A Dangerous Game
Peniel Genevieve Blue
I loathe that my mother chose the name Peniel for me. At least people might come to know me as Genevieve once they find out the culprit. But no, I'm grateful she gave me a name before she died. The one who took her life will pay for it.
Blood spurted across my skin as the warrior tried to drag me from the room. I had been caught trying to steal an apple. I cried out, yanking a dagger from my garter hostler and slashing it across the warrior's throat. He fell to the marble floor, eyes wide, choking on his own blood.
"I just wanted an apple too," I muttered, bringing the fruit to my mouth, but the sound of approaching footsteps made me drop it.
I couldn't move, as if a curse had turned me into a statue. The scent that surrounded me made it feel like I was trapped in an unbreakable spell—even though I sensed someone approaching, I was too paralyzed to react.
I felt like such an i***t.
Could my power be compromised at this moment?
"s**t. You f*****g killed my warrior," a deep, menacing voice said, devoid of fear, as if he knew I was too immobilized to retaliate.
His voice . . . It somehow made my wolf feel unsettled in a way I had never experienced before. I struggled to maintain control over my wolf as I turned to face him, and that's when my eyes widened in shock.
Lucian Jax Valor looked powerful and angry as he stared at me. He wore a tight black leather jacket that showed off his strong shoulders and chest. Underneath, he had on a dark, fitted shirt. His pants were made of strong, dark material and were tucked into shiny black boots.
A silver chain hung around his neck. Everything about him screamed power and control, making it clear why he was a force to be reckoned with among the wolves.
I tried to step back, but he spoke, his voice low and dangerously seductive. "There's no turning back now," he said. "You made this choice, and I thought this would be difficult, but you're not everything I imagined." He laughed with husky voice, and then he lunged, pinning me against the wall. I gasped, our eyes locking, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
His dark eyes roamed from my lips down to my cleavage, but I remained unmoved, meeting his intense gaze without flinching.
"So you're the wanted criminal everyone's talking about?" he snapped, tilting my head to face him. "You're just a little thief, exactly as I expected," He spoke in a deep voice that made me gulp as I continued to stare at him.
"Are you going to kill me—" I began, my eyes fixated on his knife as he pulled it from his pocket and held it between my eyes, smirking like a psycho.
I breathed hard, staring at the gleaming blade.
"You don't need to ask the obvious," he seethed. "You have no idea how long we've been trying to catch you, and now, here you are." He pressed the knife harder against my skin. I could feel the sharpness—is this my death?
Am I getting killed in the very pack where my mother was killed?
"I know you want to be the Alpha King," I gasped. "But, you don't have to do this. We can sort it out—"
Prince Lucian chuckles darkly. "You're far too innocent for the things I'm imagining," he whispers, his face inches from mine, as the cold blade presses dangerously against my neck.
"f**k, you know you don't have to do all this, right?" he groaned. "You could just become one of my sluts, serve me, and survive. But you violated everything, and now you're the key to my ascent to the throne," he sneered, pressing the knife to my chest.
I cleared my throat, desperately trying to avoid the trouble I'm already in.
"I tried to—"
"Do you want to die, little thief?" he sneered, his voice dripping with menace. "I'm confident you know exactly who you're facing right now. I'm not interested in hearing your explanations." He withdraws the knife in a shift motion—leaving me trembling in place.
My heart skipped a beat and shook my head.
"I don't want to die . . . " I murmured my plea.
"If you're so tough, just like how you treated everyone in this pack," he started, his voice rough and filled with authority, "then you deserve a punishment."
I stepped back, moving slowly into a nearby room. As I tried to leave, he followed, his hand slamming the door shut behind him with a sharp. The room felt suddenly small and isolated.
He exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging as he dropped into a chair with a thud. I stood in front of him, watching as he clenched his jaw and struggled to keep his composure.
"Tell me your name."
"Genevieve," he said firmly. My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. "I'm trying to live like the elites—eating three times a day," I said with a shaky voice. "I'm living with my sister, so please, you can't do this—"
"You're not just a thief, but a liar too. I've been watching you, and I know you're all alone. But what I didn't expect? That you'd be such a hot little thief." He cut me off, his voice low and dangerously smooth.
"If you want to kill me, might as well do it right now!" I spat, but I made sure that my voice didn't show any weakness.
Because I also studied Lucian Jax Valor. He's a womanizer. Likes to f**k girls, and he's ruthless and more likely the Alpha King's favorite.
He leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Kill you?" he murmured, "Now, where's the fun in that?" He scanned my body that made me gulp.
Lucian's eyes roamed over me, taking in every detail as if he were savoring the moment. He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch felt warm.
"No," he continued, his voice a dark whisper, "I think I'll keep you around for a while. See what other secrets you're hiding. After all, you're far too intriguing to dispose of so quickly."
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin, "Besides," he added softly, his lips almost touching my ear, "I want to see just how far you'll go to survive."
I shoved him back, my eyes blazing. "You're just like your parents, taking advantage of people," I spat, my anger flaring. I knew all too well what his family was capable of—after all, they were the ones who had killed my mother. It was no surprise that he would be the same.
Lucian chuckled, a low, seductive sound that sent a shiver down my spine.
He stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving mine as he closed the distance between us again. "You think I'm taking advantage of you?" he asked, his voice a smooth, mocking drawl. "Oh, sweetheart, you haven't seen anything yet."
He reached out and caught my wrist, pulling me closer until our bodies almost touched. His other hand traced a line down my arm, making my skin tingle. "Let's make this more... interesting," he murmured, his fingers playing with the hem of my shirt. "Why don't you show me what you're hiding under all these layers?"
He laughed coldly. "Of course, you can't," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. He sighed and added, "You're good at hiding, but not at showing."
I slapped his hand away, my heart beating too fast. "Of course you wish," I spat, but he only laughed softly.
"Come on," he coaxed, his voice a dangerous purr. "Think of it as a game."
"You show me yours, and maybe, just maybe, I'll show you mine. You know that I am really picky when it comes to women, I made sure they're elites but I am giving you a chance." He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, his breath hot and making me weak. "Or are you afraid you might actually enjoy it?"
I looked around, searching for an escape. They were right about him. He had the power to bewitch girls with his looks, but he had only ever loved one woman in his life. I tried to run, but he grabbed me, pinning me against the wall with a force that took my breath away.
"Trying to run, little thief?" he murmured, his voice a low, teasing rumble. His body pressed against mine, his heat seeping into my skin. "You should know better by now." I struggled but his gripped is too powerful around mine.
He held my wrists above my head with one hand, the other tracing a slow, tantalizing path down my side. "You see," he continued, his eyes dark and intense, "I like it when my prey puts up a fight. Makes it so much more satisfying when they finally give in."
His fingers played with the hem of my shirt again, lifting it slightly as he leaned in, his lips brushing against my neck. "Let's see if you can keep up this tough act," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin, "or if you'll end up begging for more."
"Your Highness—"
"You should be thankful," he muttered, "that even though I've brought you to my father's throne room, I haven't done it yet." He sneered, "My sluts give that same reaction when they act hard to get but end up begging for more."
I stared at him, realizing that there was no escape. Lucian was intent on luring me in and using me before he killed me. I had only one chance—to take advantage of the situation.
I grabbed his necktie and pulled him close, pressing my lips against his. My eyes were shut, and I was overwhelmed by a desperate, obsessive need that made it hard to stop.
His hands roamed over my body, and as he dropped the knife, I grabbed the opportunity. I slipped the knife into my pocket and tried to stab him, but he reacted too quickly. With a growl, he bit into my neck.
He released me, and I gasped, feeling the sting of his mark on my skin.