Chapter Three

Cecilia's POV

“Derek, just hold on a little longer,” my father urged in a low voice. “Once she gets onstage and humiliates herself in front of everyone, this will all be over.”

“That’s right,” my mother whispered. “Do it for Lilith. Just humor her this once.”

“Derek, don’t let some blind woman ruin everything.” Lilith softened her voice, sounding coy and sweet. “Once tonight is over, you can have anything you want.”

Derek remained silent for a few seconds before finally letting out a sigh.

“Fine. Let’s get to the ceremony and get this over with,” he said through clenched teeth. “Once this little show is over, I’ll come back for Cecilia.”

The man carrying me didn’t look back. He walked straight out of the villa and toward the car waiting outside.

He carefully placed me in the back seat, walked around to the other side, and got in beside me.

The door closed, shutting out everyone watching from outside.

The car was quiet, filled with his clean cedar scent.

I could tell that the man beside me was sitting rigidly upright. He tried to keep his breathing slow and steady, but he couldn’t hide his nervousness.

The car pulled smoothly away from the Howard estate and headed toward the hotel where the mate party was being held.

“You’re not Derek, are you?” I said evenly as I leaned back against the seat.

The man beside me went rigid. His heart skipped a beat.

“You... you knew?” His low, rough voice was full of disbelief.

“I may be blind, but I’m not stupid.” I smiled in the direction of his voice. “Your scent is nothing like Derek’s. I knew you weren’t him the moment you entered the dressing room.”

“Then why did you choose me?” he asked urgently, his voice trembling.

“It didn’t matter whether I chose Derek or someone else.” I closed my eyes. “If they want to turn me into a joke, I’ll give them what they want. What I want to know is why you agreed to play along with Derek’s ridiculous game.”

The car fell silent.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and spoke.

“My name is Lucas. I’m not one of the stand-ins Derek brought in. To be exact, I took one of their places and slipped into the lineup.”

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t expected that.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I couldn’t stand by and watch him humiliate you like this.” Anger edged into Lucas’s voice. “Cecilia, you probably don’t remember me. Fifteen years ago, near the orphanage on the south side, you gave half a sandwich to a little werewolf who was nearly starving to death. Then you gave him your coat. That little werewolf was me.”

I froze.

Fifteen years ago?

I had only recently lost my sight back then. It had been the darkest and most hopeless time of my life.

I did remember coming across a shivering little boy while I was feeling my way along the street. I had given him the only food I had and draped my coat around his shoulders.

But I never imagined that such a small act of kindness would bring us together again today.

“I’ve watched over you from a distance all these years.” Lucas lowered his voice, and I heard the bitterness in it. “I watched Derek make promises to you. I watched you become his fiancée. I thought he would take care of you, so I stayed away. But he never deserved you.”

He suddenly reached over and gently took the hand resting on my lap. His palm was broad and warm, rough with calluses from years of training.

“Cecilia, I came here today because I wanted to take you away. I won’t let you go to that ridiculous party and be humiliated in front of everyone.” There was no hesitation in his voice.

I felt the warmth of his palm and smiled.

“Take me away? Where would we go? You want me to run?”

Lucas went still.

“I won’t fall into the same trap twice, but I’m not going to run away in defeat either.” I pulled my hand from his palm, then wrapped my fingers around his wrist. “Lucas, you just said you didn’t want to see them make a fool of me. What if I want to make fools of them instead?”

Lucas’s breathing quickened.

“You mean...”

“Since they gave me a stand-in, I might as well turn their plan against them.” My voice turned cold. “What could humiliate them more than watching me choose a different groom in front of everyone on the day of my mating ceremony?”

I turned toward him. I couldn’t see his face, but I could feel the intensity of his gaze.

“So, Lucas, will you mate with me and become the real groom at today’s mate party?”

The air inside the car seemed to freeze.

A second later, I heard Lucas’s breathing turn ragged.

His hand tightened around mine, but he quickly restrained himself and loosened his grip.

“Yes.” The joy in his voice was impossible to miss. “Cecilia, there’s nothing I want more.”