Chapter 4 Lucan's Proposal

ALINA'S POV

My eyes fluttered open slowly, stinging a bit from the light pouring through the small window. The scent of herbs and burnt sage filled the air. It didn't take long to realize where I was.

The healer's house.

I sat up, groaning as pain radiated from my side. The room was small and littered with with jars, all kinds of herbs and dried plants were scattered about.

The old wooden walls hadn't changed since the last time I visited here. I hated this place, It always smelled like sickness.

Across the room, a woman stood by the door frozen, It was the healer Maris.

Her eyes were wide with shock, her hands trembled slightly, she looked pale like she had seen a ghost.

"I'm not going to kill you Maris," I said dryly, smirking a little.

"Y-y-you're not supposed to be out of bed yet," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

"I'm fine Maris, I can't stay here any longer." I stood up and walked past her without another word. The second I stepped outside, I felt eyes on me.

Everyone was staring.

I passed familiar faces, people who used to look at me like I was diseased. But now, their gazes held something else, wariness? Confusion? A hint of respect?

The memory of last night was vague, I remembered seeing the child and even getting hit by the rogue wolf, but nothing after that.

Whatever it was that I didn't remember, had shaken the pack.

I kept walking, trying to ignore the stares. As I neared my quarters, I saw a man standing by the entrance.

He was broad-shouldered with dark hair, he stood with his arms crossed. There was a powerful air around him that suddenly reminded me of Lucan.

But Lucan's presence was colder and heavier. This man was easier to look at, but I still felt tension in my chest.

What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I comparing him to Lucan?

As I moved to pass, he blocked the door.

"I'm Kael," he said. "Lucan asked me to bring you to him, He wants to see you."

His tone didn't leave space for argument.

I opened my mouth, considered asking why, but the words didn't come.

Instead, I nodded. "Lead the way."

My voice came out softer than I wanted. But I followed. Because no matter how badly I wanted to stay away, I was curious.

Kael led me to the edge of the woods, where the Highstone Lodge stood. By now, my palms were sweating, but I kept my face blank, no need to show nerves.

He knocked once, there was no response. Then he pushed the door open and stepped inside like he belonged there.

Lucan sat behind a desk with scrolls scattered on it.

He looked like someone who hadn't rested in days, still, he looked Intimidatingly handsome.

With a nod, he dismissed Kael, who left without a word, closing the door behind him.

Our eyes locked instantly. And just like the first time, that pull slammed into me, this time around, it was stronger.

My wolf stirred, clawing forward like she was trying to get to him. She recognized something I didn't fully understand yet.

Lucan's jaw tightened, he felt it too, no doubt. But he did a better job hiding it.

"So, Alina," he said, his voice low but steady. "Word reached me that you single-handedly took out the rogues that attacked your pack."

I froze, my eyes widened, and in a flash, it all came back.

My head throbbed hard, like something was cracking open inside.

I staggered back, the room was spinning, not long, my knees gave out. Before I could hit the ground, Lucan was already there, his movement very fast.

He caught me mid-air, his arms like steel.

Accompanied by his touch was this electric, burning jolt where our skin met.

With his hands on my waist and my palm against his chest. My breath was caught in my throat, I wrestled the urge to snuggle myself into his embrace.

I looked up, he was staring at me intently, he looked like he was facing an inner battle of his own.

We stayed like that for a moment, then he steadied me and stepped back, my body instantly missing the warmth of his skin in mine.

I stood there, silent. I couldn't speak even if I wanted to. The headache had vanished, but I was still reeling.

"From your reaction, I take it you didn't remember what happened until now," he said.

I nodded.

His expression didn't change much, but his eyes gave him away, they were Sharp and calculating.

"I have a proposal," he said. "Come with me to the capital. I can teach you everything you need to know about your power, how to control it and how to protect yourself."

Before I could open my mouth, he grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote something down quickly.

"If you agree," he said, placing the paper on the desk, "a carriage will be waiting here for you tomorrow night."

I took the parchment, turned and walked out, my heart pounding.

I processed everything Lucan had said, the weight of the decision I was to make weighing me down as I made my way back toward the house.

But the second I stepped into the house, my brain went quiet.

There, sitting at our table with a steaming cup of tea like he belonged there, was Silas Maddox.

Silas Maddox was a name everyone knew, even in Ashgrave. Not because he was important, but because he was dangerous.

He was Wealthy, influential, a member of Frost Pack. But more than that, he had a reputation. A nasty one.

The kind of man who assaulted women in private, then smiled in public like he didn't have blood on his hands.

What the hell was he doing here?

He looked up as I entered, his eyes crawling over me from head to toe.

I felt the heat of it on my skin, and it made me want to peel it off.

Silas stood, adjusted his coat, and gave Douglass a small nod. "I'll take my leave now," he said, but his eyes were still on me. "We'll speak again soon."

He brushed past me on his way out, I held my breath until the door closed behind him, then I turned to Douglass.

"What was that?" My voice was steady, but my insides were twisting.

He didn't even hesitate.

"You're to wed that man."