Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Suddenly, the car jerked violently to a stop.
Lucien turned sharply toward the front. “Javon, why did you stop the car?” he demanded coldly.
Javon slowly looked back at us, his golden eyes locking onto mine.
“Alpha,” he said in a low, emotionless voice. “They’re waiting.”
My throat tightened instantly.
“Who are…” I looked between both of them, my thoughts spiraling too fast to process anything properly anymore. “Lucien, please…” I managed weakly, my voice barely working now.
Fear wrapped around me so tightly I instinctively grabbed Lucien’s arm.
“I’ve got this under control,” Lucien replied calmly, though something dangerous simmered beneath his voice. “Start the engine and say nothing to anyone about this.”
Javon hesitated briefly before nodding and facing forward again.
The car began moving once more.
I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying unsuccessfully to steady my breathing as terror continued rising inside me like a flood.
And yet, despite all of it, despite the fear and confusion and danger surrounding him, there was still a part of me that wanted comfort from him alone. I wanted his arms around me. I wanted his body against mine. I wanted him to explain everything without words the way he always somehow managed to whenever he held me.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, I leaned against him and rested my cheek against his chest.
To my surprise, Lucien wrapped one arm around me almost immediately, pulling me firmly against his body.
“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured, his voice softer now. “I told you I would protect you. As long as you’re with me, you’re safe.”
I nodded, feeling a small measure of relief, though my heart was still racing and I knew he could hear it. “I know,” I whispered.
His arms tightened around me. One hand rested over my arm while I placed mine around his neck, grounding myself in him. His other hand settled at my waist, holding me close until the panic in my chest slowly began to ease, though it did not fully disappear. The car remained silent around us, and I probably should have asked where he was taking me, but instead I chose, almost stubbornly, to trust him.
A thought flickered in my mind, sharp and unwelcome, warning me that I might be being foolish, that he could be leading me somewhere I would never return from, that I could be making a mistake I would not survive. I pushed it down and moved closer to him instead, my fingers sliding gently to the back of his neck, massaging him softly as if that alone could steady everything between us.
“Are you still mad at me?” I whispered after a while, my nose brushing against his suit as I breathed in his scent, warm, clean, and dangerously comforting.
He did not respond immediately, his fingers continuing their slow, steady tracing against my back. Then he finally spoke. “Javon, take us back.”
“Why?” I asked, surprised he wanted to return to my house when we were already far away. I had thought he intended to take me to his place, and part of me had already accepted that I would go, that I would not run this time.
“Can we talk about it when we get to your house?” he said at last, his tone softer, more controlled. “No more questions.”
I nodded slowly. “Okay. Whatever you say.”
His warmth seeped into me, easing the fear that had been eating away at my chest. But even as I closed my eyes and let myself lean into him, I could not shake the feeling that something terrible was coming.