CHAPTER FIVE
1031 Words
Lucian's POV:
"This is Esther, you both should get along."
The girl standing before me looks the image of a perfect princess. Her hair is long and blond, not a single strand out of place. Her eyes were deep blue, wide and full of innocence. Her poise was confident, back straight and chin high.
I turned to my father. "What's going on?"
My father ribbed his temples. "For goodness sake Lucian, can't you at least greet her?"
What the hell is this old man even trying to prove here?!
I faced this woman. She stared at me, her teeth flashing white as she smiled. Why was she staring at me like she was expecting something? "Lucy, right?"
"Esther," she corrected.
"Esther. Whatever. Hello," I turned to my father. "Is that good enough? No? Yes. Now will you please explain to me what the f**k she's doing here?"
"Esther dear, could you please excuse us?" My father said with a smile as he spoke to Esther.
She bowed. "Yes" she said and walked away.
I turned and faced my father. Before I could react, his hand connected with my face. My face whipped to the side, my eye losing vision for a few seconds. For a moment I was dazed, I had forgotten how hard my father's slaps could be. My lip stung, it was probably split right now.
"What on earth is even wrong with you?!" He roared, his voice rumbling throughout the air.
I wiped blood off my split lip and turned to face him. "Father, that was unnecessary." I said, as calmly as I could.
"Unnecessary?!" He fumed, his eyes full of fury. For goodness sake, what had I even done to deserve his anger this beautiful morning?! "Did you see how you treated her?! Forgetting her name two seconds, two damned seconds after I just told it to you."
"I'm bad with names. What else?" I replied. My intention was annoying him further. He wants to play this game, fine. "Besides, what's her deal?"
"She's the girl you're going to get married to."
I stilled. "Sorry, what?"
My father walked up to me. "You heard me." His voice came out a low hiss. "You will apologize to her, and you will get to know her better. Frankly, I don't care. Either way, you will marry her. Best for you to know her."
"You do know I have a mate right?" I scoffed. This was ridiculous! How did he expect me to marry that princess?!
"A mate you let slip away?!" He shouted.
I clenched my jaw. Damn him! "I'm still searching for Diana. And I will find her."
My father stared at me blankly. "And then what? Did you ever think that that slave could ever be the Luna? And maybe you're forgetting that you rejected her. In front of everyone."
The last thing I wanted was my father pointing out my mistakes. I had half the mind to glare at him. What even is his problem? I'm the alpha of Moon Crest pack. And he still has a steel leash on my neck.
I guess it's the prove I have to pay for being the son of the most ruthless alpha in history. Such a big name to live up to.
I did reject Diana. And I hate myself for doing it.
"I'm not going to stop looking for her." I said to my father. "Diana is out there. I know it."
"It's been six months." My father said. "You have a week more. If you don't find her by this time next week, you will be mated to Esther. No debates."
This man really is a cruel man.
"Fine." I replied.
"Good. You have a date with Esther by seven pm. Fix something up." He said and turned to leave. "And for heaven's sake, don't be late. It doesn't tell good of an alpha."
"Yes sir." I replied through clenched teeth.
Once he was out of the room, I couldn't take it anymore. I kicked the nearest object which happened to be a table. It flew across the room, shattering on impact into the wall.
Damnit!
Where on earth could Diana have gone?! I have searched and searched to no avail. It can't be so hard to find one weak girl, should it?!
Each month that went by and I thought, maybe I'll find her. Maybe she'll come back. where will she go? She was on the run from something. But as more time went by, it was starting to become apparent that maybe she wasn't coming back.
I refused to believe that. She was mine! She was my mate! How dare she run away from me?! Did I not treat her well?
I glared at the broken table as if it would give me answers. I walked over and sat at my desk, my mind deep in thoughts.
I have a week to find her. Can I do it? If I couldn't find her in six months will I do it in a week?
My mind raced with the possibilities. In those six months, it dawned on me that maybe I was the problem. With the way I treated her, maybe it was my fault that she ran away.
"This is annoying." I hissed in anger. Not to mention my cheek was still burning.
Maybe I should have treated her better. Maybe I shouldn't have burdened her with so much work. Maybe I should have been kinder to her, maybe I shouldn't have rejected her. I realized that I didn't even know anything about her, asides her name.
I tried to think of a time I had seen her smile. Every image of her face that filled my head was her in pain. Her in tears. Her begging me to stop hurting her.
My heart twisted in guilt. It was all my fault that she ran away.
I felt someone in the room and raised my head. At the doorway stood Kevin, my beta.
"Can't knock?" I snapped at him.
His face was grave. "Alpha, there's something you need to see." He said, his tone heavy with sadness.
I felt a bolt of fear. Diana!
- Writer
