The University cafeteria was buzzing with chatter, the usual low hum of students deep in conversation. But today, the air was thick with a singular topic—**Lucas Ravenscroft**. From one corner of the room to the next, groups of students gathered, whispering excitedly, exchanging theories and fantasies about the mysterious prince of the Ravenscroft family. It had only been a few days since his brief appearance on campus, but already, the legend of Lucas had begun to spread like wildfire.
"He's so tall," one girl gushed to her friend, eyes wide with admiration. "And that voice! It's like... it's like he was born to command."
"Did you see him in class?" another girl added, her voice tinged with jealousy. "He barely spoke, but when he did... I swear, it was like he was talking directly to *me*."
The conversation rippled through the table as the girls giggled, lost in a fantasy world. They leaned in, eyes glittering with excitement as they speculated on what it would take to catch his attention.
"I heard he's super rich," Misha whispered, her voice barely audible above the clatter of silverware. "Like, *stupidly* rich. Ravenscroft Heights? That's basically a kingdom."
Rebecca, ever the bold one, raised her eyebrows. "I wonder what it would take to get close to him. I mean, someone has to be able to, right? He can't stay this mysterious forever." Her eyes scanned the room, already sizing up every girl who dared to make eye contact with her.
The gossip spiraled, one story more outrageous than the next. And still, they couldn't stop talking about him.
Julie sat at the edge of the group, her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. Her gaze flickered over to her friends, Misha and Rebecca, who were deep in conversation with a few other girls at the table. They were still going on and on about Lucas, just as they had been for the past few days.
"Have you heard enough?" Julie asked, trying to sound casual. She leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes.
Misha giggled, flashing her a teasing grin. "Oh, come on, Jules. You're not telling me you're not curious about him? The *Lucas Ravenscroft*? He's like a walking mystery, and all anyone can talk about right now."
Rebecca chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Seriously, Julie, you were the only one in class who didn't make a scene when he walked in. What's your deal? You seem so... *unimpressed*."
Julie stiffened, a sudden flush creeping across her cheeks. She quickly recovered, rolling her eyes. "He's a guy. Just because he's rich and looks like he stepped out of a magazine doesn't mean he's anything special."
"Oh, we all know *that* isn't true," Misha teased. "You can't fool us. We saw you looking at him during that first class. Admit it, Julie, you've got a little thing for him."
Julie's heart skipped a beat. The way the girls were talking about Lucas made her feel like she was hearing an entirely different version of reality. The version where Lucas wasn't just a mystery but a myth, some unattainable dream. She couldn't escape the feeling that they were right, even though she tried to convince herself that she didn't care.
"Alright, alright, *maybe* I noticed him," Julie admitted reluctantly, though she quickly added, "But that doesn't mean anything."
Misha raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, sure. It's obvious there's something more, but you're too stubborn to admit it. You're totally *into* him."
Julie wasn't sure what was worse—Misha's teasing or the way her own mind kept drifting back to Lucas. She couldn't help but remember the way he had looked at her in the woods, how his presence had enveloped her in an almost suffocating way. And then there was that unexpected encounter in the classroom, the way his intense gaze had locked onto hers, like he was searching for something.
But then, her mind quickly spun in the opposite direction. She chided herself. "You're imagining things, Julie. He probably doesn't even remember you. Why would he? He's rich, powerful, and—let's face it—probably just as arrogant as he looks."
Misha and Rebecca continued talking about him, but Julie's mind wandered. The gossip, the daydreaming... it was all just that—gossip. She had bigger things to focus on. Her studies. Her future. Her life in the human world. The last thing she needed was to get tangled in some ridiculous obsession with a guy she barely knew.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the gnawing curiosity, the aching pull she felt every time she thought of him. It was maddening, like an itch she couldn't scratch.
---
At the other end of the city, deep within the **Ravenscroft Heights** headquarters, Lucas sat in his father's office, his fingers drumming on the polished mahogany desk. His thoughts were consumed by Julie, the girl whose face had been haunting his mind for the last three days. His vampire senses screamed at him, urging him to seek her out, to find her and claim her. The need was growing unbearable.
The meeting with **Mr. Smith** had ended in the early afternoon, but Lucas's mind had never fully left the subject of Julie. He had tried to focus on the pressing issues of the dark witches, the kingdom's business dealings, but all of it felt distant compared to the longing that tugged at him.
His father's voice, deep and commanding, cut through his thoughts. "You're restless, Lucas. You've barely said a word since Mr. Smith left."
Lucas turned to face his father, his eyes betraying the conflict he felt. "It's nothing. I just... have a lot on my mind." He looked away, his fingers still tapping impatiently on the desk.
"You've been distracted for days," Caius observed, his voice softer now. "I know what this is about. The girl. Julie."
Lucas stiffened at the mention of her name. "It's not like that," he muttered, though the words felt weak even to him.
Caius raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a slight smirk. "You're my son. I can see it in your eyes. I'm sure she has her own part to play in this, but you've been distracted. You've not been this... restless in a long time."
"I'm not—" Lucas began, but his words faltered. He couldn't lie to his father. "I haven't seen her since the first day."
Caius studied him closely, his gaze sharp. "You can't keep running away from it, Lucas. She's your mate. It's not something you can just ignore."
