Chapter 37: Chapter 37

SCARLET

Soon, we pass buildings that gradually get bigger and more congested. Eventually, we’re stopped by a pair of guards. “What’s your business here?” one demands, though I can’t see him from my position.

“We come bearing a gift for Alpha Lucien,” Rowan replies as he lowers me to the ground and spins me around to face the two unknown wolves. I stumble slightly with my ankles still bound together, but Rowan steadies me as he places hands on my arms.

Both the guards narrow their eyes at me suspiciously before they look at one another. The left one gives the other a nod, and then the one on the right mind-links someone as his eyes go glossy.

A moment later, the left one says, “All right, follow us.”

Rowan hefts me up again, and I grunt as his shoulder hits me in the gut. I begin to squirm, and he gives my butt a couple pats.

“There, there,” he begins teasingly, and a low, threatening snarl rips through my lips. “Don’t start acting up or I’ll have to drug you again,” he warns.

I grumble softly to myself as I hold my head up and look around. That’s when I notice the skyscraper we’re heading for. It’s both magnificent and bizarre. It looks both modern and medieval, built like a castle but with steel and glass.

My eyes travel up to the tall spires that touch the sky. Every inch of it is pristine, with a large silver gate surrounding it to help protect it against unwanted visitors. My stomach flips. I hope Ethan and his team can find a way in.

We stop at the gate’s entrance, and a camera buzzes and moves as it focuses on us before a voice crackles through the intercom.

“State your business.”

One of the guards then replies gruffly, “Alpha is expecting us. We have brought him his chosen luna.”

Another loud buzz sounds before the gates open, and we walk through. Large, arched glass doors swing open into a large throne room. Humongous crystal chandeliers hang above us. The floor is a shiny blue tile that looks much like the thick, tinted windows.

The only thing in the room is a wide platform with a throne sitting in the middle of it with smaller versions of it on either side, presumably for his luna and daughter. Just the thought of Nicole makes me grimace in disgust before I hear another door open from off to the side.

I strain my head to try to see but am unable, until Rowan puts me down again. That’s when I see him. Lucien standing in front of his throne with a disarming glint in his eye that spells trouble.

When I see him, it feels like ice has filled my veins. This man seems completely unhinged, and I have no idea what to expect from him next.

I’m held firmly in place as Lucien strides toward me, a wicked grin spreading across his lips.

“Hello again, my lovely muse,” he coos once he reaches me. He’s now only a step away from me, and my stomach does a flip, making me want to vomit.

I have half a nerve to let it happen. Maybe if I spew all over his fancy leather shoes, he’ll lose interest. However, I don’t want him to know how much he affects me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You have no right!” I exclaim as I push through the sick feeling that has come over me.

His eyes flash with anger for a moment before he reins it in. “I have every right! I am alpha of the Silver Shadow Pack!” he retorts as he extends himself to his full height.

“And I’m luna of the Crescent Moon Pack!” I insist back, and his thin lips curl into an enraged snarl.

“Not yet, you aren’t. He has not presented you to his pack yet, and therefore it isn’t official.”

“I’ve been marked and mated. I don’t give a damn that he hasn’t announced it yet. The only reason he held off was because he didn’t want to be disrespectful to you, you sick bastard.”

He steps closer to me and places his hands on my arms to hold me in place as his chest presses against mine. The guards and twins all step back, feeling the threat of his alpha aura as it rolls off him.

For some reason it doesn’t affect me. It only makes me angrier.

“You will be mine within the week. Remember the witch that attacked Crescent Moon the night of my glorious gala? Well, a little contact of mine let me know that you’re even more special than I originally thought. And in exchange for me letting the witches get what they want from you, they will remove your mark so that I’m free to place my own on you.”

“No. Ethan is my mate. I will never be yours. You can’t have me. I will fight you until my last breath,” I remark with defiance as I meet his eyes.

“Good. I like a good fight,” he growls back as his arm reaches around me and yanks my hair back so that I’m forced to look at the ceiling. I’m completely vulnerable to him in this position, and I hate it.

Traitor tears fill my eyes as my fear and frustration bubbles up to the surface. His lips press against my neck, and I squirm in his grasp, which he immediately tightens around me. His mouth works its way down my throat as he licks and sucks at my sensitive flesh.

A single tear escapes my eyes and slowly trickles down my cheek. I exhale slowly as I try to calm myself. I don’t want to show any kind of weakness. He stops when he reaches the nook of my neck, where Ethan’s mark is. He glares at it before pulling back from me.

“Soon, my mark will be on you, and everyone will know that you belong to me.”

“NEVER,” I demand forcefully, meeting his gaze once more.

He holds his hand out to Ryder who passes him the rag and bottle of chloroform. I try to back away, but trip into Rowan who wraps his arms around me, keeping me still as Lucien places the cloth over my nose and mouth.

And for the third time in less than twenty-four hours, I’m enveloped by darkness.