I walked straight just so they could think I was actually going to the toilet before taking a quick turn to the right. It would lead me to the hall room where my father held his serious meetings that I wasn't allowed to. I knew how to be extra quiet. I just had to know more about 'him'; something inside me kept nagging and nagging that I hear more about him.
"He is becoming a big problem, he has raided more than ten packs already; there's nothing stopping him from attempting a raid here," Vladimir said, one of my father's most trusted men.
Uncle Auron scoffed, "He wouldn't dare, that would be a suicide mission for them. They are not that stupid."
"Maybe we should arrange a meeting with them," my mother, Selene, suggested. "It wouldn't hurt anyone to try, maybe we can find out what they are really about." she said.
My father, Theron, hummed, but I knew that sudden silence. He knew I was here; he could feel me. Damn it, I thought to myself as I silently sprinted across the hallway. For some reason, my father had this strong connection to me, it's like we were two strings tied together. Even as a child, he could find me, especially when we played hide and seek.
I paced in my room as I waited for my wolf to show up somehow. My parents were so occupied, all they managed to do was give me a huge cake that could be a cake for two giants, flowers, more jewelry, and a 'we love you so much to the moon and back' note. Obviously, my mother wrote that by herself; my father wasn't that touchy.
I was kind of hurt, this was my day, and the only thing people cared about today was this idiot Alpha Lucien. He was ruining my day. I hoped to the moon goddess he would lose his head. Fine, if everyone was so busy, then this was the perfect time to go for my secret run. I paced one more time in my room before locking my door and silently jumping out my window. Perks of being a Lycan. I landed softly on the ground, and trust me, my room was up on the second floor; no human would survive that.
I turned off my link to the pack and especially to my father. I did this every time I went for a run; at least at this time, my father would probably think I'm fast asleep. I had to be extra careful with this, or else my father would know in a heartbeat. Today, I was rebel Lyra. I was finally going to cross our border. I was finally going to do it, to feel what it's like not being in my father's territory, even if it meant just for a second.
I used my usual route, the one I knew wasn't guarded until I reached the border, and without a second thought, I sprinted across. It was just like I had imagined it: the taste of freedom.
I didn't mean to go as far as I had gone, but I got too excited. I laughed out loud as I sat on a rock, breathing out hard. Damn, it felt absolutely amazing being free. I looked up at the moon, it was so beautiful; it felt different looking at it from out here.
"Beautiful!" I smiled up at the moon as if it could hear me.
"Oh definitely... Beautiful," a husky voice said behind me, and my heart almost flew out my chest as my head snapped to look at the figure.
I walked two steps back, suddenly alert and ready to defend myself. "Who are you! You better stay right where you are!"
"I am Lucien, and you... Oh, you are my mate. What a blessed night it is," he smirked, and my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe my ears. This stranger, this Alpha Lucien, had just declared that I was his mate. Panic surged through me as my heart raced at an alarming pace. I had to think fast, had to get away from this man I didn't know.
"Step back!" I stammered, my voice trembling. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. He was impossibly handsome, like a vision of a Greek God carved from the finest marble. Jet-black hair framed his chiselled face, and crystal blue eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
Lucien stood tall and confident, a smirk perpetually gracing his dimpled face. "Oh, I have no intention of stepping back, mate. You are most definitely mine," he said, his tone chilled and naughty.
He had to be lying; I hadn't even gotten my wolf yet, he couldn't possibly know this, and after all, if he was the Lucien everyone was fussing about, then he couldn't be trusted. "You better stay away from me or else..."
He raised his eyebrows, looking very amused, and it made me feel weak. This man wasn't taking me seriously; he was looking at me as if I was nothing but a little person in front of him. "Or else?"
My heart pounded even harder, and I took a few steps back, my mind racing for a way out of this situation. This couldn't be happening. I wasn't ready for a mate, especially not one as cocky and enigmatic as Lucien. Of all the days for this to happen to me, it had to be on my birthday. Me stepping out of my father's territory was supposed to be a happy moment. A moment of freedom, not to be claimed by some Alpha who, by the way, is a bad man causing trouble.
Without a second thought, I turned and sprinted away, my legs carrying me as fast as they could. Surprisingly, he didn't follow me. Perhaps he thought I'd give in easily, but he was sorely mistaken. I was not weak, and I definitely did not believe his bullshit.