Chapter 102

Lucian

“You reporters can really get over yourselves doing your job, you know,” I spat out sternly, taking the final step as Ebie and I made our way to the paparazzi who deemed it fit to throw questions at Kisha instead of the real people they came here for.

“Uhmm… Actually… Don… I…” The reporter stuttered.

I raised my hands immediately, stopping her from going any further as I wasn't really in the mood to hear that crap. “You know you just got me curious; is that supposed to be part of the questions you came to ask me just weeks before the election? What happened to documenting my manifesto? Huh?” I thundered.

“I'm so… So… Sorry, sir… It's just that…” The reporter tried to speak but was rudely interrupted by someone else.

“Well, she may be sorry, but I'm not, Don Lucian,” a firm voice echoed in my ears, followed by the clicking sound of heels against the marble floors as an elegant woman with a straight face approached me.

“Hi there, Don. Hello, ma’am,” she gestured, turning to Evie, “I'm Miss Emily, a new reporter from Grey Media,” she said, leaning in for a handshake.

For some reason, the name ‘Emily’ sounded familiar, like I'd heard it before, but just can't remember where and how. I shook the feeling off, putting on a straight face before replying to her.

“Well, certainly from the way you're dressed, even a child could tell you're new,” I immediately interrupted, making her go mute for some seconds as she stared at me with a tight jaw, staring at her outfit which, trust me, was shabby.

I mean, who still puts on heels in a jumpsuit for an interview with the most feared man in Haven Hills? I wondered.

“How I'm dressed is not for you to worry about, Don Lucian; how about we focus on you instead, the reason why we are all here? You know we got some pretty interesting news that could make you sit on the bench for this election," she spat at me, regaining her confidence, her gaze firm and strong.

“How about we just go right ahead and focus on taking his interview while he lets the whole of Haven Hills know how great of a mayor he would be? The air around you too is getting kinda thick; it's suffocating.” Evie blurted as she walked past us to the sitting room.

“Gentlemen and ladies, shall we begin?” I said with a smile on my face as I took a seat beside Evie while the reporters flooded me with their cameras and questions.

“Don Lucian, why do you want to become the mayor of this city?” Reporter 1 asked.

“Because it's been my dream,” I replied sharply.

“Given your history and how the people of Haven Hills now see you, do you really think you stand a chance at this?” Another asked.

“Well, I'm certain that the people of Haven Hills have seen right past this hardness I have on the outside. Whatever history you think I have with them, I only do so because I feel it's the right thing to do; it's for my safety and theirs too,” I answered.

“Was it also because of this ‘safety’ of yours that you took Tracy’s life?” Emily's question struck the air like lightning as I snapped my head in her direction.

“What are you talking about? And how do you know about Tracy?” I fired at her with furrowed brows, my eyes moving from my clenched fists to the multiple cameras in front of me.

“Oh, so sorry, my bad; I guess I didn't introduce myself properly - I'm Emily, Emily Sanchez, Tracy's best friend before she went missing years ago!” She announced.

“What?!” I exclaimed in shock.

Now I knew where I recognized that name from; Tracy always mentioned her and how she missed her. They'd met after one of our trips, before everything went south.

“I didn't do anything to her; it was the exact opposite that happened.” I spat at her, my voice echoing through the room.

“Well, this picture says something different, Don Lucian!!” she fired back, picking up a laptop as she showed me a picture of Tracy held weakly by chains, her face battered and covered in her own blood, signs of skin and face trauma screaming boldly on her.

“Where… Where did you get that?” I asked with furrowed brows, confusion etched on my face.

“That's none of your business, Don,” she snapped, slamming the laptop forcefully as she stared at me with horror on her face. “Oh… God knows I've been waiting for proof, just one piece of evidence that could prove Tracy was still alive and under your custody, and just two days ago, I got that anonymous message. I was so glad as the universe was finally giving me what I needed,” she snarled, pausing for a while.

“And now, now I get to bring you and your family’s stupid empire down, Don Lucian; you all are going to pay for what you did to my friend, all of you!!” She yelled.

“That's enough!!!” A hoarse voice that wasn't mine echoed loudly through the room, making everyone flinch.

I turned my gaze in the direction as I locked eyes with my father as he approached us. “Stop that stupid recording, right now!!” He sneered.

“No, no, don't listen to him!!” Emily yelled, gesturing to the reporters to keep their cameras rolling.

“Scott?” Dad called out with a stern voice, turning to one of his bodyguards who immediately knew his assignment with just one glare as he walked towards the reporters, taking all their tapes.

“I thought this was supposed to be an interview where he gets to read out his manifesto, huh?!” He snarled. I could feel the venom in his voice as he spoke.

Amidst all this, I sat in one spot, suddenly feeling helpless as I began to feel what Evie had called my wolf growl inside me in anger. I moved my hands to the pendant, which was now hanging loosely on my neck, trying to unleash the unknown on these stupid people for trying to spread lies about me.

Whoever was responsible for this knows exactly who I am… Or rather… what I am, I thought.

“Don't do it, Lucian; that's the plan—to reveal yourself because whoever is responsible for this knows you won't be able to control yourself when you're angered.” Evie's voice echoed in my head as she stared at me, her gaze boring into my soul, but her mouth wasn't moving while she shook her head negatively.

Just then, Arthur came down the stairs with a stern look on his face. “Hey there, Don, I never really planned to come out here in the open for anything, but I guess these nosy bastards just can't stop poking, now can they?” He asked, frustration written all over his face.

“I swear you all can't shut me up until you provide the whereabouts of my friend; I won't let that happen!!” Emily yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Well, you're correct because from now on, you won't have any memory of her,” Arthur replied with a straight face.

“What…. What are you talking about?” She asked, her tone lower and shaky.

“You'll soon understand, milady, but first, tell me who sent you,” Arthur commanded, placing his hands on her head, making her eyes immediately turn white as she mumbled out a name inaudibly.

“That daughter of Jezebel, I knew it could only be her,” Arthur snarled in anger as he did some magic on the reporters, which made them collapse.

“Arthur? What have you done? Why did you have to kill them?!!!” I yelled, “the state is going to ask questions, don't you...” I continued, but Evie's voice immediately interrupted me.

“He didn't kill them, Lucian; he just took away their memory of this day. That's what a guardian beast does—he protects,” she blurted out.

“Oh,” I muttered softly, staring at the unconscious reporters on the floor.

“Take them away,” Dad ordered his guards as they began loading the humans one after the other into their own cars.

Dad turned his gaze in my direction as he stared at me with glassy eyes. “Lucian,” he called out as he took several steps towards me. “I'm so sorry for what your mom…” He tried to speak.

“She's not my mother!” I chimed in quickly.

“Right, but I'm so sorry for what she did to you and your mother, but you're still my son… And I've come to ask for your forgiveness and a chance to make things right.” He replied.

“What?... What happened to finding out more about werewolves and expanding your empire because of their great value?” I asked.

“That's been tossed to the side, Son; not when my blood flows through your veins.” He replied softly. “I stand here regretting that night I slept with your mother and why I didn't even notice; now I wish I knew her in person,” he added with a shaky voice, making my eyes glassy with tears as I stared at him.