Lucy's POV
The horrible rain had stopped a long time ago, but do you know what refused to stop dripping wet? My life was still soaked.
From my mattress, to my clothes, everything was dumped outside. Or is it having the worst neighbors ever?
I stood for minutes, shamelessly hugging what remained of my deteriorating pride, when all of a sudden, a black SUV pulled up before me, very fancy, shiny, and of course official.
"Alpha Ryker sent me to you."
Of course, that's what he knows how best to do, controlling people.
Then got in without sparing it a second thought.
I shouldn't have waited, I was supposed to run.
But instead, I waited until I was standing in front of Ryker's mansion—no, this is more than a castle. Minutes after the driver dropped me off, I stood like an idiot with a cheap suitcase—the type that Ryker wouldn't waste time insulting—and right on my hand was the contract—a baby that would never be born, and I wasn't ready to become its mother growing inside me.
The iron gates we drove through minutes after automatically closed with a heavy clang. It dawned on me that my fate had been sealed, as seen mainly in the opening scene of a horror-filled movie.
Ryker's driver made no effort to start a conversation throughout the ride here, and neither did I. It was an arranged encounter. Because what could I possibly be discussing with him?
"Hi, I'm Lucy Castellano. Stripper, by profession, and a human, obviously. And right now, I have transformed into the baby mama of someone I don't like, a ruthless werewolf I don't even trust but strangely find disturbingly hot and attractive."
Nope, I didn't dare. I kept it all zipped in, with me.
On arrival, a butler—fully gloved and everything professional—opened the door with the most polite nod and captivating smile. "Ms. Castellano, you're welcome. We've been expecting you, ma'am."
Of course, I was welcomed to enjoy life for once.
I stepped inside and was graced with holy hell…
There were marble floors. Crystal chandeliers filled the room. There were expenses on the walls, one of which probably cost more than ten years' rent of my old apartment. The air had the aura of power and forbidden wealth—and, of course, his aura.
And then, as always, speaking ill of the devil, he slowly descended down to meet me from the grand staircase, practicing deliberate steps.
He wore a black shirt, but this time, he ensured no buttons were undone, giving him the look of the emperor and owner of the world.
"You're a few minutes late," he said, eyes roaming as they scanned me from head to toe. It wasn't the look of rivals, it was a claim.
"Well," I started. "I had spent most of the time packing all my dignity. Some took me a while to locate."
Saying that alone earned me the tiniest smirk ever.
"Follow me, right away," he commanded, turning without sparing me a glance or checking if I was indeed following. Typical Alpha with no regard.
I followed him, I had no option now.
We went up, passed two flights, turned down a long hallway, and passed a set of double doors.
That was where my new room is located.
Point of correction, it was a whole damn wing that he assigned to me.
I stepped inside and a gasp escaped my mouth. A four-poster bed lay by the corner waiting for my arrival. The balcony was purposely created to give a sea view. Did I mention the walk-in closet? The ensuite bathroom is 20 times bigger than my rich friends' living rooms.
"You'll be staying here starting today, " the officer reissued an order behind me. "You don't need to worry, it's only for the duration of the pregnancy."
I turned to fully face him. "You mean till the expiration of my hostage situation?"
He took two quick steps closer.
Way too close that I feared our lips would lock.
"You shouldn't consider yourself a hostage, Lucy," he said, voice somehow low and sweet. "You're my responsibility now, since you are carrying my child, a royalty. You'll receive all the royal treatment you could get as such."
"Until the baby finally pops out to grace this world. Then what's next? You waste no time tossing me out, compensating me with a fruit basket?"
His jaw shifted in fury. "You willingly signed the contract after reading all the conditions applied."
"I was desperately in need of a way out."
"You haven't changed, still, you are your desperate self."
That hit got me on a high revenge level, paining more than it should. I looked away to hide the tears that had started welling up in the corners of my eyes. But Ryker was fast, he noticed.
He cursed heavily under his breath, stretched out to remove a stubborn and reached strand of hair from my teary face.
And that's how the atmosphere shifted.
The room, everything in it, including me.
His masculine fingers lingered for a few seconds on my face. His thumb caressed my cheek in a circular motion.
I should've never given in, I was supposed to pull back.
But I did none of that.
Neither did he even attempt to pull out.
His eyes landed on my lips, lusting after them. "We shouldn't be doing this," he murmured almost to his hearing alone.
"Then don't do what you would regret," I whispered, still not taking any step backward in disagreement.
We stood awkwardly like that, neither of us ready to make a move to stop and prevent what was clearly happening.
His right hand moved down my neck, stopping just an inch away from igniting fire above my collarbone. My pulse had accelerated greatly, drumming against his sweaty palm.
"You smell exactly like rain," he whispered roughly.
"You have the smell of trouble."
"Then why are you still hooked up with me, not running?"
"Because there's no need for that, as you already caught me."
There was a deafening silence.
Heavy, very tense, making me breathless.
And then, just as we were about to break the rules...
There came a heavy knock.
We both, in shame, jerked back just the same way teenagers behave when caught in the act.
The butler's voice was heard next. "Dinner is ready and served, my Alpha."
Ryker didn't answer as he was still recovering from our moment together. He said nothing but just stared at me.
Something unusual was seen in his stare, something representing hunger.
Finally, he found his voice again. "There are rules before you came here."
I arched a brow, clearly taken aback by his sudden outburst. "Oh, I am made for rules."
He stepped back, breathing in fury like someone holding wickedness. "No touching is one of them."
I held his gaze, crossed my arms dramatically. "It's no news that you touched me first."
"That was an honest mistake which can be ignored."
"But the problem now isn't about ignoring the touch, you obviously haven't stopped thinking about how you mistakenly touched me."
"…Don't dare tempt me, Lucy."
"Yes, Your royal Alphaness, right?"
He paused to take a last glance at me.
I didn't care to get out immediately for dinner, so I decided to unpack, but something caught my attention when I opened the wardrobe.
Tucked in between expensive ball gowns was a familiar necklace.
It was actually a pendant.
And my mother's. She had worn it the very night she disappeared....
Why is it in his possession?