Emerald stood before Lucian, her heart racing with anxiety. "So, you're the Alpha king of the west coast," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucian gazed at her with piercing eyes. "And you're the daughter of Damien, the witch who killed my parents."
Emerald flinched, pain flashing across her face. "I didn't know..."
Lucian's expression softened slightly. "I know you didn't. But your father's actions have consequences, and now, you're mine."
Emerald's eyes welled up with tears. "What do you plan to do with me?"
Lucian's voice was low and husky. "I'll make you my queen, Emerald. But first, you need to understand your place."
Emerald's chin quivered. "My place?"
Lucian nodded. "As my wife, you'll obey me without question. Can you do that?"
Emerald hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes, I can do that."
Lucian's gaze lingered on her face before he turned away. "Good. We'll be married next week. Be ready."
As Lucian walked away, Emerald felt a shiver run down her spine.
*********************************************************
a couple of years ago (few months after Lucian's birth)[flashback]
"Lucian, my son," Abigail whispered, her voice weak but full of love. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm so sorry I didn't get to see you grow up."
Laura, tears streaming down her face, took Lucian from Abigail's arms. "I'll keep him safe, Abigail. I promise."
Abigail's gaze locked onto Laura's. "You're the only one I trust, Laura. Keep him away from Alicia. She's not what she seems."
Laura nodded, her jaw set. "I won't let her near him, Abigail. I swear it."
As Laura ran off into the forest, Abigail was caught by Alicia's men. They dragged her to the battlefield, where she was forced to watch her mate, Marcus, die a brutal death.
Alicia's laughter echoed through the forest, a cold, mirthless sound. "You should have stayed out of this, Abigail. You should have stayed loyal."
Abigail's heart broke, her spirit shattered. "You were my friend, Alicia. My family. How could you do this to me?"
Alicia's smile twisted. "You were always so weak, Abigail. You never understood the true meaning of power."
As Abigail lay dying, her thoughts turned to Lucian. She knew Laura would keep him safe, but she also knew the dangers that lay ahead. She could only hope that Lucian would grow strong enough to face them.
Emerald, a stunning young girl with piercing green eyes, was born to Damien and Felicia. Damien, a striking figure with piercing emerald green eyes, was a fun-loving gang leader of the mafia group Purified Siblings, which served as a cover for his true nature. Felicia, Emerald's mother, had long, silky silver hair and lovingly called Emerald "my precious jewel." As their only child, Emerald was loved unconditionally by her parents.
"Darling, you're going to be the light of our lives," Felicia cooed, gazing at Emerald with adoration.
"And the future queen of our empire," Damien added, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
Unbeknownst to Emerald, her father Damien was the witch who murdered Lucian's parents. Damien had been trying to meet with Lucian, the founder of the Crescent brothers, to seek protection for his gang. When Lucian finally agreed to meet, Damien was thrilled and shared the news with Felicia.
"Lucian wants to meet with me!" Damien exclaimed, his face alight with excitement. "This is our chance to secure our place in the underworld!"
Felicia's eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh, Damien, this is wonderful news!"
The next day, Damien met Lucian at one of his luxurious restaurants, dazzled by the fine stones, gold, silver, and sardonyx that adorned the space.
"Lucian, your taste is impeccable," Damien said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
Lucian smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Thank you, Damien. I spare no expense when it comes to luxury."
Lucian, a man of few words, got straight to the point, asking why Damien had been seeking him out.
"I want protection for my gang," Damien stated, his voice confident. "And I'm willing to offer my daughter, Emerald, in exchange."
Lucian's gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable. "And why should I care about your daughter?"
Damien's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Because she's the key to securing our alliance, of course."
Lucian's eyes seemed to bore into Damien's soul before he nodded curtly. "Very well, I accept your offer."
"Lucian, I need you to understand that my daughter is innocent," Damien said, his voice laced with a hint of concern. "She doesn't know anything about our world."
Lucian's expression remained unreadable. "I'll take that into consideration. But I want the marriage to take place next week. I need time to prepare her for what's to come."
Damien nodded, his mind racing with the implications. "Very well. I'll make the arrangements."
When Emerald heard the news about her marriage, she was heartbroken. She ran to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Her mother, Felicia, trailed after her, concern etched on her face.
"Emerald, darling, please talk to me," Felicia said, her voice muffled through the door.
But Emerald refused to listen. She shut the door in her mother's face, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't believe her father could do this to her. Someone who had loved her all her life had decided to marry her off without her consent.
For the next two days, Emerald refused to talk to either of her parents, leaving Felicia worried sick.
"Damien, what have you done?" Felicia asked, her voice laced with anger and fear. "Our daughter is devastated."
Damien's expression remained stoic. "It's for the best, Felicia. Our family's future depends on it."
But Felicia knew better. She saw the pain in Emerald's eyes, and she knew that their daughter was not just a pawn to be used in their game of power.
As the wedding preparations were underway, Emerald couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her. She had less than a week to go before she would be married off to Lucian and leave her father's house forever. She decided to confide in her mother, hoping to find some comfort.
"Mother, I don't want to do this," Emerald said, her voice trembling. "I don't want to marry someone I don't even know."
Felicia tried to reassure her, despite having never met Lucian herself. "Darling, Lucian is a nice guy, I'm sure of it. He's from a good family and he's successful. You'll be happy together."
But Emerald wasn't convinced. She felt like she was being sold off to the highest bidder, without any regard for her own happiness. She knew she had no choice but to accept her fate, so she tried to put on a brave face.
As the days passed, Emerald became increasingly withdrawn. She used to be a happy, funny, and playful person, but now she just went through the motions. She would zone out sometimes, lost in thought, wondering what her life would be like after the wedding.
Meanwhile, Lucian was busy preparing for the wedding, getting everything perfect for his bride-to-be. He had set up a beautiful room for her next to his bedroom, filled with designer clothes and shoes. He had even gotten her a selection of wedding dresses to choose from, determined to find the perfect one for her.
But despite his efforts, Emerald couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walkin
g into a trap. She felt like she was losing herself in all of this, and she didn't know how to stop it.