Ch. The Lucan Marked me 18 The Lucan Marked me 18

Chapter 18 

Logan 

I hated this suit. 

AG 78 

It was a really expensive fabric, and yet something about wearing it felt fake. Every stitch 

itched at my skin. The entire clothing was just a reminder of what I was about to pretend to 

care about. 

The ballroom gleamed with polished marble floors and gilded chandeliers; all meant to 

impress. Nessa, Livia and Elise had gone through a lot of trouble making sure the place looked 

perfect. Shame none of it really mattered. Not to me. 

Music floated through the air; a barely audible, elegant sound. Different females from 

different packs circled around the room, their smiles carefully painted on, eyes glinting with 

ambition. All of them were dressed to be noticed. All of them wanted one thing. 

Me. 

I sipped from the glass in my hand and counted down the minutes until all this would end and 

I could leave. The elders were in attendance of course, but they didn’t make themselves 

known. No, they remained in the shadows, keeping an eye on things. “You’re scowling again,” Kael muttered beside me. His eyes flicked around the room. “Try not to look like you’re at your 

own funeral.” 

I didn’t bother answering. Let them all believe I was in a bad mood. I was in a bad mood. 

Cassian, bless him, tried to lighten the mood. “At least pretend you’re having fun. We’re 

standing in a room full of women who would literally fight each other for a chance to get your 

attention. That’s a fantasy for most men.” 

“Then you mate one of them,” I muttered. 

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Chapter 18 

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He laughed under his breath, but didn’t press. No one did, not really. Not even when it was 

obvious that I hadn’t spared a genuine word for any of the hopefuls trying to cozy up to 

1. Nessa handed someone a drink with her signature smirk, watching the entire charade 

unfold like it was her personal entertainment for the night. 

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A few Lycan warriors flanked the perimeters, all sharp eyes and coiled readiness, while the rest 

of the Inner Circle played their parts. It was quite obvious I didn’t want to be here. At least to 

The Inner Circle. Our guests though? They didn’t seem to get the hint. I was so tired of 

engaging in pointless conversations, I’d had to step out for a while on the disguise that I had 

something important to attend to. 

Elise saddled up to me then, our resident truth-slinger and the one person I rarely ignored. 

She didn’t waste anytime. “You don’t have to go through with this, Logan.” I looked over 

at her. She held my gaze, her voice quiet but steady. “You could still go after her.” And just 

like that, I couldn’t breathe. Go after her? She clearly had no idea what she was asking me to 

I couldn’t just go after her. 

I had the pack to think about. 

A prophecy to fulfill. 

How would I present an Omega to the elders as the strong Queen they’d spoken of? I clenched 

my jaw. “I already told you I’ve had enough of that.” She didnâxt apologize. Just nodded 

once and stepped back into the crowd. The rest of the night blurred by. More names. More 

rehearsed laughter. More sidelong glances and whispered speculation about who the Lycan 

King might choose. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but a part of me had hoped that she would 

show up somehow. 

Word travelled fast, and even though I knew she hadn’t received any invitation, I had hoped 

she would let her rebellious side win and show up anyway. Unless she had already firmly 

decided to put the past behind her. By the time we moved to the Pack Center, most of the 

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crowd was buzzing with nervous energy. It was time for the final phase of the ceremony. The 

show of prowess. Bravery, intellect, poise; whatever they thought would impress me. 

Which of course, was nothing. 

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The final phase of the ceremony was supposed to be symbolic. A chance for the ‘worthy’ to 

rise. I didn’t see strength. Instead I saw desperation. I saw women throwing themselves at 

a title, not a man. And it made me sick. One by one, they came forward. Some sparred. Some 

gave speeches about the glory of the crown. One even sang. None of them had the casual 

nonchalance she’d had. Not one made my wolf stir. 

Not one came close to matching the fire I’d felt in a shack on the edge of my territory when a 

brown-haired Omega told me to either kill her or leave her the hell alone. I rose to my feet 

when the last contender stepped back. Everyone quieted instantly. I looked over at the crowd. 

Every face turned toward me. Expectant. Hopeful. Hungry. “I thank you all for your efforts,” 

I said, voice even, detached. “But I haven’t found what I’m looking for.” 

A collective silence followed. Sharp, stunned. Someone inhaled too loudly. A few of the 

females dropped their gazes, trying to mask their disappointment. Others glared. Not at me, 

but at each other. I tried to make out the faces of the elders in the crowd, but I couldn’t. It 

didn’t matter. I’d done as they asked, surely they would get off my back for sometime. I didn’t 

wait for their reactions to settle. I simply turned and left. 

Behind me, the celebrations were already dying. Or maybe they weren’t t. Maybe they’d 

party anyway. Pretend this hadnât all been for nothing. I reached my chambers and shut 

the door behind me. Only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding since the damn 

ceremony started. What the hell was I doing?Holding out hope for a bond I’d barely had. For a 

woman I barely knew…but couldn’t seem to let go of. 

Maybe I was making a mistake. Maybe I was gambling the future of my entire kingdom on 

something that might never come back. 

But gods help me, I wasn’t ready to stop hoping. 

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The Lycan Marked Me and Walked Away