THE ROGUE ALPHA’S MATE

Chapter 4

The forest around me seemed to close in as I strolled through it, my senses alert and my training evident in my every move. I was no longer the naive girl I once was, dreamy and lovesick. I have come a long way since those days. I had honed my skills and could shift with ease. I had grown into a stronger, more capable version of myself. Or so I liked to believe.

"Liar," Crystal chimed in, her voice a persistent whisper in my mind. I had come to appreciate her presence, even if she was the one to burst my self-assured bubble. "I want to kick her," I thought, but dared not voice it aloud.

"I can defend myself," I argued back, albeit in my mind.

"Not against him," Crystal replied with that ever-present honesty. I closed my eyes, battling against the inner turmoil that had plagued me for three long years.

"Well, it's a good thing I'll never have to," I retorted with a hint of uncertainty that made my voice waver. Liar.

As I continued my solitary walk, my internal battle raged on. My steps quickened, each one echoing with the determination that I would not give in to my doubts. He would not return. He couldn't. He shouldn't.

Then, as if in response to my inner turmoil, I heard a voice. It felt like a whisper in my mind, but it wasn't my thoughts.

"Lucien."

My heart skipped a beat, and the world seemed to fall away as I turned to face him. He stood before me, his presence too real, too tangible to be a mere dream.

He looked the same, yet different. He had grown stronger, more refined, and his clothes exuded a quiet sophistication that spoke of a life beyond exile.

"Do I get to kiss the bride?" he said sardonically, tilting his head to meet my gaze. I scanned the area, panic gripping me. Why was no one else here?

“Lucien” I breathed out his name…. My eyes wandered to a distant area and I saw shadowy figures. They looked scary and somewhat demonic. Whatever they were, I'm sure they were with Lucien. “I have to be safe because I don't trust him.”

"You should never have come back," I told him, my voice trembling as I held his intense gaze.

Lucien moved closer, and I instinctively took a step back. He cornered me against a tree, our bodies so close that I could feel the heat radiating from him. Bravery and stupidity warred within me. Going against Lucien was the latter, and it screamed for my self-preservation.

"To my pack?" Lucien asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Dante is a joke to other packs."

I hesitated, unable to meet his piercing gray eyes. He saw my hesitation and chuckled.

"You know," he said, his tone dripping with knowing, "you know."

I raised my chin a fraction, summoning my courage. "Leave before Dante finds out you came. I won't tell anyone you were here, but I can't protect you if Dante discovers it."

Lucien stepped back, a mocking smile on his face. "Go tell the groom I paid a visit," he said, turning to leave. "Tell him I'll be back for the celebration tonight."

But before he walked away, he approached me once more. "And tell him he had a beautiful, passionate bride and a lovely property. Every garden deserves a serpent, doesn't it?" With that, he disappeared into the forest, leaving me to grapple with the whirlwind of emotions he had stirred.

Later, in the study, I poured myself a glass of whiskey, trying to numb the confusion and anger that swirled within me. The door creaked open, and Dante entered, dressed for the wedding. His arms wrapped around me from behind, but his touch felt suffocating.

"What's got your panties in a knot?" Dante asked, and I squirmed in his embrace.

"Did you know it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?" I said, using it as an excuse to break free from his grip.

"I don't believe in luck," he whispered, his breath warm on my ear.

I moved away from him, gaining some distance between us. I decided to get straight to the point.

"Did you know the pack is in financial ruin?" I asked, studying his reaction closely. His eyes flickered with discomfort as he reached for the whiskey bottle I had just used.

"You have quite the alcohol limit, darling," he remarked, trying to divert the conversation.

But I wasn't going to let him evade the truth. "Talk."

"I answer to no one. I won't start with you," Dante retorted coldly.

"Oh, that's huge!" I replied sarcastically. "Let's throw your ridiculous ego into the mix, shall we?"

His eyes darkened, and he shifted his weight, trying to intimidate me with his imposing presence. But compared to Lucien, he seemed like nothing more than a petulant child.

I continued to circle around him, contemplating how inappropriate it was to be thinking of Lucien at that moment. But there was no denying the impact Lucien's return had on me.

Dante, however, was still and unyielding, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He took a step toward me, and I instinctively retreated, but he followed.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, forcing my head back, his anger radiating off him in waves. "You have his scent on you," he hissed.

I bit my lower lip, my heart pounding as I tried to come up with a plausible explanation. But it was too late; Dante had detected Lucien's scent, and I was trapped in a web of lies and secrets.

"Where is he?" Dante demanded, his eyes ablaze with fury.

"Gone," I choked out, my voice trembling.

Dante released my hair and stood there, his fingers brushing through his own hair as he contemplated his next move. "He'll be back," he finally said, his voice low and ominous. "And I'll be ready when he does."