My Most Precious Human

Taking a cautious step back, I said, "Mind telling me what are you doing in my room?"

"You didn't answer my question," Draven hissed, glancing at my phone, lying on the bedside table.

I clenched my fist. "I have no obligation to explain my private conversation. Now I'll ask you again: what are you doing here?"

Draven left out an angry sigh, "Your door wasn't locked."

"It wasn't open either." I glared at him.

I observed Draven taking a deep breath, putting out the fire within his eyes. "I wanted to check on you to know that you are fine after everything that happened today." His harsh tone turned warmer and more composed.

"You should have knocked first," I stated firmly.

"I did, but you were too busy flirting with that vampire over the phone." An annoyed smirk flashed across his face.

"I wasn't flirting with him!" I snapped, "And why the hell do I need to explain myself to you?! You know that we were in a relationship and-"

"Right! You WERE in a relationship, and YOU left him!" he roared.

His words hit me with frustration. Was it wrong that I wanted to believe Sariel? Was it wrong that this part of my heart that still loved him wanted him back despite everything that had happened? I lowered my gaze to the floor and bit my lip. I was torn. I knew that my actions might have hurt Draven, but at the same time, I knew that what I told Sariel was honest: whatever I felt for Draven, it wasn't love.

I heard Draven sigh and then saw his boots stepping closer to me. I hesitantly lifted my head to meet his gaze.

"I'm your mate. I'm crazy about you. You said that you would give us a chance," he coaxed.

With a deep, shaky breath and muttered, "What if I don't feel it? What if it stays that way no matter how hard you try? What if I was meant to be with-"

"I'm the one destined for you," he cut me off abruptly and stepped forward, his hands slipping around my waist. "You would have felt it too if you let me claim you."

"Are you serious?" I scoffed, raising my eyebrows. "Do you expect me to fall in love with you after we spend a night together?"

He smirked and seductively narrowed his eyes. "That is also likely to happen, but I meant it differently. Mating between those who are destined is like a sacred vow. It ties you emotionally."

"But I don't feel the bond now. Do you expect me to feel it once we have sex?" For me, it still sounded like an extremely lame line to get me to bed.

He chuckled. "Listen, Lilith... I have faith in my skills to make the night I claim you the best night of your life, and you won't think of that vampire king again, but the mating ritual is something different. We will become inseparable afterward, and it is something that you will feel too, even if you are a human," he claimed.

His confidence was striking. Nonetheless, I couldn't believe that we were actually discussing sleeping together and talking about it as if it was some sort of contract! God! His words were messing with my mind, and I bet he was very aware of that. He knew that I was wavering because of my werewolf heritage and because I wanted to believe in destined, everlasting love. He kept tempting me with the idea of it, and it relentlessly confused my heart.

I was blaming myself for the lack of decisiveness that could hurt either Draven or Sariel. I wanted to be true to myself, but each time Draven mentioned destiny, I'd stop in hesitation. Even though Sariel was making my heart flutter, I couldn't help but wonder if that would change after this so-called mating ritual with Draven. This idea sounded insane, but the confidence Draven had shown while telling me this kept poking my mind to think that there had to be something more to it than the fact that he wanted to fuck me. Nonetheless, I wasn't considering submitting to him without feeling deep in my gut that I was making the right choice.

Draven kept his eyes locked on me while his arms roamed behind my back, pulling me closer against his hard body. "I know you want me, Lilith. You shouldn't be fighting this urge."

I could feel my body reacting to his touch, but it suddenly felt dirty. "This isn't right." I placed my hands on his chest to break myself off his grasp.

Draven looked at me with a deep frown. I stepped away from him and sighed, gathering my thoughts.

"Sariel wants me back," I explained, "and I thought I owed you enough to tell you about it." He gritted his teeth. "I knew it. So, are you going to run to him after what he's done to you?" "I don't know what I'm going to do, but I want to meet him and talk," I explained nervously. "Do you want to be his doormat all the time?! He was using you!" Draven burst out.

As much as hearing those words was hurtful, I was unable to deny it. Sariel had been using me, and I couldn't trust unconditionally that he wouldn't try using me in a calculated way again.

"I know that it is unfair to you, but I asked you to give me time, and Sariel asked me for the same. I want to be honest with you because I am going to be honest with myself while making my choices." I tried to sound reasonable, although I knew that this wasn't what Draven wanted to hear.

"I am trying to stop you from making the wrong choice," he hissed.

I clenched my fists, containing my annoyance. "Draven..." I exhaled, "this is my choice to make. So, please, let's end this conversation and meet at the party, ok?" I gestured at the door.

