Chapter 5

• LUCIEN'S POV
• The view from up here was dreary to say the least, the trees looked dead and he could barely get a whiff of any signs of life even from the distance. He wondered how and why anyone would build a bedchamber close to an awful view like this.
• He had to leave this place soon. Lucien might've been tagged the Rogue Wolf but it didn't mean that he was unappreciative of nature. The sound of approaching footsteps broke his concentration and he swiveled towards the entrance of the balcony,
• "Haven't you heard of knocking, Kaleb?," He returned his gaze to the fields, holding onto the balustrade, "I assume it's a concept that is not so strange to you."
• "I knocked," Kaleb gruffly responded, coming to stand beside him, "You didn't answer."
• Lucien shot him a look, "If you did, I would've heard," The man opened his mouth to counter but he was quicker, "Have you delivered the letter to them?"
• His mouth hung open for a moment before he shut it and cleared his throat,
• "I have, it should've gotten to them already."
• Lucien cocked a brow, "And?" Kaleb shook his head, the corner of his lips turning downwards.
• He hummed, rubbing the pad of his fingers together. Lucien found it strange albeit rousing, usually when he sent out his letters there was always a response the next day. But with them-
• "How long has it been now? Days?" He chuckled, but it wasn't amusement, "The audacity."
• Kaleb sighed audibly and he spun around to face his right-hand man.
• "Don't you find it strange?" His lips drew back in a snarl, "Larger packs with an even bigger army write back either to plead or challenge me. How dare that tiny pack ignore me?"
• Kaleb pursed his lips, "I think you should-"
• "Where's Jerome?" Lucien barked, his eyes blazing with fury, "Tell him to ready the pack, we march at first light tomorrow."
• "Lucien!"
• Lucien glowered, raising a brow, "Do you have something to add?"
• Kale swallowed, his jaw tightening. Lucien waited patiently, watching him tentatively,
• "Well?"
• He pressed his lips together and shook his head, "Nothing, I'll do as you command."
• He marched out, his robe swinging with tenacity behind him.
• It was nighttime and he was still behind the desk, a large yawn slipped from his mouth and he stretched, the sound of a limb cracking echoed in the silence of the room.
• He'd been running around all day, since they had to leave on impromptu notice and with short preparation there was a lot to do. He had to appoint officials over his new territory, go over the pack rules and boundaries.
• His gaze drifted to the plate on the table in front of him and he sighed, that was brought over an hour ago. There was no doubt that it would've turned cold by now.
• Lucien decided to take a walk around the pack one more time before going to the sleep. He had to rest in early since tomorrow was a big day for him.
• The thrill of conquering another pack was beginning to get to him. His army were already making bets on how long it would take to crush Silverstone,
• Some had bet within minutes, others staked on an hour maximum. He found it frivolous but prided in the confidence that they had in him.
• When he came to it, he was taken aback to find that he was standing in front of the lake. He wondered why he came here of all places but his mind pricked at him,
• He knew exactly why.
• He puffed out another breath, the night was quite chilly but he appreciated the scenery. The lake was the only redeeming quality in this gloom of a land.
• He perched on the ground, staring absentmindedly at the lake. If he listened close enough, he could hear his mother tinkling laughter while she cried for him to not go too close to the water.
• He almost saw his father pulling her into the water, telling her to live a little while he jumped around them with a hearty smile on his face.
• His palm found his chest and squeezed, it didn't hurt like it used too but he still felt an ache whenever those memories came back.
• "There you are!"
• His head whipped towards the sound and he cocked a brow. Joan marched in his direction, a bright grin on her face,
• "I looked everywhere for you," She looked like she'd been running, judging from her flushed face and they way her chest climbed up and down, "Can I sit?"
• He scoffed, looking back at the lake, "If I tell you no, will you leave?"
• "Of course not."
• She settled beside him, bringing her legs towards her thighs, "I was in your room earlier, I knocked but you didn't respond," He was quiet so she continued, "You didn't touch your food. Why?"
• An heavy exhale left his lips and he crossed his legs, watching the ripples on the water, the moonlight did wonders to the surface,
• "The lake reminds me of home, we had something similar. We always used to spend the time we had there, my mother was skeptical of the water and my dad-well, he always used to tell us that we only live once so we should do it to the fullest."
• Lucien scoffed, shaking his head, "They were good people, Joan," His face twisted like he was in pain, "Good leaders, and yet they were brutally murdered."
• Joan didn't respond, but he didn't need her to. He knew what she was going to say and he didn't want to hear it.
• "I wonder if he's doing well, he must've forgotten all about what he did, don't you think?"
• Joan placed a hand on his shoulder and he involuntarily stiffened, she instantly drew back,
• "Well, I'm sure they would be very proud of you. You're a doing a wonderful job, since you began taking over the packs they've been doing much better," He looked over his shoulder at her and she offered him a warm smile, "You have loyal followers, men and women who would die to protect you. You're a good leader too, Lucien."
• They maintained eye contact for a while, him reading her while she remained still, her emotions bare to him.
• Finally he spoke, "Do you think I'll ever find him?"
• She bobbed her head, "You will."
• They stayed like that, gazing into each others eyes. Joan moved first, leaning towards him with apprehension clear in her gaze. Lucien didn't move, for some reason he couldn't, when her lips pressed against his.
• His eyes flared open, he was stiff. Joan had her eyes close while her mouth moved against his, the tip of her fingers hovering above his face,
• She leaned back when he still didn't make a move to return the kiss and smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes,
• "You will find him, I promise you." She stated in a firm voice before rising to her feet, "You should come in, it's getting late."
• He watched as she walked away, disappearing into the shadows. His gaze found the ripples on the water again and his fingers clenched, the devil's face flashing in his head.
• After all these years, he still couldn't forget the beasts face. It was like a scar branded into his mind and would live with him until the day he took his revenge. Lucien knew that was the only thing he could do to free himself of the torment,
• He was going to find the devil, even if that was the last thing he did.
• There were just two packs left for him to claim, and one of them was holding the information he needed.