Chapter fifteen
Lucian’s POV
I watched as Tessa slept peacefully in my arms and found a blanket to cover her. I would have to get up soon because I was expecting a package to be delivered today. Alliance papers from Tessa’s old pack.
I wanted to make sure that both my pack and Tessa were protected if something has to happen. The only downfall of this alliance was that I’d have to help them if needed.
Giving myself a headache, I had to swallow a groan and slowly unattached myself from my mate.
I tucked the warm blanket around her and kissed her slightly flushed cheek. I put my shoes back on and quietly made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Natalie was making roast chicken and potatoes with a variety of salads and sides.
A wolf has to eat.
She looked up as I entered the doorway and went straight to the coffee machine. She gave a nod as a sign of noticing her alpha had arrived.
“Natalie,” I said while she cut up potatoes for what I assumed was the potato salad.
“Lucian,” she said, keeping her eyes on the knife. She might be my beta’s mate, but she was a damn good cook.
“How long has she been sleeping for?” Natalie asked and started spicing the chicken for the roast.
“Four hours,” I mumbled, and she nodded in acknowledgment.
“She wants a baby,” I said, and Natalie stopped stuffing the chicken to turned around to look at me.
“And what did you say?” She said as she went over to the sink to wash her hands.
“I said no,” I said, and she took her apron off and splashed water in my direction.
“You said no? Do u have a screw loose or something?” She said and looked at the roof as if saying a prayer.
Nate walked in and made his way to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water.
“Who’s got a screw loose?” He asked and looked between me and Natalie.
“Alpha over here rejected the offer to have a baby,” Natalie mumbled and placed the chicken into the oven.
Nearly spitting out the water, Nate looked at me and wiped his mouth with the hem of his gym shirt.
“She asked you for pups?” he asked, and I nodded, turning around to pour myself a much-needed cup of coffee.
“Why?” He asked as Natalie made her way to stand by his side.
“I told her I don’t want to risk the pups with this whole thing about the killer pack,” I said, and he looked at Natalie with a knowing look.
I leaned against the counter as he said, “But that’s not the whole truth is it?” he asked, and I shook my head. I wouldn’t even try to lie to Nate because he knew me best out of all the other wolves and would tell me straight when I was talking bullshit.
“Well, part of the reason is the whole killer pack problem, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to have pups yet,” I said and turned around to place my hands on the cool marble counter.
“Then tell her the truth, Lucian. She’s your mate, not another one of those she-wolves you had one-night stands with. If you don’t want pups, tell her why and I’m sure she’ll understand,” Nate said, and I heard him, and Natalie go into the lounge and switch the TV on.
I heard the distant sound of water coming from my room and I knew it must be Tessa taking a shower. Before I could take a walk up the stairs, a loud knock echoed through the house.
The smell of smoke and fire hit me, and I froze, staring at the door. Nate must have smelt it too and looked at me from behind the couch.
He got up slowly and made his way towards me.
I looked at him as he watched me closely and we both knew what was standing behind that door. Or whom.
I closed my eyes and prayed that Tessa didn’t come down the stairs any time soon.
My jaw twitched and I walked up to the door and Nate was quickly behind me and as I reached for the door Nate put his hand out and I looked at him.
“It’s been seven years, Lucian.” He said and I straightened and opened the door to reveal the man in front of me.
My father.
He gave a smile that was far from nice and I faintly recognized the five other dragons that were with him.
“Lucian! How nice it is to see you,” he said clasping his ringed fingers together.
“Father,” I said in a stern voice and I saw by the way his eye twitched he didn’t like my attitude, but the smile still remained glued to his face.
I stepped aside so he could enter, and he turned around to look at the men he’d brought with him.
“Dexter and Chris, you come with me,” he said before walking past me and into the living room.
His white hair was gelled back, and he hid his dragon eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses. He still stuck to the suits and ties and still wore expensive Italian leather.
His fingers were covered in old dragon rings with multicolored gems. Everyone knew how much a dragon treasured shiny and expensive things.
He stood and looked at the pack house as if looking for one flaw.
Nate went to his mate’s side and growled at the dragon guards that were looking at her curiously.
They chuckled to one another and spoke in a foreign language that I remembered very well.
The smell of cherries was overwhelming, and everything went dead still as Tessa made her way down the stairs. Everyone stared at her and when she realized everyone was looking at her, her cheeks flushed pink.
She wore one of my favorite black shirts that reached mid-thigh and her wet hair was in a messy bun. She looked around the room as if looking for something and her eyes found mine. I pushed past my father and his guards to stand in front of her, growling, I felt her hands bunch up my white shirt from behind me.
No one said anything for at least ten minutes and then I turned to her and ran my hands up and down her exposed arms.
She looked nervous and scared.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were expecting people otherwise I wouldn’t have put this on,” she stammered in a whisper.
I took her chin in my hand and gave her a quick kiss.
“It’s ok, darling. Just go upstairs and stay there ok?” I said and my father cleared his throat.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to this lovely lady, Lucian?” He said in a menacing tone. I closed my eyes and that’s when Tessa spoke up.
“I’ll be down in a minute then we can be introduced properly,” she said in reply and kissed my cheek, making her way back up the stairs.