Chapter 107: LANCASTER'S LIES

\- MELISSA -

THREE DAYS LATER

I stood by the window, staring down at the servants cleaning, redecorating, and preparing for the festival. It's shocking how time flies. I was already here for three days. Oddly though, it felt like it was yesterday that I came to take Luca home. Lancaster's treatment towards us was strange.

He was careful, too careful with everything we had to eat and use. He worried more than us, the captives. It was like he wasn't even trying to hide that Luca was simply his love. And that I was here for a reason, and it was so important that I had to be well taken care of. I stood by the window.

Anyway, the wait would be over soon. The festival was tonight. I really wanted to get out of here. Everything about this place irritated my gag reflexes.

Luca was very open about his distaste for the place and Lancaster.

“I want to curse him, mother.”

He had blurted it out during one of his tantrums. As usual, I let him.

“Fuck that ugly scarred wolf. I will kick his ass and go home to father.”

“You’ll be home soon, baby,” I had assured him.

He proceeded to sigh dramatically three times before throwing himself onto the bed.

I still wasn’t sure if I would ever tell him the truth. Something deep in my gut told me this was not an ordinary situation.

The door creaked, drawing me from my thoughts.

I looked toward it.

Lancaster entered the room.

Luca scowled instantly, ran to my side, and hid behind me. Then he stuck his tongue out at Lancaster.

“I see that the boy still hasn’t grown fond of me, even after so long. But I’m fond of him. What a shame.”

“You’re a monster,” Luca called him.

Lancaster’s brows pulled together, but only for a second. The next moment, his expression had gone blank again.

“I came because I wanted to tell you that some maids will be here shortly to take measurements and present a few materials. Since you’re attending the festival, you have to be dressed accordingly.”

“We are not taking your dirty clothes, fucker.”

Lancaster looked at me.

“Can you not see your son?”

“He’s a lycan. And I think he’s doing nothing wrong by calling you out for what you really are.”

“That’s not funny.”

I looked down at Luca, pinched his cheeks gently, and smiled at him. I kissed his forehead and gestured toward the bed.He hurried off to sit on it.

My gaze shifted back to Lancaster, every trace of warmth disappearing from my face.

He was still looking at Luca.

“Get your eyes off him. We need to talk.”

I stormed past him. He followed.

We stopped near the door.

“Okay. Start talking. What the fuck is happening during the moon festival? Why are you keeping us here? And if you harm Luca, I swear to God, I will—”

“Kill me? Yeah, I get the drift.”

“I will kill you, Lancaster. Don’t even for a moment think that hearing it many times makes it any less true.”

“I know. I have enough scars to remind me how genuine your threats are.”

“I’m glad.”

“What exactly do you want to know? A lot happens during the moon festival which you could be part of.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Lancaster,” I snapped. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Are you sure? I’m not in your mind, although I would very much like to be. Inside you, the way I used to when you were my breeder.”

My lips curled into a snarl.

“Is that supposed to make me horny?”

He said nothing. Not that I expected him to. My voice had already become venomous enough to shut anyone up.

“You’ve kept us here for a reason. What is it?”

“I don’t want to spoil the fun.”

“You don’t get to kid me, Lancaster. There is no kind of fun waiting for us here. And you’ve never been the type to do anything that isn’t as rotten as your heart. My son and I will not step a foot outside this room until I know why you kept us here.”

“What if I decide not to tell you?”

He stepped closer, invading the safe distance we had both been carefully maintaining.

I held my ground, digging my heels into the floorboards and staring right back at him.

He tried to glare me down, but my gaze remained cold and unwavering.

Eventually, he gave up.

“The ritual. You are both here because of it.”

“What ritual?”

“I believe that boy is mine, but you won’t let me touch him or claim him. I obviously cannot change your mind or his. So I brought you here so the Moon Goddess can witness me washing my hands of the boy. So no one will ever say I did not care for my kin.”

After he finished speaking, silence swallowed the room. Unspoken truths and half-lies lingered heavily in the air.

I knew he was hiding something and he knew I had secrets too.

But neither of us intended to speak first.

Lancaster finally stepped back since I clearly wasn’t going to respond.

He turned the doorknob and left the room.

The second the door shut behind him, a difficult gasp escaped my lips.

My gut twisted violently just thinking about the ritual.

Luca is not Lancaster’s son.