Abigail's POV
Run…
Right in front of me stood the two other wise men from yesterday.
I bolted behind the couch the man had been sitting on. He was standing now, his gaze fixed in my direction.
"Come out. You don't have to be afraid. I will never hurt you," he said calmly.
God, I don't know how I got here, but please save me from them, I cried silently in my heart.
I remained hidden, crouched like a scared rabbit. I didn't know what I was waiting for, but I knew I needed a savior. I didn't understand what this place was, why I was here, or how I'd gotten tangled in whatever this was. I just wanted to go home. I hadn't spoken to my parents since yesterday. They must be worried sick.
"Will you hide forever? At least come out, let us tell you why you're here," said a different voice this time.
Maybe he was right. Maybe I should know why I'm here.
I summoned every single ounce of courage left in me. First, I raised my head and peeked at them. They hadn't moved. Still standing. Except now, the supposed good-looking man from yesterday was beside the two new ones, as if he was hiding from me. So much for good-looking. If I were to count the handsome men in this room, he'd come in dead last.
The two men that entered moments ago looked like they were crafted by different hands. Absolute works of art. Especially the one with dark eyes that had now turned a beautiful shade of gray.
I slowly stood up, still unsure what to do next. My feet stayed glued to the spot for a good thirty seconds before I made my way to the bed and sat down.
Their eyes followed my every move, but none of them said a word or took a step forward.
I lifted my gaze from the floor to meet theirs. They were still standing, and it was honestly making me uncomfortable.
"I'm sitting down now, so won't you sit too? At least to explain why I'm here," I said, my voice slightly raised.
Immediately, all three of them sat, as if they'd been waiting for my permission.
"I don't know how this will sound to you. I know you're human and this might be hard to take in, but if there were an easier way to explain this, I'd take it. Abigail, you are my mate," said the man with the gray eyes.
"Mate? As in housemate? Schoolmate? Soulmate? Or, Alpha and Luna mate like in werewolf novels?" My lips twitched into a shaky grin. I silently prayed they didn't see how anxious I truly felt.
"This might sound fictional to you," the other one added gently, "but you are mated to our King Alpha. You're his destined Luna. Our Luna."
"Wait, as in werewolf-type Luna?"
"Yes," he nodded. "Werewolf-type Luna. But he's a Lycan. And I think you should know that too."
I blinked. "I don't know what kind of twisted prank this is, but please be serious. I've been here for nearly twenty-four hours, and this is what you came to tell me? Let's cut to the chase, do you want me to play a Luna in some TV show? If so, we can talk price and duration so I can leave already."
"You think this is child's play?" the supposedly good-looking man chimed in, his voice full of irritation. "You think we have nothing better to do than kidnap someone for a movie?"
My goodness, I hate him already. He's annoying.
He opened his mouth again, but the gray-eyed man cut him off.
"It's no movie, Abigail," he said, eyes locked on mine. "Sebastian's right. You are my Luna. I know it sounds like fiction, but werewolves, Lycans, witches, vampires, shapeshifters, fairies, dragon shifters, python shifters, they all exist. We are werewolves. I am Maverick. My wolf's name is Ryker. This is my beta, Sebastian, for humans, he poses as my personal assistant."
He gestured to the annoyed guy.
"And this is Caleb, my gamma. He assists Sebastian in the human world. Our existence is hidden from the human realm."
"So… you're the Alpha of a pack?"
"Yes," Maverick replied simply.
"Not just an Alpha," Caleb interrupted, his voice sharp, "but the King Alpha of this entire territory."
Ugh. I already hate him. Just a few minutes in, and he's already a pain in the ass.
"King Alpha. I see." I raised an eyebrow. "So, I'm your Luna?"
"Yes," Maverick confirmed.
"Wow… interesting." I exhaled. Maybe I should've stopped reading werewolf novels when Emma told me to chill.
I gave them a quick glance, unsure of what to say next.
"So… what now?"
"Can I have my phone? At least now I know I'm not your prisoner." I tried to keep my voice calm, my eyes wide with hope.
"No," Caleb said immediately, his tone final.
I gave him a quick side-eye and turned to Maverick instead, softening my expression, making my eyes glossy with the perfect picture of innocence.
"Please… I haven't spoken to my parents. They'll be worried."
Maverick sighed. "I'll give it to you, but on one condition. You'll stay."
"Stay where?" I asked, even though I already knew.
"Here," he replied.
"But I'm a student. I'm African. I came here to study. The job from yesterday was just a part-time thing. Please, I have to go. I need to move on with my life."
"I'm sorry," he said, and there was something heavy, almost pained, in his voice. "But I can't let you go. Not after waiting this long. I just can't."
"He can't let you go, Abi," Sebastian added. "You're his mate. He has to protect you."
I straightened, annoyed. "I don't need anyone's protection. I've been in this country for over two months and nothing has ever happened to me until yesterday."
"You're no longer safe," Caleb said, his voice suddenly serious. "He's the king here. Like a celebrity in your world. The moment he found you, word spread. Some are already plotting to kill you."
My stomach dropped. "Why would anyone want to kill me? I haven't done anything to them."
"No, you haven't. Not yet," Caleb replied. "But our Alpha has enemies. Powerful ones. You're his mate, which makes you a target. That's why he has to keep you close."
I didn't know if he was trying to scare me, but nothing about his face said joke.
"So… I'm not safe anymore?" I asked, more to myself than anyone else.
"No," Caleb answered simply.
Maverick remained silent. His eyes were still fixed on me, and they did strange things to my body. His gaze made my skin feel warm. It gave me chills, the good kind. Like electricity brushing across my skin, drawing me closer to him. I wanted to walk up to him and memorize every cell that formed those eyes.
"So… what should I do?"
"Stay," Maverick said softly. "Please stay. I'll protect you. Nothing will happen to you if you stay."
"But I don't want to get married… to anyone. And I still want to go to school."
"Of course, you'll go to school, but with a guard," Maverick assured me.
Like a princess, I thought to myself.
"What about my part-time job?"
"Part-time job?" Caleb scoffed. "You don't need to work. His Majesty could buy the whole building for you."
I rolled my eyes. For the first time, Caleb smiled.
"Can I think about it for a while?" I asked.
"Yes," Maverick replied.
I waited for them to stand and leave so I could think properly, but they didn't budge. I turned my back to them anyway, trying to sort through the mess of thoughts in my head, especially the way Maverick's gaze made me feel things I had no business feeling.
Then…
"Are you done thinking?" Maverick asked.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
Done thinking? It's barely been two minutes! I haven't even started thinking yet. Impatient dog.
I turned to them and caught Sebastian and Caleb grinning like they just won the lottery. Maverick, however, was still dead serious.
"Huh? Why are you grinning like Cheshire cats?" I asked. Instantly, they straightened, their faces snapping into blank expressions like obedient schoolboys.
"Impatient dog? Huh?" Maverick asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Wait, did I say that out loud?" I blinked.
They burst into laughter. Even Maverick let out a slight chuckle. His lips curled just a bit, and it was beautiful. Not wide. But enough.
But hold on. How did they hear that?
"Do you guys read minds? Like… actually read minds? Like in novels?"
"Yes," Sebastian answered. "Especially humans. Other supernatural beings can block us. But humans can't."
My eyes widened. My jaw dropped.
"So, I can't even think freely around you?"
"Alpha will teach you how to block your thoughts," Sebastian added with a knowing smile.
Maverick's voice broke through again. "So, what's your decision?"
I took a deep breath.
"Hmm… I… will… stay."