Chapter 3

Luka’s POV

The one thing I’ve looked forward to since I left home three years ago was to hold Crystina in my hands like this, even if it was just for once. Now that I’m able to do that, I couldn’t help but feel bad as she trembled in my hands. It was messing with my head, my thoughts, and my wolf. This was my mate, the one woman I was destined to be with, and the craziest thing is she’s scared of me. I can smell her fear mixed with her scent, and I hate that.

Three years ago, I found out that she was my mate, and when I asked her to be my Luna, she refused. She blatantly said no to my request. It was as if I’ve been stabbed deep in my heart with a knife. Right before I left, I told her she was going to regret it. She was my mate, and there was no way she wasn’t feeling the mate bond. She was probably hurting herself by trying to not be with me. I hugged her tightly, and I could feel her trembling again.

I was supposed to hate her! After what her father had done to my father, I’m not supposed to be in love with her, but every time I close my eyes, all I see is her. Even though I was away for three years, all I wanted was her. I had to wait so I could complete my mission before coming back. My beta has been in charge of the pack ever since I left.

When I waited for her hours ago, I looked around her room and realized she hadn’t been doing quite alright since I left. Only a few dresses were in her wardrobe. No pair of shoes can be seen around, maybe she only has the pair she was putting on now. I thought I was angry at the state she was living in, but I was angrier when I opened that door and saw her standing there. I was mad. Her pale skin stood out, and I could see her bones under the little flesh that covered it. I wanted to punch the wall behind me, but I took it all in.

‘She’s scared of you,’ My wolf warned, growling for me to let go of her. I growled back.

‘Back off, Maxim,’ I warned.

Instead, I bent my head and placed my nose on the crook of her neck, taking in her scent, the same one that I’ve always longed for the past three years. Since then, I’d wanted her to be mine and mine only. When I finally concluded my mission, I rushed back home immediately to see her. I could’ve gone to her school, but I knew she would soon be home, so it was better to wait. The night before I left, I’d talked to someone, a close friend about us.

“Do you like her?” he asked. I nodded.

“I’m not supposed to. I mean, for seven years I hated her. The way she walked, the way she laughed, the way she talked, I hated everything about her, but I couldn’t help looking away from her.”

“You decided to punish her for the death of your father, and that was why you brought her into your pack.”

“Bro, you’re going out of context,” I reminded him. We weren’t discussing my father’s death, we were discussing my mate.

“I think you’re the one going out of context, Luka. The question is, you took her into your home for retribution, what changed?” He asked.

“I found out she’s my mate,” I told him again. “I already told you this. I asked her to be my Luna because I felt it was a chance for us to forget our past and I get to forgive her for what happened.”

“Before that, did you like her? I mean before you found out she was your mate, did you harbor any feelings for her?”

“I was supposed to hate her.”

He shook his head. “You’re not making any sense right now, Luka. In the first instance, you weren’t supposed to hate her. She’s not the one who killed her father. You have to admit that you fucked up a big time, Luka. You hated a girl who you weren’t supposed to hate and made her not only hate you back but also scared of you. Remind me again, how old is this girl?”

I smiled when I suddenly remembered her face. “She turned eighteen a month ago.”

His mouth suddenly dropped open. “You mean you asked a fifteen-year-old girl to be your mate when you were 22 years old yourself.”

“I know it sounded crazy, but that was the only thing I could do. I just found out she was my mate, and that she just had her wolf. It’s not like I was asking her to be my Luna immediately, I was just taking precautions.”

He was still staring at me. “I know you’re my Alpha, and I’m supposed to respect you, but this once, please let me tell you how stupid you are.”

“What?” I asked angrily. I clenched my fist as I glared at him.

“You might want to kill me now, Alpha Luka, but remember, you have a lot of damage control to do and this time, it’s not for a machine or a robot, it’s for a girl.”

Crystina suddenly moved back, pulling me out of my train of thoughts, and I frowned at the breach of contact. She shivered as she took another step back, and before I could pull her into my arms again, she tripped and fell to the floor.

I crouched down to her level and touched her face. That made her look up at me. Her quivering pink lips and her round, pretty eyes sucked me in.

“Are you okay?” I pulled her leg from underneath her. I hummed when I realized her leg wasn’t broken, and she had tripped because of her shoelaces.

“I’m fine, Alpha Luka,” She removed my hand from her leg and tried standing up but fell back to the ground again.

“Stop being so stubborn, Crystina,” I growled, and she shivered again, making me worried this time.

“Are you that scared of me?” I asked angrily. I was angry at her because she jumped at my every action and shakes anytime I said something.

She shook her head. “No, Alpha.”

“Look at me then, if you’re not scared of me, look me in the eyes.” She first shook her head. “Now, Crystina!” I growled.

She threw her head up to look at me. When our eyes met, my inside felt warmth. It was as if a fire was ignited inside of me, not a burning fire, but a fire of desire was lit inside of me. Her chocolate eyes sucked me in, and I felt she could see through me if she wanted to.

I gently touched her face as my gaze dropped down to her lips; she was biting down on her bottom lip. I ran my thumb over her lips and pulled out her lips from in between her teeth.

“Stop hurting yourself,” I mumbled. My voice was so low that I could barely recognize it as my voice.

I lowered my head slowly, to kiss her but not scare her at the same time. As my lip touched hers, a knock on the door sent us separated.

I groaned as I stood up and opened the door angrily. “What?” I spat.

“Sorry for the disturbance Alpha. I wanted to inform you that dinner was ready,” Rolf, one of the housekeepers said.

“Whatever! I’ll be there soon,” I replied.

“Yes, Alpha.” I banged the door close.

When I turned, Crystina was already on her feet; she was no longer looking at me. I clenched my fist and mumbled a string of curses. Damn you! Rolf.