Chapter 3 3

LUCIUS’ POV

I came here as an Uncle of the grooms and as a VIP guest. I'd have sent a proxy to honor the invitation, as I usually did for such invitations.

I couldn't care less about their little joint wedding to some nobody-bride. And I sure as hell didn't want to go through the torture of getting acquainted with new faces and grovelling Alphas who wouldn't waste a minute before demanding things from you.

I wasn't a fan of parties and crowded rooms. I get an intense ick anytime I'm forced to be in such rooms. So it should have been easy to turn down the invitation from the twins, or like I said, send a proxy.

But my Lycan was urging me to attend. It was restless and yearning to be here. I never understood why, but I hated the bugging feeling, so I left behind all my duties and showed up here.

Feeling the electrical pull in the hallway had to be one of the most unreal things that's ever happened to me.

I gave in to the urge and followed the pull, and it led me to a dressing room, and behind the door was a stunning lady, dressed in a traditional bridal outfit.

Seeing her face caused quite a frenzy inside me. My Lycan danced harder than it ever has. My nerves stretched hungrily, and there was a primal, aggressive pumping around my loins, aroused by her innocent and glistening brown eyes.

Her golden blonde hair was enthralling, and her round face held so much beauty but it seemed terrified to be flaunted.

She had me messed up in just a glance. And what I found even crazier was the fact that she wasn't feeling half the chaos going on inside me. She seemed to be in control of my mind. Every flicker of her eyes yanked at my chest. And the little attempt I tried to resist her intense pull on me failed miserably when she begged me to take her away from here.

It wasn't the smartest thing to say to a man who was losing his mind for you at first fucking glance. But then again, it was crystal clear she was messing with me. For some reason, she didn't want to get married to my nephews. And she wanted to use me to escape that reality.

The feeling of being used made me so angry, but the fact that she wanted to go with me instead aroused a very unhinged jealousy and possessiveness inside me.

When I left the dressing room and returned to the hall, I tried to talk myself out of it. I tried to remind myself of the mess and complications that would arise if I did what she was asking for.

Ryan and Knox were my nephews. They owned their own Packs and had quite the fame in the region. Our kingdoms have a very healthy relationship and we respect each other's boundaries. They wouldn't dare glance twice at my bride, if I ever decide to have one, so why the fuck was I contemplating stealing theirs away?

Why was I willing to sacrifice the long and healthy relationship I have with my nephews over a girl I met a few minutes ago, whose name I didn't even know?

It'd be insane of me if I gave in to her request. But then watching her walk down the aisle felt like my heart was being stabbed by millions of daggers. And then when she looked at me, my brain was set ablaze.

Those teary eyes of hers were glaringly riling me up, and I was falling for them, hook, line, and sinker. When she spilled my tears, I knew it was over for me.

I lost my mind and went to her, claiming her in front of the hundreds of people who'd gathered to witness the wedding ceremony of my beloved nephews.

What have I done? Yeah, I just started a bloody war.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?!” The Alpha of the Pack yelled, pointing at me. Alpha Godric, the most conceited, the most cunning, and the most power-hungry fellow you could ever come across.

I didn't reply to his yell. She'd fainted in my arms and her dress was stained with blood from the spot my fangs had dug in. I was trying to resuscitate her, but she seemed already far gone.

I scooped her into my arms, carrying her bridal style.

“Uncle…” Ryan had his bewildered gaze fixated on me. “What the hell are you doing? She's our bride!”

“She can't be your bride,” I growled back. “She's mine!” I held her tighter. The idea of handing over to them felt preposterous. I've never had the urge to claim anything or anyone as bad as I was feeling now.

“What nonsense are you saying?!” The Alpha barked. “Guards, take her from him!”

His guards tried charging towards me. But then I sent a quick mind-link and the door was kicked down. My men flooded in like bees freed from a cage.

They were still in their human forms, holding their daggers that had the traditional logo of my Kingdom. With just a word from me, they'll morph into their Lycans and tear into pieces every breathing thing in here.

“You don't wanna mess with me, Godric.” I snarled at him. He quivered and dropped to his knees. Everyone in the hall did the same. The only ones standing were my nephews, who looked angrier than I've ever seen them look.

I'd apologize to them for this but that would mean that I was accepting that I was wrong for ruining their wedding to my mate.

She's my fucking mate. I don't owe them an explanation.

“Why are you doing this, Uncle? She's our bride. We paid a fortune to have her.”

“I'll refund everything. I'll refund thrice of it but I can't watch you both get married to her. I'd rather die.”

The severity in my voice had them both speechless. I tried walking and they quickly blocked my path.

My Beta was irked by their audacity but I gave him a sign to be chill. At the very least, I shouldn't hurt my nephews.

“You know we respect you a lot, Uncle, but if you do this, if you take her, it means you're cutting all your ties to us. It means you're letting go of your rights and title as our Uncle.” Ryan said sternly. He is the oldest and the most vicious. He has a playful side that’s quite deceitful and covers up his real sadistic side. His vicious side. Nothing as close as I am, but he is one of a kind.

“It also means that from hereon, we're enemies. Our Packs would never interact again. You'll become the man we hate the most. And we won't stop until we claim back our bride from you. We won't stop until we make you pay for the embarrassment you're putting us through today.” Knox completed.

They meant every word they said. And for a split second, I thought about it...and then I made the mistake of looking at her beautiful, sleeping face and then I just knew I could never do what they were asking.

I could never hand her over to them. Not even if a gun was pointed at my head. Not even if my heart was being gorged out by hot spikes. I could never hand her over to anyone in the room.

“Pick a time and place,” I told them both, before brushing past them and leaving the hall with my mate in my arms.