"Be naked when I come home,"

Chapter : 19
Red

I excused myself from the breakfast as soon as I saw Charlotte speak with Luciano with such excitement and thrill that it made my blood boil. Another moment in the hall would result in someone's death, and it wouldn't mine. I was hungry, not for food, but to possess Luciano's mind and body. I wanted him to be mine.

I waited outside the hall for Luciano to step out so I could have a conversation with him about this woman who just stepped in from nowhere.

Valarie approached me and said, "Ms. Red, if you are done, I can take you back to your room."

"No, I need to speak with Luciano, but do you know who Charlotte is?" I asked as I folded my arms across my chest with insecurity and a bit of confusion. A pang of jealousy oppressed me as I took her name.

"Yes, she is the Alpha's ex-girlfriend. They have been separated for over two years now. Why do you ask?" Valarie replied.

"Ex-girlfriend?" My eyebrow screeched together. "What is she doing here?"

"She's actually has a position in the council as the strongest female in the pack. Therefore, she comes around sometimes. But don't worry, Ms. Red, Alpha, and Ms. Charlotte are nothing except for casual friends." She continued.

"And why did they separate?"

"It was rumored that she slept with another male while she was in a relationship with the Alpha, but I am not sure about it. Her title of the temporary Luna was ripped away immediately. However, Alpha Vincent requested her to join the council and stay in the pack." Valarie didn't leave a single detail.

I was surprised by all the information I received.

"So, anyone can take or give someone a title here?" I asked as I raised my eyebrow with curiosity.

"No, that right is only for the king and the queen. Once you become the queen, you can take or give titles according to your desire. However, you cannot take the title away from the elders." She explained.

"And who are the elders?"

"They are the oldest living wolves," A shudder ran down my spine as I heard the word wolves.

People began exiting the hall as soon as they were done with eating. Valarie pointed me at the elders who were a group of old men, and then I asked her to leave me alone as I needed to talk with Luciano.

When Luciano walked out of the hall, he came with a man beside him. I walked in front of him and stopped him on his tracks.

"So that woman is the reason why you haven't claimed me yet?" I questioned with courage in my tone.

Luciano whispered to the man beside him, and he walked away immediately. As soon as the area got cleared out, he grabbed my arm and took me inside another room.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I know what happened between you and that lady. No need to lie,"

"She is not the reason why I am not claiming you," he stated.

"Then?"

"I told you, Red, I need some time."

"So, you can reject me and claim her, is that the reason why she was sitting beside you? Do you both still have something? I mean, if you do, then why are you keeping me here? Just send me back, and this all will over for both of us," I blurted out with honesty.

"Go to your room, Red." He gritted his teeth together. Anger stormed in his eyes with my response. I didn't say anything, hurtful.

"I am not going,"

"Don't anger me,"

"I don't care. Do what you want! You can't keep me as a prisoner here, and since you're not claiming me, I might just linger around and make love with someone else, someone who doesn't have an ex-girlfriend haunting or stopping them." I rolled my eyes and turned around. Luciano didn't seem so happy with my response. There was a subtle challenge settled in my tone for him, only if he could recognize it.

Just as I expected, he reacted with a cold determination. Once he got a hold of my hand, he stopped me from taking another step.

"I will not tolerate this behavior, and I can do whatever I feel like with you. You belong to me," A muscle in his jaw twitched as he replied coldly. I imposed a control over myself. I couldn't throw a fit at him, as he was a man, a creature, and I was a weakling. His words were harsh, but they were just words, only actions could prove a man's worth.

"I do not belong to you," I stepped back from with. "And don't touch me," I drew a deep breath and boldly met his gaze before walking away.

My intentions weren't evil. I didn't want anything from anyone. This place turned me cruel. The environment I was staying in was changing me. It was bringing out my wicked form. Shutting away all my emotions, I rushed back to my room and slammed the door shut.

My vision blurred as sorrow closed up in my throat. I crumbled down on the floor and began trembling with all the pain inside me. It was too much to bear. I wish I had my Nana beside me, telling me that it was going to be okay. A man never affected me before as I stayed away from them, but Luciano was affecting me, in ways I couldn't understand. It angered me deeply when I saw him looking at Charlotte. Whether he loved her or not, he couldn't look at her like that way — it was only for me. The tears that I bit back were all streaming down my cheeks. I carried myself to the bed and laid down while the door remained shut. I had enough for one day or at least one morning.

What was the purpose of mate when I wasn't going to be claimed by Luciano? What was the purpose of this all? If he still loved that woman, he should've just stayed with her. He should have never got me.

The aching sorrow seared through me for the rest of the day. This was going to be my miserable life. I was going to stay locked up in a bedroom until my mate could decide to release me. I was a prisoner with no hope of freedom.

"Ms. Red," Valarie knocked on my door a couple of hours later. I sniffed before wiping away my tears.

I cleared my throat before replying to the voice, "Leave me alone; I don't want to go anywhere!" My throat closed with grief as I spoke.

"I'm not taking you anywhere, Ms. Red. I just wanted to ask whether you were hungry or not. Would you like me to get your lunch? It's almost four and you haven't eaten anything." Valarie responded.

"No, I am not hungry!" I replied back.

"Okay, I will check you up on dinner then. If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen." She said. A few moments later, I found her footsteps disappearing into the hallway outside my bedroom.

I got off the bed and switched on the lights to the room. The sun was disappearing, and Luciano didn't even bother to come to check on me. He didn't even bother coming to his own room. He was probably having fun with Charlotte in her bedroom.

I scoffed and wrapped my locks in a bun before going through everything inside the bedroom. I couldn't cry anymore. I had done enough for one day.

My hands wandered around the tables, cabinets, and drawers. I began opening each one of them and going through whatever was inside them. A frame was placed in one of the drawers beside the bed. It was a portrait of two young people who looked familiar. One of them was Alpha Vincent.

I turned around the frame and looked at the name marked on the bottom.

Vincent Hanson and Jaqueline Pimentel Leitão

It was Luciano's parents. His mother was beautiful. She had dark golden hair that glimmered in the picture. She was standing beside Vincent with a smile on her face.

I turned the frame around once again, and this time, I noticed the date.

1902

The portrait was 103 years old.

Guess what's headed next — a steamy angry sex scene so get your holy water ready!

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