He heaved a sharp sigh, then nodded and left my room, closing the door behind him. I collapsed on the bed. This day had been an emotional roller-coaster. I felt I needed to get all the messed-up feelings out of my system, and wine would be a perfect remedy to do that. I started to look forward to the party.

The grand celebration was going to be held on the outskirts of Sangreville. Most of the slaves lived there, surviving day by day in hoots or trailers. That was going to change from now on. Draven promised to build a special district to accommodate all of them comfortably, using the money from those who used to rule the pack. Since the slaves made up more than eighty percent of the pack's population, it was only right to let them be the hosts of the party. I was kind of looking forward to a country-style celebration.

Since I didn't pack anything party-like to wear, I was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black, fitted tank top with a sports jacket on top of it. I let my hair loose and did a simple makeup using BB cream, mascara, and a lip shimmer, hoping that it would look glamorous enough for the occasion.

I walked down to the van and found lan standing alone by the car.

"Hi, beautiful!" he called out when he saw me.

"Hi, yourself. You seem happy," I commented, seeing his wide grin.

"Yup! I switched with Martin, and I'm not driving today. God... I'm really looking forward to a drink... or six of them," he sighed dreamily, causing me to chuckle.

Certainly, my smile quickly faded as I saw Jetta join us by the car. She did everything she could to not look me in the eye, as if someone had warned her not to bother me. Whoever it was, I thought I should be grateful to him... or perhaps Jetta should be the one grateful, because with all the emotions restlessly crowding inside me, I was like a grenade with a tragically unstable pin, and she could be just the right reason for me to blow up.

A minute later, Draven came down, wearing all black just like me. He had his hair combed up and looked sexier than ever. I even started to wonder if he was doing it on purpose to get my attention. Well, it was extremely hard to take eyes off of him. Apparently, he chose to play this out cool, showing me a minimum of his attention. For a second, I considered walking over to him and informing him that whatever he was doing, it wouldn't work on me since I had always hated games, but then I just waved off that idea and decided to simply enjoy the party without his company.

When we arrived, the whole area looked like a country fest. Multiple rows of paper lanterns were hanging above our heads. The hay blocks separated the wooden dancefloor from long lines of benches and tables. If it weren't for the more modern country rock music that was flowing from the large speakers and filling the air with energetic sounds, I would have thought that we had traveled back in time. Right by the sitting area were many tables serving different types of food and alcohol. People stood in line to get themselves something to eat and drink. They were celebrating, enjoying themselves, and feeling free. It was amazing to see them all looking like that, full of life and hopeful, as if those miserable faces I had seen just a few hours ago had never existed. I wished I could blend in and relax, but the chances of that happening were slim to none. Our group walked there together, looking like a military squad. Everyone was staring at us warily. However, I quickly found out that it wasn't the worst part...

"Princess! Our little Princess has arrived!" An old woman with short grey hair and sparkling blue eyes ran out of the crowd.

The music stopped and everyone around me turned my way. I swallowed hard. I couldn't even remember anyone calling me "Princess" without adding a sarcastic tone to it. The crowd began to surround me, alerting my senses since I was yet to find out what their intentions were.

The woman who shouted before came closer, scanning me from head to toe. Ian wanted to interfere, but Draven stopped him, gesturing at everyone else to stand down. The old woman stepped right before me. She was almost a head shorter than me, which made her tiny, but her eyes betrayed fearlessness and wisdom. Overwhelmed by her intense gaze, I lowered my head, leaning over to her. Once she looked directly into my eyes, she smiled, and her eyes became teary.

"You have Eve's eyes..." she muttered, letting out a soft weep.

I gasped, surprised. My eyes were green, and they looked just like my father's, whom I hated. My hair was also as black as his, which made me hate everything about the way I looked. I had only a faint memory of my mother, but I knew that she was an amazing white wolf, and her human hair was almost white as well.

"I always thought that I look like my father..." I muttered breathlessly.

"No, dear." The old lady chuckled as she cupped my face in her warm hands. "Your father has those cold forest green eyes. They are deep-set and narrow, but yours are not. You have your mother's emerald, round eyes," she described.

"D-did you know my mother well?" I asked, my heart pounding wildly.

"Of course, little Princess," she smiled, stroking my hair and cheek. "I had known her from the moment she was born. I was her nanny in the House of Leber and treated her as my own child." "Have we ever met?" I asked nervously.

"Most of us here have met you, little Princess," she chuckled as she took a step away from me. "Now that we know that your heart beats as strongly as your mother's did, we will follow you wherever you go, Princess."

As her words sounded out in the air, I saw the whole pack kneel before me, placing one hand on their chest. Ian took a step closer to me and prodded my elbow.

He grinned and winked at me, "I think you have just become their Alpha."