Chapter 107

Chapter 107
Lucian

“My lord, your bath is ready,” the voice of one of my maids woke me up, followed by the brightness from the morning sun which shone directly on my face.

I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw was my tuxedo well-ironed and staring right at me. I heaved a deep sigh as I got out of bed to prepare for my supposedly big day….

“Thanks,” I muttered softly to the maid who stood there frozen, forcing a lump down her throat before leaving, but I just stared at her wondering why she seemed shocked…

“You never say ‘Thank you’, ‘Thanks’, or ‘please’ that's why,” a loud voice echoed in my ears, making me flinch. I turned to my back, but to my surprise, there was no one behind me. I mean, what was I thinking? Who would be in my room so early? I thought.

“Hey there man, you don’t have to be scared, I'm Carl - your wolf,” the voice echoed again.

“My what?” I replied with furrowed brows, my eyes still scanning my surroundings.

“Your wolf. It feels so good to not be trapped anymore… It's been decades, am I right?” the voice said again.

“How do you know that? Who are you and how are you in my head?” I asked…

“Ughh,” he growled, “you don’t seem to pay attention, now do you?” he sneered. “Okay, here’s what you’d do for me: go to the mirror,” he ordered.

I swallowed hard, walking slowly to the mirror and looking at my reflection, which wasn't totally my reflection. It was my reflection and that of a golden wolf behind me. My eyes widened in awe as I stared intently at myself. “How… how's this even possible?” I thought.

“It is because you're a supernatural dummy!” the golden wolf said.

“Argh!!” I screamed. “You're the voice in my head?” I asked.

“Took you long enough,” he replied…

“Am I going crazy?” I asked, but this creature just slammed his hands against his head, rolled its eyes, and stared at me with eyes that totally looked like they were frustrated.

“You're not Lucian. Like I said, I'm Carl, so please stop calling me a creature before I unleash terror on you!” he snarled, his eyes lighting up in anger.

Making me flinch, but then he just busted out laughing. “What's funny?” I asked.

“The look on your face, man, you needed to see that,” he replied still laughing. “Okay, enough jokes. I can't harm you, alright… I'm basically your subconscious, but in a super real way; it's part of the perks of being a werewolf and, more specifically, an Umbra wolf,” he explained.

“Uhm… okay…” I replied, with skepticism in my voice. “So you were part of what that lotion ignited, uh?” I asked.

“Yes, but that lotion wasn't just any lotion; it was freedom… I was supposed to have been unlocked when you turned eighteen, but for some reason I wasn't, hence this late introduction. But it's better late than never, right?” Carl said.

I turned my gaze back to the mirror as I stared at it with complete marvel in my eyes. “I gotta admit this is really cool; Evie is going to love this,” I said, turning my gaze to the door as I was about to head to her room to share this new development, but I immediately felt a sharp pain in my head and a pull backward, my legs suddenly heading to the bathroom.

“Don’t be a fool. Today is your special day, and you aren't supposed to see your bride until you get to the altar. Now go get ready,” Carl fired at me.

“Oh, that's true; you're totally right,” I replied, taking one last look at my tuxedo before heading to the bathroom.

I came out minutes later with a towel around my waist and another on my hair as I dried myself off. When I removed the towel from my face, I locked eyes with Ethan, and just then our conversation from last night began to replay in my head as I stared at this not-so-little ten-year-old boy.

“Hey man, what are you doing here?” I asked…

“Could you please put your pendant on first? I'm already feeling sick,” he replied…

“Oh shoot,” I said as I rushed to the table where my pendant was lying in its glory. I immediately put it around my neck before turning back to him. “Really sorry about that; I didn't mean to cause you any harm,” I said.

“It's okay; I'm the one who entered without knocking,” he replied with a smile, looking so sharp and confident in his tuxedo. “Could you help me with my tie? Mom says she has no experience in this,” he added with a light laugh, stretching his tie towards me, making me chuckle.

“Of course, come here,” I said as I walked to the bed and began to help him with his tie…

“Uhm… Alpha Lucian?” he called softly.

“Hmm…” I replied, with my focus still on his tie.

