Chapter 17
Noelle
Eating dinner with my parents and Lucian is the most awkward thing I’ve ever done.
While Lucian and my father are quiet, my mother keeps beaming in Lucian’s direction. He is way too young for her, yet she keeps giving him heart–eyes whenever he lifts his gaze from his plate.
I can see it from the corner of my eye the hint of a blush that forms on her face, the fluttery eyelashes, and the way she subtly adjusts her necklace whenever he speaks.
I groan inwardly, hoping Lucian hasn’t picked up on her embarrassing behavior.
“So, Lucian,” my mother flips her dark hair over and over again in the most obvious way possible. She is also wearing a blouse with a dangerously low neckline that I’ve never seen before. “Tell me more about your line of work.”
Lucian arches an eyebrow and looks downright uncomfortable when my mother drags her chair up to his side.
“Well, I’m the Alpha. Is there a reason you’re sitting so close to me?”
“It’s so I can hear you better,” she smiles up at him. “And also, 1 khow that you’re the Alpha, but what else do you do? Your money needs to come from somewhere, right?
Lucian shifts in his seat, his eyes darting to mine for a brief second as if silently begging for help. It’s adorable to see my big, beefy Alpha reduced to a squirming mess.
I decide to come to his rescue.
“Actually, Mom,” I interject, “Lucian is also the CEO of a security company. Since our pack is filled with muscular werewolves who are well–versed in combat, they provide high–level security solutions to VIPs and corporations all around the world.”
A look of surprise appears on Lucian’s face. He probably had no idea I knew about his side hustle, but I’ve done my research on him.
“That’s right,” Lucian adds, his eyes still kept on mine as he speaks. “We have been fortunate enough to form many successful partnerships, and it’s really been paying off.”
My mom perks up at the mention of this, her eyes shining in interest. A new opportunity for her to flaunt her social climbing skills, no doubt.
“Oh, how fascinating!” she coos, leaning in even closer, and, to my utter horror, she squeezes Lucian’s bicep. “It must be quite thrilling to be in charge of such an important job.”
“I suppose so,” Lucian replies carefully, casting me another helpless look as if to ask if he is allowed to toss my mother across the room for touching him.
I don’t know how to respond. Had it been anyone else copping a feel of my fated mate, I might have been tempted to say yes. But throwing my mother across the room might be a bit too extreme, not to mention likely to spark a nasty family feud.
“Mom, perhaps you’re a little too close?” I offer, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
But my mother simply waves her hand dismissively, “Oh darling, it’s just friendly chatter.”
I can’t help but shoot a pleading glance at my father, silently begging for him to intervene. But he doesn’t pay me any mind. and continues to pig out.
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Chapter 17
Lucian notices where I’m looking and soon I hear his voice inside of my head, This is the worst! N
balls, but now your mom is hitting on me!”
I blink in his direction. Since when do you have telepathy as one of your powers?”
only do I have blue
‘Since drinking your blood, apparently, he sighs inside my head. I can’t control my powers, though. Your blood was a huge power boost, and now I’m going haywire. I can hear your thoughts, your father’s thoughts, and your mom’s thoughts, which. by the way, are totally not safe for work.”
“Oh my god…
I really want to sit beside you instead. I’ve never been this scared in my entire life. Your mom is on a whole other level when it comes to desires, Noelle. Please save me.
“How
“Send them homel
“What? I can’t do that! You were supposed to find out whether or not they had kidnapped me!
“Your mom is capable of anything. She must have done it!”
“You can’t just assume that! Read her mind or something!”
But her mind is such a scary place!”
Lucian, I swear to the moon goddess! You’re the one who accused my parents of being kidnappers in the first place. Deal
with this!”
His lips turn into an unhappy frown, and I’m close to losing it when he gives me puppy–dog eyes from across the table. “But Noelle, this is more than I signed up for! You don’t know half of the things your mom wants to do to me, which includes rope and handcuffs!”
His thoughts startle me into a fit of desperate giggles. I hold my napkin up to my face, trying to hide the tears of laughter pooling in the corners of my eyes. Lucian looks mortified. Good.
-Well, darling, I must say your mate is truly fascinating!” My mother coos, making Lucian cringe uncomfortably.
My father finally looks up from his food, a trickle of gravy running down his chin. “What? Oh yes, tremendous young man,” he grumbles vaguely before burying himself back into his plate
I look back at Lucian, who finally has had enough of this dinner shit show.
“Enough!” he bellows and hits his fists hard onto the table, rattling the silverware in the process.
The room falls into a sudden silence. Even my father stops mid–bite, his fork suspended in midair, a morsel of roast beef teetering on the edge.
Lucian’s
‘s eyes narrow as he glares at my mother, his voice dropping to a menacing growl Please stop touching me. I’m your daughter’s mate, not your toy.”
My
mother’s eyes widen, fear flickering across her face at the tone Lucian used before it’s quickly covered up by a polite sunile. “O–of course, Alpha Lucian. My apologies.” She pulls her hand back, folding it neatly on her lap.
Lucian creates some space between them by pulling away his chair, and then he glares at my parents. “Now that you guys have finally calmed down, I want you to tell me how you managed to kidnap a royal lycan princess from the magical realm. I’m baffled how two bumbling buffoons like you two pulled that off.”
I almost choke on my soda. Really? Is he just going to ask them like that, point–blank? I can’t tell if Lucian is insane or al
Chapter 17
freaking genius, but what I–do know is that this is going to be a
