Chapter 31 - A Duel

Lucette sat on her bed thinking about last night, knitting her brows and crossing her arms.

A second attempt to kill her. Hopefully, there would be no third or fourth time.

Last night, she was lucky that the brown wolf saved her. The next time, maybe she wouldn't find anyone to save her. Lucette shuddered at the thought.

Wolves attacked her. But who sent them? All the packs were under the king. Attacking another pack was forbidden, that was what she was told.

The second time something horrible happened to her and the patrols didn't show up at all. There were people in the pack who didn't want her alive for sure. The ones she encountered the past few days were more 'friendly' than before. She would have to tell the alpha to check the matter.

What if he was the one who ordered them? Shall I trust him?

Lucette stood up and went to the kitchen. She made fresh fruit juice, then she sat on the couch while thinking about how she ended up in the forest. The last thing she remembered, sleeping while watching a movie. Did I sleepwalked to the forest? Lucette shook her head. She never had this problem.

Then could it be a kidnapping? but who will do that?

The surveillance was tight in the packhouse, so taking her out with no one's notice seemed impossible. Unless someone from the inside abducted her. But she didn't feel anyone getting into her room, as she was a light sleeper.

Lucette widened her eyes, recalling how she felt the urge to sleep after drinking the coffee.

Could it be someone who drugged her using the coffee?

Last night, she felt like someone was carrying her or was it her imagination? Now, the idea of kidnapping was more and more logical.

To think for a moment. Is not the coffee brought by Jordan. Could he be...

No, he could never do such a thing. Besides, many werewolves lived in the packhouse. Lucette sighed and grabbed her head.

Feeling her intestines getting swirled. She prepared the breakfast. The delicious scent starved her.

Lucette prepared the table, and then the alpha came downstairs and strode directly to the door.

What Hannah said rang into her mind. She followed him, offering him food, but he refused. Lucette pursed her lips and tried to convince him to stay, and he agreed.

Lucette cheered in her heart, hearing his agreement. After he ate, he walked away.

She looked at the nearly empty table while her stomach protested in agony. She should have let him go!

"Thank you," he said and walked out.

Lucette froze in her spot. He thanked her. At least he had some decency.

Lucette shook her head and went to eat her small portion. She lay on the sofa after eating, but her hunger never subdued. Lucette grabbed a pack of potato chips and ate, then drank a bottle of water, and a glass of juice, but her thirst never disappeared.

Her mind was slipping and the thought of blood engulfed her. Spending almost a month without blood, she never imagined enduring for a long time.

Besides, she lost blood last night, which made it bad. The worst was, that she experienced nothing about how to get blood.

Maybe she should hunt, but she never hunted before. And it was eight in the morning and the weather was sunny today.

Or, she could ask the doctor; maybe they had a blood supplement. That would be a great idea, but she had to wait for a few hours until the sunset. Hopefully, nothing would happen, as she didn't know what vampires do when losing control.

Lucette lay on the sofa for an hour. Her door got knocked on without stopping. She walked to see the eager to meet her. Opening the door, her eyes widened.

The alpha? What's he doing here?

Maybe he returned asking for food, but his expression screamed with one emotion. Anger.

She could feel his powerful presence and his rage!

What is with him?

"Do you need something?" she asked. His green orbs shone like flames.

"You don't know what I need?" he asked.

How could I know? I don't know how to read minds!

"You dare do something outrageous?" Orson said.

What is he talking about?

"What?" Lucette asked. could he at least say something? She didn't understand what he said and the reason behind his anger.

"What's your reasons for deciding such a thing in my pack?" he said, stepping closer.

"You mean the spring —" she said after browsing in her previous actions, but he interrupted her.

"F**** YES."

"I want to make the pack happy — and I see nothing wrong with that," Lucette replied. Now she could understand what Hannah and Jordan were talking about.

"Who told you to do that? Who are you to meddle in my pack?" he asked, pointing at her.

Lucette tightened her fist, what she hated the most, was someone pointing his finger at her saying who are you.

"I am Lucette, the luna of the pack," she answered all his questions.

She said this. The alpha's anger rose and his jaw clenched.

"How dare you say this?"

"I have all the right. The king has introduced me to your pack as their luna and no one says otherwise, even you," she said. She got angry too.

"So, you're saying that because you got the Luna's title. Then you give orders as you wish. But let me tell you something. Without my permission, no one will move an inch in this pack," he said, and his eyes darkened.

Lucette stepped back. Her grip on her shirt tightened, and she bit her lips.

The alpha turned around and walked out. Lucette followed him. "You can't refuse. It's what your people want. Your task as the alpha is to make wise decisions."

Orson stopped walking and looked at her. "I know how to rule and I don't need you to teach me."

"You said you know? Then you also know that they wished to celebrate the festival here." Lucette stared at the alpha. "I know the festival brings terrible memories but —"

Orson interrupted her, gripping her shirt. "Shut the f*** up."

Scary, she thought.

When he left her shirt, she stepped backwards. She looked up to meet his dark green eyes, sending her immense hatred.

"What should I do to make you agree?" she asked. Since talking didn't solve the problem, maybe bargain could.

He laughed and said, "Even in this situation, you want to make a bargain."

"Whatever it takes, I will do anything to convince you," Lucette said, looking into his eyes.

"Such a delicate move, are you sure?" Orson asked.

Lucette nodded, and he pondered.

Yes! It worked. Her lips rose a little as she didn't want to show him her happiness till he would suggest.

"A duel," he said.

"Huh?" Lucette opened her mouth and frowned. 

"You fight me. If you take me down, I will accept. And if I win, you'll go back to your kingdom." Orson said, making Lucette's open face drop a few inches down.

Is he serious? How can he do that? He wants me to fight him?

She never fought before, whereas he spent his life fighting and training.

If I accepted, I would lose for sure!

"It's unfair. I don't know how to fight," Lucette said, pursing her lips.

"So, the princess couldn't fight? I heard your father the king was the most powerful man in the kingdom, so did it mean he didn't teach you self-defence?"

Lucette gulped. Her father, the king? She never dared to look at him.

"So, what if? I am not interested in bloody fights. Change the proposal," she said.

Please, change the suggestion.

"That's all that I can do, take it or leave it," he said.

Heartless man!

"I accept!" she said when the alpha turned to leave.