17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
L ucian’s presence was like a thunderstorm moving into the room— controlled, powerful, and impossible to ignore. His tall frame was draped in a charcoal coat, the collar turned up against the chill of the night air. Dark red hair, perfectly disheveled in a way that spoke of effortless authority, framed a strong jawline and sharp cheekbones. But it was his eyes— those piercing steel-grey eyes— that rooted me in place. They weren’t unkind, but they were assessing, as though he could see straight through my carefully curated walls.
I gripped the menu tighter, my knuckles turning white as Lucian approached our booth. He moved with an undeniable grace despite his size, his every step deliberate and assured. Finn walked just behind him, his presence grounding yet deferential in a way that made me realize their dynamic wasn’t like any Alpha-Alpha pairing I had ever witnessed growing up.
Elias shifted beside me, his honey-warm scent spiking with a note of reassurance. "Lydia," he said gently, "this is Lucian." His tone held an undercurrent of affection.
"Hello Lydia," he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying an undercurrent of power but none of the aggression I’d been bracing for. "It’s nice to finally meet you." I swallowed hard, willing my voice not to betray me.
"H-hello," I managed. My voice came out as more of a squeak than the whisper I had intended. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as Lucian's piercing gaze seemed to look right through me. "It's nice to meet you too."
Lucian's expression softened slightly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I hope I'm not intruding on your evening," he said, his tone polite but warm. "Elias and Finn have told me a lot about you. I've been looking forward to meeting the artist who's captured their attention."
I shook my head, not trusting my voice to remain steady. Lucian slid into the booth after Finn, his movements fluid despite his imposing frame. His scent— a complex mix of leather and rain— washed over me, powerful but not overwhelming.
"We were just about to order," Elias said, his voice carrying a hint of nervous energy. "Lydia, did you decide what you wanted?
I blinked, nodding my head. I was going to go with what Elias had recommended earlier, “Yes, I have made up my mind.” Though I don’t know how much I would actually eat now that Lucian was here.
"Wonderful," Elias said warmly, his honey-sweet scent wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. "The pumpkin soup, right? It's perfect for a chilly evening like this."
I nodded, grateful for his gentle prompting. "Yes, and maybe some of that rosemary bread you mentioned?" My voice was soft, but steadier than I expected.
Lucian's eyes flickered with interest. "Excellent choice," he said, his deep voice carrying a note of approval that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. "The rosemary bread here is exceptional. Pairs beautifully with their soups."
The waitress appeared, her smile bright as she took in our expanded group. "Ready to order?" she asked cheerfully.
As Elias, Finn, and Lucian made polite conversation with the waitress, I found myself studying Lucian from under my lashes. I didn’t want to be obvious but from the amused look on his face, I had been caught.
“You can go first Lydia.” He told me, grey eyes almost like liquid silver as he looked at me.
I quickly told her my order, before pausing at the end, “Can I have a Chamomile tea as well.” The waitress nodded, before going to the other three for their orders. They quickly put the orders in before a quiet atmosphere swept over the table.
"How are you enjoying Haven's Rest, Lydia?" Lucian asked, his voice breaking the silence with genuine interest on his face. "I understand you've been here for about a year now, haven't you?”
I hesitated, feeling the weight of his gaze settle on me. It wasn’t prying, but there was an intensity to it, like he genuinely wanted to understand, to know my answer beyond just the words I gave. Slowly, I nodded, wrapping my hands around the edges of the menu even though I didn’t need it anymore.
"Yes," I said softly. "About a year." My voice felt small in comparison to his presence, but I forced myself to keep going. "It’s… different here. Quieter. It feels more like a fresh start.
Lucian nodded, leaning back slightly in the booth with a measured ease that still somehow managed to command attention. "Fresh starts can be good," he said plainly, but there was something deeper beneath his tone— an understanding that made my shoulders relax just slightly. "Sometimes removing yourself from everything you’ve known is what allows you to find who you really are."
