Kneel

Chapter 4

She knew who exactly he was.

The realisation hit her before she could stop it.

‘Of all people…it was him.’ A bitter thought spread in her chest.

Lucero looked down at the woman with a cold face. Anais sucked in her breath.

‘Was he here to mock her too?’ she asked herself as she took a step back. Fear, indignation, and self-loathing were written all over her face.

‘Was he here to witness her humiliation? To laugh? Her finger curled tightly around her dress, her nails digging into her palm. She forced herself to look him in the eye, raising her chin slightly.

She had been humiliated enough, one more person would hurt more.

“If you want to laugh…” her voice trembled but she didn't back down. “Then go ahead.”

For a moment…nothing happened.

Gradually, the pressure increased, as if there was an invincible hand pressing down on all of them. It was heavy and commanding.

Lucero looked away from the little woman in front of him. He took in her disheveled state. Her ruined makeup. The handprint on her cheek. He clenched his fist, his gaze darkened.

He didn't reply.

Instead, his dark eyes fell towards the instigators. Anais mother took a step back, her face pale. She shivered, ready to bolt at any time.

Lucero moved his eyes and they landed on Damian.

Damian reacted like he had been zapped. He was the one who started everything. He couldn't look Lucero in the eyes. His head dropped to the ground.

“Alpha,” he called out.

A ripple of Whisper broke out.

Lucero’s identity was confirmed.

“Is that really him?”

“Oh my gosh, I almost didn't notice.”

“He changed so much, he’s so handsome now?”

“Who knew imthat he would become one of the sons of the most respected alpha. If I had known before—”

Anais studies the man in front of her. He used to cower in the corner of the hallway. Now look at him. Power, respect, and fear clung to his body like a second skin.

This wasn't the boy she remembered. There was something else about him. Something…overwhelming.

His gaze finally dropped to her. And for the first time since he came in, something flickered in his eyes. It wasn't pity, it wasn't amusement, and it wasn't disgusting either.

It was something colder. Something darker.

Without a word, in one swift motion. He took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. His hand lingered longer than necessary.

The fabric was warm and large. His scent floated into her nostrils. It wrapped around her, commanding and comforting. It swallowed her own scent effortlessly.

“Stay still.” she heard him say above her. It wasn't a request. It was a command. She tensed up.

That simple action causes collective intake of breath from the crowd.

The whispers grew, this time it was louder.

“He just touched her.”

“He covered her scent.”

“Why would he do that?”

“What does that mean?”

Fiona in the crowd saw the coat being wrapped around Anais. She clenched her teeth hard. “That bloody slut.” she whispered through her teeth.

That should have been her. Who does Anais think she is?

Damian widened his eyes when he saw the coat. He looked away, something flashed in his eyes but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Anais continued to stare at Lucero like a fool. She held the jacket but her eyes questioned his action.

She was confused and unsettled.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

Lucero raised his hands, halfway through, he dropped them. “I'm not here to laugh at you.” His voice was low and steady.

“But—” she started but he cut her off. Stepping closer to her.

“And no one.” he continued, his voice louder for everyone to hear. “No one will touch you.”

His eyes swept the room, daring anyone to challenge him. They stopped at Damian.

The words settled heavily in the silence.

Anais was taken aback. There was something in the way he said those words. It didn't feel like a promise.

It felt like a claim.

‘What did he mean?’

Damian clenched his fist. Jealousy burned in his chest. The feeling uncomfortable and overbearing.

She was his mate.

Even if he had rejected her, that didn't mean that someone else could just swoop in and take her.

His jaw clenched. Angry veins grew on his forehead and neck. His eyes darkened as he continued to stare at the jacket on Anais's shoulder. The way she stood very close to the alpha. Covered by another wolf's scent.

The tension thickened. Everyone could feel it. They looked from Lucero to Damian.

But before the tension could snap, a voice cut through the silence.

“What do you think you are doing?”

Everyone turned. It was Anais' father. His time was firm, but there was something restrained underneath.

Fear.

He tried to hide it, tried to stand tall but the difference between him and the man was huge.

The man had status, power, and authority while he had none.

How could he let this daughter be with a man like him? He was her father, he could do what he wanted as long as it was his daughter.

“You have no right to…” his voice decreased with each word.

Lucero didn't look at him immediately. And that only made things embarrassing. But when he did, it was a slow and measured movement. His eyes were cold to the point of freezing.

The father faltered in his steps. The remaining words were swallowed back. He knew he could talk to his daughter at that moment.

Lucero wasn't just protecting her, he was claiming space, taking control of the room. In just a short time, he rewrote the moment.

Anais's fingers tightened around the jacket.

Standing close to him, breathing in his scent. The weight of his presence from all sides.

This wasn't just protection.

A strange unease crept up her spine.

Lucero ignored Anais' father. He turned to Damian and spat out one word.

“Kneel.”