An Alpha's Love And Fire

Chapter 8: Gasoline

-Lucian-

I was poking at the food in front of me with my fork, not really having an appetite. I wasn’t sure why I joined tonight’s dinner again. Maybe because I didn’t really have anything else to do.

I wasn’t spending my time with some stranger. Since I had now found my mate, I only wanted her. I really wanted her, but Cecilia was not going to be convinced so easily.

She had pushed me away, and I had made her a vow that I would make her fall in love with me, but how?! How was I going to do that when she didn’t even want to see me? It was a damn hard puzzle to solve.

“Not hungry?” Lily inquired.

She was sitting further away on the other side, but she always seemed to know when something was bothering someone. She had a special gift and was therefore perfect for being a doctor. Rose sat beside her, smiling her sweet little smile and looking at me like Lily, almost analyzing me.

“Not really,” I admitted.

“Is something bothering you?”

Everyone started to look at me, and I felt very much put on the spot. I wasn’t sure what to tell them, but then I thought it over. Maybe I should tell them the truth.

They could help me convince Cecilia that she should be mine. I opened my mouth to answer when suddenly someone entered the dining room. It was someone from the border patrol, looking rather worried.

“My King, someone has requested to enter the territory,” he informed.

“Who?” Valerio asked.

“He says he is here to see someone,” he replied.

“And that is?”

The male looked at me.

“Me?” I queried.

He nodded, yet looked at me in a... strange way. I couldn’t quite understand why he was looking at me like that, but then I turned to the king and shrugged a little.

“Maybe it is important,” I suggested.

The king sighed. “Fine, let him enter.”

The male nodded and quickly left, but not before glancing at me again. That was so strange, I thought, before turning to the king again.

“Who did you screw over now?” he joked.

That made everyone laugh, but I felt very confused. While, of course, I could have given someone the wrong idea, I didn’t play people. I was honest with what I wanted and walked away if they didn’t want the same thing.

“I... I really don’t know what this is about,” I admitted.

“I guess we will figure it out soon,” Garrett remarked. “Are we going to see who it is or not?”

“All of us?” I inquired.

He smiled. “I would love to see some female kick your ass.”

“How do you know it is a female?” I asked and stood up.

That elicited a few chuckles as we exited the dining room. The king and queen led the way, chatting and smiling, while I lagged behind, secretly hoping that if someone had come seeking a confrontation, the others could buy me some time.

I wasn’t afraid of a fight, but my strength had grown, and I didn’t always gauge the force behind my blows accurately. If someone managed to provoke me enough, I could lose control.

Had I slept with someone who was mated or married to another? Not recently. I typically avoided such entanglements because I knew the potential for drama they carried, and I had no interest in that. But perhaps it was indeed someone’s mate or spouse who had come looking for me. Who could tell?

The king opened the door, and I strained to see who was outside, but I couldn’t make out the figure. I edged closer until I could peer around the king, and then… I froze.

“Luc, word on the street is you’ve been searching for me,” a voice I knew too well remarked.

I swallowed hard, locking eyes with the familiar green gaze. My heart quickened its pace, and I realized my past had caught up with me. I had tried to locate him, hoping to resolve matters before he tracked me down, but I had shelved that pursuit after Connor’s death, hoping it would remain buried. Clearly, it hadn’t.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Landon inquired.

“Don’t, Your Majesty!” I interjected, stepping in front of him. “Don’t let him in!”

“Oh, Luc, really? Not even an invitation for your dear brother?” Landon pressed.

I growled deep in my throat before launching myself at him, sending us both tumbling down the stone steps and rolling across the gravel path. I couldn’t think straight. All I saw was that fateful night he vanished, the flames, and our parents’ screams.

I could have intervened, but he was my brother. My twin. We bore a striking resemblance, save for the severe burn scar marring the right side of his face.

He resembled almost a version of Two-Face from Batman—less severe but no less haunting. The skin was marred, hairless, and he had lost much of his former attractiveness, the consequences of his actions etched upon him.

We grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand. I threw punches, but he had not idled away his time. He was formidable. Though he was not as physically imposing as me, he had clearly honed his strength. We had been mere boys when we last crossed paths. Now, we were grown alphas, both seething with rage.

“Lucian!” I heard the others call as they approached.

Landon pushed away from me, and we both scrambled to our feet. Then I saw it—a flask in his hand. He doused me with the pungent gasoline before brandishing a lighter, igniting it. Everyone froze, realizing his intentions.

“No, no,” he declared. “This is a family matter.”

I growled lowly, standing there, drenched in gasoline.

“I could have used regular alcohol, but you know how I savor the scent of gasoline,” he remarked.

I narrowed my eyes, loathing him for all the losses he had inflicted upon me.

“What brings you here, Landon?” I demanded.

He smiled, casting his gaze over my family, taking in each member.

