Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Luceila’s POV

The sleek black Range Rover pulled up in front of the massive gate. I pressed my forehead against the glass of the window, my body still aching from the bruises that had not quite faded. Beside me, my mother sat poised and excited.

"Smile, Lucelia," she said, flipping her hair off her shoulders.. "This is a fresh start for both of us."

I did not respond, I couldn’t. It was a fresh start for her, not me. She just enjoyed dragging me into her own dilemma.

The moment the car rode through the gates and pulled to a stop, a line of attendants appeared, dressed in black suits. One opened my door and offered a gloved hand to help me down, while others began to take our luggage out of the car.

As I looked around, the front door swung open, revealing a man who I guessed to be the Alpha.

He was young. Well, younger than I expected. For some reason, I had expected the man who whisked my mom off her feet with money to be some old billionaire Alpha who had no use for his money.

"Arthur," my mother chirped, running towards him. He caught her in his arms and broke into a smile. He kissed her forehead before turning his gaze toward me.

I stood awkwardly by the car with my hands shoved deep into my pockets. I felt like an intruder in this fairytale world.

"You must be Luceila," Arthur said. His voice was a deep rumble. He stepped forward and offered a polite but firm nod. "Welcome to your new home. I hope the drive was comfortable."

"It was fine," I managed to say.

Arthur surveyed me for a moment. He watched me for a moment before speaking up. "Your mother mentioned only a few things interest you. Tell me, do you play golf?"

I blinked. I was surprised by the accuracy of the question. "I do. My father taught me when I was younger."

"Excellent," Arthur smiled. "We have a private course on the grounds. I look forward to a round once you have settled in."

I didn’t say anything. Instead, I looked away.

“Honey, where are the boys?” Mother asked from behind him. She clearly wanted his attention back on her.

"They are not in at the moment," Arthur replied. He gestured for us to head inside. "They went hunting but they’ll be back any moment from now. Come on, feel at home.”

Mother walked to us and clung to Arthur, whining about how bad she had missed him. They headed towards the house so I took that as my cue and walked behind them.

While inside the house, I was truly amazed. I tried to hide it but did a very bad job. The mansion was old, yet elegant with intricate designs that screamed luxury.

My head snapped at the sound of smooching and a frown appeared on my face at the sight in front of me. Mother was all over Arthur as she was practically sucking his whole face.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. “Uhm, can someone show me to my room?” I asked, grossed out.

“Oh no, not yet. Breakfast is ready, why don’t you have some? You must be famished.” Arthur said.

No, all I wanted to do was go into a quiet space. Before I could open my mouth to decline, mother spoke up.

“That’s so sweet of you honey, we would be glad to.” She said, her face breaking into a smile I feared would crack her jaw.

“Good.” Arthur said, returning her smile. They began walking again and all I could do was follow behind.

We walked through the foyer and into a dining room that felt larger than my entire apartment. Sunlight streamed through floor to ceiling windows, making the dining room look even more expensive.

"Please, sit," Arthur said, pulling out a heavy cushioned chair for my mother. I took the seat across from them and I looked down at the array of dishes laid out before us. My mouth began to water.

There were small bowls of chilled dragon fruit and passion fruit that begged to be eaten. Beside them sat plates of smoked salmon roe and something made with quail eggs and topped with fresh herbs I didn’t know the name of.

The aroma was intoxicating and my stomach rumbled, my sore ribs long forgotten. I picked up a fork, my hand trembling slightly as I took a bite of a truffle filled omelet. It was light and creamy, melting on my tongue almost instantly. I savored the taste hungrily.

"Do you like it, Luceila?" Arthur asked, casting a glance my way.

"It is nice," I admitted. I tried to maintain some dignity, but I found myself reaching for the large tray of grilled turkey.

“I think the meals are pretty nice as well.” Mother said as she reached for Arthur and rubbed his shoulders lovingly. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

I was halfway through my food when the double doors of the dining room swung open. Three guys strode in.

They were undeniably brothers, all sharing the same towering height and striking features, but the energy they brought into the room was completely different.

The one in the lead was the eldest, clearly. He was ruggedly handsome with a jawline that looked like it was carved from stone. His dark hair was long, and his eyes were so dark, it felt like he was looking through my very soul. He had tattoos all over his neck and hands. He did not even look at the food. He just dropped a heavy bag onto a side table with a thud. He was the hard one, the commander.

Right behind him was the second brother. He was leaner, with a more graceful, athletic build. His short dark hair was pulled back, and his full lips were pouted. He was incredibly handsome in a more refined but mischievous way. He reached over and took a turkey wing. He met my gaze as he chewed but I quickly looked away. Though he had on a playful look, there was something about him that screamed danger.

The third brother trailed slightly behind. He was the youngest but most charming. He had broad shoulders and moved with a heavy gait. His features were softer than the other two, almost boyish, but his eyes were dark and brooding. He looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. His expression was empty as he simply pulled out a chair at the far end of the table and sat down, his presence taking up all the remaining air in the room.

"You are late," Arthur said. His voice was calm, but it held a hint of authority.

"The trail went cold near the creek," the eldest replied. His voice was a low whisper. He finally turned his sharp gaze toward me and it felt like he could see through me. "Is this them?"

Mother stood up, her face lighting up with that same performative joy. "Luceila, dear, these are Arthur’s sons. Reis, Ruan, and silas."

They all turned towards me. I don’t know what I was expecting but when they looked at me, they all scrunched their noses in disgust.