Scarlett spent the next few days in a haze, her mind consumed with the choice looming over her. No matter how hard she tried to distract herself, Lucian was always there—in her thoughts, in the shadows, and sometimes even in her dreams. His presence had become inescapable, like an addiction she couldn't shake. Each time she closed her eyes, she could feel his touch, the weight of his words heavy in her chest.
The pull of Lucian’s world, his dark possessiveness, haunted her even as she tried to carry on with her normal life. But nothing felt normal anymore. The town’s familiar streets seemed foreign, the faces of people she had known for years distant, as if she were living in a different realm—one where Lucian’s claim on her was becoming more inevitable with each passing day.
Even so, Scarlett wasn’t ready to give in. The thought of fully surrendering to Lucian, of becoming part of his dangerous, primal world, terrified her. She knew the moment she let herself belong to him, she would lose control over her own life. She would be bound to Lucian, and by extension, to the savage world of his pack. A world where violence and dominance ruled, where she would forever be marked as his.
But despite the fear that gripped her, there was an undeniable part of her that craved it—the intensity, the possessiveness, the way Lucian looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered. She had never felt so wanted, so consumed by someone else’s desire. It was dangerous, but it was also intoxicating.
One evening, as she sat by the window of her small cabin, staring into the darkening forest, Scarlett’s thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Her heart leapt into her throat, knowing before she even opened it that it would be him.
She hesitated for a moment before pulling the door open. As expected, Lucian stood on the other side,
towering in the doorway, his dark presence filling the space like a storm about to break. His eyes locked onto hers, glowing faintly in the dim light. There was something different about him tonight—an intensity that went beyond his usual possessiveness. He seemed restless, as though something was pushing him toward a breaking point.
“We need to talk,” Lucian said, his voice low and urgent.
Scarlett’s heart raced, but she stepped aside to let him in. As he entered, the air between them crackled with tension. Lucian didn’t waste any time—he turned to face her, his eyes burning with a fierce, primal need. “The pack knows I’ve been keeping you hidden. They’re growing restless. I can’t hold them off any longer.”
Scarlett’s stomach twisted. “What are you saying?”
Lucian stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’m saying that time’s up, Scarlett. They’re coming for you—soon. And I won’t be able to stop them unless you let me claim you.”
The weight of his words hit her like a punch to the chest. The pack—his pack—was coming for her. The menacing figure she had encountered in the woods had only been the beginning. There would be more like him, more who saw her as a weakness in Lucian’s leadership, a challenge they could exploit.
“What happens if I say no?” Scarlett asked, her voice trembling.
Lucian’s expression darkened. “If you say no, they’ll see it as a sign of weakness. They’ll come after you, Scarlett. I won’t be able to protect you without claiming you. They’ll see you as fair game, a prize to be taken by whoever’s strong enough.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “And I won’t let that happen.”
Scarlett took a step back, her mind racing. She was trapped. Either she let Lucian claim her, marking her as his mate, or she would be at the mercy of a violent, unpredictable pack. The choice felt impossible, but deep down, she knew there was no real choice at all.
“I don’t want to live in fear,” she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion.
Lucian’s gaze softened, just for a moment, and he stepped closer, reaching out to cup her face with one hand. “You won’t have to. Once I claim you, you’ll be under my protection. No one will ever dare touch you.”
Scarlett swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked into Lucian’s eyes, seeing the fierce determination there, the raw, possessive love that fueled his every move. He wasn’t asking for her permission anymore—he was telling her what needed to happen to keep her safe.
But there was more than that. There was the unspoken hunger between them, the way her body responded to his nearness, the way her pulse quickened when he touched her. She wanted him too, despite everything. Despite the danger, despite the fear. She wanted him in a way she couldn’t deny, and that terrified her most of all.
Slowly, she nodded. “Alright,” she whispered. “I’ll do it.”
Lucian’s eyes darkened with something primal, something that made her breath catch in her throat. His hand slid down her arm, his touch leaving a trail of heat in its wake. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and rough, filled with barely contained hunger.
Scarlett’s chest tightened, and for a moment, she hesitated. But then she nodded again, this time more firmly. “Yes,” she breathed. “I’m sure.”
Lucian didn’t waste another second. He pulled her into his arms, his grip firm but gentle, as though he were afraid of breaking her. His lips crushed against hers with a possessive intensity, and Scarlett felt herself melt into him, her fear and doubt disappearing in the heat of the moment.
He kissed her like he had been holding back for far too long, like he had been waiting for this moment and could finally let go. His hands roamed her body, his touch igniting a fire inside her that she couldn’t control. Scarlett’s body responded instinctively, her own hands clutching at his shirt, pulling him closer as the tension between them reached its breaking point.
Lucian growled low in his throat, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “Once I mark you,” he rasped, “there’s no going back. You’ll be mine. Forever.”
Scarlett’s heart pounded in her chest, her pulse racing as she looked up at him. She could feel the weight of his words, the finality of the moment. But instead of fear, she felt something else—something that made her pulse quicken and her body tremble with anticipation.
“I know,” she whispered. “Do it.”
Lucian’s eyes gleamed with a wild, feral hunger as he lowered his head to the curve of her neck. Scarlett felt his hot breath against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She closed her eyes, her body tense with anticipation.
Then, without warning, his teeth sank into her flesh.
A sharp, intense pain shot through her, but it was quickly overwhelmed by something else—something primal and electric, like a current running through her veins. Scarlett gasped, her hands gripping Lucian’s shoulders as the sensation washed over her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before—pain and pleasure intertwined, a bond being forged between them in the most visceral way.
Lucian’s growl vibrated against her skin as he pulled back, his eyes glowing with the power of the bond that now tied them together. “You’re mine,” he said, his voice low and possessive. “No one will ever take you from me.”
Scarlett’s breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the connection between them now, something deeper than just physical attraction. It was as if their souls had fused together, bound by the primal force that had always simmered beneath the surface.
“I’m yours,” she whispered, her voice trembling but sure. “I’m yours, Lucian.”
He pulled her close again, his lips claiming hers in a kiss that was both fierce and tender. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them, bound together in a way that could never be undone.
