Chapter 21 Possessive
ARYA
Luca moved toward the door, Caspian straightening to attention. “I’ll make the arrangements. The estate will be ready by tomorrow evening. Bring whoever you choose, whatever you need will beprovided.” He paused at the threshold, looking back at me. “And Arya? Try not to fight the bond too hard. It’s only going to make you miserable.”
“Maybe I’m used to being miserable.”
“Then I’ll have to change that.” It was a promise, delivered with the certainty of someone who’d never failed at anything.
Then he was gone, his presence leaving a vacuum in the room.
I sagged against the desk, suddenly exhausted. “Did that really just happen?”
“You just negotiated with the Lycan King,” Helena said, sounding impressed. “And won concessions. That’s… unprecedented.”
“He wants something from me,” I said tiredly. “That gives me leverage.”
“He wants YOU,” Ryker corrected, his voice tight. “There’s a difference.”
I looked at him, seeing the pain he was trying to hide. “Ryker—”
“Don’t.” He held up a hand. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I knew what I was signing up for when I chose to help you.”
“Did you know I’d end up being the Lycan King’s mate?”
“No. But it doesn’t change anything.” He moved closer, taking my hands. “I meant what I said. I’m here for however long you’ll have me. Mate bond or not.”
“Come with me,” I said impulsively. “To the estate. I need someone I trust.”
“Arya, I don’t think that’s—”
“Please.” My voice cracked. “I can’t do this alone. And Bardon can’t be there all the time. I need… I need a friend. You’re the only person I’ve known for so long. I know I can trust you.”
Something shifted in his expression and he nodded. “Always. You’ll always have me.”
“Then it’s settled.” Cyrus stood. “You’ll leave tomorrow evening. Until then, you’re both under my protection.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “For everything.”
“Thank the Moon Goddess you’re not my problem anymore,” he joked, but his eyes were kind. “Though I suspect you’re going to shake up the supernatural world in ways none of us can predict.”
He was more right than he knew.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
My body was exhausted, my mind reeling, but every time I closed my eyes, I felt it a cracking under my skin. Like electricity or power or the bond. I wasn’t sure what but it kept pulling at me like a rope around my chest, tugging toward wherever Luca had gone.
I’d never felt anything like this. A craving, yearning. An intense need that i didn’t know where it was coming from.
I’m supposed to be finding myself, mourning my marriage. Five years of my life that just went down the drain.
Was it so easy to forget Jaime? The man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with?
I had five years to mourn that. A small voice in my head reminded. I’d been mourning that marriage the moment I signed the certificate.
And now, Luca. He was the Lycan king. The man held too much power than any man should have. And my body was craving something… it didn’t have a name or a face. It had to do with him. That much I know.
‘He’s OURS,’ Lean insisted. ‘Why are we fighting this?’
“Because I’m not ready,” I whispered into the darkness. “Because I need to know it’s real, not just the universe’s imperative. I’ve come to realize I can’t trust the moon to make my choices for me”
‘The bond is always real. That’s what makes it sacred.’ she insisted.
“Jaime and I were supposed to be chosen by the Moon Goddess too. Look how that turned out.”
‘That wasn’t the Goddess. That was his grandmother’s manipulation and she had a reason for doing that, I’m sure.’ Lean’s voice was firm. ‘This is different. Can’t you feel it?’
I could. That was the problem.
I felt it in every cell, every breath. The knowledge that somewhere out there, Luca was awake too, probably feeling the same pull.
Almost immediately, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I almost ignored it, but curiosity won and I reached for it.
Unknown number. But I knew who it was before I even read it the message.
I can feel you fighting it. Your fear. Your resistance. I understand it, little wolf. But know this. I’m not him. I’m not the male who broke your trust. Give me a chance to prove it.
My hands shook as I typed back.
How did you get this number?
I’m the Lycan King. I can get anything.
That’s not comforting.
It should be. It means I can protect you from anything.
Or you’re just admitting you’re invasive. And a bit stalker-ish.
That too. Sleep, Arya. Tomorrow marks the beginning of your new life.
I wanted to throw the phone across the room. Instead, I found myself typing:
What if I don’t want a new life? What if I just want peace?
His response came immediately.
Peace is what I’m offering. But first, you have to stop running from yourself.
I stared at those words for a long time.
He was right. I’d been running from myself for five years. Trying to be who Jaime wanted, who the pack wanted, who everyone expected. Maybe it was time to stop running.
Maybe it was time to figure out who I actually was beneath all the expectations and disappointments.
I typed one final message:
Three months. That’s all I’m promising.
Three months is enough time for miracles. Sleep well, my lovely mate.
I turned off my phone before I could respond to that “my mate” possessiveness.
But as I finally drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t deny the small thrill those words sent through me.
Or the terrifying realization that part of me—the part I’d kept buried for so long—actually wanted to belong to someone who saw me as precious.
Even if that someone was an ancient, possessive Lycan King who’d waited eight hundred years for me.
Maybe especially because of that.