A Detour

LUCIAN'S POV

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, glancing at the woman next to me for what had to be the tenth time in five minutes. She was curled up in the passenger seat, sniffling quietly, her face still blotchy from the tears I apparently interrupted in the parking lot. Her curly light brown hair was a mess, and she looked like a stiff breeze could blow her away.

Why in the world did I pick her up?

I shot a glare at the road ahead, annoyed with myself. My wolf, Ares, was practically bouncing around in my head like a child on too much sugar.

"Mate! Mate! Mine!" he had chanted the same lines earlier when I first saw her crying.

"Oh, shut up."

"I'm telling you, Lucian, she's the one. Can't you feel it?" Ares' voice buzzed annoyingly in my mind.

Feel it? Oh, I felt it alright. The second her sweet honey and jasmine scent hit me even before I caught sight of her near my car, and when I touched her to help her into the car, that spark—like electricity—almost singed me. But her? This quiet, timid woman? My mate?

She wasn't my type. Not even close. Even if I wanted a woman, which I didn't, I would like one with fire, confidence, the kind who wouldn't cry in a parking lot over…losing a meager job. I sighed heavily, trying to drown out Ares's gushing about the "Moon Goddess' immense love for us" and how I should get to know the timid woman.

"I swear," I muttered under my breath, gripping the wheel tighter, "if you don't shut up about her being 'perfect,' I will crash this car into a tree."

Ares growled back, unimpressed. "You won't do that. You'll hurt her."

Great. Now he cared about her well-being and feelings. I'm supposed to be the one in control here.

I finally caved and glanced at her. "Are you going to tell me why you are still crying, or should I start guessing?" My tone was clipped, more impatient than intended, but I was tired. And bored. And Ares wouldn't stop singing in my head like this was some kind of soap opera.

"Talk to her nicely. Be gentle."

"Gentle? You know me, right?" I shot back. "I don't do gentle."

"Well, learn!"

She blinked up at me, startled, like a deer caught in headlights. "I—uh…" she stammered, eyes wide and unsure.

Great. Just great. A talker. I almost rolled my eyes, but I held back. Barely.

My phone rang, thankfully cutting through the awkward silence. A distraction. Finally.

"Kenneth," I barked into the car's speaker, not bothering with pleasantries. "Make it quick."

"Alpha," Kenneth's shaky voice came through, and I could already feel the headache coming. "Mr. Williams sent over his lawyer with the contract. The one about his daughter…"

I groaned. Loudly. "The maid deal again? Are you kidding me?"

"It gets worse, sir," Kenneth continued, somehow managing to make my already sour mood more unbearable. "The elders have organized a ball in your honor, it already in full swing at the hotel. They insist you attend."

Of course, they did. Because nothing says, "I hate my life," quite like a ball thrown by meddling elders hell-bent on seeing me married. I cursed, slamming my hand on the steering wheel. "Damn it, Kenneth! You're practically useless."

A soft squeak came from the woman beside me, and I realized I had probably scared her half to death with my little outburst. Ares immediately started whining.

"Smooth, Lucian. Scare her into hating us, why don't you? Idiot."

I could practically hear his eye roll.

Shaking off Ares's nagging, I yanked the car into a hard U-turn, heading back toward the hotel. The woman's eyes widened again, and I couldn't help but smirk at her reaction. She probably thought I was a maniac at this point.

"I—I can get out here if you want," she mumbled quietly, voice barely above a whisper.

I snorted. "Not happening."

Ares immediately perked up, his excitement bubbling. "Oh, good! Keep her close! Bond with her!"

Shut up, Ares.

She was staring at me now, probably trying to figure out why I hadn't kicked her out of the car or why I was being so...odd. The truth was, even though she wasn't my type, something about the thought of her leaving or—God forbid—her hating me made my chest feel tight.

She shifted in her seat, probably nervous from my outburst. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Look," I said, my voice sounding more controlled than I felt, "don't get any ideas. I'm not your knight in shining armor, alright? I just... didn't want to leave you crying in a parking lot."

She blinked at me, her light brown eyes still wide with uncertainty. I could feel her trying to shrink even smaller into the seat. Great, now she's probably thinking I'm some sort of psycho.

I glanced at her again, this time trying not to sound like a complete jerk. "Look, what's your name?"

"Teresa," she whispered, like she was afraid saying it out loud would make me mad.

"Right," I muttered. "Teresa. Well, buckle up because we're headed to a place I didn't want to go to in the first place, thanks to some incompetent people around me."

Kenneth, probably sensing I was talking about him, quickly mumbled, "Sorry, sir," before I hung up the call.

I could feel Teresa's eyes on me again. "I really don't want to be a bother—"

"Too late for that," I interrupted, smirking despite myself. "Besides, my wolf might riot if I leave you anywhere alone right now."

She blinked at me, confused. "Your wolf?"

I let out a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, my wolf. You know, the big angry voice in my head that insists you're 'the one.'"

She looked horrified.

I chuckled darkly, rolling my eyes. "Don't worry, I'm just as confused as you are."

Before she could say anything—or start crying again—I added, "And don't start thinking this is some romantic gesture. You're just... along for the ride. That's it."

She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again. I sighed. This was going to be a long night.

"You're terrible at this," Ares complained.

"Shut it," I muttered.