Page 15

Lucien

I remember the sound of my ragged breathing and the feel of the cold floor beneath me as I crumpled to the ground. My world narrows to a single, searing point: pain.

Aurora's voice replays nonstop in my head. The pain in it is all too obvious as her words pierce further into my heart.My fingers tremble slightly, and I place them face down on the floor, letting the cold seep into them in the hope it will grant me some sort of calm.

I remember that look in her eyes, an unmistakable depth of pain. It's not the first time I've seen it. It was there five years ago. It's there now. A wave of pain shoots through me. I hate how much I have hurt her and blame myself, although there is almost nothing I can do to ease her anger.Her voice bellows in my head, "It's just like it was five years ago. There'll always be something more important to you, always, and I'm tired of letting myself get hurt."A grunt escapes my parting lips as I struggle to steel myself against the wave of emotions swirling within me, threatening to burst out and overwhelm me.I think back to all those years ago, a part of me wishing I could've had the courage to make better choices, the kind that wouldn't push the woman I love further away from my reach.But I'm not the man I was years back.

As alpha, the burden of the pack is mine to bear, and I have long made peace with its inconveniences. But when Aurora is in the mix, my judgment blurs, and the only thing that keeps me grounded to my duty is a low voice of reasoning, a voice that was barely audible beneath fear that hit me when she called. I left everything for her.

I still cannot shake off the weight of her gaze. I remember her eyes lighting up with a familiar affection when she saw me walk in, but that was quick to fade, and in its place, some sort of anger resided, the type born of constant disappointment.She hates me, and rightly so. No one should have to go through betrayal this many times. One would think that without my wolf, my bond with her is weaker, but that is not the case. Like magnets, I am constantly gravitating toward her, unable to stop myself from feeling the weight of jealousy whenever Damon is around her.

I wonder how he knew to find her there. Did she call him before me? Or am I her first option? The latter should explain her disappointment, but I still cannot be too sure.

But when I think back to how frantic her voice was over the phone, I find myself slightly grateful he was able to get here without me. I don't want to imagine what would've happened if I was too late.

Three men, fucking three men against one woman. She wouldn't have stood a chance. Was this a random hit, or was she targeted? But why would anyone target her? She's just Aurora, plain and simple—my thoughts halt at that point.She is no longer the simple girl in the cottage at the end of the park. She is now the COO of one of the biggest finance firms I know, and once in the corporate world, there's no telling who has placed a target on your back and why. Still, I can't shake off the suspicion gnawing at me. First, Blackwood is attacked. Then Rora is attacked, and on my way to her, I'm ambushed. I'm not superstitious by any means, but I am a businessman, and more than anything, I understand statistics, probability, and coincidences, and this ranks very low on my list of natural occurrences.But on the other hand, no one knows about the connection between Rora and me. No one would think of using her to get to me. So, what is the common denominator that ties all of these together?

A small sigh escapes my lips, and I give my head a little shake to dissipate the thoughts, clustering into a throbbing headache on my forehead.

Although my entire being is saying otherwise, I know I have to respect her wishes and take a step back. I cannot push her to leave again. I know how long it took to find her the last time that mistake was made.A sharp pain flares in my thigh, jolting me out of my reverie. I wince lightly, ripping the blood-stained fabric of my pants to reveal a deep wound, one I sustained during the attack not too long ago.

The metallic smell of blood stays suspended in the air like a cologne, and I stare at the open cut, tracing my fingers lightly over the deep lines. I wince lightly, the cut pulsing with blood. I trace the obvious lines a wolf's claw caused, relief washing through me as I remember he didn't live long enough to bask in the glory of hurting me.

The combination of the pain from the injury and blood loss almost caused me to black out, but I had to pick every shred of strength in me to fight my way out and make it to Rora.

Without my wolf, my healing process is slower, and now, it will take longer than usual to completely heal. A wave of nausea washes over me, a testament to the amount of blood I'm losing. I tip more of the fabric, letting it stretch out just enough to tie around the cut.

A smile of satisfaction settles on my lips as I stare down at my handiwork, hoping this is enough to keep me alive long enough to get the help I need.I might have to limp for a while, only until I heal completely.Aurora didn't notice the limp in my strides earlier, and I'm thankful for that. Not that it matters, but I didn't want to explain why I wasn't healing. Liam had tried to discourage me from going, stating I might be dead before I got to her and how I'd be useless to her in my state, but I couldn't trust anyone with her. Plus, it won't look good on me.

The pain intensifies, forcing my eyes down as I grip a part of my leg, grunting audibly. I'm losing blood, too much of it, and I need to get help.

