Howl of the Forgotten

A Night of Passion, A Day of Doubt

Elinor’s Point of View

I woke up to the warmth of Lucian's body pressed against mine, his hard pulse a soft beat against my ear. The pine and something so him clung to my skin, blended with the sweet musk of sweat and s*x. My skin still tingled where he had kissed me, touched me, owned me. I had never felt anything like it.

For an instant of happiness, I stayed silent, letting myself pretend. Pretend this wasn't taken. Pretend that when I woke up, I wouldn't have to slip out before the sun rose, before the world crushed me like an undertow.

Lucian shifted against me, his low, rough noise surfacing from his body as he repositioned his grip around my waist.

"You’re awake." He murmured, his voice thick with sleep, husky in a way that sent shivers down my spine.

"So are you." I replied, my voice softer than I intended as a smile tugged on my lips.

He chuckled, a warm breath ghosting over the back of my neck. "Hard not to be when you keep squirming."

Heat bloomed in my cheeks. "I wasn’t squirming."

Lucian hummed, his lips brushing against my shoulder. "You were. And now that you’re up..." His hand trailed down my thigh in a slow, possessive manner that made me blush.

A dangerous game.

I rolled away before I could get lost in him again, sitting up and tightening the blanket over my chest. The chilly air of the cave licked at my exposed skin, sending goosebumps along my arms. My eyes went to the soft light spilling into the cave and I was immediately reminded that dawn was coming. I sprang back and sat up fast since I knew that if I didn't leave right away, someone would notice that I was gone.

However, Lucian caught my wrist. "Where are you going?"

I sighed. "I must get back before everyone realizes that I am gone."

Lucian sighed, rubbing his eyes before struggling to sit up as well. He wore no shirt, golden in the dying light, muscles rippling as he stretched. "Just stay a moment longer." He spoke in a low murmur, voice laced with something that sounded very close to a plea.

Goddess, I truly wanted to, but I was very much aware that I couldn’t afford to be careless.

"I can’t, Alpha Lucian. I have duties to get to." I reminded him.

“Alpha Lucian?” He raised a brow at me. "I don't recall you saying that to me last night." He wiggled his eyebrows and I turned my face away, my cheeks warming up.

"I did." I attempted to defend myself poorly.

He chuckled and lifted his hand to brush a lock of hair from my face. “Call me Luican, but perhaps not in the exact way you kept moaning it.” He teased again.

“Stop it.” I laughed. “I really have to go now.”

He exhaled heavily, then leaned forward and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to my lips. "Fine." He muttered against my mouth. "But you’re coming back to me tonight."

I nodded, then quickly dressed and slipped away, my heart still hammering from his touch.

***

The days passed in a blur of stolen nights and secret rendezvous. I never complained that all Lucian wanted was s*x. Because the truth was, I wanted him too. And in those short moments, I could pretend we were more.

Each evening, I snuck out to visit him, and each morning I crept back into the pack house before anyone even realized I'd left. The adrenaline rush made my heart thud, made my body hum for him in ways I never believed I was capable of. But the closer I got to my birthday, a hollow sensation settled in my chest.

The pack ceremony was coming—the one where Lucian would have to choose a mate. I tried to push the thought away. Tried to convince myself it didn’t matter. That I wasn’t foolish enough to hope. But I did. I hoped.

I was in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes, when Kara, another omega and my friend, plopped down beside me.

"Have you heard?" She asked, her voice laced with excitement.

I glanced at her, raising a brow. "Heard what?"

"Lucian’s finally choosing a mate at the ceremony."

My heart skipped. Then, it started beating too fast. "What?" I asked, my voice coming out quieter than I intended.

Kara grinned. "Yeah. His father insisted. Said it’s been four years since he turned eighteen, and he still hasn’t found his mate. The Alpha thinks it’s time he picked someone, mate or not."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "Oh." I said, forcing my hands to keep scrubbing the plate even as my vision blurred.

Kara didn’t seem to notice my distress. "I hope he picks someone good. I mean, imagine if it’s Amber? Ugh."

I shook my head as I hoped not.

“Also, that day is your eighteenth birthday too, right? I hope you find a good mate, Elinor.” Kara smiled genuinely at me.

I smiled back as I thought about the fact that Lucian and I were fated to be since he hadn’t found his mate yet and my birthday was coming up on the same day. Another glimmer of hope sparked in my chest. I had spent every night with him, hoping—praying—that when my birthday came, he’d be the one.

"I should take this out." I said, grabbing a trash bag just so I'd have an excuse to leave.

The clean air hit me as I stepped outside, my head still spinning. I needed air, needed to clear my head. But as I made my way toward the back of the packhouse, my steps slowed. From where I was, I saw Lucian in the training ground and just before I could smile at the sight of him, I realized he wasn’t alone.

Amber was by his side, her hand sliding down his arm, her red nails standing out against his tanned skin. She tossed her golden locks over her shoulder, laughing at something he was saying. My stomach twisted.

She leaned closer and whispered something into his ear. I bit my lower lip and right when I decided to turn, I saw she kissed him on the lips. My eyes widened and a cold settled on my chest as I saw him just laugh. I hurried to where the bin was and threw the trash into it a bit harder than necessary before heading inside, not bothering to look at the training ground again.

Kara glanced at me as I stormed past. "You okay?"

I attempted to nod, but my fists were clenched in cramped palms as I gnawed at my nails. Lucian walked into the kitchen that evening as Kara and I prepared dinner, his eyes scanning the room before landing on me.

"Just checking on things." He said casually, but his gaze stayed on me.

But I pretended that I had not noticed him, unlike when we used to wink at each other in secrecy whenever he came here. Since I did not pay him any attention, he turned and went away.

Later that night, I had only just settled into my tiny room when a soft knock was heard on my door. I already knew who it was before I even opened it, but I still opened it nonetheless. It really was Lucian, and he came in immediately without knocking without inviting himself, closing the door behind him.

"Are you avoiding me?" He asked.

I tilted my head as I crossed my arms and gave him a blank stare. "Why would I do that?"

He arched his brow. "You tell me, and you aren’t even smiling at all today. Did something happen?"

I exhaled sharply. "I saw you with Amber today, you two kissed."

Lucian blinked, then sighed. "That? Elinor, she kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back."

"You laughed." I pointed out.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Because she was being ridiculous."

I narrowed my eyes. "It didn’t look like you hated it."

Lucian stepped closer, closing the distance between us and smirked. "Are you jealous?"

I wanted to say no. To act like it didn’t bother me, but it did. I was jealous.

"Maybe." I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian exhaled, then cupped my face, tilting it up toward him. "I won’t let her do it again. Okay?"

I wanted to stay mad. Wanted to keep my anger, but the instant he kissed me, I dissolved into him. His fingers stroked down my waist, and just as he was about to drag me toward the bed, his body went rigid. I saw him in time to witness his eyes glazing over—mind-link.

When he came back to, his jaw was clenched. "My father is looking for me."

I swallowed my disappointment as he stepped back and nodded. “Okay.”

"I’ll see you later." He ran a hand through his hair.

Then, he was gone. I fell into the bed and wished for sleep to come. However, just like every other night, it didn’t and all I could think about was Lucian, Amber and the ceremony. Finally, I slipped out of bed and stepped outside, hoping the cool night air would clear my thoughts.

But as I walked, voices carried through the quiet. I stilled, my sharp hearing picking up every word.

"It would be best for the pack if you choose my sister, Amber." A deep voice which I recognized as Cole’s, Lucian’s beta, said.

My heart sank when Lucian didn’t respond.