Chapter 21

Selene’s pov

"Hmm, that's a really good idea," Ira chipped in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That way, all these arguments over whether she's worthy enough to be one of us or not will be ended. Then maybe we could see that she's not just a little blood sucker."

Before I could even respond to their suggestions, Lucian spoke.

"No," he said firmly, glaring at everyone in turn, including me. What on earth had I done to deserve that?

"No?" the man who suggested it questioned, leaning back. He looked so surprised that his suggestion had not been taken in his stride.

The idea of sparring with a werewolf did not scare me. In fact, now that I could feel my powers, I had the thought of trying to take down everybody here and escaping, but that was a bit too much even for a powerful person like me—unless, of course, I could summon up the same energy I used to dissipate that operative...

Now, I really doubted it would come at will. That energy was something I had never felt in my life, and I was very certain it was due to the circumstances around me that I was pushed to that limit.

An attempt to escape these bundled werewolves would be suicidal, especially since they didn't like me in the first place. If I fought with just Lucian, I doubted he would kill me because he had a purpose for me, but these ones—they saw me as a mere outsider and a liability. They would not hesitate to crush me into powder.

Still, why would I pass up an offer to show them how strong I was? "I can—" I began.

"I said no," Lucian deadpanned. "She doesn't need to prove anything to anybody. She's here because I say so, and you better accept her. You know what? You don't even need to accept her, after all, you will barely be interacting with her."

Did anyone ever teach this man about how leaders were to be loved by the people they led? I doubted it because he was speaking like he didn't even care if they were on his side or not.

I wondered if he knew that was how uprisings and rebellions started—when the followers were discontent, just like they were discontent with me.

What exactly was Lucian afraid of? I wondered, staring at him. Somehow, I could feel the anger rolling off him. He was always angry—was it because of my presence?

Perhaps it was because my last encounter with a werewolf didn't go well. That was not encouraging, but in that scenario, I was powerless and weak. Now I was stronger; surely I could take down a person that's up to my size.

I wanted to talk to Lucian about it, to have us reason together and come to a compromise, but from the expression he wore, there was no room for argument. My discussion with him would have to wait for a more opportune time.

"All right, all right," the man replied, hands up in resignation. "She is here, she will be your mate, and every member of the pack will wonder why we have a blood sucker among our midst claiming to be Luna."

I took a few steps backward. "Hold up—who said anything about me becoming Luna?"

All the werewolves around me looked at me in shock, and I shrugged. All they talked about was me being Lucian's mate; I wasn't planning to become Luna of a pack. I was a vampire, for goodness' sake! It was enough to be mated to a werewolf.

When I envisioned my future, if there was love in it, it was not with a werewolf. Besides, the man beside me was not lovable one bit, and the look he was giving me told me that I would regret every moment I spent beside him. I definitely was not getting married to him.

"You guys need to answer me," I continued. "Is there suddenly a lack of she-wolves around for your alpha to pick as a bride that he went in search of me?"

"You will say not one more word," Lucian ground out under his breath.

I had my comments ready, but something held me back—the sound of footsteps making their way across the stone pavements toward us. I lifted my eyes and saw Raven, still in dark robes. Well, perhaps they were a different set of clothes—she wore dark blue which gave way to black from the knees.

Why was she always dressed this way? Did she have a whole wardrobe of clothes that depicted doom? I still didn't know for sure what she was, and every time she came around, I forgot to ask her, though I had a few guesses.

"Trouble in Paradise?" she asked, her graceful stride not missing a step as she came and stood behind the fifth seat. Her hand settled on the backrest, and she smiled at me.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring at her, and frowned. Was she part of the Elders too? It seemed anywhere I went in this place, she was someone important.

"I didn't realize being the alpha's advisor included you being an elder."

"The way our politics works is very different from what you know," she replied. "And I'm pretty sure my position does not concern you in any way."

Well, it definitely did since I was going to become Luna—wait, where did that thought come from? Wasn't it me that just insisted on not becoming Luna?

"This meeting is adjourned," Lucian interrupted, looking around at everybody. "This is my mate, and she's a part of the prophecy, and she will be accepted and not called a blood sucker or a leech by any of you."

The Elders all arose and bowed their heads. "As you say, Alpha." I could hardly believe them. What happened to speaking up for what you wanted and not allowing yourself to be suppressed?

Apparently, that was thrown out the window as they all filed away, leaving me alone with him and Raven.