Cassie's POV

I stood there, glued to the floor beneath me as I watched his tall figure fade into the exit. Just when I didn't see him anymore, I exhaled deeply, clutching my fragile chest to soothe my outrageous heartbeat.

“What the hell?” I muttered to myself, trying to catch exactly what just happened.

If I remember correctly, I was kidnapped by this awfully hot man, with little to no patience, kissed and engaged in one night? I chuckled, swallowing the only thing that kept my feet glued to the floor— fear.

“Miss Carter, it's the Boss's order that you return to your room,” a man in black suit spoke from a fair distance.

I didn't respond. I just gazed past his shoulders to be sure that he was the only one in the hallway. Thankfully, he was.

“Miss Carter?” He called again, taking one fearsome step towards me.

My gaze moved against the buttons of the elevator before he could catch them. I pushed those buttons quicker than I planned and even quicker than he could catch up with me, but strangely, he didn't bulge.

Cold shivers ran down my spine in remembrance of his words… My mum was in so much danger as I was, and one wrong step would kill us both. Fuck! I would never bear it if my mum gets dragged into this mess. I couldn't rest it.

Taking a deep breath, I went back to the floor I had escaped from, hoping not to see Lucien or anyone. I felt like life had just been robbed from me too conveniently and the least thing I'd appreciate to get out of it was my space.

The housekeeper was already standing next to the door when I arrived. I watched as two bodyguards left the entrance, leaving me with the blonde housekeeper. Her lips twitched in attempts to say a word, but when she glanced at my finger, her words died in her throat. Great.

I walked into the dimly lit room, forcing the stupid ring out of my finger. I threw it not caring where it landed and turned to look at my reflection.

“You can change into this, ma'am,” the blonde said too carefully for a prisoner like me.

“Ma'am?” I half chucked? “I'm a prisoner and nothing more, okay?!” I snapped in annoyance.

Seeing how she jolted, a pang of guilt watched over me. Whatever was happening to me right now wasn't her fault.

“I'm sorry,” I began, hoping not to cast the exact reflection of my keeper. “My name is Cas–”

She ran out before I could complete my sentence. I bit my bottom lip at a scary realisation. I hadn't stayed up to twenty-four hours here, but I was beginning to look different. It was unsettling yet I couldn't help it, even my reflection says otherwise about the quiet and innocent Cassie. It was too early, very unsettling and very out of control for me to let a single flicker of flame burn this wild.

Still watching my reflection, I felt dirty for ever thinking about him that way. Maybe he saw through my thoughts and that motivated him to kiss me. Jeez, Cassie, what happened to you staying out of the criminal world? My anger which had melted into fear of losing my mom and myself turned to hate. For what I had let myself become a few minutes ago and for the one who triggered it effortlessly, then lastly, for the wolf that never forgot her sheep clothing, Elena.

Changing into the maroon coloured satin robe, I walked to the average sized bed sitting at the corner of the room. The clicking sound of the door made me realise I had to get a weapon just in case something happened, but then again I was utterly powerless before him.

His hair was wet as though he just stepped out from the shower. However, his outfit remained the same.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with indifference, but got no response.

He just followed the length of my exposed legs to my thighs, deliberately setting my senses on fire. Swallowing hard, I snapped my finger twice, redirecting his attention.

“Where is the ring?” His tone sliced the air abruptly, making me step back.

“I don't want it,” I said simply after quickly scanning the floor to know where it had fallen.

The silence felt like the first phase of my punishment, before he began to move in an opposite direction trying to find it, while I just searched with my eyes, hoping to find it first. Unfortunately for me, he found it just in time and now he was walking towards me with both irritation and anger all burning in his eyes.

“This would be the last time I put it on your finger, Cassie Monroe,” he stretched each word while standing a breath away from me.

“I don't want to be yours,” I snapped the moment he took my left hand.

“Come on now,” he smirked. “I didn't say you are mine, did I?” He raised a brow mockingly, taking one step closer to my visibly pale body. God! How was he able to do all that?

I fell to the bed before I could respond, feeding his ego all over again.

“You're clearly crossing the line, Lucien. You're taking advantage,” I pointed at the distance between us. “Please step back,” I tried to sound brave enough to match his very intimidating tone, but it seemed that all I did was pour fuel to a burning fence.

He went ahead and did the opposite, kneeling down, so his height was no longer much of a difference since I was sitting. He carefully tucked the stray strands of hair over my face to the back of my ears. In one swift move, his hands gripped the back of my neck, pulling me closer to him.

“The door is always open, Cassie, and I have given you freedom and a choice so you know that you are not a prisoner under my roof,” his voice was husky and still intimidating. “You're free to run if you want to,” he brushed his thumb soft against my lips, freezing all the cells in my mouth. “Just know I'll find you and maybe, I'd have to make you mine then.”

My gaze was fixed on his lips even though he was done speaking. He didn't dare move after seeing my hesitation more like he wanted me to make the first move. I shut my eyes tightly, fighting the urge to surrender, but miserably failed.

“Go to bed, Cassie. You'll have a long day tomorrow,” he pulled away the second I leaned in.

Suddenly all he said felt numb except the sharp impact of that single action.

“Sure,” my voice cracked in shame.