Chapter Twenty-five

Claire didn't get to hear the conversation that Alec and Senite had behind her but she knew that they would not back down about the issue of their engagement.
"You can let me go now." She scowled at Lukas, he still had her arm in a possessive grip, she was certain that there would be fingerprints on her skin afterwards. "I'm not going anywhere."
Lukas smiled maliciously but he let her go. "Oh, I'm not worried about that."
The dining room was impressive, it could easily seat twenty people and although Claire wanted to sit at the farthest possible point from Lukas, she instead sat down on the chair that Lukas pulled out for her.
Lukas sat down right beside her and servants quickly brought in their meal. “Claire, I got you a little gift.”
Claire’s scowl got darker as Lukas brought out a little trinket box, to the servants milling around them, they probably thought that Lukas was being very thoughtful but Claire knew that he was mocking her with the trinkets.
“I’ll pass.” She muttered dismissively after the servants were all gone, concentrating on her lunch.
Lukas was already on his feet and by her side in the next moment. “Again, that wasn’t an offer, it was a demand.” He corrected, lifting Claire’s face to his.
Claire’s face got hot but she still rolled her eyes at Lukas, not at all predicting what happened next. “I don’t care which it was- hmph…” Her eyes widened when Lukas leaned forward and kissed her senseless.
Once again, Claire got the uncontrollable urge to kiss Lukas back, to run her hands through his hair and tug on it but she quelled the urge, going lightheaded when he pulled away.
After unsettling her thoroughly, Lukas smoothly wore her the new necklace he had gotten for her. If he wasn’t Lukas, Claire would have felt sentimental. As always, she gave in to Lukas, going back to eating like nothing happened.
“One of my secretaries will attend to you after lunch, to assist you with the preparations for the engagement ball.” Lukas said flippantly, after a few precious moments of peace.
Claire paused, flicking her eyes up at Lukas. “I don’t think your aunt would be happy about that.”
Lukas looked amused. “You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about that.”
Claire decided that he was right, she truly didn’t have to worry about that because it was to her advantage if this all blew up right in their faces. After lunch, she shot out of her seat and practically ran off, unable to stand Lukas any longer.
He had spent the entire time staring at her with ravenous eyes even though his food was right in front of him, there was only so much Claire could take. His mocking laughter chased her out of the large room but Claire had conceded defeat, she couldn’t stay in Lukas’ presence any longer.
After walking down a couple hallways, Claire was starting to realize that she might have made a blunder. Running away from Lukas had seemed like such a genius plan at that moment - like it always did - but now, she feared that she might have gotten a little lost.
“There you are.” Senite stepped out of a sharp corner and firmly but gently took Claire’s hand. “Come with me.”
Claire’s slowly growing anxiety turned to dread, Lukas’ aunt was the very last person she had been hoping to run into. Frankly, she would take Lukas himself over his very strict-looking aunt.
She couldn’t protest though because Senite pulled her into a nearby room, it turned out to be a cozy reading room. Unlike the rest of the mansion which was done in warm bright colors, this room was done in darker tones. There were a lot of shelves filled with books, cushions and soft fluffy carpets with tons of throw pillows all over the ground.
“Sit anywhere you like.” Senite ushered her in, choosing a large cushion herself that had a perfect dent that fitted her slender body.
This cozy room made Claire see Senite in a new light, although she was wearing designer clothes and had perfectly styled hair, the older woman seemed caring underneath her strict exterior. “Thank you.” She murmured, getting comfortable on a cushion as well.
“I know that we met earlier but I’m Senite, pardon me for my behavior earlier.” Senite started, her voice dripping honesty,
Claire was still skeptical, although she was logical and she understood why Senite would react the way she did to her, she wouldn’t let that cloud her judgment. Senite probably thought at first that Claire was the one charming Lukas with her evil wiles- She couldn’t help but scoff at that, was it possible to charm the devil?
“It’s alright, may I call you Senite?” She asked politely, curious about what the older lady wanted from her.
“It’s perfectly fine, Claire.” Senite smiled, looking hopeful. She had been worried that Claire had been the one to sink her claws into Lukas but after hearing what he had to say and doing a little digging herself amongst the bodyguards that were with Lukas at the resort, it was clear who was the victim here.
“I want to apologize on behalf of my nephew, he’s not usually like this, I don’t know what has gotten into him.” Senite continued, looking very bothered.
Claire let out a little smile, she wasn’t the kind to throw an entire species under the bus for something one of them did. “It’s fine, you don’t have to apologize.” She dissuaded Senite. “I do understand why he’s so upset but I can’t help but feel bitter being on the receiving end, especially when I didn’t choose for any of this to happen.”
Senite was caught off-guard by her words, although she always had her walls up around humans, she could sense Claire’s honesty, it was rare to find someone like that even among werewolves. “My nephew is such an idiot.” She muttered under her breath. To Claire she forced a bright smile. “If it isn’t too presumptuous of me, do you mind if I help you out with the preparations for the engagement ball?”
Claire’s mood fell a little at that, she had been banking on Senite doing something to save her from it. “B-But humans can’t mate with werewolves, you said that yourself.” She stuttered.
Senite sighed. “I did, I know, but there’s no rule that states that humans can’t mate werewolves.”