Serena and Lucian sat at the kitchen table in awkward silence. Lucian fidgeted with the mug in front of him, unsure of how to start or if to start his story. Serena sighed in annoyance and glanced about the room, landing on the snow-laden windowsill.
Lucian gulped and stirred the tea loudly. It clanked against the pottery. Serena rolled her eyes and turned her nose up.
Lucian winced at her eye rolling and continuous sighing.
"You were going to be honest with me, right?" Serena turned back to him and clasped her hands tightly around her warm mug. "Well begin before I kick you out into this blizzard."
Lucian dipped his head and peered into the dark liquid.
"First, you need to know a few things about me."
"Which would be?" She waved her hand, motioning for him to continue quickly before she beat the shit out of him again.
Lucian leaned back and took a long swig of the tea.
"First, I am the rightful Alpha of the Riverwood Clan."
Serena paused, her glass halfway to her lips. She pursed them and cocked her head.
"What do you mean 'rightful Alpha'?"
"Exactly what that says," Lucian said bitterly, but it wasn't from the unsweetened tea that had entered his mouth. "I was the firstborn to the previous Alpha. Alpha Callan had an affair with my mother and as a result, I was born."
Lucian delicately set the glass down and looked up at Serena, completely serious. Serena's mouth gaped open, shock written in her eyes. She had no idea what to say or even how to approach the conversation now. This was not at all what she thought was going to happen.
"Why haven't you said anything?"
"I didn't know that was any of your business." Lucian looked away from her utterly shocked gaze, basking in the comforting feeling it brought him.
Serena blinked, stunned by his casual demeanor.
"It isn't" She swallowed the lump in her throat that burned for a chance to speak.
"Well then. With that knowledge, you should also know that I grew up with Venus, Eli and Atlas. We were inseparable."
"Really? They never spoke of you."
It was now Serena's chance to bask in the fact she could rile Lucian with a few words.
Lucian paused, tea spilling over his lips. He jumped as the liquid hit his pants. Serena stifled a chuckle as she tossed him a napkin. He glared as he dabbed the tea from his lap.
"How nice of them." He brushed her off after disposing of the napkin. "I grew up with them and when he turned seventeen, it was time for a new Alpha to be selected."
"What happened to Alpha Callan? No one ever spoke of it while I was with the pack." Serena interjected. Lucian tossed her a glare before replying.
"He was killed a few years before. The Delta and Gamma at the time found his body on the edge of the wood by the riverbank. He was buried in the mud." He dismissed her question with a wave.
"Do they know why?"
"No. We don't to this day. But we all had suspicions." He rolled his eyes, hating the fact they were talking about the former Alpha and the source of his problems.
Serena huffed and rolled her eyes. Lucian glared but continued his story.
"It was Atlas' birthday when the Elders called. I was seventeen and considered an official pack member and I had a say in the matters so I was allowed to attend the birthday celebration. The Elders came in, and this old bastard who repeated almost everything he said sat beside me and wouldn't stop asking questions. Anyway, Atlas entered the room and everyone congratulated him on being accepted as Alpha. But I was never told this. It was a decision the Elders made without any consideration of the Circle or other members." Lucian spat, his gut boiled and seethed as he recounted the autumn day his world fell apart.
"I know that Elder you mentioned. Elder Albert? I loved that man. He was nothing but kind. A little odd, but a genuine man." Serena muttered the last part under her breath as Lucian glared firey daggers at her.
"I'm sure you did." He brushed her off with a quick whisk of his finger. "As I was saying. All the members of the pack congratulated Atlas, who was still a child. I'm two years older than he was so I should have been the better candidate. When I turned fourteen, I became an active member of the patrol and protected the pack from many rogues." He jabbed a thumb deep into his chest. "I killed many rival clan members and saved that pack from extinction. The role should have been mine. It was my birthright."
Serena leaned back, distancing herself from the wild man before her. His eyes were angry. They were beyond angry actually, they seeped the color red. His cheeks burned and his jaw was clenched tightly.
Lucian leaned back, calming himself with a slow exhale.
"But no one knew of my heritage. They just assumed it was from a different member of the pack. She had always been a bit of a flirt. But she was good at her job."
"What was her job?" Serena asked hesitantly. His mother could have been anything in the Riverwood Pack.
"She cared for the pups and would help out in the deposing of bodies after a battle. But she generally cared for the pups of the Alpha. But since the Alpha didn't have any, her free time was prevalent you could say."
Serena nodded, unsure of how to answer.
"What else happened to make you so bitter toward the pack? Was there some fight? Or some public disagreement? This can't be all that it was to make you so bitter." Serena asked, running her thumb along the rim of her cup.
Lucian leaned forward and grasped his glass tightly. The muscles in his forearms and fingers flexed, popping some of his veins.
Serena gulped and quickly turned her gaze away from Lucian.
"No." He replied slowly. "That isn't all."
Serena nodded, a slight flush creeping up her neck. Lucian leaned forward more, placing his entire weight against the wood table. He reached across the table and gently punched her chin between his thumb and pointer fingers. He turned her head slowly and pulled her close.
His eyes were wild and mischievous. They scanned over her face, looking for any sign of her inner thoughts and feelings. She kept her gaze away from his. He pulled her closer until they were inches apart. She could hear his steady breathing and his musky scent invaded her senses. She visibly began to relax at his scent. Lucian smirked as he saw the effect he gave. He released her and plopped back into the seat.
Serena clutched a hand to her chest, stifling the loud pounding sound her heart gave.
Lucian huffed and crossed his arms.
"No. It isn't all. I challenged the Elders' decision. I brought forth the issue of my birthright and biological parents, but they didn't care. They tossed me aside. So instead, during the questioning between Atlas and the Elders, I followed them. I followed them into the cavern and waited until the right moment to strike."
"And?"
"I challenged Atlas before the Elders as they were finishing their questions. they never fully finished that ceremony thanks to me. So Atlas shouldn't even be Alpha by our laws."