Chapter 38
Auren POV
He stepped toward me and 1 instinctively stepped back. My back pressed to the wall as I craned my neck up to meet his intense eyes. They flashed golden and I stifled a moan. My breath hitched as he leaned down, his lips hovering just above mine, but not touching them.
“You look beautiful” he murmured, his voice thick with something dark, possessive.
My heart hammered in my chest. He had never spoken like this to me, and so his words meant a great deal to me. They were full of possessiveness and ferocity. “Th–thank you,” I replied, my lips qubering.
A growl rumbled in his chest, and then he leaned his forehead on the wall beside my head with one hand caging me on the other side. His body was so close to me that I could feel heat radiating from him. He turned his head toward me as his other hand slid down my neck and rested on the point where his mark would sit. He stared at it for long as if he wanted to burn the memory of this moment into my skin. I clenched my fists right unul my knuckles were white. My body arched, craving for his touch but he didn’t touch me. All I wanted was to rub myself against him. His vicinity was creating so much havoc in my mind.
“Lucien,” I gasped, my body burning for more.
He leaned in a bit closer, inhaled my scent and closed his eyes. “You’ll be the death of me,” he muttered. “I can’t wait-
I swallowed my entire body trembling. “I should go.”
With his finger, he trailed my jawline and brought his thumb to brush against my lower lip, his dark eyes hooded with barely restrained hunger “I don’t think I can let you go.”
I didn’t know what he meant, but gods, I didn’t want him to
A rustle on the changing room curtain shattered the moment. Manon’s gentle voice came in. “Luna, are you ready!”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “Lucien,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Lucien closed his eyes briefly, as if reigning himself in. He stepped back a few moments later, his hands lingering on my waist for just a second longer “Go” he murmured, his voice strained. “Before I forget why we’re here.”
Llet out a shaky breath and turned to walk out, but I didn’t miss the way his eyes followed me, dark with unspoken promises. This wedding was going to change everything.
It was then that my gaze dipped lower and I froze. There was a massive bulge in his pants. My brows furrowed as I blinked at it my mind scrambling to make sense of why this kept happening around me. Was it some sort of injury? A recurring swelling condition! Maybe he needed medical attention.
I hit my lip, debating my options. I could ask him directly–but what if it was rude? Maybe Vivi would know? No, that might be too personal, Perhaps I should bring it up with the pack doctor? The thought of knocking on the infirmary’s door and explaining. “Hi, I think Alpha Lucien might have a chronic swelling issue in his pre–pre. Could you check made me pause. Or I could just ask him,
Did it just twitch! I prayed silently, oh goddess, whatever it was, please make it right
I lifted my eyes, fully prepared to ask him only to find Lucien watching me. He had an intense expression, his jaw was tight, like he was holding himself together by a thread.
I hesitated “Lucion__”
His eyes flickered with something dangerous. “Yes?”
Iswallowed. Should I say it!
I almost did. The words were right there. But at the last second, something in his eyes changed, like a warning wrapped in the darkest temptation. It made my throat go dry.
“N–nothing” I mumbled, quickly going out. I could still feel his stare on my back, hot and heavy.
When I came out, I saw Marion standing and her jaw dropped to the floor. She was dustered when she saw Alpha Lucien walking right behind me. “Ev–everything okay?” she almost squeaked
Alpha Lucien brushed my shoulder as he walked past me. “Everything’s fine, Marion,” he said. “Make the adjustments and send the dress to the house tomorrow
“Yes Alpha,” she replied, bowing,
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1221 PM
Chapter 35
Then he said. “We have to go. Auren”
My heart pounded as I changed back into my clothes, my thoughts torn between Lucien’s strange reactions and the growing tension between us. Like we were both teetering on the edge of something neither of us understood or maybe I didn’t understand
When I came out, I saw Lucien giving his card to Marion who was overjoyed as she swiped it. “Is there anything else you want to buy for her she asked. “Not here,” he replied and collected the card.
I wondered what else he wanted to buy? I had everything I needed and then some more.
“We have to stop at the jewelry store next, Lucien said and my mouth dropped to the floor. He came to me, closed my mouth by curling his finger beneath my chin, and chuckled. “Did you think that my Lana wouldn’t wear any jewelry!”
Elder Ryna already gave me a beaded necklace.” I argued. “Please don’t buy it for me. It will.” I lowered my y head. “It will go for a waste.”
His chest rumbled with a dangerous growl. I froze. He turned to me, grabbed my shoulders and growled. “Never say that again, okay?”
I sucked in a sharp breath, nodding rightly.
As soon as we stepped out of the boutique, I saw Tarian coming toward us.
“Alpha.” Tarian said, his tone all business. “The Alphas and Lunas have started arriving. We’ve arranged accommodations for them in the hotels
cross the pack grounds”
Lucien exhaled slowly, the tension in the air shifting as he reined himself back in. “Good. Any issues?”
“None so far, Tarian replied. “But there’s a lot of them. More than expected. Every ally Alpha and Luna has come, and their entourages are sizable. It seems they’re all eager to witness this wedding firsthand.”
A strange feeling twisted in my stomach. Of course, they were eager. It wasn’t every day a cursed Alpha took a mate. I swallowed hard. But my thoughts turned to one wolf in particular
Alpha Bram. Was he here? Would he come to watch the mate he rejected stand beside another Alpha Was he here to celebrate the beginning of my end? Had he brought Marist The last time I saw them, they’d laughed in my face, threatened me, discarded me, happy I was going to face my doom. happy that they used me in the best possible way.
But now! Now, I was about to become Luna to one of the most feared Alphas in existence
With that thought, I lifted my chin, as my confidence returned.
Let them watch. Let them all watch.
With so many thoughts churning in my mind. I didn’t realize that I was already in the jewelry shop seated next to Lucien, every person watching as excitedly
“Do you like this?” Lucien said, pointing somewhere
ht with matching earrings. “I love it,”
My gaze snapped. Goddess, It was a breathtaking necklace with moon–cut diamonds, shirmering under the Light I murmured.
“Pack 1 Lucien ordered.
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