Big Bad Wolf Chapter 102: Unfulfilled Rejection

Harper's following few days had been quite uneventful. After refusing Lucas and realizing she had no choice but to stay with him if she wanted to survive, she effectively kept her anger under control by avoiding talking to Lucas and everyone else in the Casa as much as she could.

Then came the day when Lucas had to fight and win to restore respect to the House of Champions before he could be the Champions' Commander for Gillen.

As Lucas walked into the arena, he roared before quickly transforming into his wolf form. The beast that he had to fight with that night was significantly larger and taller than he was. However, he knew that losing this fight was not an option if he wanted to keep Harper alive; if he wanted to stay alive.

The crowd erupted in applause when he roared again. Then he tried to calm himself down and clear his head, and then he concentrated everything on killing the monstrous beast.

As the Master Presenter began his customary introduction to the crowd, Lucas cracked his knuckles and then his neck. When the Master Presenter declared, "Let the blood flow!" Lucas began jumping on each foot to pump himself up.

The colossal black wolf growled as he charged toward Lucas, swinging his claws. Lucas moved fast into position to react, then remained still. Suddenly, the black wolf leaped into the air, ready to slam its sharp claws into Lucas' head.

However, Lucas quickly leaped to the left, avoiding the powerful strike, and kicked the rear of the black wolf's knee, forcing the larger beast to fall to his back. Lucas straddled him and began tearing the wolf's face out with his claws. Each strike left a deep and fatal cut, and the crowd roared gleefully or violently, depending on the level of their hunger for blood.

Lucas tore into the black wolf's flesh, but the beast wasn't that easy to knock unconscious, let alone kill. It was as if he was covered in layers upon layers of thick skin.

While pulling his claws back to deliver one final hit, Lucas roared loudly, and the black wolf took advantage of his rage by kneeing him in the stomach. He let out a weary gasp and bent over, only to be knocked off the black wolf's chest by an uppercut.

"Get up!" Gillen yelled from the comfort of his seat in the viewing box.

When Lucas opened his eyes, he saw the black wolf's claws growing longer and preparing to drive it into his chest with more force. Fortunately, he moved far back, so far that his knees were touching his face, and then rolled back, utilizing this as a counterattack as he booted the black wolf in the face with the soles of his two feet, throwing the beast to the ground.

Lucas swiftly picked up speed, and the black wolf stood up at the same time. They both roared at each other, but neither made a move. They just stared into each other's eyes, waiting to see who would make the first move. Unfortunately for Lucas, Gillen no longer fully trusted him to execute his role as his fighter.

"Do something! Don't let him get the upper hand!" Gillen screamed, causing Lucas to get distracted.

The black wolf took advantage of the opportunity to lunge at Lucas, but with his resolve to win the fight and seal the deal with Gillen, Lucas centered all of his focus back on his opponent, and as the black wolf charged at him, he quickly whirled around and raked the beast in the chest, ripping it downward. He then hauled him up and over his own shoulder, slamming the beast into the sand with his claws buried deep in the wolf's gut.

When the black wolf gave out a gasp and coughed up blood, the life left his eyes, indicating that Lucas had triumphed over the beast.

"I have a champion!" Gillen burst into a rousing cheer.

"Lucas wins!" The Master Present declared, and the crowd applauded Lucas. Everyone was entertained and commended him for putting on such a good show for them, which he thought was disgusting and extremely messed up.

In the middle of the arena, he stood in his gorgeous wolf form, roaring as the spectators erupted into applause. Before being whisked away, he exhaled an exhausted sigh.

"Wow, that was an excellent fight, Lucas!" Gillen said as soon as Lucas reverted to his human shape behind the arena's gates. "I knew you were made for this area."

Lucas just reminded him of their agreement.

I'm a man of my word, Lucas, so don't worry about it.

Back at the Casa, a servant came to Harper's small room, where she had been kept. She was led to the bath and washed, her skin finally free of grime and dirt after many days. Her long, dark hair was let loose and was cascading in waves halfway down her back.

