The Uninvited

The next couple of weeks proved to be utterly exhausting for Visenya. She found herself unwittingly trapped in Lucian's twisted game, forced to play the role of the subservient slave he desired. Not only did she have to endure his demands for pleasure multiple times a day, but it also became increasingly challenging to bring him to climax. Lucian's stamina seemed to grow relentlessly, keeping her up until the early morning hours.

Visenya didn’t think he would ever finish, and when he finally did, her jaw felt dislocated from the strenuous work she had put it through. Knowing better than to complain, she couldn't help but massage her aching jaw as she made her way out of his bedchamber.

That's when Lucian's cruel remark pierced through her, stopping her in her tracks. "Maybe I'd finish quicker if you weren't so displeasing to look at.”

His callous words etched themselves onto her fragile heart, alongside all the other cruel sentiments he had expressed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that no matter how hard she tried or how well-behaved she was, he would always view her and their bond as a cosmic burden. But why should she care? Why should she yearn for love and affection from someone as cold and heartless as him?

Struggling to hold back her tears, she managed to choke out, "My apologies, Master," before swiftly leaving the room.

Her tone did not go unnoticed, and it only exacerbated Lucian's frustration. In all honesty, his discontent lay not with her, but with himself. Visenya was anything but displeasing to look at, as far as he was concerned, and his hindrance in reaching an orgasm during fellatio was due to his growing hunger to have more of her, in all the ways a man should have his mate. As much as he continuously rejected the idea of mating with her, the oral stimulation was now falling short of his desires.

He was a man with robust needs - needs that only she could satisfy. The more he realized this, the more agitated he became. Each passing day intensified his tension and restlessness, surpassing even the earlier days when he adamantly refused to touch her.

Unfortunately for Visenya, Lucian's only means of coping with his emotions was to deflect them onto her. Deep down, he still had that eighteen-year-old mentality that hadn't yet reached a place of maturity.

On her morning hunt, Visenya allowed herself a ten-minute breather at the top of a cliff, overlooking a serene view. As she sat there in her wolf form, everything seemed so small, causing her to reflect on where she had gone wrong in her life to bring her to this current predicament.

"If only I were a bird, I could hide away in the clouds," Visenya sighed wistfully.

"Say the word and I'll carry you to the ends of the earth," Delilah proclaimed, her voice filled with unwavering support.

"Home... I just want to go home... even if it's just for a moment. I miss mother... and Synora... and Cas. Do you think they miss me too? Do you think they think of me at all?" Visenya whispered, her voice tinged with longing.

"Are you kidding? I know they do... they love you, Visenya, just as you love them. Your love for them is evident in everything you're enduring now," Delilah reassured, her words carrying a sense of certainty.

Visenya took a deep breath, her heart heavy with longing, and silently prayed to the Moon Goddess that she would be reunited with her loved ones again, one sweet day.
———

Meanwhile, Lucian sat at his desk in his bedchamber, gazing out of the window as he always did on the mornings Visenya went out to hunt. With each passing day, he grew more familiar with her routine, meticulously keeping track of her departures from the palace. He knew that any moment now, he would catch sight of her white wolf bounding into view.

"Dragon Lord?" A slave called, rapping on his door.

Lucian moved to answer, inwardly vexed by the audacity of anyone who would dare disturb him before breakfast. As he opened the door, a slave man stood before him, visibly apprehensive to be in the presence of the Dragon.

"Forgive me, Dragon Lord," the slave's voice quivered with anxiousness. "I know that you do not wish to be interrupted so early in the morning, but a man is riding in on horseback from the north, and I thought it best to alert you immediately."

Without a word, Lucian strode past the slave, his mind consumed with thoughts of who would have the audacity to enter his Kingdom without an invitation. Stepping outside, he locked eyes with the man who apparently possessed that unprecedented amount of audacity.

Anger surged within him as Caspian approached on his horse, as if he owned the very land upon which Lucian stood. When Caspian was near enough, he dismounted and cautiously approached a seething and formidable Lucian.

"You have no purpose being here, and if I were you, I'd get your ass back on that horse and go back to where you came from... if you know what's good for you," Lucian warned, his voice dripping with disdain.

With a broken heart, Caspian mustered the strength to ask, "Where is she?"

"Leave..." Lucian sneered, his eyes filled with malice. "...now."

"Please, Lucian. Just let her go," Caspian pleaded, desperation lacing his words.

"No," Lucian replied curtly.

"Let me just see her then... I need to know that she's alright," Caspian implored.

"You don't need to know a damn thing," Lucian retorted. "She is not your concern. Now get the hell out of here before I make you regret the very day that you were born."

Caspian persisted, refusing to back down. "I can't leave... not until I see her first. Just for a second... that's all I'm asking for.”

Lucian couldn't believe the nerve of Caspian, speaking to him as if he held any kind of authority. He didn't want him anywhere near Visenya, not now... not ever. His anger seethed within him as he locked eyes with Caspian, "Tell me, when Visenya receives her punishment, shall I let her know that it's a gift from you?"

Caspian's pleading expression instantly transformed into one of deep-rooted hatred, "Don't you dare... don't you hurt her!"

"Then get... the fuck... out of my face!" Lucian's voice spilled with venom.

Caspian could only comply with Lucian's demand. He couldn't bear the thought of Visenya suffering because of him. Sarai's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of the times she had pleaded with him not to interfere. But he hadn't listened. Who could blame him? Love had clouded his judgment, blinding him to reason.

Visenya meant everything to him, and he would sacrifice anything for her freedom. Reluctantly, he mounted his agitated horse and turned it towards the former Lycan Kingdom, leaving behind the tension-filled confrontation.

Lucian watched as Caspian disappeared into the distance, his figure gradually fading from sight. When he was completely out of view, Lucian turned towards the castle, preparing to head back inside. Just then, his attention was caught by the sight of Visenya emerging from the stables, dressed and in her natural form.

As she approached him, dragging a sack of her kill, Visenya could sense from the look on his face that he was already in one of his moods. "Good morning, Master," she greeted, trying to inject some positivity into the situation.

"What's so damn good about it?" Lucian snarked, his tone filled with bitterness.

Visenya found herself unable to answer his question, for she too saw nothing good about the morning. Ever since Lucian had reappeared, her mornings had been far from pleasant. With a shrug of her shoulders, she continued on her path towards the castle, only to come to a sudden halt right in front of the doors. She sniffed the air, catching remnants of a familiar scent... a scent that reminded her of home.

However, due to her weakened state, her wolf senses were not as sharp as they should be, making it difficult for her to pinpoint the source of the scent.

Noticing Visenya's preoccupation with Caspian's scent, Lucian abruptly seized her arm and forcefully pulled her inside. "Don't you have a meal to prepare?" He snapped, his impatience evident.

Visenya nodded submissively. "I'm sorry, Master."

"Don't be sorry, just get to it already. I have things to do," Lucian ordered.

"Yes, Master," Visenya replied, her voice filled with obedience.

Visenya scurried to the kitchen, her footsteps echoing through the quiet halls. Meanwhile, Lucian leaned against the doorway, his gaze fixed on the path Caspian had taken. A surge of anger coursed through him as he swore to himself that if Caspian ever returned, he would meet his demise. Caspian had to be out of his mind to think that Lucian would ever let Visenya go.

Surely, Caspian had to know that he and Visenya were mates. At least, that's what Lucian had assumed anyway, figuring that Visenya would be eager to inform him the second she found out... wouldn't she?