Mated To The Scarred Alpha

LEAH

The air outside bites softly against my skin as I step out.

I hesitate for a moment at the door, curling my fingers around the hem of the dress Lucian gave me. The dress makes me feel different. It fits like it was made just for me, hugging my body in the right places.

Lucian stands by the car, tall and imposing in a black shirt rolled at the sleeves and matching pants. His hair is still rough from sleep, and his eyes are piercing.

His gaze lifts the moment he sees me, his eyes scanning me throughly.

"You look... perfect," he says, voice smooth, low, and dangerously soft "Emerald suits you."

Heat rushes to my cheeks. I murmur a quiet, "Thank you," as I glance down, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve.

To my surprise, he steps forward and opens the car door, holding it like some regal gentleman.

"After you," he says.

I slip into the sleek black vehicle, the scent of leather and his cologne instantly enveloping me. It’s rich and warm, like pine, and cedar. Goosebumps erupt on my arms as Lucian settles in beside me and closes the door.

“Let's go Kylo”, he calmly commanded.

“Yes Alpha”, the driver replied without looking back. The engine hums to life, and we pull away from the pack house.

I press my hands together, knuckles going white, as the thudding of my heart refuses to calm. Everything still feels like a fever dream. Hours ago, I was a rejected mate with no future. Now I’m beside the infamous Lycan Alpha, going to his pack, as his mate.

The space suddenly feels too tight. I feel his thighs press into mine closely. Dear Goddess, he's large. My eyes flick to him briefly. His arm is resting lazily on the console. He's not looking at me, but I can still feel his warmth radiate all over me, making my heart keep skipping in ways that feel dangerous. How is he this beautiful?

"You're quiet," he says after a moment, glancing at me. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head too quickly. "Nothing… just overwhelmed, that's all."

I force a smile as he looks back at me, his eyes seeming to never leave.

"I understand," he says simply. "But I don't think you'll miss your pack that much. Besides, my pack is your pack now.”

I chuckle nervously. "You make it sound so dramatic."

"Isn't it?" he says, lips twitching into something close to a smile. I risk a look at him, his gaze stays on mine like it's on pause, making me look away first.

The awkward air hangs between us like a thick curtain.

He clears his throat, tapping his fingers lightly on the console. "So, Leah... tell me something about you. Anything.”

I let out a short breath, surprised by the question.

"Um... I read a lot," I say slowly. "Mostly fantasy. Stories about places I’ll probably never go”

He hums. "You’ll travel now. I’ll make sure of it.”

I peek at him. “Even fairytale places?”

His lips curve faintly. “Yes… even those.”

A soft laugh escapes my throat before I can stop it, surprising both of us.

“See?” he says, looking pleased. “That wasn’t so hard.”

"What about you?" I ask before I can stop myself. "Do Lycans... read?"

That earns me a proper smirk. “The wise ones do.”

I smile before I realize I’m doing it.

Just as the warmth in the car begins to grow, something violent rips through the air. My body jerks forward before the seat belt catches me. My breath punches out of my lungs as the car spins, glass shattering, and tires screeching.

Lucian’s arm flies out instinctively, pinning me back against the seat just as the vehicle slams into something hard and jerks to a stop.

"Stay down," he growls, his voice primal.

My heart pounds in my chest like it’s trying to escape. Smoke curls in from the engine. My fingers tremble as I reach up to touch the side of my head, as blood spills from it. I blink slowly, forcing my eyes open, as I see Lucian’s body move like a shadow.

His pupils begin to glow, and his irises burn molten gold. His chest rises and falls with powerful intensity. Almost immediately, his fingernails sharpen into claws. His jaw tenses, veins bulging, and for the first time, I witness what it means to be a Lycan.

He kicks the crushed door open like it’s made of paper. Wind howls in as I see some strange looking wolves, circling the wreck, snarling and growling.

“What the…” I muttered. Their eyes of the wolves are pitch black and they look soulless. I try to move but my legs feel numb. Suddenly, one of the wolves lunges at me, slamming me into the side of the car and yanking me out.

The cold air bites my skin, pain exploding in my ribs. As the wolf sways me. I try to fight back but he's just too strong. My lungs burn as I try to scream, but the pressure around my chest crushes me.

“Lucian...”

The name barely escapes my lips before everything goes dark around the edges. The world fades. My limbs go numb. But just before consciousness slips from me, I see Lucian, rising from beneath two wolves who had pinned him. He shifts in one fluid, terrifying motion. His bones crack, stretching into his Lycan form.

He rips the wolves apart, their blood splattering across the grass before he turns to me, shifting back.

“Are you okay?”