His words struck something in me, a chord I hadn’t expected, “Yes. That is one way to put it. It does take a bit to get used to but I’ve been able to focus on my art and my store…so that helps.”
The way he was looking at me made me pause, and almost forget my nerves entirely. There was something about the way he spoke that felt deliberate, as if he meant each word, not just as polite conversation, but as something more— a quiet acknowledgment of how hard it was to start over.
Elias chimed in beside me, his honey-warm voice threading through the moment with an ease that made me relax even more, "Lydia’s done an incredible job with her store. You should definitely visit with Soren sometime.”
“Soren?” I asked, not familiar with this name.
Lucian laughed softly, “Soren is our last mate. We four make a pack. Our family.” I blinked at this, so a pack of four, so far there are two Alphas, Lucian and Finn…then the Omega, Elias. Would that make Soren a Beta? This thought was quickly shook off as Finn spoke up.
"Soren is our last Alpha," Finn explained, his deep voice calm and steady. "He works from home doing computer work. Making logos, websites and such for people. He is more of our homebody Alpha.” The last part was said teasingly, a loving tone in his voice as he spoke about the man.
Lucian chuckled softly at Finn’s description, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Soren thrives in his domain,” he said, his tone warm with affection. “He’s the one who keeps everything running smoothly while the rest of us are running around.”
Elias grinned, leaning forward slightly, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me. “He’d love meeting you too, Lydia. Though I imagine he’d try to convince you to let him redesign your shop’s website if you have one.”
I blinked, taken aback by their easy camaraderie and the subtle way they seemed to fold me into it. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before— the warm, natural rhythm of their pack dynamics drawing me in like a hearth on a cold night.
“I don’t… actually have a website,” I admitted softly, my voice faltering slightly under the weight of their collective attention. “It’s just been me running everything, and I am not very good at working computers let alone trying to design a whole website. That is definitely out of my wheelhouse of expertise.”
“That will definitely change if he hears about that.” Finn muttered, but I raised an eyebrow at him in confusion. He just gave me a grin but didn’t go on to elaborate more on the subject. Much to my annoyance.
I nodded slowly, absorbing the new piece of information about their pack. A pack of four… It was difficult to picture, not because it defied any norm but because the warmth and care that radiated from Elias and Finn— and now Lucian— were so unlike the distant, rigid dynamics I’d grown up with. Their bonds felt tangible, like threads weaving them together in ways I couldn’t yet understand.
I was used to one head Alpha, a Beta and an Omega…sometimes there were two Alphas but no more than that because fights would break out. Maybe I was just introduced to the wrong packs. With how my family is that wouldn’t surprise me. I was a bit sheltered growing up so learning things out in the world like this was interesting.
“Soren has been wanting to meet you since Finn and I have talked about you…and now that Lucian has met you he is gonna feel left out. I bet he is going to pout for days.” Finn laughed, seemingly amused by the thought of his fellow Alpha and mate, pouting for days.
“Soren sounds... interesting,” I said softly, not knowing what else to say. I saw Elias kick Finn under the table and give him a small glare which only made Finn sit back with his hands held up in surrender.
“Don’t tease him, you would be pouting too if the roles were reversed.” Elias scolded softly. Finn shook his head, still grinning.
Elias turned to me, “He also makes the best teas… I know that is something you would enjoy. Tea is the only thing I have seen you drink since I met you.” He wasn’t wrong. Teas were a comfort drink to me.
“He’s a bit quieter than the rest of us at first, but once you get to know him, he’s got a sharp sense of humor. “ Elias told me softly, love clear in his voice as he spoke about the other Alpha.
I nodded, “I will take your word for it.” I didn’t get to say much else before the waitress arrived bringing our food. I couldn't help but relax more as I looked at the three men around me.
This is the first time in a long time that I felt so comfortable and enjoyed myself so much. I hoped things stayed this way. I could get used to it.