Ravished by The Alpha’s Knot

The Vial

Aria’s POV:

Lucian moved so fast I barely saw him. One second the man was climbing over the balcony railing with a knife in his hand, the next Lucian had him slammed against the stone wall. The sound of bone meeting rock made my stomach turn.

“Who sent you?” Lucian’s voice was low and deadly. His eyes glowed bright gold under the moonlight.

The man spat blood and tried to speak, but Lucian tightened his grip around his throat. I stayed frozen near the bed, heart racing so hard it hurt. Renata stood just inside the doorway, still holding that small glass vial between her fingers like it was something precious.

“Answer him,” she said calmly.

The man choked out a name I didn’t recognize. Lucian’s expression darkened. He knocked the man out with one clean hit and let the body drop. Then he turned to Renata.

“What is in that vial?”

Renata didn’t flinch. “A sedative strong enough to put even an alpha down for a few hours. I took it from the medical stores earlier. In case things got out of hand.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened. For a second I thought he was going to snatch it from her. Instead he just stared at her for a long moment before looking at me.

“Are you hurt?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

He crossed the room in three strides and pulled me against his chest. His heart was still pounding hard under my cheek. I could smell the wildness on him, that sharp scent that always made my body react even when my mind was still catching up.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured against my hair.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, but my voice came out quieter than I wanted.

Renata cleared her throat. “I’ll have the body removed and increase security around the estate. The pack borders are still unsettled. This won’t be the last attempt.”

Lucian didn’t look at her. “Do it. And stay close. I want eyes on Aria at all times when I’m not with her.”

Something flickered across Renata’s face. It was gone so fast I almost missed it. She gave a short nod and left with the unconscious man being dragged behind her by two guards who had finally arrived.

The door closed. Silence settled over the room.

Lucian’s hands slid down my back and settled on my hips. “I could have lost you tonight.”

“You didn’t.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me. Those gray eyes still held a faint gold ring around the pupils. “I don’t like how close they got. Someone is feeding information from inside.”

I swallowed. “You think it’s Renata?”

“I think everyone is a suspect until I know otherwise.” His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “Including people who smile while they watch.”

Before I could answer he kissed me. It started slow, almost careful, then deepened until I was gripping his shirt and pressing closer. He walked me backward until the backs of my knees hit the bed. I sat down hard. He followed, pushing me onto my back and settling between my thighs.

“I need you,” he said against my mouth. “Right now.”

His hands were already under my dress, sliding up my bare skin. I helped him pull the fabric over my head. He stripped out of his own clothes faster, then covered me with his body. The first push of his c**k inside me made us both groan. He filled me in one long stroke and stayed there for a moment, forehead pressed to mine.

“You feel that?” he asked, voice rough. “How your body takes me like it was made for this?”

I nodded, already breathing hard. He started moving. Deep, steady thrusts that made the bed shift under us. Every time he bottomed out I felt that familiar stretch and the heat building low in my stomach. His hand slid between us and found my c**t, rubbing slow circles while he f****d me.

“Lucian…”

“I know.” He kissed my neck, then bit down just hard enough to make me gasp. “Come for me.”

I did. My legs locked around his waist as the orgasm rolled through me. He followed soon after, knot swelling and locking us together while he spilled deep inside. We stayed like that, breathing against each other’s skin, until the knot finally eased.

He didn’t pull away completely. Instead he rolled onto his side and kept me close, one heavy arm draped over my waist.

“The full moon is tomorrow night,” he said quietly. “The pack will expect a formal introduction. Victoria will use it to test you. Renata will watch for any weakness. And whoever sent that man tonight will try again.”

I traced a finger over his chest. “What about the relic?”

His body tensed. “If your mother really took it, then finding it becomes even more important. Without it the pack stays unstable. And unstable packs turn on their alphas.”

I looked up at him. “And if I don’t know where it is?”

“Then we keep looking. Together.”

Sleep came slowly after that. I drifted off with his heartbeat under my ear and the faint scent of the woods drifting through the open balcony doors.

The next morning Renata was already waiting when I came downstairs. She looked perfect as always, not a hair out of place. She handed me a folder.

“These are the names of the pack members who will be present tonight. Memorize the important ones. Victoria expects you to know them.”

I took the folder. “Thank you.”

She didn’t leave. She studied me for a moment instead. “He’s different with you. More… protective. It makes some people nervous.”

“Including you?”

A small smile touched her lips. “I adapt. That’s how I’ve survived this long.”

She walked away before I could say anything else. I spent the next few hours reading names and trying to ignore the growing knot in my stomach. Lucian found me in the library later and pulled me into a quiet corner. He kissed me until I forgot about the folder and the full moon and everything else. Then he f****d me against the bookshelf, one hand over my mouth so no one would hear how loud I got when I came.

By the time evening arrived the estate was full of people. Pack members filled the main hall. Some looked curious. Others looked openly hostile. Victoria stood near the large fireplace, dressed in deep red, watching everything with sharp eyes. Renata stayed close to Lucian’s side, tablet in hand, efficient as always.

Lucian kept me close as he introduced me. His hand never left my waist. Every time someone stared too long he shifted slightly, blocking their view. The tension in the room was thick. I could feel eyes on me from every direction.

Halfway through the evening a tall man with cold blue eyes approached us. He bowed slightly to Lucian but his gaze stayed on me.

“Alpha. I heard you brought an outsider to the gathering. Bold choice.”

Lucian’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Aria is under my protection. That should be enough for anyone.”

The man tilted his head. “We’ll see after the moon rises.”

He walked away. I felt Lucian’s hand tighten on my back.

Later, when the formal introductions were done, Lucian led me out onto one of the side terraces for air. The night was cool and the woods beyond the estate looked darker than usual. He pulled me against him and rested his chin on top of my head.

“You’re doing well,” he said.

“I don’t feel like it.”

“You are. And after tonight, no one will question your place again.”

I wanted to believe him. But something in the air felt wrong. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

That was when one of the younger pack members ran onto the terrace, breathing hard.

“Alpha. There’s been a breach on the east side of the property. Two of the guards are down. And… there’s a message.”

Lucian’s entire body went rigid. “What message?”

The young man held out a small folded piece of paper. Lucian took it, opened it, and read the words. His face went completely blank.

He handed the paper to me.

The handwriting was neat and clear.

“The relic is closer than you think. Ask Aria what her mother really left behind. Or we take her next.”

My blood turned cold.

Lucian looked at me, eyes glowing gold in the dark.

“Aria,” he said quietly. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Before I could answer, a loud crash came from inside the main hall and everyone was screaming. Someone shouted Lucian’s name.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the doors.

Whatever was happening inside, it was already too late to stop it.

And the full moon was only hours away.