Lucas ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration flashing in his eyes. "I know that. But the timing... I have responsibilities."
"I understand, but that doesn't mean you can ignore your instincts. Your nature," Caius said, his voice firm yet understanding. "You've kept her at a distance long enough. Go to her. If only for your own peace of mind."
The words hit Lucas like a thunderclap. His father was right. He couldn't keep staying away, couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine.
---
That evening, Lucas stood in front of Julie's dorm balcony door, his heart pounding with an urgency he couldn't shake off. After days of being apart, the pull to see her, to claim her, had grown unbearable. The work with his family, the business, the council meeting—it all felt insignificant in comparison to the weight of his thoughts about her. Julie had consumed his mind, and now, he had to face her, no matter how difficult it would be.
He knocked, his knuckles against the door sounding louder than usual in the quiet of the night. Inside, Julie was sitting by the window, looking out at the moonlit campus. She was lost in thought, wondering if she had imagined the strange connection they'd shared after their first meeting in the forest.
When she heard the knock, her heart skipped a beat, and she stood, hesitant but curious. Who would be visiting her at this hour? When she opened the door she found no one but then she heard knock again and then it downed at her. The sound is coming from balcony door but who can it be? She hesitate but the opened door, the sight of Lucas hit her like a wave—he stood tall, imposing, his dark eyes locked on hers with an intensity that took her breath away.
"Lucas…" Her voice faltered as she looked up at him, her thoughts swirling. She wasn't prepared for this. "What are you doing here?"
Lucas didn't immediately speak. Instead, he stepped forward, his presence filling the small space like a shadow. His gaze didn't waver from her, the unspoken tension between them palpable. He had been fighting the urge to see her, but now that he was standing in front of her, he realized he couldn't keep his distance any longer.
"I've come to claim what's mine," Lucas said, his voice low, a dark edge to it that made Julie's stomach flip.
Julie blinked, confused. "Claim what? What are you talking about?" Her mind raced to process the words, but they didn't seem to make sense. The last few days had left her with more questions than answers.
Lucas stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. He could feel her pulse quicken, the uncertainty and the unease in her. But there was something else there too—a pull. A magnetic force between them that made his presence feel almost inevitable.
"I saved your life in the forest, Julie," he said, his voice dark and smooth. "And now, I've come to claim my prize."
Julie's heart skipped a beat, and she took an instinctive step back. "What do you mean, claim your prize?" she asked, her voice faltering. She was beginning to feel the weight of his words, even though everything about them seemed ridiculous, impossible.
Lucas' gaze deepened, and he closed the distance between them with one long stride. He reached out, gently cupping her chin with his fingers, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. "You belong to me now," he said, his words like a command, yet strangely soothing. "You owe me your life, and now you will pay with yourself. You're mine, Julie."
His words reverberated in her chest, and for a moment, her mind refused to comprehend them. She wanted to laugh, to push him away, to tell him how absurd this all sounded. But when she looked into his eyes, something shifted in her. The intensity of his gaze, the way he seemed to completely fill her world at that moment, left her unable to fight back.
She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. "You can't be serious," she whispered. "This… this doesn't make sense. I don't belong to anyone."
Lucas gave her a knowing smile, one that sent a shiver down her spine. "You belong to me now, whether you understand it or not," he said, his tone still commanding. "That's the way it is. And you can only ask one question. Think carefully, Julie. Once you ask, I will answer, but there's no going back."
Julie felt the weight of his words settle in her chest. The absurdity of the situation clashed with the reality of how easily he was bending her will. She should be angry, should be telling him off, but all she could focus on was the way his presence made everything else disappear. The room, the world, everything seemed to fade away when he was near.
She wanted to push him away. She wanted to scream at him to leave. But something inside her—a deep, inexplicable feeling—told her she couldn't. She was caught in this web, and the more she tried to fight it, the more it seemed like she was falling deeper.
Julie took a shaky breath, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and hesitation. "I… I don't know what to ask," she stammered, the words leaving her lips without meaning, unsure of what she wanted to know.
Lucas' gaze softened for just a fraction of a second before it hardened again. "Then choose wisely. You have one question. And I will give you an answer. But you will be bound to it."
Her chest tightened. She was caught in his world now, whether she wanted to be or not. The idea of asking him anything, of letting him into her life in this way, terrified her. And yet, his presence, his power, his hold on her was undeniable.
Julie took a step back, her mind racing. She wanted to ask something that could explain all of this, something that would make it make sense. But when she opened her mouth, no words came. Instead, she found herself asking, "Why me?"
Lucas' expression softened just for a moment before the intensity returned. "Because you are mine, Julie. And because I've been waiting for you."
The words lingered in the air, and Julie felt a shiver run down her spine. She didn't know what to do with the answer. She didn't know what to do with any of this. But there was no denying it—Lucas was in control now, and she couldn't fight it.
As the silence stretched between them, Lucas finally let his hand fall away from her chin, his presence still overwhelming. "Remember, Julie," he said quietly, his voice now softer, "you may not understand all of this now, but you will. In time."
Julie stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him turn and walk toward the door. It felt like she was coming back to reality, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was already too deep into his world to escape.