Big bad wolf

"I-I thought about going to the garden, but I changed my mind. I will go back to my mother and sister," Lucy said, anxious about how she was alone with a man.

She tried to walk past him, but he held her waist and pushed her to a dark corner. Her breathing hitched when her back touched the cold pillar. His other hand went above her head, his broad chest blocking her view of everything behind him.

"What are you doing?" Her voice trembled a bit. She never experienced this before and she didn't know what to do. She wanted to shout but with the music in the hall, would someone even hear her? And if this man really held a position in the palace, would the guards come to her aid when she was nothing but a village girl?

"Having a little fun," he said. The darkness in his eyes intimidated her.

"Please, I want to go back—"

"And what will you do there? Dance with another man?" He shook his head. "No, my sweet, I won't allow that."

Her heart rammed her chest. She never felt so cold inside and the strong urge to run from someone. The way he called her sent shivers all over her body, making her knees go weak in fear.

"Why are you doing this…" Her voice stopped midway when she felt his knuckles caressed her cheek softly.

Luther stared at Lucy with satisfaction. It was only a few minutes after they danced but he felt the urge to touch her and inhale her scent again. It was like a craving he just found, something he wanted to devour and consume but didn't want to lose at the same time.

He chuckled. The frantic beating of her heart was like a melody in his ears.

"I just want to spend a little time with you. That is not a crime, is it?" He teased, and the way her frightened eyes widened, he knew she was dying to sprint away from him. What an adorable little thing she was, he thought wickedly.

"But my sister might be searching for me—"

"How will she spare time to search for you when she was busy dancing with men?" Luther clicked his tongue and dropped his hand at the side of her waist, deciding not to scare her more with his touch.

"My mother will," Lucy returned, couldn't think of a better alibi. Because in truth, she knew neither her mother nor sister would search for her, not when they were in the ball occupied with the beautiful things around them.

There was a long howl in the background, must be from a wolf, that made Lucy's heart skip another beat. Although the existence of wolf shifters was long accepted, the idea of seeing one didn't put her at ease. What more if she would see one in wolf form? She heard shifters didn't turn into normal sized but to huge wolves. And if she would ever see one, she would surely faint.

"Relax, Lucy," he breathed against her cheek. "Your heart is beating so fast as if it will explode. I'm a big bad wolf but I won't gobble you up."

"Please…"

"Why are you so afraid? A wolf's bite won't hurt." He grinned. He loved how her hazel eyes widened and her heart leaped when he teased her. He should thank his dear sister for insisting on this ball. If it wasn't for it, he wouldn't have met Lucy.

"You… you will bite me?" The words barely left Lucy's mouth. It was less than a whisper, but Luther heard her smooth voice clearly.

One side of his lips rose. "Can I?"

"Will you suck my blood?"

Luther's nose wrinkled. "What am I? A vampire? Of course not. I don't drink blood, Lucy."

"Then why would you bite me?"

Seeing the innocence in her eyes, Luther prolonged the tease and bent his head, placing his lips near her ear. He felt her flinching, avoiding contact but glad that she knew better than to run. He then whispered, "Because the bad wolf wants to eat you."

Lucy's lips parted. She had heard about wolves attacking some people in the outskirts of the town, which was the start of rumors about wolf shifters hunting humans for food. The thought of it was gross and inhumane.

"Please…" She didn't know what to do. Should she push him and run? But what were the odds of her not getting caught?

"What do you think? Are you delicious or not?" Luther went on, not minding if Lucy was close to crying. He loved seeing different expressions in her face. He couldn't help but wonder what her pleasured expression looked like.

Lucy shook her head at the question.

"No?" Luther cocked his head. His fingers grazed the ends of her honey curls. Her hair was soft as silk and he wouldn't bother wasting his precious time just to let his fingers run through it.

"I don't think the same, though. You smelled delicious. Why don't you let me taste you so I would know?" He said the last part in a provocative manner like a devil luring an innocent angel to his den.

Lucy held her breath. She felt like fainting anytime soon.

Luther chuckled. "Breathe my sweet Lucy. Relax, I'm just teasing you."

"That is not a good joke, sir. Please, let me go back inside," Lucy tried to make her voice sound firm.

When he finally stepped back, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. He crossed his arms and leaned on the next pillar, smiling. Thinking that he was serious about letting her go, Lucy ran as fast as she could without turning back. Her pulse was racing when she arrived at the royal hall. She looked back and turned to both sides to see if he followed her but she didn't find him.

"Miss Lucy!" Lucy saw a man approaching and immediately recognized him as Mr. Bentley even with the mask. For the first time, she was glad of his presence. At least with him around her, the man in black mask would think twice of doing things like what he did earlier.

"Mr. Bent—" She froze when she caught a glance of the dark balcony above. Even with the distance and the darkness surrounding him, she was so sure his eyes were watching her.

"You can't run away from me, Lucy," Luther muttered under his breath like a curse as he stared at her with a playful smile.