EIGHT: Cinderella

LUCIEN WAS PACING in his new room. Everything was ready for the ball and tonight he shall be introduced to everyone in Formid Root. At least those who matter.

According to the witch, Sara Surrett, there was only one thing missing for the ritual and she was yet to tell him what it was. He gritted his teeth, Sara should have been here, the whole ball was held upon her request, but she told him she would be delayed further with her coven business.

There was a knock on his door, "Come in." He ordered without turning to see who it was.

Daniel entered the room, "Everything is done and the invitations had been sent."

"What about the Cooper's invitation?" He asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"I sent it there with Luke Johnson." Daniel paused for a second, "Lucien, may I ask why are you so interested in the Cooper family? The Lawyer had done his job."

Lucien thought about it, it wasn't Jerry he was keen to see, but his daughter. The young girl who seemed enchanted with him, as much as he was enchanted with her.

She was always in his thoughts, she haunted him in a way that was delicious but equally frustrating. No matter how hard he tried, the thought of her wouldn't leave him.

She seemed to shine brighter than a thousand sun, and Lucien couldn't deny how beautiful she was. She was fierce, resilient, delicious, and he hated to think about someone so young in that way, but she was extremely sexy.

The primal side of him had thoughts about her that would put any human man to jail.

"You should make sure that the pack is ready for tonight." Lucien ordered in his alpha tone.

He knew that Daniel was asking as a friend, and not as a pack member. However, Lucien couldn't give any kind of answer.

...

At seven thirty, Cornelia was standing in front of her mirror and staring at her reflection. Once more, she found herself wondering if she looked nice enough for him. She wondered if he would notice her, if she would take his breath away, like he did her whenever she laid eyes on him.

Her blonde hair was in long waves with a golden hairpiece. Her baby blue dress was sleeveless, tight at her upper body showing her full breasts and narrow waist, and the skirt was huge, glittering with gold.

There was a knock on her door, and she turned around as Jerry opened it and entered the room. He was bewildered at the sight of her, and then a huge grin rose on his face.

"You look like a princess." He told her to take a few steps closer.

She smiled at him, "Thank you."

She wondered if Lucien liked princesses. If that was his taste. Because at that moment, he was her only motive to look all pretty and dress up in that way. He was the only reason she was attending the ball.

She left with Jerry and he drove them to the Hamilton Mansion, or as it was called now, the Amarok Mansion. It was way too deep in the woods of the town, she couldn't remember what it even looked like.

The woods of Formid Root were not the kindest. People didn't go on hikes, or even hang out there. It was rare that one bonfire or another would be held, but it was never that deep in the woods. She found herself wondering again why Lucien wanted that particular mansion, and she hoped she'd get the chance to ask him.

Jerry pulled up in front of a well lit building, grand for all intent and purposes. Someone approached Jerry and asked him to park the car for him.

"They have a vallet?" She asked her dad once they exited the car. She instantly felt the cold air hitting her, Formid Root's weather had never been kind, but she was used to it.

"Nothing should surprise you anymore." Jerry commented and they entered together. Someone helped them with their coats, and Cornelia couldn't help the gasp that left her mouth.

It was perfect. She remembered Abigail calling her Cinderella when they were shopping together earlier, and that was how it felt. She was a princess attending the ball held by prince charming.

Except Lucien wasn't prince charming. He's more of a viking warrior. She decided to herself.

Lucien wasn't sweet, he didn't look it at least. He was rough, like he was willing to rage a war at any moment with no fear of the consequences. She could even see him in her head holding a sword and giving a war cry.

"I'm glad you made it, Jerry." Her eyes caught him before she heard his voice. Breath was knocked out of her lungs with how he looked.

The black tux and the way he combed his silky black hair was enough to leave her breathless. She noticed that his beard looked different too, not so long as it had been when she first met him.

"I like what you did to the place. It was pretty quick too." Jerry retorted with a pleasant smile.

"I wanted it to be done as soon as possible." Lucien said then turned to her, "Nice to see you again, Ms. Cooper."