Ariana was delighted after she had a chat with Martha. She informed her everything she did after she reached here as it had become a habit to keep the lady about her daily activities.
Martha was happy that Ariana was trying to adjust, though it will be difficult in the beginning, but later she would come to like her new house.
Time went by with Ariana spending most of her time inside her room and soon, the time for dinner arrived.
Ariana had been very calm the entire time but the second she recalled Fret words about Lucian joining the dinner, her heart began to race.
She had been trying to eliminate the incident that happened inside the study, but she couldn't erase the smell she inhaled while she was standing closer to Lucian.
It was the same as that of the wildflowers inside the garden, very unique that calmed her entire being.
Her thoughts then drifted to the moment when her eyes fell on his luscious lips and she suddenly had the urge to kiss him.
She never thought, her heart would come up to desire something unusual but it happened to her. She wanted to taste him.
Lucian was too attractive, especially his blue eyes that bored into hers, piercing deep inside her soul and she found herself leaning more into his intoxicated fragrance.
A man with such a beautiful feature only exists in books but Ariana came to witness that otherworldly beauty in Lucian.
His deep blue eyes, his pointed nose, that sharp jawline, and lately his juicy lips. Everything about him was appealing.
"Argh!.. You need to stop doing that Ariana. What will he think of you"
Ariana was imagining stuff she shouldn't think of, especially about Lucian when she knows he is her guardian, though she didn't know what relationship they shared and what was she supposed to call him, still it was unethical of her to drool over his good looks.
Busy scolding herself, Ariana then heard the sound of a car entering the property and she assumed it must be Lucian.
'He seems to be quite a busy man' she told herself and quickly composed her appearance.
She didn't want to look as if she was eager to meet him but this stupid heart of hers was dancing inside her ribcage.
'Stop that' she muttered looking down at her heart, warning it from acting childish.
Ariana was busy scolding her heart when the door of her room flung open and she flinched in her seat.
Her head shot in the direction of the door and she frowned finding an unfamiliar face in front of her.
"So you are Ariana" the woman in front of her spoke.
Ariana climbed down from the bed and watched the beautiful woman in front of her. Her tall perfect body with that tight-fit dress made her appear like a model. Her flawless skin shined brighter than the light inside her room.
Anyone who will see her will easily get smitten by her everlasting beauty.
Standing there like a dumbfounded fool Ariana bobbed her head and watched the lady approach her. She didn't know who she was but the way her eyes looked at her with detest, made her feel anxious.
Ariana had been loved by everyone and finding someone looking down on her was something new.
Her entire body froze when the lady stood in front of her and smirked. Did know why but something about her made Ariana feel odd. It was like she had been carrying hate against her for a long time.
"Hello, I am Ariana" Ariana managed to speak as she didn't want to look disrespectful. She was already surprised by the lady but she tried to shove that astonishment aside by politely introducing herself.
"I already know that, tell me something else" The woman name Veronica brushed off her politeness and started to examine her.
"What's s special about you is that he couldn't stop himself from coming after you" Veronica mumbled without hiding her displeasure while her eyes kept detesting the girl in front of her.
Ariana was once again surprised by her words and turned her head towards Veronica and asked," Excuse me?" her frown marred together as she watched her with a questioning look.
'What did she mean by the words she said just now' Ariana eyed the woman and watched her scoff.
"You aren't even strong" she further commented degrading her physical appearance.
Ariana had been behaving generously but this lady whoever she was kept bad-mouthing her. 'Does she knows her to pass such hurtful comments on her' she thought.
Ariana wasn't used to such kind of treatment, but she swallow her pain and maintained her posture.
Veronica was waiting for some fight back but to her surprise Ariana just stood quiet, taking her every word silently. ' How can she stand our enemies' she thought mentally.
Her silence was pissing her making her wonder why a man like Lucian would ever want to have someone weak by his side.
Just the thought of her being his priority made her furious. She was about to snap at her but Fret cut in.
"Miss Veronica, you entered the wrong room. Young master wants to meet you in his study" Fret had this serious expression on his face but his eyes failed to hide the nervousness in them.
'He reached the right moment'
Veronica and Ariana snapped their eyes at Fret who stood next to the door eyeing both the ladies suspiciously, especially Veronica whose face changed ugly when she met his piercing eyes.
"Is that so, I thought I was in the right room" Saying that she turned and walked out of the room but not before eyeing Fret furiously.
Once Veronica was gone, Fret turned his attention back to Ariana who stood there with an unexplainable expression on her face. He couldn't guess what was she thinking but there was this one thing he was sure about and that was the conversation that took place between the two before he reached here.
"I am sorry for the inconvenience Miss Ariana. Our guest happen to enter your room by mistake" He apologized on behalf for Veronica's sudden invasion.
He should have been a little careful but guess he was a little late.
Fret bowed his head and left the room before closing the door. Silence engulfed the room once again and the breath Ariana had been holding all this while released.
She had been trying to shove Veronica's words but she couldn't. She had been making her feel invaluable but why, why would she use such harsh words for someone whom she met for the first time?
*****
Fret followed Veronica until she entered the study. The second the door in front of his eyes closed, Fret walked away from there.
The moment Veronica stepped inside the room, she was pinned against the wall next to the door with a strong arm forcefully grabbing her neck.
Lucian's dreadful eyes watched Veronica choke in front of him but he didn't show her any mercy. She dared to go against his words and this was the least punishment he could give her and that was to strangle her to death.
"L-Lucian p-please leave me" Veronica managed to speak as she tried to use her strength against his powerful hand but failed as the man didn't budge.
Rage took over his rational mind and all he could think and do right now was to kill her.
Tightening his grip around her neck more firmly Lucian lifted her body and watched Veronica roll her eyes up as she started to turn pale due to lack of oxygen.
Just when she thought, it was her end the grip around her neck loosen and she fell to the ground.
Cough! Cough!...
Veronica gasped as she tried to breathe some air, steadying her shivering body when she heard Lucian's deadpan voice.
"If you try to act smart, you won't be able to witness the sunrise the next morning" Her eyes instantly looked into his dead ones and she understood the depth in his words.
He wasn't someone she could provoke. A man who was capable of doing anything to keep his secret wouldn't think twice before killing his betrothed Luna.
"You think I don't know what you are trying to do, Alpha" Veronica wasn't ready to accept the defeat. He was supposed to marry her, to protect his pack from the outside world, but he left... he left everything the moment he sensed his mate, leaving her behind like a used cloth.
Lucian's eyes darkened when she answered him back. She wasn't intimidated by his warning and that angered him. His hand clutched into a tight fist as he fight to sustain his rage.
Veronica was still engaged to him and killing her would cause an immense war between the two packs. 'He had to do something to break this alliance which was forced on him by his father'
Ignoring her mocking word, Lucian turned his back on her. He didn't know for how long he would hold back his anger.
Pushing her strengthless body up, Veronica managed to stand on her feet. Her eyes penetrated his back as she approached him from behind.
"She isn't worthy Lucian. You need someone who could stand firmly with you. She is just a mere human" Veronica whispered next to his ear as she watched him shot a glare at her.
"She is my mate" she heard him say and the anger she had been holding back all this while erupt.
"Then who am I to you....."