“As I mentioned, I heard you’ve been searching for me,” he replied, turning back to me. “So, I thought I’d pay a visit.”

“Don’t play games,” I snapped.

His smile widened, recognizing my impatience.

“Fine, let’s cut to the chase,” he said. “I want my pack.”

“Your pack?!” I exclaimed.

“Yes, the one you handed over to our dear little cousin Madelaine and her mate Evan,” he clarified.

“Well, as you just stated, it’s under their ownership, not mine! I can’t give you something I don’t possess,” I retorted.

My brother regarded me with a hint of disappointment, the lighter swaying in his hand, making me instinctively shift my weight backwards, uncertain if he intended to use it. Fire was a force no one, not even the supernatural, could withstand. It would sear through my flesh faster than I could regenerate.

“Since I’m the eldest, it was never truly yours to hand over, was it?” he countered.

I gradually comprehended his scheme. It was precisely why I had relinquished the pack initially—I knew he could reclaim it at any moment. Even if the pack desired to follow me, they couldn’t ignore the dictates of nature.

Landon had been born seven minutes before me, making him the rightful heir and alpha. That’s why I had entrusted it to Madelaine, hoping it would remain secure with her. Yet now, I realized, legally, it was never mine to relinquish.

“Now, you’re going to return it to me,” he insisted.

“I—” I began.

“I’m not finished!” he interrupted.

I swallowed hard, his subtle movements with the lighter setting me on edge.

“You see, Luc, I’ve been waiting for the opportune moment to return home,” he continued. “And reclaim what is rightfully mine!”

“You were just a child. You couldn’t have inherited it!” I argued.

“I would’ve eliminated our uncle as well, and then it would’ve been mine,” he countered.

“You murdered our parents, and you expect the pack to follow you!”

“I had everything planned out perfectly, but then you had to go and ruin it!” he shouted.

He glared at me with intense animosity—a sentiment he had harbored since childhood. He was consumed by rage and malice, qualities I couldn’t comprehend.

Even as children, he tormented me, inflicting pain whenever he could, sometimes evading retribution. Our father had tried to reform him, believing in his potential for change, but something within Landon was fundamentally flawed. He didn’t aspire to improve. He relished in his cruelty.

“I was trying to protect them,” I insisted.

“And as I said, you ruined it,” he spat.

“Landon, the pack is no longer under my control!”

“No, it belongs to me!” he declared.

“But I can’t simply hand it back to you. Madelaine and Evan are already leading it, and they’re doing an excellent job. The pack is loyal to them.”

Madelaine and Evan hadn’t joined us for dinner tonight. Sometimes they preferred to stay in their territory, sharing meals either alone or with their pack members, fostering stronger bonds among them.

However, I knew they would soon learn of this situation. Madelaine would discover that Landon was alive—had always been alive. Everyone believed I was the sole survivor because I kept his existence hidden. I let them believe he was dead, hoping he would stay away, and because... despite everything... he was my brother.

“I don’t care,” he retorted. “You return what was never yours to give, or I’ll take it by force.”

“Landon...”

“Do you think our dear cousin can scream as loudly as our parents when I burn her alive?” he taunted, a sinister grin spreading across his lips.

“If you go near her—”

“Or maybe I should pay a visit to a certain beta.”

His words sent a chill down my spine.

“Yes, I’ve been keeping tabs on you. Since when do you trespass just to see a lowly beta?” he jeered.

I glanced at the others. Lara was present tonight, her expression puzzled, likely piecing together the situation.

“She’s your mate, isn’t she?” he asked.

“I...”

“What? Is the luna opposed to your union, or is this the first time my dear brother has had to chase after someone?” he sneered. “I suppose it pays not to have half your face burned off.”

“You did that to yourself,” I shot back.

“Sure, let’s pretend you weren’t the one who caused it,” he countered.

“You started that fire!”

“And you couldn’t finish what you started,” he retorted.

“Landon!”

“I’ll give you... a week. Then everything better be in order, or I’ll burn our cousin alive and force her mate to watch before I come for the rest,” he threatened, pointing at the others, who could only stand by helplessly as I was still drenched in gasoline. “The choice is yours, Luc. I’m sure I can make your mate scream.”

“If you so much as touch her...”

“What? Will you burn the other side of my face? You know, everyone always thought you were so perfect when we were kids. They never saw your dark side. They will now, though, and then you’ll know what it’s like to be truly alone,” he said, slowly backing away. “I’ve missed you, brother.”

“Landon!”

“One week! The clock is ticking!”

He retreated to where his car was parked, never taking his eyes off us, always poised with the gasoline and the lighter. We had to watch as he drove away before everyone turned to me, eager for answers.

Yeah, I should have known my brother would come one day. That’s why I wasn’t here when Chris died. I thought I could fix it. I thought I could finish what I started that night. I thought I could kill him, but I couldn’t find him, and now he’s found me...