THE ALPHA WHO ONCE LOVED ME

HUNGRY FOR HIS TOUCH

Everything seemed blurry, I just couldn't remember much from the past. I only had fragments; my mom, my sister Ella, my best friend, and boyfriend who betrayed me.

Lucian had left after several attempts of trying to get me to open the door. I wasn’t going to fall for that again. I'd let him, then he'd probably leave me again naked, and maybe this time, he'd be halfway inside me.

I just couldn't understand why I wanted him so much. I knew he was a werewolf, the leader of his pack. I knew he had been lying to me since day one. Now he tells me we weren't strangers before this.

Despite everything, I just couldn't stop wanting him, wanting him to touch me like he did, wanting him to make me wet like he always did. I just wanted him so badly, and I couldn't stop.

The next morning, I had to get ready for work which meant seeing him again. At this point, I felt cursed. Why couldn't he have just given me a job in marketing!?

I was already running late.

My hair wasn’t cooperating, my brain felt foggy, and my car had to stop working today of all days. By the time I finally stepped outside, I was mentally rehearsing excuses for Lucian — not that he ever cared to hear them.

“Tessa?”

I froze.

Eli was standing by the curb, hands shoved in his pockets, looking like someone had removed all the confidence out of him. His eyes were soft, almost hopeful.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Can we talk? Just for a minute.”

Not now. Definitely not now.

I forced a smile that was way too tight. “I’m actually late. Really late. Can it wait?”

He nodded quickly.

“Yeah, I know. I just…” He exhaled. “I wanted to apologize. For everything. I said some things I shouldn’t have, and I didn’t handle stuff well and—”

“Eli,” I cut in gently, shifting my bag on my shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll see you later, alright? I just… can’t do this right now.”

He blinked, hurt flickering across his face before he smoothed it over. “Right. Sure. Uh—yeah. Later.”

I turned to go, already planning my way to get a taxi, when he called after me

“I’ll see you at the County Gala tonight!”

I stopped mid-step.

“The… what?” I asked, confused.

“The Charity Ball,” he repeated. “Big town event? Everyone goes. You’ll see me there.”

I didn’t remember agreeing to attend anything, but at this point, my brain felt like scrambled eggs. So I just nodded.

“Okay.”

He smiled, looking relieved and backed away. “See you tonight then.”

I waved once and hurried off, trying not to think about how complicated everything around me was becoming.

Lucian’s POV

I hardly slept.

Every time I shut my eyes, her scent hit me all over again . I had spent years convincing myself she was gone, that what happened back then was final. That an Alpha didn’t get second chances, especially not with the one person he failed to protect.

But then she walked into my territory, into my life, like the moon gooddess had dragged her back just to punish me.

And now… now I was sure.

Tessa was my mate.

Not just someone fate nudged toward me. Not a possibility. The bond was there. Faint, damaged, buried under trauma, and a memory she couldn’t access… but definitely there.

I felt it when she moved from me.

I felt it when she looked at me like she didn’t trust a single word I said.

I felt it even when she slammed the door in my face last night.

A mate not remembering you… breaks something deeper.

And still, every instinct I had wanted to protect her.

Every part of me wanted to pull her close and remind her of every piece of herself she lost.

But she wasn’t ready.

The truth would crush her if I threw it at her all at once.

I needed to go slow.

I needed to earn her trust, something I never expected to need to do with my own mate.

And yet… part of me burned.

And today, I’d have to face her again.

Tessa.

My mate who didn’t remember me.

The girl who once trusted me more than anyone, who now looked at me like a stranger.

But one thing was certain, I was going to protect her no matter what.

Tessa’s POV

By the time I reached the office, he was already there again. Looking all hot and sexy as always.

"Good morning, " he said.

"Good morning, sir," I replied, trying to avoid eye contact.

“We have an event tonight,” he cut in, standing and gathering a stack of folders. “The Charity ball. The company is one of the highest contributors to the town fund this year, so attendance is mandatory.”

My stomach flipped.

“I, um… I don’t have a gown,” I said quickly — half lie, half hope he’d just let me skip it.

Lucian finally lifted his gaze to mine. Slow. Intense.

“One is being sent to your house this morning.”

He said it like it was obvious. Like he had planned ahead for me. Like he always did.

