline. One that vanished. One we believed was extinct.”

He swallowed, jaw clenching.

“You carry that blood, Annabelle.”

She shook her head, tears pricking her eyes.
“That doesn’t make sense. I grew up human. My life was normal. I’ve never shifted, never—”

Lucien’s grip tightened.

“And that’s why you were easy to hide.”
His thumb stroked the inside of her wrist.
“Your abilities are dormant. Sleeping. But your scent is awakening.”

Annabelle’s voice cracked.
“So this bloodline… what am I?”

He hesitated — and that scared her more than anything.

“Lucien.”
Her voice trembled.
“What am I?”

Lucien’s eyes darkened.

“You,” he whispered, “are a Descendant.”

Annabelle blinked.
“A… a what?”

“A being with power wolves once bowed to.”
He looked away for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully.
“You can’t shift into a wolf. But shades, witches, and rogue alphas would kill to control you.”

Annabelle’s stomach dropped.

“Why?”

Lucien rose to his feet slowly, the predator back in his posture.

“Because whatever sleeps inside of you can command the dead.”
His voice was a growl now.
“And shades answer only to one bloodline.”

Annabelle felt cold all over.

“No,” she whispered.
“No, that’s impossible.”

Lucien stepped closer again, cupping her face gently — too gently for an Alpha with blood drying on his skin.

“Annabelle,” he murmured, “you called to me the moment I scented you. Your blood… it recognized mine before I recognized yours.”

Her heart cracked open.

“Lucien…”

“There’s more.”
His jaw tightened.
“You are my mate. But you are also the key to something others want.”

Annabelle’s lips parted.
“Something… like what?”

Lucien exhaled, brushing a stray tear from her cheek.

“Power,” he said softly.
“Enough power to raise an army of shades—if someone awakens what sleeps inside you.”

Annabelle gasped, covering her mouth with shaking hands.

Lucien took her wrists gently and lowered them.

“Listen to me.”
His voice dropped to a vow.
“I won’t let them touch you. I won’t let them use you. Even if I have to spill blood across every inch of this territory.”

Her breath shattered in her lungs.

“But Annabelle…”
His eyes softened, and it almost hurt to look at him.
“There is one more thing you need to know.”

She swallowed hard.
“What is it?”

Lucien leaned down, his lips brushing her ear, his breath warm and possessive.

“The creature that hunted you today?”
A pause that made her whole body tense.
“It didn’t come from the rogues.”

Annabelle froze.

His next words chilled her to the bone.

“It came from inside my pack.”