Chapter 14: Protection Details
LUCIAN'S P.O.V.
I sat in my office, staring at the stacks of papers that seemed to multiply by the minute. Pack business—my least favorite thing. I preferred being out there running any of my numerous businesses instead of dealing with pack issues. Somehow, it always found a way to circle back to me providing them with a Luna and heirs. It was a frustrating cycle eating slowly away at my sanity. I could feel Ares pacing restlessly inside me. He was always ready for action, while I was left to deal with the bureaucracy of running the pack.
Rylan, stood across from me, scribbling away on some documents, looking far too relaxed than I wanted him to. The scent of fresh coffee and leather filled the room—my personal blend of peace and dominance. But none of it was calming Ares.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Alex, my butler, entered. His usual calm demeanor didn't betray the fact that he had some interesting news.
"Mr. Williams has arrived, Alpha," Alex said with a slight bow.
Ares practically leapt inside my mind. "Teresa!" he barked, full of excitement. That over-enthusiastic mutt. The fact that Williams thought he could swap his precious daughter Jennifer with Teresa was almost laughable. Did he honestly believe I hadn't figured out his little plan? Or I was dumb enough not to investigate his family?
"Calm down, Ares," I muttered internally, though I was feeling the exact same way. Teresa. My mate. The moon goddess clearly had a twisted sense of humor, sending her into my life at the most inconvenient time. To be honest, no time would have been convenient considering what I've been through in the hands of 'love.' But even I, as stoic as I liked to appear, couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. Unfortunately, I wasn't as good at hiding it from myself as I wanted to be.
Pushing away from my desk, I straightened my jacket and headed toward the living room. A practiced smile slid across my face—the one I reserved especially for Gregory Williams. It was a smile that said, I'm pretending to like you but I'd rather throw you out of my window.
"Hello, Gregory," I greeted him with fake warmth.
My eyes quickly found Teresa. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. Her wide eyes and slightly parted lips as she stared at me made it incredibly difficult not to smirk. Poor thing. She had no idea that I knew everything already.
"Is this Jennifer?" I asked, turning to Teresa with an unreadable expression.