With both hands supporting my weight, I struggle to get myself on my feet, my bloody hands leaving fine imprints wherever they touch."Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Liam says a look of concern twinkling in his eyes as he studies me, pushing the door open further.

I laugh despite myself. Of course, he found a way to follow me. "This is the happiest I've been to see you."

"Can't say the same for you." He inclines his head at the blood and leftover evidence of struggle on the floor. "What happened?"

"How did you find me?" I dodge the question with one of my own. As grateful as I am to see him, I don't recall giving anyone details of my movements.

He hesitates for a beat. His gaze sweeps through the warehouse and back at me before releasing a sigh of defeat. He knows I won't be offering details. "Shortly after you left, the meeting turned into a full-blown cock contest. Everyone wanted to feel important. Selene was quick to diffuse the tension, and we came up with a temporary solution pending your return."

I raise a brow at him. "Temporary?" The situation is hardly ideal for temporary commitments. We're at risk of being surrounded.

"A unanimous agreement couldn't be reached in your absence," he replied, taking a lazy step into the building. "Anyway, I got news of a roadblock and an attack. The scouts on the border went to check it out, and your car was found at the scene alongside blood trails and your phone. I followed the address in it."

The P.I. was so engrossed in everything unfolding before me I missed his absence at the scene. He sent me the address. He should be here somewhere.

"Did you see anyone on your way in? A car or something," I ask, hoping that by some magic, he sent me the address the moment he got it, and I arrived before him. The pressure of being the cause of another death almost squeezes the air from my lungs.

Liam's eyes narrow slightly. "I didn't pay much attention to the surroundings, but I recall seeing a black BMW close to the spot I parked."

I nod, struggling to get on my feet and failing again. An empty BMW in a place like this. Doesn't take a genius to piece it together.

Liam is immediately next to me, supporting my weight with his body. "Are you going to tell me what was so urgent you had to leave a strategy meeting for and why the hell you're wounded in an abandoned warehouse?"

I grit my teeth, channeling my strength into getting on my feet. A vital rule is to never keep secrets from your beta, but when your beta is your mate's brother, the situation becomes a little more complicated.

He nods, walking over, "That's one nasty son of a bitch..." his voice trails off as he studies the injury. When will it heal?

"Pack healer, get me there."

With a swift nod, he helps pull me to my feet, placing most of my weight on himself as we walk side by side out the door, my hand swinging over his shoulders.

I grunt, hopping on my good leg and letting the other one hang in the air, not wanting to stress it any further. We make our way out, with me leaving a trail of blood.

A wave of gratitude washes over me as we step out of the building, and I notice a car parked right in front. He settles me into the front seat, securing the seat belt before turning to settle in his own seat.

I recline as far as I'm allowed, my head relaxing against the headrest as I sigh. I turn towards him, "Thank you." I manage to say, my gratitude obvious in my tone.

He nods, shrugging it lightly, "It's nothing you wouldn't do for any one of us."

Trust. The thought of it tightens my chest. That's what our pack is built on—trust. They know I cannot let them down. They trust me that much, and that is why I'm always torn when it comes to picking between my duty and any other thing I consider important. But today I had no choice. I couldn't leave the woman I love in danger to strategize wars.The car comes alive just then, and he drives off, weaving through the traffic of the day. With nothing else to do, I find myself looking out the window, my pain almost a distant memory.We arrive at the pack healer's place in no time, and with a sense of urgency, I am attended to."You've lost a lot of blood," A voice states, and I nod absently, not bothering to open my eyes.

"We have to treat his wounds and also begin a transfusion. He's lucky to still be here."I feel a needle slide into my vein, but I don't blink. I lay there, listening to the clatter of things in the background, a number of thoughts running through my mind until I drift into a quiet sleep.

****The morning light filters in through the blinds, and I slowly drag myself upright. My mouth is dry, and a familiar ache in my head lingers behind my eyes, making it heavy.I notice just then that I am home and in the comfort of my bedroom. The room is dark, save for a few rays of sunlight seeping in slowly. Selene walks in with a steaming mug of what smells like coffee in her hand. Her eyes widen in surprise when she finds me.

"You're awake!" she squeals, drawing a small smile from me. I notice that her phone is going off non-stop with message notifications.

"How long was I out?" I ask, wincing from the painful protest on my thigh as I try to sit up. I feel exhaustion seeping into my bones, even though I'm just opening my eyes.

"Only a couple of hours," she says. Then, as if noticing my slight discomfort, she adds, "Can I get you anything?"