“About what we discussed last night, would you please make sure my mum understands why I'm doing this? Also, let her know I'll be back to celebrate my birthday with her, and that…” he continued, but I just placed my index fingers on my lips, giving him a signal to stop talking.

“I understand, Ethan. You need to be strong, and you can't do that when you're around me. Also, because I'm toxic to you, you need to learn how to become a full man - I mean Alpha…. You know my dad always tells me any man who is able to make a decision and stands by it, no matter who would get hurt in the process, is on his first step to becoming a great leader. Besides, it's not like you're going away forever. Like I said last night, just be present for her today and don't worry about the rest. I'll make sure I take care of your mom as she should be taken care of. You know, back in college, the girls always say ‘I love Lucian so much because he knows how to treat a woman’ even though I really didn't date anyone,” I said with a chuckle, but he just let out a light smile as he stared at me.

“All done,” I announced, pointing to the tie. He looked down and smiled brightly at me.

“Thanks, Alpha Lucian,” he said.

“For what?” I asked with furrowed brows.

“For everything, and for being my friend especially,” he replied.

I smiled, bent down to his level, and held his shoulders. “Look, Ethan, I never would have known or learned a valuable part of my life if it wasn't for you and your mom. Besides, I'm glad I became your friend…. But I won't watch you deprive yourself of the one thing I wish I had,” I said.

“And what's that?” he asked.

“Having friends my age,” I blurted out. “My dad deprived me of that, and I think that's what Evie would do to you if you don't do this… Plus, I doubt this world would give you that. So go home, to your dad, so he can teach you; but in the process, please don't forget who has been with you all these years. So don't worry about your mom; we'd talk about it,” I added with a smile.

“Thanks, Dad,” he said with tears in his eyes before wrapping his arms around me.

I just froze in that spot hearing him call me - Dad.

“Is it okay if I call you dad? I've always wanted one, and you were my first and the best. At least it would remind me of the sole purpose I'm going back to pack,” he asked.

“Sure, sure you can, buddy, of course you can,” I replied with tears flowing down my cheek, and with that, he tightened his grip around me.

“Okay, son, that's enough. I need to get dressed; it's a bad habit to be late for my own wedding,” I said, making us share a light laugh.

“Okay, Alpha Lucian, I'll be with my mama,” he said softly before leaving.

I watched him leave, and for a moment I felt light, lighter than I'd ever felt all these years.

“Son? You’re still in those towels? You gotta be kidding me right now,” my dad's voice echoed in my ears as he stormed into my room, already fully dressed…

“I was just…..” I tried to speak, but he immediately shut me out.

“You know what, there’s no need to explain. Didn't your mama tell you I wasn't late to our wedding?!” he said, but the minute he said that, he paused, seeing the look on my face, which meant he now got the memo…

“Oh… right, she's not your real mother…” he muttered under his breath. “It must be the drinks from last night. I'm so sorry, son; just get into your tuxedo already,” he said. And with that, I got to work, and as soon as I was done, I turned to him with a straight face and said…

“You know it's written all over your face that you miss her, right?” I blurted out.

“What? No! Of course not, son…” he said, trying to avoid the obvious.

“Oh please, come on now, Dad, you know you can try for as long as you want, but the fact still remains that she's the one you did life with for almost fifty years now. I'm sure somehow it's hard to let that go,” I stated.

“Just like it's hard to let Tracy go?” he blurted out.

“No, Father, that's a different case. “Tracy betrayed me,” I added…

“And that's exactly what your, well… stepmother did to me that you're suggesting I forgive her for, but I can still tell she's your first love, and even though she's dead, that void is still there,” he replied…

“Look, I'll forgive her when I want to, but today, today is all about you, so let's not ruin it,” he said.

“Okay, okay, if you say so,” I replied, as this topic was already headed to somewhere I didn't want it to go.

We stepped out, got into the car, and headed straight to the church, and the minute I stepped out of the car, the first eyes I met were my mother’s, or should I say, my stepmother's. “Uhm… Dad, what was that thing you were saying about forgiveness again?” I asked with a raised brow as they both stared at each other.