Chapter 4: A Close Encounter

Selene’s POV

A figure appeared in the doorway, backlit by the dim glow of the street lamps outside. He strolled in with a lazy, almost bored gait, dressed in a black suit that seemed out of place in this grimy den. His hair was dark and slicked back, and his eyes were a deep, piercing dark color that seemed to see right through you.

As he appeared, an almost overbearing force swept through the entire space, several times more intense than the atmosphere caused by the previous person. This tangible aura made it difficult for me to breathe.

The room fell silent as he stepped forward, the gang members scrambling to get out of his way.

"It's him! It's Lucian!"

Several gang members cried out in terror.

Was this really the Rogue King, Lucian?

I looked ahead in shock and felt the tension in the room shift. The men who had been so eager to attack moments ago now cowered, their eyes wide with terror.

“A new face,” Lucian said, his voice smooth, almost amused as his gaze locked onto me. “For what reason were you exiled?”

I wiped the blood from a reopened wound on my arm, meeting his gaze evenly. “Not exiled. I left,” I replied, my voice steady despite the pain coursing through me.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of interest passing through them. “Left, did you?” He leaned closer, inspecting me like a wolf sizing up prey. “Hmph, a boring reason.”

He turned away, disinterested, just as screams echoed from outside the bar. I glanced past him and realized the gang members who had fled had been ambushed. They were being taken down with ruthless efficiency, and it dawned on me that Lucian had anticipated all of it.

My stomach tightened at the realization. He had set them up, laid a trap, and watched as it sprung shut around them. The power he wielded wasn’t just physical—it was psychological, a web of fear and control that stretched across Umbra like a shadow.

“If you want to live longer here,” Lucian continued, his tone casual, almost bored, “tone it down a bit. Provoke them like that again, and…” His words trailed off, a cruel smile playing at the corner of his lips. He didn’t bother finishing his sentence, leaving the threat hanging in the air like a blade.

Without another word, he turned and strolled out, leaving me standing in the middle of the wreckage, surrounded by groaning men and broken furniture. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a mix of fear and anger twisting in my gut.

Kate rushed over, her face pale with worry. “Are you okay?” she asked, helping me to my feet.

I winced, clutching my side. “I’m fine,” I lied, my voice tight with pain. “But you… How did you get here?”

Kate’s eyes widened. She bit her lip, her earlier bravery fading into guilt. “Yes… I… I was the one who notified Rogue King. According to the original plan, I was supposed to be the one here. I didn't expect to be entangled by those two people, and I accidentally dragged you into it. I'm sorry, Selene.”

I stared at Kate in front of me, barely believing my ears. "So you joined his gang, didn't you?"

Kate looked crestfallen. "Selene, I know you hate gang members more than anything, but I didn't have a choice." She stammered, "Lucian… saved me. He's been good to me. I swear, he's different from the others."

I could hear the desperation in her voice, her yearning to believe that in this dark, merciless world, someone—anyone—could be different. But I wasn't buying it. "Even if that were true, he knew about this," I said, gesturing at the chaos surrounding us. "He set all of this up. It's a trap, and you're the bait."

Kate still looked like she wanted to say something but ultimately gave up. I felt a pang of sympathy and stepped forward to hug her, softly comforting her. "I know, Kate. I understand, but I just don't want you to be in danger."

I paused and then added, "The Rogue King… His very existence means danger itself."

….

Ever since Lucian's appearance, my life in Umbra had taken an unexpected turn. I was no longer just a rogue on the run, hiding in the shadows. I had a job now, a purpose, albeit a temporary one.

Lilian, the owner of the bar where Lucian had intervened, had offered me a position as a server.

Lilian was a woman of mature charm, with an easy smile and a quick wit that drew people in. She knew how to keep the patrons entertained and the bar running smoothly. I quickly learned to navigate her moods and demands, and my diligence behind the bar did not go unnoticed. My bartending skills, honed over years of mixing drinks for my father's pack gatherings, quickly won over both Lilian and a small group of loyal customers.

But mornings with Lilian were a different matter entirely. Each day, she would arrive at the bar, still smelling of the previous night's liquor, her laughter a little too loud, her gaze a little too sharp. She would corner me at the counter, her presence overwhelming, and start her daily ritual of conversation. I often found myself trapped, helplessly going along with whatever she wanted to discuss, no matter how uncomfortable it made me.

This day was no different. As the morning light filtered through the dusty windows, Lilian sat on her usual stool at the bar, swirling a glass of whiskey and eyeing me with a knowing smile.

"You shouldn’t be so hard on Kate, you know," she said, her voice soft but insistent. "Sometimes, joining a gang is the only way to survive in a place like this."

