Chapter 37 One Way Ar Another
Briar's POV
His fingers dug deeper into my shoulder, the pressure building until I couldn't keep silent anymore. "Let go. You're hurting me."
Lucian's body went rigid against mine, his chest rising and falling in harsh breaths. The gold in his eyes flickered, fighting with something else, some part of him trying to claw back control. I watched the battle play out across his face, saw the moment rational thought started winning over whatever beast had taken hold of him.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep talking. "I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want you getting in trouble because of me."
The grip on my shoulder loosened fractionally, and I saw something break in his expression. His eyes widened and the gold started bleeding away, replaced by that familiar gray-green.
Lucian sucked in a deep breath, the sound ragged and unsteady, and his fingers slowly released my shoulder. He stepped back, putting distance between us, and when he turned away from me completely I saw his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"I'm sorry." His voice came out rough, scraped raw, carrying an edge of self-loathing that made my chest tighten. "I shouldn't have done that."
I reached up to touch my shoulder, feeling the heat radiating from where his fingers had pressed too hard, and something complicated twisted in my stomach.
I moved toward the door on unsteady legs, but I stopped with my hand on the handle. I kept my back to him, couldn't bring myself to turn around and see whatever expression he was wearing now.
"Tomorrow when Julian comes," I said, keeping my voice as level as I could manage, "if you actually care about what I said, then act like we're strangers. But if you don't care, then do whatever you want."
I heard him move behind me, heard the sharp intake of breath, but I didn't wait to see his reaction. I pulled the door open and walked out, my bare feet silent on the hallway carpet.
Back in my room I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and pulled up Rowan's contact, hitting the video call button. She answered on the third ring, her expression immediately shifting to concerned when she saw me.
"What happened?"
I gave her the condensed version. How I'd tried again with Lucian and he'd turned me down. How I'd asked him to pretend we were strangers when Julian showed up. How he'd completely lost control at that suggestion, grabbed me hard enough to leave marks, then immediately regretted it.
Rowan listened without interrupting, and when I finished she let out a low whistle. "Okay, so he rejects you because he doesn't want to force you, but the second you ask him to act like he doesn't know you, he loses his shit?" She leaned closer to the camera, her expression knowing. "Briar, that's not a man who doesn't have feelings. That's a man who's jealous as hell."
"He said no," I insisted, hearing how defensive I sounded. "He literally gave me the same answer as before."
"Because he's trying to be noble or whatever. But wanting to be noble and actually not caring are two completely different things." She paused, studying my face through the screen. "You want to know for sure? Test him tomorrow when Julian shows up. See if he can actually stand there and watch without reacting."
My stomach dropped at the suggestion, cold dread washing through me. "Are you insane? Julian will kill us both if Lucian interferes."
Rowan shrugged, completely unbothered. "Then that tells you everything you need to know. If Lucian can stand back and let it happen, he's not worth the risk. But if he steps in, if he's willing to go up against his own brother for you, then you know he'd fight the whole damn world to keep you safe."
I shook my head, the denial automatic. "No. That's too dangerous."
"Your call. Just think about it."
We said our goodbyes and I ended the call, but her words kept circling in my head as I tried to sleep.
The next morning I threw myself into work. I set up a video conference with both HR managers and went through the personnel changes I'd been planning, my voice steady as I named names and explained my reasoning.
Several employees who'd mocked me got termination notices. The ones who'd done good work got promotions. The HR managers looked increasingly uncomfortable as the list grew, and finally one cleared her throat.
"Ms. Vance, the severance packages will be substantial."
"Pay them based on last year's bonus structure," I said without hesitation. "I want this done cleanly. Good terms, good references, no drama."
"That's very generous."
"I need a loyal team, not people who undermine me behind my back. If someone can't commit to that, I'd rather pay them well to leave now than deal with the damage later."
After the meeting I thought about the information leak, about how my planted fake documents had yielded nothing. Whoever was feeding information to the Montgomerys was smart, which meant I needed a different approach.
I spent the next hour crafting multiple versions of our bid proposal, each identical except for tiny details. Different supplier names, slightly varied timelines, minor cost adjustments. I sent each version to a different senior team member with a note saying I needed their final review.
If the Montgomerys got one of these versions, I'd know exactly who'd given it to them based on which details showed up.
By the time I finished it was nearly noon, and I tracked down Thomas to ask about the road repairs. He gave me a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"They're nearly done, Miss Vance. Should be passable by this evening."
My heart kicked up its pace. "This evening?"
"Yes, ma'am. Alpha Julian's convoy has been waiting at the base of the mountain. They'll come up as soon as we give the all-clear."
The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly as I made my way to the shopping center, taking the long route past the artificial lake because I needed time to think. By the time I reached the air-conditioned interior I'd worked up a light sweat.
I grabbed a few changes of clothes and was heading toward checkout when I heard the whispers.
Three women stood near the accessories display, all dressed in expensive casual wear that screamed old money and pack privilege, and they weren't even trying to be subtle.
"That's her, isn't it? The one who got sold to Alpha Julian like some kind of bargain basement merchandise."
"I heard she's quite good at seducing men though. Must be, to have an Alpha actually go through with buying her."
The humiliation hit like a physical blow, hot and sharp, but I kept my expression blank as I turned away and headed for the register. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing how their words landed.
I paid and walked out with the shopping bag clutched in one hand, my spine straight until I was out of their sight. Then I stopped in an empty corridor and looked down at the bag, my fingers slowly loosening their grip until it started to slip.
I caught it just before it hit the floor, my hand closing tight around the handles again, and I stood there while my chest felt like it was caving in.
If only my life could be caught like this before it fell. If only someone had grabbed me before I hit rock bottom.
But I'd learned better than to wait for rescue. The only person I could count on was myself.
Except Lucian's voice kept echoing in my head, the way he'd talked me through that panic attack during the storm, the steady confidence when he'd told me I was stronger than I thought. Something had shifted in me that night, and I'd let myself lean on him in a way I hadn't leaned on anyone in years.
Was that trust earned, or was I just so desperate for someone to care that I'd projected all my hopes onto the first person who showed me basic kindness?
Rowan's suggestion came back to me, dangerous and tempting.
Tonight when Julian arrived, when he inevitably touched me or made some claim of ownership, I could watch Lucian's reaction and know for certain whether any of this had been real. If he stood there unmoved, if he could watch Julian handle me like property without flinching, then I'd have my answer and I could stop this pathetic hoping.
But if he couldn't stay still, if seeing Julian with me broke through whatever control he'd been maintaining, then maybe this risk had a chance of paying off.
I adjusted my grip on the shopping bag and started walking again, my decision settling into place with a finality that made my pulse race.
Tonight I'd know, one way or another.