Mated To The Scarred Alpha

LEAH

Alpha Lucian’s words echo in my head as I quietly follow him down the hallway.

“You're mine now little flower, mine!”

Me, mated to the scarred Alpha?

It all feels like a fever dream, one I might wake up from any second. His chambers are on the east wing of the pack house, an area reserved only for august visitors like the lycan Alpha. And here I am being led there by the lycan Alpha himself.

His scent hits me like a wall as he pushes the door open. It clings to my skin, seeping into my lungs until it’s all I can taste. I feel it wrap around my body like invisible chains, dragging my heartbeat into a faster and harder rhythm.

The room itself is a fortress of luxury, clearly designed by Alpha Terran to impress his guests. Dark wood panels polished to a glossy sheen line the walls. Heavy velvet curtains pool against the black marble floor, and a huge fireplace blazes along the wall.

My stomach drops as he releases my hand, the warmth of his that touch fading. He struts to the bed, sitting in it like it’d been his all his life. He reaches up and shrugs off his jacket, tossing it aside with a thud. Then his fingers move to the buttons of his shirt, slowly, like he knows I’m watching. Like he knows I can’t not watch.

I swallow hard, my mouth feeling dry. My mind races to find something, anything to focus on, but there’s nothing here but him and his beautiful presence. A wild flutter stirs in my stomach as my eyes trace the lean lines of his torso as the shirt falls open, revealing golden skin stretched over a ton of muscle. He peels the shirt off with a casual flick of his wrist and drops it, giving me a perfect view of his bare chest.

The butterflies in my stomach riot again, flapping harder and faster, as he looks up at me, heat creeping up my neck.

“Close the door,” he says, his voice low and commanding.

My fingers tremble as I slowly reach for the door and close it. My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I think of what's next. Even though I was literally forced into this mating, I can't deny the pull I feel towards him.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I turn back to him and his eyes are trained on me like they're quietly scanning me. I clear my throat awkwardly, waiting for something I know is definitely coming, the consummation.

“Come over here,” he says softly, his voice calm but firm as he pats the bed beside him. I move slowly, keeping a careful distance between us as I sit. His lips twitch, then curl into a faint smile, my anxiety seeming to amuse him as he notices my trembling fingers.

“I… I've never done this before”, I blurt out, staring keenly at the polished floors as I try to avoid his gaze. He says nothing, he just stares quietly, observing me. My lips betray me again as I continue to ramble.

“You're probably expecting... this,” I wave a hand vaguely between us, flustered. “But I’m a virgin,” I add quickly, the words rushing out. “And you… I mean, you’re probably really huge and…” I slap my hand over my mouth, mortified at my sudden brazenness.

His eyebrows shoot up as he bursts out laughing. It’s the first real reaction I’ve gotten from him, and it sends a fresh wave of heat rushing to my face.

Then he moves,

Closer.

His muscles shift with every step, his naked arms bulging. I feel his warmth before he even touches me, his breath brushing softly against the side of my neck. My stomach flips violently as the butterflies inside me riot once again. I swallow hard, shutting my eyes as my lips tremble in anticipation.

Then his fingers graze my mouth, just barely, the soft warmth of his touch sending a spark through me. I keep my eyes closed, holding my breath, expecting him to kiss me.

But he doesn’t.

He suddenly pulls away, and the warmth of his body goes with him, leaving my skin cold.

“Relax,” he says coldly, already walking to the edge of the bed like nothing just happened. Like he didn't just turn my whole world upside down with a single touch.

“We’re not having sex tonight.”

My head jerks up. “We’re not?” I ask, my voice small and my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I fiddle awkwardly with the hem of my dress, unsure if I’m relieved or... disappointed.

“We’re not,” he repeats flatly as he unbuttons his trousers and slips them off. Then he heads toward the bathroom, his tone casual. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Also, you might want to change out of that”, he points at my dress, his eyes scanning me rudely. “You should find something that fits in there,” he gestures to a large mahogany wardrobe tucked against the wall.

And just like that, he disappears into the bathroom, leaving me sitting there flustered and completely riled up for absolutely nothing. My skin tingles from where he touched me, my heartbeat thudding in my ears like it hasn’t quite caught up with the rest of me.

I walk slowly to the massive wardrobe, the doors creaking open to reveal rows of neatly arranged crisp shirts and pants. I pull out one of the shirts, black, obviously oversized. The shirt smells faintly of him, like a mix of pine, leather, and cedar.

Without overthinking, I change out of my dress, folding it neatly and setting it aside. The shirt slips over my body easily, brushing my mid-thigh, the sleeves swallowing my arms.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror nearby and pause, stepping closer. The shirt clings slightly to the curve of my waist, loose everywhere else. My bare legs peek out from beneath the hem, and for a second, I barely recognize the girl staring back at me. She looks... different.

“You look good in my clothes,” I freeze as I hear his voice.

I glance toward the hallway, and there he is, leaning against the doorframe with nothing but a towel around his waist. His dark hair is damp, his skin still glistening from the shower, and his stormy eyes dragging over me in slow motion.

My cheeks blaze. I immediately drop my gaze and shift awkwardly, my arms tugging at the oversized sleeves like I can hide inside them.

When I finally look back, he’s smirking. That same devilish curl of his lips like he finds my shyness amusing. Without another word, he pulls on a pair of black drawstring pants and a sleeveless shirt that clings to his muscles. Then, he tosses back the covers and settles into the massive bed.

“Don’t just stand there. The bed’s big enough for both of us,” he says casually, adjusting the pillow behind his head. “And don't worry, I'm a man of my word. I'm not going to touch you.”

Swallowing hard, I slowly walk over and slip under the covers, on the far edge, as far from him as possible. He chuckles softly.

Settling into the bed, I whisper, “Alpha Lucian?”

“Yes,” he groans, his voice rough with sleep.

“If I may ask... why me?”

He says nothing at first, and I almost regret asking. But something inside me stirs and the words spill out before I can stop them. “I mean... I’m a nobody. And you’re the Lycan Alpha. So… why me?”

There’s a brief pause, then his voice comes, low. “You’re not a nobody. Not anymore.” He shifts slightly, his back still to me. “You’re my mate now, little flower. Mine.”

My heart thuds a little harder, and I pull the covers up to my chin as warmth creeps into my cheeks, his last word echoing in my head, “mine”.

My fingers curl softly against the sheets, and for the first time since this whirlwind began, a strange sense of belonging touches me.

“And Leah..” he calls out, his voice low.

“Yes”

“You can call me Lucian.”

I smile quietly into the dark, the corners of my lips lifting without permission. .

“Goodnight, Lucian,” I whisper.

“Goodnight, my little flower.”

And for the first time in days, I let my eyes fall shut with a calm I hadn’t known I was searching for.