Mates of a Werewolf Hunter

Chapter 20 Lurking in the Shadows of a Rogue's Mind

Lucifer Argent P.O.V

I left her behind and headed into the woods, my sanctuary whenever the chaos in my mind became too overwhelming. The dense trees offered a solace I couldn't find anywhere else, their silence soothing the storm raging inside me.

The revelation that I was bound to her, that I could never have a relationship with any other woman, felt like a violation of my autonomy. It was as if my fate had been sealed without my consent, and the thought of it filled me with a deep, simmering anger.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stay angry at her for long.

It's maddening, the way she gets under my skin. Every time I'm near her, the control I've prided myself on slips away, leaving me vulnerable to urges that are growing harder to resist. She has a pull on me, one that I don't understand, yet can't seem to fight.

I came out here to clear my head, to remind myself that I'm still in control. But the truth is, the more I'm around her, the more I crave something I shouldn't want.

These urges—they're not just physical. They're a deep, insatiable need that's becoming impossible to ignore.

Someday, I know I'll have to give in. The question is, when that day comes, will I be ready for what it means? Or will it be the moment I lose myself entirely?

Valentine Winters P.O.V

Lucifer returned with a bowl of mixed fruits, placing it on the bed between us.

"We wouldn't want history to repeat itself, would we?" he asked, motioning for me to come closer. I hesitated, unsure of his intentions, but eventually walked over. As I moved to sit on the floor, he stopped me.

"Sit on my lap." he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Confusion flickered through me. I was still only wearing his shirt, though I had managed to find a pair of panties and a bra in the shower when he left. Even so, the lack of proper clothing made me feel vulnerable.

"It's fine," I muttered, trying to avoid his gaze, but he pulled me onto his lap, positioning me so that my legs straddled his hips.

"It's just me, after all." he whispered against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

He placed the bowl between us, a fork nestled inside. "I'll feed you these fruits one by one, and you have to guess each correctly with your eyes closed," he instructed, a sly grin playing on his lips. "For each wrong guesses, I'll unbutton my shirt you're wearing."

My heart raced; he couldn't be serious—wasn't he repulsed by me? Yet, I found myself nodding, obedient in fear.

"Close your eyes." he ordered, and I complied, shutting out everything but the sound of his voice.

"Open your mouth," he directed. Slowly, I parted my lips, feeling the cool sensation of a fruit being placed inside. I chewed it thoughtfully—sweet, with tiny seeds.

"Strawberry?" I guessed.

"Correct." he responded, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. He fed me a few more, and I managed to guess them all correctly. But the one in my mouth now was difficult to identify.

"Nectarine?" I asked hesitantly.

I felt him lift the bowl from between us, setting it aside. "Try again" he murmured unbuttoning one button.

"P-peaches?" I stuttered. He clawed down the shirt, ripping the buttons resulting them to bounce on the floor, as my eyes shot open.

He took in the sight of my now split shirt, where it still hid my breasts that were underneath my bra.

I instinctively tried to pull away, but his growl of displeasure sent a shiver of fear and something else through me. He raised his hand before touching in between my breasts with his index finger and trailing down to my belly button. Both of his hands then gripped my hips with a possessive intensity, making me gasp.

He brought his lips down to the spot where he had marked me, sucking on the tender skin, making my body tremble beneath him. His hands roamed under the bra I was wearing, tracing patterns on my tender skin that ignited a fire deep within me.

My fingers found their way into his black hair, tugging on it, eliciting a low grunt from him. "I know you want me; I can feel it." he whispered; his breath hot against my neck.

And he was right—I did want him, but not like this. Not in this twisted game he was playing. For once, even my wolf agreed with me.

"No." I said firmly, placing my hands on his chest and shoving him away. His blue eyes were dark, lust clouding them, but I stood my ground.

"Someone's going to take your virginity someday; might as well be me. I'll fuck you deep and hard—I'll make sure you scream my name." he taunted, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

His words snapped something inside me. Was this all just a joke to him? Was he treating my feelings as nothing more than a game?

Rage surged through me, and before I could think, I slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and in an instant, he had me pinned against the wall, his hands tight around my neck, lifting me off the ground.

My hands clawed at his, struggling to breathe, but his grip was unrelenting. "You dare slap me?" he growled; his eyes completely black with fury.

He tightened his hold, and panic set in as my vision began to blur. He pulled out his phone and dialed, his voice cold and detached. "Come to my room. Now."

Moments later, there was a knock at the door. He threw me to the ground, tears streaming down my face as I gasped for air.

The door opened, and a guy stepped inside. "What's wrong?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Get her out of my sight. Put her in the cage with the chained rogue." Lucifer commanded; his voice devoid of emotion.

"But—" the guy started to protest.

"Now." Lucifer snapped, cutting him off.

The guy approached me, and I shrank back, trying to resist. "No, don't touch me!" I hissed, but he grabbed my arm tightly. Other men appeared, one of them tossing me over his shoulder as I thrashed and kicked in desperation.

"Lucifer!" I screamed; my voice raw with panic. "Lucifer, please! I'm sorry!"

But he didn't respond, didn't even look at me as they dragged me away.

I was taken to a dimly lit place and thrown into a cage, the sound of the lock clicking shut resonating in the oppressive silence. A flicker of light illuminated my cage, and across from me, a massive, monstrous werewolf lay chained, its red eyes snapping open as it sensed my presence.

A rogue—one with a thirst for blood and carnage. It growled, the sound low and menacing, as it fixed its fiery gaze on me.

"Help!" I screamed as it lunged, its claws raking against the bars that confined me. I clung to the cold, silver bars, the metal weakening my strength as I tried to transform into my wolf.

The chains around its neck began to loosen, and my heart pounded in terror as the screws securing it slowly gave way.

"No, no, no, please!" I begged, tears streaming down my face as the monster's growls grew louder, more frenzied.

It bared its grotesque teeth, sharp and yellowed, its hunger for violence clear in its blood-red eyes.

This creature was huge—a monstrous wolf twisted by bloodlust. Could I shift and fight it off? The silver bars made even that impossible.

I shuddered as the last screw came undone, the rogue wolf breaking free. It charged at me, its monstrous form blotting out the light.

In a last, desperate bid for survival, I let out a scream that pierced the darkness, the sound echoing in the suffocating blackness as the beast bore down on me.