Chapter 34 A Kiss of Fire
Selene’s POV
The moment his hand touched me, everything inside me turned cold.
I frowned and stepped back quickly, my patience gone. Without hesitation, I flung the thick stack of cash straight back at him. The notes scattered across his chest and dropped to the floor.
“Move,” I said, my voice firm and sharp.
I had already noticed him earlier.
While I stood on stage, singing under the lights, his eyes had followed me in a way that made my skin crawl. That slow, greedy look, the kind that stripped a person down without permission.
I had ignored it then.
I did not expect him to be waiting here.
“You’re just a lounge singer, aren’t you?” His tone changed instantly when I refused him. The fake politeness vanished, replaced by something ugly. “Don’t act like you’re above this. You stand on that stage to attract men, don’t you? A high-ranking Beta like me taking interest in someone like you should be an honor.”
For a second, I simply stared at him.
The arrogance was unbelievable.
How could someone so repulsive think so highly of himself?
I took another step back, my eyes hardening.
“Take one more step,” I warned, my voice dropping low, “and I won’t hold back.”
Inside my mind, Frieda’s laughter burst out, loud and eager.
“Let him try. Just let him touch you again. I’ve been waiting for this. I’ll tear him apart.”
Her excitement only made the situation more dangerous. I had been holding her back for too long. If this man pushed any further, I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep her contained.
I moved to the side, trying to walk past him.
But he reached out and grabbed me.
His hands clamped onto my shoulders, pulling me toward him without warning. The force made my body jerk forward, his face coming far too close.
“Don’t be shy,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “Give me a kiss. If you behave, I’ll make sure you live well from now on.”
Disgust rose instantly, sharp and overwhelming.
I twisted my wrist, preparing to flip him over my shoulder, ready to end this in a single move.
Then a voice cut through the air.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unmistakable.
“Let her go.”
Before I could react, the man let out a pained cry. His grip loosened instantly as his body was slammed to the ground with brutal force.
The impact echoed through the quiet hallway.
I froze.
For a second, I could not move.
Then I looked up.
Lucian stood there.
Tall. Unmoving. His presence alone changed the air around us.
His foot pressed down firmly on the man’s chest, pinning him in place. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were colder than I had ever seen them.
I stared at him, unable to hide my shock.
He was here.
“Who are you?” The man struggled to his feet, anger replacing fear for a brief moment. His body shifted quickly, fur bursting through his skin as he transformed into a black wolf.
His eyes glowed red, teeth bared as he snarled, his breath thick and foul as it filled the space between them.
“Do you know who I am?” he growled. “How dare you interfere? You’ll regret this.”
Lucian didn’t move.
He didn’t need to.
The next second, his aura expanded.
It was invisible, yet suffocating. A crushing force that filled the space instantly.
The black wolf froze.
Its aggression vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Its body trembled violently, legs buckling under the pressure. A low whimper escaped as it collapsed onto the ground.
Within seconds, the wolf shrank back into human form.
The man lay there, shaking uncontrollably, all arrogance gone.
He crawled forward, desperation replacing pride. His hands clutched at Lucian’s shoes as he pressed his lips against them, his voice trembling.
“Mr. Frostbane… I didn’t know it was you. If you want her, she’s yours. Please… just let me go.”
The words hung in the air.
Disgusting.
Pathetic.
Lucian didn’t respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the man, cold and unforgiving.
Then he moved.
His foot struck the man’s face with brutal force. The impact sent him crashing backward, blood spilling instantly as two teeth broke free.
The man didn’t dare cry out.
He only smiled weakly, fear locking his voice in place.
“Get out,” Lucian said, his voice low and deadly. “If I see you again, you won’t leave alive.”
The man scrambled to obey, nodding repeatedly as he dragged himself backward. Only when he reached the door did he dare stand, stumbling out while clutching his bleeding mouth.
The silence that followed felt heavy.
I turned to Lucian slowly.
For a moment, I hesitated.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
It was simple.
But it was the truth.
Even if I didn’t need saving, he had stepped in.
Lucian didn’t respond.
His expression remained cold, his presence pressing down on the space between us. The air felt tighter, heavier, like something was building beneath the surface.
He was angry.
I could feel it clearly.
Not wanting to provoke him, I took a small step back, lowering my gaze slightly.
“I have plans,” I said. “I should go.”
I turned to leave.
But I didn’t get far.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back before I could take another step. The force caught me off guard, my balance shifting instantly as he dragged me toward him.
Before I could react, the door behind me slammed shut.
Locked.
My back hit the surface, and he stepped closer, trapping me between his body and the door. His arms braced on either side, leaving no space to escape.
“Lucian, what are you doing?” I said, my voice sharp with surprise.
The room was empty.
Too quiet.
His eyes locked onto mine.
“Do you understand what your position means?” he asked, his voice low, every word edged with tension.
I frowned, struggling against his hold.
“You’ve lost your mind. Let go of me. My friend is waiting.”
He didn’t move.
At the mention of that word, something in his expression shifted.
“Friend?” he repeated. “Aryan?”
His grip tightened.
“You are my fiancée,” he said.
“So?” I shot back immediately. “What does that change?”
His anger didn’t make sense.
I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“As my fiancée,” he continued, his voice growing colder, “you should know how to behave. Not go around attracting attention from other men.”
I froze.
The accusation hit hard.
“When have you ever seen me doing that?” I demanded.
He leaned closer, his gaze dark.
“Just now,” he said.
His hand moved slightly, gesturing toward my dress.
“That gown,” he added. “It isn’t cheap. Aryan must have given it to you. If there’s nothing between you, why would he do that?”
My patience snapped.
“That’s enough.”
I lifted my chin, refusing to back down.
“Don’t forget,” I said, my voice steady but sharp, “this engagement is nothing but an agreement. In three months, it will be over. Even if I had someone else, it would have nothing to do with you.”
The words landed.
Hard.
“Selene,” he said, his voice dropping dangerously low, “do you have no sense of dignity?”
Before I could respond—
he moved.
His hand came up, gripping my shoulder as he leaned down, closing the distance between us in a single motion.
Then his lips met mine.
Hot.
Sudden.
Unyielding.
For a moment, my mind went blank.
Everything stopped.
The world around me faded into nothing.
I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t think.
All I could feel was the heat of his touch, the unfamiliar intensity that spread through me before I could stop it.
My first kiss.
And it came without warning.
Inside my mind, Frieda’s voice exploded with excitement, urging me forward, telling me not to resist, to give in, to take what was already happening.
And for those few seconds—
I couldn’t even tell if I wanted to push him away.