When she emerged from her bath, she didn't bother to inquire as to what was going on. She was dressed simply in a plain blue dress, the fabric slightly worn but clean, the hem of which fell just beyond her knees.

As soon as she had been made presentable enough, she was taken to a room where Lucas, who was wounded and bruised, was lying on a large bed.

Harper studied the fighter's wounds, soon realizing why she had been sent there. She marched up to the bed and began caring for him without saying anything or even batting an eye.

Lucas shivered when she touched him, which was strange because he was used to being accustomed to her touch. Harper shook her head, convinced that her eyes were deceiving her, since every time she touched Lucas, he would flinch. She eventually gave up, throwing her hands in the air in frustration.

Then she said to him, "If you don't stop fidgeting, I'll never be able to get you cleaned up and treat your wounds!" She sat down next to him without barely a glance at him.

Lucas tried to draw her gaze but to no avail. "How was your day?" he asked.

There was no response.

"You haven't said anything to me in three days, Harper! Three days! How long do you intend to keep this up? Francine doesn't want anything to do with you. I'm all you have right now, no matter how much you despise me."

Still, no reply.

"I've told you that this is the only way I can keep you alive."

"By agreeing to serve Gillen?" Harper finally spoke, though in a quiet voice. She gently placed a damp rag on his shoulder and gently rubbed it back and forth in a soothing motion.

"Would you rather die than be with me?" Lucas asked, tilting his head in her direction and finally catching her gaze. "Do you honestly find me that despicable?"

She decided not to respond again this time.

"Please, Harper, I beg of you. I'm doing everything I can to keep you alive in this place. Please, don't hate me. I'm not the bad guy here."

Harper lowered her head as if she didn't want to hear Lucas' words. "But you've just sworn your allegiance to the enemy," she replied in the same hushed tone.

Lucas sighed, acknowledging his defeat. "This is completely pointless."  

"Pointless?" Her brows were pinched together, and her eyes narrowed. "You used to be an exemplary man. Or have you forgotten? I used to hold you in high regard."

"However, you have chosen Alex."

"Alex was shitty and repulsive. I hated the man that he was. I had a lot of respect for you. Not only that, but I was even in－"

 "－*love* with me? When did everything change, Harper?"

"Tell me what's going to happen to me?" Harper asked instead, clearly trying to avoid answering the question. "Now that you've won and given honor to this fucking House of Bullshit, Gillen's going to give me away to you as if I'm his property. Is that right? And after that, what? What would happen once I was yours? What?" She became more agitated and her cheeks became hot and flushed as she spoke more quickly.

"As my *mate*－"

"As your mate?!" she exclaimed angrily. Lucas looked at her briefly, and he could see the panic and befuddlement on her face. "But, I have already rejected you. That's why you went berserk, lost your cool, and ended up killing your own brother! Remember? Have I not rejected you completely?"

Lucas looked everywhere except for her.

"What the fuck is going on, Lucas? Answer me! What exactly is going to happen to me?" She pressed. He looked her in the eyes once again, and he could see the wheels turning in her head seconds before he told her.

"It doesn't matter, Harper."

"What do you mean? What do you mean, it doesn't matter? Did you lie to me?" She got out of bed, her fists clenched. "Was the rejection an excuse for you to get rid of Alex?"

"No. Harper, I didn't tell you a lie. When you rejected me, I was on the verge of losing my mind."

"Then why did you keep referring to me as your mate?"

"Because there are two ways to complete the rejection: either I accepted it or another Lycan marked you. And I haven't accepted it, Harper. It was too hard to accept. And I doubt Alex has already fully marked you. I assumed he tried to mark you. But only under a full moon could he fully claim you and leave a permanent mark."

Suddenly, the room was deafeningly quiet. Harper took a step back. She was shocked beyond belief.

Then, taking another deep breath, Lucas leaned back down on the bed, his gaze focused on her.

Harper shook her head and lightly chuckled at him after a moment. “This is all fucked up.”