“Oh.”

“That wasn’t a suggestion, Tessa.”

His eyes held mine for a second too long.

“We’re going together.”

I swallowed hard.

...................

The venue was glowing when I arrived — gold lights, music, polished marble floors. People chatting, drinking and enjoying every moment. I stood there wondering if they were more werewolves in the crowd.

Lucian appeared beside me almost instantly, crisp in black, expression unreadable. His hand hovered at my lower back, guiding, not touching, but close enough to make my heart stutter.

“You stay with me,” he said quietly, voice firm but calm.

I nodded.

And then—

“Tessa?”

I turned.

My breath hitched.

Derek stood by the edge of the ballroom, half in shadow, sleeves rolled, jaw sharp, looking like danger wrapped in calm confidence.

Lucian followed my gaze. His entire body went still when he saw Derek.

Derek approached with steady steps, eyes locked on me, not Lucian.

“You look… different tonight,” Derek said, voice low but unchanged. Not flirty. Just observant.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“Dance?” he asked simply, holding out a hand.

Before I could think, Lucian stepped forward slightly, not blocking me, but close.

“She’s with me,” Lucian said

Derek raised an eyebrow.

“Relax. It’s a dance. Unless you don’t trust yourself…” he said, a small smirk forming on his face.

Lucian’s jaw clenched. Heat prickled down my spine.

I exhaled sharply. “It’s fine. Just one dance.”

Derek offered his hand again, and I took it.

We moved to the floor under the chandeliers , nothing romantic, just slow steps to the music, his eyes flicking towards Lucian every few seconds.

Lucian watched from the edge of the crowd, fists tight at his sides, shoulders tense, barely holding back… something. Something he didn’t want to admit.

Derek leaned closer, just speaking quietly enough for only me to hear.

“He’s furious,” Derek murmured. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

I swallowed. “I don’t know what I feel.”

A small smirk tugged at Derek’s mouth.

“Then you should ask him why he looks like he’s ready to tear the building down.”

I didn’t dare look back, I didn’t need to.

I could feel Lucian’s gaze on my skin like heat.

"I don't care. I worry too much about Lucian or what he thinks." I sighed.

Eli came cutting in.

"Derek," he greeted before finally reaching out for my hand.

"You look beautiful as always." he says.

"Thank you." I shrugged, paying no interest in him.

"Ella....I'm truly sorry about everything. My brother and I can really get stupid sometimes.

"I miss you,"

"I miss you too - wait, brother!?" I shouted that few people nearby would have heard.

"Yeah, one more information I forgot to add."

Eli and Lucian, brothers??? They looked nothing alike, both in personality and looks.

"So what are you? He's the Alpha... and you're what?" I asked in curiosity.

"Ohh, I'm his beta even though I'm older." Eli said, something in his look changing for a second before he masked it immediately with a smile.

"Anyway, that's not the point. Please forgive me, Tess. I'll get thirty percent off all your purchases at the diner for the rest of the year."

"Make it forty?"

"Thirty-five?"

"Deal."

We bought laughed at our negotiations. I still have a lot of questions, but I'll let everything slide. It's good to have Eli back even if it meant more complications with Lucian.

​I went home after the Gala in Lucian’s car. He had offered to drop me off as he felt "responsible" for me that night.

​The car ride was excruciatingly quiet. I noticed every movement; the calculated glances he took of me , the shallow, controlled rhythm of his breathing, his right hand resting inches from mine. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted him to break that icy restraint and pull over, proving he wasn't just my boss, or my guard, or my captor but the man who made me feel this way.

​He dropped me off and left without saying anything. No goodbyes....nothing.

He had ignited a wildfire of frustrated, desperate desire in me. I felt overwhelmingly horny and desperately needed to be satisfied. The memory of Lucian’s lips, his hands, the possessiveness he tried to hide... it was unbearable.

​I couldn't remember when I had last been properly touched. My body ached with need and desire.

​Walking into my apartment, I pulled the beautiful, oppressive gown, letting it slide down my body to my ankles.

​I couldn't wait another second for him to decide what he was to me.

​With a sharp inhale, I locked the door against the world outside and decided to take matters entirely into my own hands....literally. I needed relief, now, and the only person who could give me that this night was me.