Chapter 9 Boundaries After Dark
Lucian’s POV
I didn’t expect it.
Not the gifts.
Not the whispers.
Not even Frank Seely’s cold indifference.
None of that surprised me.
The werewolf world had always been built on one truth—power defines everything. Status, respect, loyalty… all of it came down to strength and position. And Frank’s attitude alone had already made things clear enough.
That woman from Firstband—
Selene Nightbane—
Was nothing in the eyes of Bloodfang Pack.
An Omega.
Insignificant.
Forgettable.
That was what I believed.
What I was certain of.
Until she sat down at that piano.
The moment her fingers touched the keys, something shifted in a way I couldn’t explain.
It wasn’t just skill.
It wasn’t something learned from years of practice alone.
There was something deeper.
Something natural.
The way she carried herself, the way she controlled the rhythm, the way each note flowed without effort—it didn’t look like something she had learned.
It looked like something she was born with.
Grace.
Control.
Confidence.
None of it matched the Selene I had seen before.
The woman I knew was quiet.
Cold.
Detached.
Almost ordinary.
But the woman on that stage—
Was anything but.
For a moment, the two versions of her refused to align in my mind.
And that confusion stayed with me long after the music ended.
Tonight’s celebration belonged to Moonveil Pack.
Everything had been arranged perfectly.
Everything had gone exactly as expected.
And as her fiancé—
I should have felt satisfied seeing her stand out like that.
For a moment, I did.
But that feeling didn’t last.
Because the moment she finished—
She ignored me.
Completely.
She didn’t look at me.
Didn’t acknowledge me.
Didn’t even pretend.
As if I wasn’t there at all.
And that—
That was what stayed with me.
As the heir of Moonveil Pack, as the future Alpha, I was used to attention. People watched me, responded to me, adjusted themselves around me without even realizing it.
But Selene—
Did none of that.
It was as if my presence meant nothing to her.
And I couldn’t understand it.
So when I saw her walking toward the exit—
I followed.
There was no hesitation.
No second thought.
I just knew I needed to ask.
Needed to understand.
Needed to know why.
\---
Selene’s POV
“Ridiculous.”
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
I turned fully to face him, my expression already sharp, my patience gone.
“Who said I have to report to you before leaving?” I asked, my voice calm but edged with irritation. “Lucian, it’s after hours. You’re not my boss right now.”
I held his gaze without backing down.
“What I do in my private time is my own business.”
I waved my hand slightly, dismissing him as if the conversation had already ended.
A car pulled up almost immediately, stopping right in front of me. The movement was smooth, practiced, almost too perfect. The driver stepped out quickly and opened the door.
I was about to get in—
Then I paused.
Something didn’t feel right.
I looked again.
And realized.
It was Lucian’s car.
For a brief second, I hesitated.
Then his voice came again.
Cold.
Controlled.
“We’re going back together,” he said. “It’s late. If something happens to you, Moonveil Pack will be held responsible.”
I frowned slightly.
That was his reason?
I turned back to him, unimpressed.
“If you’re worried about me suing you for money,” I said lightly, “there’s no need. Your money means nothing to me.”
I turned to leave.
But before I could take another step—
His hand closed around my wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
“Get in the car.”
The command came sharp.
Direct.
And completely disrespectful.
I lowered my gaze to his hand, then looked back up at him.
For a moment, I almost laughed.
This man—
Really had no sense of boundaries.
But he didn’t loosen his grip.
Didn’t step back.
Instead, his voice dropped slightly, his tone steady and unwavering.
“I promised your Alpha I would stay with you for three months,” he said. “That makes me responsible for your safety during this time.”
There it was.
The truth.
Not concern.
Not care.
Responsibility.
Nothing more.
I let out a quiet breath.
So that was it.
He didn’t want trouble.
Didn’t want accountability.
Didn’t want anything that could fall back on him.
That was the only reason he was doing this.
I pulled my hand away sharply, breaking his grip without effort.
“Fine.”
If that was how he wanted it—
Then so be it.
I stepped forward and got into the car first, not waiting for him, not acknowledging him further.
The door shut behind me, cutting off the noise from outside.
But it didn’t bring relief.
The space inside the car felt just as suffocating.
Frustration settled deep within me.
Before tonight, I had been sure of something.
There would be no connection between us.
No unnecessary interaction.
No tension.
Three months would pass quietly.
And then—
It would end.
But now…
That certainty had begun to crack.
Because Lucian wasn’t just difficult.
He wasn’t just cold.
He was blunt.
Forceful.
And completely lacking in tact.
I leaned back slightly, staring ahead as the car began to move.
How could my grandfather—
A man who ruled Bloodfang Pack with such sharp judgment—
Be so blind when it came to something like this?
How could he think this man was suitable for anything involving me?
The thought lingered as silence filled the space between us.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
Uncomfortable.
\---
Winnie’s POV
I couldn’t stand it.
The moment I saw them get into the same car—
Something inside me snapped.
My chest tightened, heat rising sharply as anger burned through me. I stomped my foot lightly, trying to suppress the frustration, but it refused to stay contained.
That woman—
That shameless woman.
Why her?
Why was she the one beside him?
Why was she the one getting into his car?
That place—
Should have been mine.
If I were the one engaged to Lucian—
I would be sitting there right now.
Next to him.
Not her.
Selene Nightbane had no right.
Tonight, she had taken everything.
The attention.
The admiration.
The spotlight.
But that didn’t mean it would last.
This—
Was Moonveil Pack’s territory.
Not Firstband.
Not some distant, frozen place where no one cared about status or rules.
Here—
She couldn’t do whatever she wanted.
Here—
She would learn her place.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I pulled out my phone, my fingers steady as I dialed a number.
The line connected quickly.
“I remember you said you wanted to be friends,” I said lightly, my tone smooth, controlled. “If that’s the case, you should show some sincerity, don’t you think?”
On the other end—
Linda.
Head of the secretariat in Moonveil Group.
I had seen her before.
At a banquet.
She had tried to enter my circle.
Tried to stand among us.
But everyone had made it clear—
She didn’t belong.
And now—
She had no choice but to listen.
The moment she heard my voice, her tone shifted instantly.
Sweet.
Eager.
Almost desperate.
“Of course, Ms. Ashford,” she said quickly. “What can I do for you?”
A faint smile curved on my lips.
Simple.
Predictable.
“Selene works under you now, doesn’t she?” I said. “I’m sure you can make things a little difficult for her.”
I let the words settle before continuing.
“If you do it well, I’ll reward you. Anything you want. Bags, luxury items… whatever you like.”
There was a short pause.
Then—
Excitement.
“As expected of you, Ms. Ashford,” Linda replied quickly. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
I let out a quiet breath, satisfaction settling in.
Just like that.
So easy.
So predictable.
She really was nothing more than a lower-tier wolf.
A single promise was enough to buy her loyalty.
I tilted my head slightly, my tone calm.
“You’re sure you can handle this?”
“Of course,” she said immediately. “Selene is just a secretary. Mr. Frostbane doesn’t care about her. No one else pays attention to her either. Making her suffer will be easy.”
Her words settled into me—
And something inside finally eased.
So that was it.
At work—
She meant nothing.
To him.
To everyone.
Good.
That made everything easier.
“Alright,” I said softly. “Do this well… and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded properly.”
I ended the call slowly, my fingers tightening slightly around my phone.
Tonight may have gone her way.
But that didn’t matter.
Because this—
Was only the beginning.