I nod, "Yes, please. Water should be fine.""Coming right up!" she announces as she leans closer to place the mug on the table before dashing out of the room.

I sigh, picking up a pillow and setting it up behind me to support my position, leaning back again and closing my eyes as I release a sigh. The warmth of my bed is welcoming, the softness lulling me further into slumber. A content smile plays across my lips as I hum a low tune. The thought of being alive is enough to put me in a good mood. I have no plans for today—not in my condition.Thoughts of Aurora invade the peace I'm starting to get used to, causing my chest to tighten with the familiar pangs of regret.I wonder if she's injured and if she's completely healed by now, as I remember the nasty cut on the side of her temples. I remember raking my eyes over her, looking to see if she had any more injuries. Nothing stood out except the one on her temples.I play with the idea of calling, just to make sure. But her words from yesterday are yet to cool. She doesn't want me to contact her, not ever, and with the way things went down with us the last time, it would be hardly ideal for me to barge into her life without giving her some time to heal.

The doors swing open just then, and Selene returns. This time, there's a glass of water firm between her grip."Here," she says, handing it to me, a hint of worry creeping over her features. "How are you feeling?"

For the first time since I woke up, a genuine smile crosses my face as I take the glass, drinking rapidly. It is evident in my voice when I reply, "Better already."

She nods, her lips parting as though she is about to say more, but the loud pinging of her phone interrupts. "Sorry," she says, an apologetic smile on her face as she unlocks the device, the warmth of her smile radiating from her as she types furiously.

"New admirer?" I ask, placing the now empty glass on the nightstand and settling back. She almost doesn't hear me.

The smile on her face suddenly drops, and she flips off her phone, her features taut and withdrawn. "It's just a friend, no one important," she says as she tucks the phone into her pocket.

"Your face says something different, though," I counter with a slight raise of my brows.

Her cheeks flush red, and she avoids my gaze, busying herself with the mug of coffee that was just on the nightstand, "Well," she begins, taking a pause too long before continuing, "like I said, just a friend."

I pull myself into a more comfortable position. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" I say, refusing to drop the issue. Usually, I'd let it go after the first time I asked, but something tells me it's no ordinary conversation. Selene is hardly ever secretive. There's a part of me that strongly wants to discover something. Maybe it's the guilt about Aurora. If I discover Selene is seeing someone, as strange as it might be, I'll be relieved.After seconds of fiddling with her thumb, she finally lifts her eyes to meet mine. "I found my fated mate."

"Oh."

She doesn't give me a chance before horridly adding, "It's nothing, though. I was just carried away by the novelty of actually meeting him after all these years. But it's nothing you need to concern yourself with. I know my duties, and I know where my priorities lie."

"Selene."

"I know I should've told him and cut communications with him, but I just couldn't bring myself to. I've never felt something so intense," her voice dips with a slight tremble.

A smile tugs at my lips. I'm all so familiar with the things she just said: the pull, the connection, the inability to stay away. The first time I saw Rora and the way her face glowed from the reflection of the lights at the ball replayed in my mind like flashes from a vintage movie. Everything about her was so perfect, and I felt tingles spread through me, my fingers itching to swatch away the strand of hair that kept me from seeing her eyes. She was ethereal. If only I didn't have to lose her to realize how much she means to me.

My mind returns to the present and all Selene said. She's sorry. If only she knew the thoughts in my head, if only she knew what I've been up to the past few days, the reason I go to work every day, and the reason I can't bear to touch her.Despite my guilt, a flicker of hope licks at my inside. What are the chances that she would find her mate now of all times if it's not the hands of fate? The Goddess must be really giving me a second chance."Say something, Luc," she urges, her lips trembling like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I struggle to find the best way to deal with the situation. Would it be weird if I showed no sign of jealousy? Any husband would be upset about finding out his wife is entertaining another man, but we're not just any couple.

"I'm happy for you, Selene. Not many people are lucky enough to find what you just received."

She blinks twice, confusion etched to her features. "You're not upset?"

I let out a soft smile. "It does sting a bit, but then we're not exactly the regular couple, are we?"

My admission must've relieved her emotions as she sucks in a deep breath, releasing a shaky laugh with it. "I guess there's that."A brief silence settles between us, and I let it linger for a while before asking. "Do you love him?"

She stalls for a moment, probably debating the answer. "I don't know. I guess?""Is he good to you?"

A fond smile plays on her lips, and I find myself smiling with her. "He's really kind and gentle. Not something I expected from a warrior alpha."

