Noah
Three days.
That's how long he'd stayed away. Three long days since the Alpha had stormed out of the room, his eyes dark and burning after our intimate contact, at least it was to me.
Since then silence has been my company. Silence, the maid and the doctor of course.
The doctor came twice a day, always smelling faintly of herbs and rain, checking my fingers with a detached sort of reverence before replacing the ointment. The maid followed, quiet and efficient bringing tray of food that could feed two people and clothes clearly hand-picked by him. Everything had a hint of cedar and smoke.
The second day, the pain in my finger dulled to a throb and my curiosity replaced the ache. I buried myself in every book, scroll or scrap of parchment I could find about shifters, beast and every supernatural being.
The myths were wild, stories of beasts from different clans, souls split across the universe, demons with horns carved from moonlight and bone. I read until my eyes stung and the candle burned out.
By the third night, I could move around easily again. Our room smelled faintly of parchment and old books and a hint of healing herbs too. The window was open and the night air crept in, heavy with forest and rain. I have never felt such peace before.
That was until I felt the shift in the air. Someone was here.
I froze, mid step, the book still open in my hands. My pulse jumped. I could smell the familiar scent. He was here. I didn't know how but I knew it was him. The air thickened as my lungs breathed in a scent that wasn't mine or the maid's.
"Lucien," I called out softly but certain. "You're here."
There was a flicker in the shadows, a ripple, and then he stepped out appearing like smoke solidifying into form. "Interesting," His golden amber eyes narrowed. "How did you know I was here?"
I blinked, my heart pounding. "I could smell you." He stilled. "Smell me?" His voice amused but dangerously low. "And pray tell, what do I smell like?"
I swallowed, my throat dry at his proximity. He circled me like a prey watching my every expression. I hardened my gaze. "You smell like cedar....And smoke with a hint of rain sometimes."
His presence wrapped around her like a mist. His lips curved but his eyes remained unreadable. After series of silence, he finally spoke. "Let's test that little nose, shall we?" He said quietly.
His outline blurred like rippling water and then he was gone. "Lucien?" I whispered, my heart in my throat. I groaned. I could imagine the smirk playing on his face. His voice echoed in my mind, deep and teasing.Find me.
"Find you? You have got to be kidding me." I muttered scanning the room for any sign of him.
Something tugged at my senses, a whisper in the air and a thread of scent I couldn't ignore. It was faint buried beneath layers of other smells: food, herbs, wax, wolf musk yet beneath all that, a distinct smell caught my attention.... Cedar.
I followed, my feet bare against the stone floor. The scent pulled me down a hallway, past the hall of portraits and the guarded staircase that led deeper into the manor. The trail twisted like he wanted me to work harder.
It led me to the training grounds, a place buzzing with energy and noise. Dozens of shifters were sparring, transforming too. Their scents thickened the air and reeked of sweat, musk and wolf's fur.
I wrinkled my nose. "You are evil, Lucien." I muttered under my breath after a string of curses directed at him.
I crossed the ground, weaving through sweaty naked bodies and wolf furs, ignoring their curious look but I didn't stop until I got to the shadow of a massive tree at the far end.
"Found you," I said with an exasperated gasp.
"You sure?" A deep voice spoke behind me. His breath caressing my skin. I turned around to meet his gaze. He had an almost proud look on his face if not for the faint scowl directed at me.
"Looks like your little nose isn't so ordinary after all." He said with an incredulous tone. "You managed to convince me to hire you just when I thought you were too weak."
I beamed. "Really?"
He gave a nod. "You finally earned your place by my side. But I must say...."
I frowned a bit. "What again?"
He chuckled while using his thumb to soothe out the spot between my brows. "You are mine alone. I own you. When I say you kill, you fucking raise the sword. Your loyalty is to me alone, got it?"
I gave a nod. "I thought the seal covered all of that." I said sarcastically with a shrug.
"It did. But I'm providing a choice." His voice became low. "Your pick. Be mine and be mine only or stay a caged pet in my quarters."
"It's still the same thing," I said. He shrugged." But at least you get to have your freedom and your dignity."
I glared at him. I considered my options carefully. Surely Dad is thinking of a way to get me out, right? I just have to wait and play a little bit longer. The only problem is my coochie seems to like the idea of being his and being by his side. I can't fall for him. He is the enemy and I'm living on borrowed time here.
"I agree. But I have a few conditions of mine. Being yours doesn't include sexually yours to please. I can have my own man whenever I want." I said. His gaze darkened and his jaw clenched. Other than that, his face showed no emotion at all. "I decide that too, Little one."
"You get to sleep with other girls. I can too."
I whined. I was being childish right now but he has to know he doesn't own all of me. "I am human. I need sex too." I challenged.
"Fine you can," he growled. " But when doing it with that fucker, I want to be present watching so I can kill him afterwards."
With that, he disappeared.
What the fuck just happened?