I wiped down the counter, my movements slow and deliberate. "I'm not angry with Kate," I replied, choosing my words carefully. "I just think Lucian is dangerous, and I’m worried she might get hurt because of him. And now Kate's the one avoiding me. She practically runs away whenever she sees me."

Lilian chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Lucian is dangerous, yes, but he’s also charming. You can’t deny that."

I stiffened, focusing on the glasses I was arranging on the shelf. I knew what she was doing. She was trying to get under my skin and make me reveal more than I wanted. "Charm doesn't make him safe," I countered, keeping my voice steady.

She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You’re right about that. But sometimes, danger is what keeps life interesting, don't you think?"

I didn’t respond, unsure of how to navigate this conversation. I knew Lilian had heard about my past from Kate—about Damien the betrayal that had driven me to Umbra. It was no secret in this place where everyone had their stories, their scars. Lilian took a sip of her drink, her gaze never leaving my face. "Kate mentioned a man from your past, Damien, was it? And now there's Lucian… Men like them, they have a certain strength, a presence that’s hard to ignore."

I felt my cheeks grow warm, a mix of embarrassment and irritation. I didn’t like where this conversation was heading, but I was trapped. "I’m not interested in comparing them," I said flatly.

Lilian laughed again, a little louder this time. "Oh, come now, Selene. You can't pretend you're not curious. I mean, look at him—tall, dark, and brooding. And the way he commands a room…" She let her words hang in the air, her insinuation clear.

I could feel my face flush deeper, an uncomfortable heat spreading across my skin. The idea of Lucian in any sort of intimate context was something I hadn’t allowed myself to consider, and now Lilian was forcing it to the forefront of my mind.

"Stop," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

But Lilian wasn’t finished. "You know, sometimes the best way to heal a wound is to… find a new way to feel, if you know what I mean. Maybe you need a man like Lucian to help you forget your past and make you feel something different. Don't tell me you wouldn't want to have such a powerful man to yourself."

My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn't help the image that formed in my mind—Lucian’s deep, ink-like eyes staring into mine, his hands exploring my body with a confidence that both thrilled and terrified me. I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. I was not experienced in this kind of thing, far from it. The idea of being with someone like Lucian, someone so… dangerous, was both repulsive and oddly compelling.

"Lilian, please," I managed to say, my voice shaky. "I don't… I'm not…" I couldn’t find the right words. I wasn’t used to talking about things like that—intimacy and desire. They were foreign concepts to me, and things I had never really considered, especially not with someone like Lucian.

Lilian’s gaze softened, but her smile remained teasing. "Alright, alright," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "I’ll leave you be. But just think about it, Selene. You’re young, and you’ve got a lot of life ahead of you. Don't let the past tie you down."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The bar was beginning to fill up, the morning crowd trickling in, and I seized the opportunity to escape.

"I need to serve the customers," I said quickly, grabbing a tray and heading out from behind the bar.

As I moved through the crowd, taking orders and refilling drinks, I couldn’t shake the images Lilian’s words had conjured. Lucian, with his dark presence and mysterious past, was a man I should avoid at all costs. And yet, there was a part of me that couldn’t help but be drawn to him, to the power he exuded and the way he had stepped in to protect me, even if his motives were unclear.

I hated myself for even thinking about him that way, for allowing my mind to wander to places it had no business going. I was better than this, stronger. I had to be.

As I served a drink to a customer at the far end of the bar, I caught sight of my reflection in the cracked mirror behind the counter. My face was still flushed, my eyes wide and a little too bright. I looked different, as if I were seeing a side of myself I hadn’t known existed.

I quickly looked away, focusing on my work. I needed to clear my head and forget about Lucian and his dark, compelling eyes. I had come to Umbra to escape my past, not to get tangled up in a new web of danger and intrigue.

I tried to focus on the customers in front of me, pouring drinks and taking orders, but Lilian’s words kept echoing in my head, stirring feelings I didn’t want to acknowledge. I couldn’t believe I had let her get to me. Lucian was dangerous—someone I needed to keep my distance from, not someone I to daydream about. I felt a wave of shame for even letting my thoughts wander in that direction.

Distracted by my inner turmoil, I didn’t notice the foot suddenly jutting out in my path. I almost tripped but managed to catch myself just in time, my instincts sharper than my muddled mind. The tray I was carrying wobbled, but I kept it balanced, my heart pounding from the near fall.

A low, mocking chuckle came from nearby. I turned to see a middle-aged man, his grin twisted with amusement. He had the look of a gang member—grimy clothes, rough skin, and a few faded tattoos. His eyes gleamed with malicious intent as they roamed over me, making my skin crawl.

“Watch where you’re going, sweetheart,” he drawled, his tone mocking. “You nearly spilled my drink. And worse, you scuffed my shoes.”