My brows shoot up at the information while her eyes widen. "A warrior alpha, huh?"

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. This is the first time I'm getting to talk about him, and I don't know—"

"Selene, breathe."

"You're being so calm about this, and it's unsettling me."

I let out a chuckle, toying with the idea of sharing my story with her. "I once found my mate, you know."

"You had a mate?" Her expression was a mix of shock and disbelief, and I don't blame her. Rora and I did a great job of sneaking around."Aurora Belmont."I don't know how it's possible, but her eyes widened further. "Rora is your mate?"

"Was," I corrected, feeling a tug at my chest at the admission. "I lost her."Selene pauses. Her brows furrow as she struggles to make sense of things. Suddenly, they jumped to her forehead like she just discovered the cure to world hunger. "Was that why she left? Our marriage?"

Now that the question was in front of me, I couldn't come up with a clear answer. Did she leave because of my marriage to Selene, or was it my words? If I handled things better, would she have stayed? "Honestly, I can't say. But I do know the way I handled things played a key role in the turn of events."

Selene nods in understanding with no questions asked, and I appreciate it. I'm not sure I want to recount the events of that day.

"I found my person, and I lost her. I paid dearly for it. The pain of it remains fresh and haunts me every minute. It's not something I would wish on anyone. It leaves you hollow, empty, and without a purpose. Once you find your person, everything becomes centered around them, and if you're ever foolish enough to lose them, nothing will ever make sense."

Selene studies my face, her eyes searching me frantically. "What are you saying?" Her voice is low and almost breathless. She knows what I'm saying, but she needs confirmation.

"I don't know, Selene. What does it sound like to you?"

"You can't possibly mean—"

"I can't possibly ask you to throw duty to the wind and follow your heart." I fill in the words for her as she gapes at me. "As someone who has spent their whole lives devoted to duty, I'll let you know at some point, it'll strip you of everything you hold dear, and Goddess knows duty won't grow old with you or make you smile through the toughest periods." my words come out stronger than I intend them to. Selene's expression is a confirmation. So, I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully this time. "We might have the most unconventional marriage, but you're my friend, Selene, and I care about you. I would hate to see you go through half the pain I have been through. You will never recover from that."

"Ironclaw," Selene whispers.

"Sorry?""Ironclaw." Her voice is clearer. "He's the alpha of Ironclaw.""Look at that, another alpha for you," I say in amusement, and she laughs. I can see her shoulders relax and the calm slowly return to her features. For selfish reasons of my own, I'm incredibly thankful for this development.But despite my obvious distraction, I cannot miss the glint in her eyes. I've seen it before and had it at some point even. She enjoys being Luna of Blackwood, and, mate or not, our pack is one of the strongest and most influential. The pride her title brings is more than enough, and I fear this isn't something she's willing to give up easily.There's a knock on the door, one that brings an end to the lingering silence, "Yeah, come in." I say as loud as I can manage, both our eyes snapping towards the entrance in anticipation.

Liam walks in, closing the door lightly behind him as he turns to me, "I see you're up." He's wearing a bright blue sweatshirt and a pair of pants. His demeanor radiates an air of calmness.

I nod, turning towards Selene, who is standing up now, "I'll leave you two to it," she says, before disappearing behind the door.

"Been up a while," I reply finally, stifling a yawn.

Liam nods, walking over to my side of the bed and settling in the spot Selene just vacated.

"Any news?" I ask, not needing to elaborate more on my question."Er..a number of arrests have been made since the attack. We're trying to figure out how that many people slipped in unnoticed."

I nod, my mind drifting back to Aurora. I need to make sure she's not in harm's way ever again. It's the least I can do.

"I have a big favor to ask," I say, sitting upright, "Can you ask one or two people to keep an eye on Aurora?"His brows raise quizzically, but he doesn't decline. "Sure," he says, "I'll get on that right away. I just came to check in on you."I draw in a deep breath and then exhale, "I'm alright. I'm healing nicely. Slowly, but nicely."

He nods, "Alright, I'll be on my way. Call if you need anything else." With that, he makes to leave but pauses at the door. "Does she know?" His eyes drift to my leg, which is all but healed.

I give the question a little thought before settling for a lie. "No." I hate to lie, but a positive answer will only bring about more questions. I don't think Selene is keen on letting anyone in on her growing bond, and frankly, I'd hate for anything to disrupt the current flow of things.With one short nod of understanding, he exits the room, leaving me to bask in the silence once again.

I'm not allowed near her, but that's not enough reason not to keep an eye on her. I need to know that in the event of another attack, she's safe.