Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Rowan’s POV
The aura he carried was beyond words. It breathed volumes of his notoriety and that made me feel quite insecure around him. It felt like he was just trouble waiting to happen.
“You…?” I couldn't believe my eyes as the showcase had been interrupted by the least expected guest. “Alpha Lucan… I thought they said you showed no interest in the showcase whatsoever and here you are…”
I turned to the other alphas who were seated in awe, with suspicion, as I just couldn't believe what was happening right in front of me. A part of me was so sure that they hadn't made any attempts whatsoever at trying to reach out to him.
“Oh, did they?” Lucan was an alpha of few words, and he made sure to get the points home in what few words he had to spare. It almost seemed like he had a limited number of words to spare each day. The way he stared at the other alphas was a lot like he was sizing them up.
“What are you doing here?” Redd came back as he was rather shocked to see Lucan standing there instead of his daughter, whom he had probably groomed to win my attention, and boost his chances at having a stake in my pack. “This isn’t a place for people like you…”
“People like me?” Lucan laughed as he heard that. “I guess you’re right in a way. People like me don't hang around weaklings like you and all these people here. I wouldn't have come if you had invited me anyway. But I am here for something more important.”
The moment Lucan turned his eyes to me, my soul almost leaped out of my body. I couldn't help but wonder how they were going to drag me into their little elderly feud. But I did all I could to remain calm and composed.
“What’s the stare for?” I boldly asked, as I didn't like strangers coming in from nowhere and staring me down like some creep. “I don't remember having any business with you of any sort.”
Our eyes stayed locked on each other for a while and that made me lose my patience as he was now taking some steps towards me.
“Don’t worry…” I said to Brian, who stood like he wanted to defend me. I didn’t fancy looking like I was hiding under the shadow of my beta. “I will settle this right away.”
I stood and stared Lucan right in the eyes like I was about to go toe to toe with him. “You know it’s quite rude of you to storm in here unannounced. But I am willing to let that slide if you tell me what you’re here for.”
After that, I waited for what his long-awaited response would be. But after some time, he erupted in laughter and that got on my nerves.
“The kid says he’s willing to let this slide…” Lucan laughed as he turned to the other alphas, like he was waiting for them to join in the laughter as well. But he didn't get any, as his laughter just filled the air. “Look how arrogant you have grown to be.”
“You are yet to answer my question.” I stood on the words I had said earlier as I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble under the weight of intimidation. “What are you here for? I don't have all day to…”
“Where is she?” He cut me off with a low tone, like he was trying to keep the conversation between both of us. “Where’s the girl you took from Alpha Ian?”
That made my world stop instantly as I was suddenly reminded of Nyra. Torrents of thoughts came flooding through my troubled mind, and soon I was able to connect a couple of dots. “It was your men back there…” I recalled the brief encounter I’d had with Ian and some strange men.
“I see… you’ve met my men,” Lucan said proudly. “In that case, there’s no point beating around the bush anymore. I need you to hand her over right away, and we will all leave peacefully. It’s clear that you don’t need her as you are having a showcase to choose another Luna.”
It took me a while to take that one in as I just didn't know why he was making such demands. Even worse was the fact that I didn't have Nyra anymore. It made me feel really stupid that I was seated there comfortably for that showcase while my mate was missing. It felt like the biggest betrayal ever to the one who was responsible for the little bit of joy I had experienced in a few moments.
“Have you suddenly gone dumb, Alpha?” Lucan called me back into the moment rudely and that made me feel even worse. “Answer me… where’s the girl?”
I held on to what was left of my composure as I tried to give him a response at least. “She isn’t here…don’t bother looking here.”
That time around, it was Lucan’s turn to be speechless. He surely didn't believe anything I had just said to him, even though that was the truth. It was all Ronan’s fault for making me look like a complete fool in front of him.
“I want to believe I didn't hear you clearly while you muttered all of that gibberish. But then, I will be lenient to give you another chance to make yourself clear. Where is she?”
“What part of that didn’t you get?” I asked impatiently as I looked over to Ronan. “Do you care to explain what exactly you did to Lucan here? You made me unconscious so you could do what you did, so you should be the one doing this.”
“Huh?” Ronan was shocked as I involved him in the conversation. “This is between the both of you, no need to bring me into it.”
“Confusion…that’s what you’ll get for having two kids in charge of a pack,” Lucan sighed. “I will be back for her and you better have tangible answers by then. And besides, your father and I have some unfinished business which you might have inherited. But that would be talk for another day.”
He turned to the other alphas. “I’ll be back for you all as well.” And with that, he vanished into the shadows like a storm retreating, but the echo of his promise lingered in the air like a curse, dark, heavy and closing in, leaving everyone in the hall gripped by the dread of what might return through those doors next.