Chapter 17 We Are Strangers
Caspian
She was standing there. Lulu. Her small frame, that fiery red hair tangled with thin cobwebs, and those wide eyes tracing the ancient shelves like a child caught stealing sweets. Her face paled the second she saw me — but that wasn’t what lit my fury.
What made me snap was her blatant disregard for my words.
“I told you not to come here.” My voice dropped an octave, almost a growl. “Are you deliberately trying to challenge me?”
Lulu stepped back. “I was just looking for a book—”
“You disobeyed.”
The emotion bursting in my chest was too fast, too vicious — so wild I barely recognised myself. I felt my claws sliding out on instinct alone — alpha instinct, not reason.
I grabbed her shoulders, pushing her against the wall. “How many times do I have to tell you to stay safe?!”
She jolted, and gods, I didn’t want to hurt her. I only wanted her to stop. To understand how dangerous this place was. But my emotions moved quicker than my mind. Far too quick. My claws shifted fully as I stopped myself from shaking her, and the tip of one dragged across her neck. Warm blood coated my fingers immediately.
“A–arrgh…” Lulu clutched her throat, her body shuddering in pain.
I froze. My breath vanished.
No. No. No.
“Lulu…”
She crumpled to her knees, curling in on herself, trembling. The wound should’ve closed already. Any wolf would’ve healed in minutes. But her skin stayed torn, blood spilling without slowing.
I hurt her. This was a huge mistake.
I dropped down, hands on her shoulders. “Lulu, look at me. Breathe… just breathe.”
She only groaned. Something stabbed brutally through my chest, hot, sharp, like claws raking my heart from the inside. I choked, trying not to wince.
Mate bond. The backlash I completely forgot about five bloody seconds ago. She was in pain… so I felt it too.
But she didn’t know. She’d lost her wolf. She had no idea what tied us together. And me… I’d just hurt her. Like an idiot. A monster.
I scooped her into my arms before I even thought. “You’re going to be fine. I’ll take you to Dr Allen. Stay awake. Lulu, stay with me!”
Her body was cold. Her breaths uneven. Every passing second ripped through my chest.
I ran. The corridors of the pack house blurred like shadows. Anyone who saw me must’ve caught the panic on my face — the usually composed Alpha of Sapphire Water pack reduced to a mess.
When I crashed into the clinic, I yelled, “Violet!”
Violet stepped out of her office. “Alpha? What—Moon Goddess…”
She hurried over the moment she saw Lulu in my arms. “Put her on the bed. Now!”
I laid her down carefully, though my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Allen examined the wound, his brows darkening.
“She’s… not healing,” he muttered.
“I know that!” I snapped without meaning to. “Fix her, Violet. Do something!”
Allen shot me a glare. “Calm down, Alpha. You’re not helping if you explode.”
I turned away with a low growl. I couldn’t calm down. Not when Lulu wasn’t moving. Not when her blood stained my clothes. Not when I could still feel the echo of her pain in my own chest.
Allen took a special salve and started working. “What happened?”
I dragged a hand through my hair, furious with myself. “I… got angry. She crossed into the restricted section. I didn’t mean—”
“You didn’t mean to choke her?” he cut in.
My jaw clenched. “I didn’t intend to hurt her.”
“Your claws say otherwise.”
Another growl escaped me. “I said it was an accident.”
Allen paused, eyes sharp. “You do realise your mate bond is reflecting her pain, yes?”
I shut my eyes. “I realise it… now.”
“You should’ve controlled yourself better. Lulu isn’t a normal wolf. You forgot that?”
I didn’t answer. Because yes — I forgot. Or more accurately, I let my anger swallow the thought.
Allen sighed and continued treating her. “Alpha, I can stop the bleeding, but the pain will linger. She doesn’t have her wolf to heal her.”
His words hit me like another punch to the chest.
It took a long while before Lulu finally opened her eyes — pale, weak, but conscious.
I moved toward her at once. “Lulu…”
She looked at me, cold. Not angry — something worse. Hurt. Deeply.
“I’m sorry,” I said, voice low and rough. “I didn’t mean—”
“I…” Lulu whispered, cutting me off. “want to be alone.”
My blood stopped flowing.
“Do you hate me?” I choked out. “Just give me a chance to explain.”
“Let me leave.”
“What? No. I’m not letting you go.”
She closed her eyes, turning her face away — something I never wanted to see again. I reached for her hand, but she pulled back immediately.
“I won’t touch you like that again.” I withdrew, swallowing hard. “I swear.”
“Caspian.” She breathed the words, soft and bitter. “I’m just a wolf who happened to die and end up here. I don’t even know why you bothered saving me. So I should know my place and leave. We’re strangers.”
Her words cut far deeper than any physical wound.
My head dropped. I almost reached for her hand again, but stopped myself. “Don’t go. Please. I’ll give you anything.”
“It’s pointless. I won’t die a second time. Once I recover, I’m leaving. I hope you understand, Alpha.”
I gave up then. Powerless. Maybe she really was safer without me.
But I knew I’d crumble if I lost my mate — especially when I’d only just found her.
“I’ll give you time,” I murmured. “And… I’m sorry, Lulu. Truly.”
I left her alone. Hoping she’d forgive me. Hoping she’d stay in Sapphire Water. Because if she left… I honestly didn’t know if I could breathe without her.
Outside the clinic, I assigned Violet and an omega to care for her at all times.
The next morning, when I went to check on her, Lulu stood by the window. The soft fire lily scent drifting from her skin nearly dragged me to her. I approached slowly, praying she’d changed her mind.
“Lulu… how do you feel?”
“The same. And I doubt you care.”
She didn’t turn around, eyes still on the view beyond the window. “You came because it’s an Alpha’s duty to respect a guest.”
“You’re still angry.” I kept my tone even, refusing to take her bait.
She exhaled shakily. “Let’s just get to it. If I stay… I want one condition.”
A condition?
“Anything,” I said instantly.
“Tell me about Morpheus.”
My heart stopped for a second.
“No—” I rejected it at once. “Lulu, no. That’s too dangerous. You can’t get involved.”
“I didn’t ask to be involved,” she said softly, but firm. “I just want to know the truth. Why everyone acts like he’s a walking omen.”
I turned away, rubbing the back of my neck. “Because… knowing too much will put you in danger.”
“Then why let me stay?” She pinned me with a sharp look. “You can’t protect someone without telling them why.”
I went silent. Because she was right — and that was the problem.
She was always right.
I let out a long, heavy breath. “Lulu… dealing with a sorcerer always comes with consequences, and I don’t want you anywhere near them.”
“Why do you care so much about me?” she whispered.
Because they want you dead. Because you and I… are the only ones who can unlock forbidden magic.
Because they’ll come for you. For our child.
But I couldn’t say that. Bloody hell.
I looked at her, defeated by the honesty in her eyes. “We’ll compromise.”
“What’s the compromise?”
“I’ll tell you part of it. Only what’s safe for now.” I leaned closer. “But not yet. You need to recover first.”
She went quiet, considering.
“Lulu… please.” My voice was bare, the real version of me. “Give me time. I’ll tell you. Just don’t leave the pack house. Don’t leave me.”
She finally nodded, faintly. “What’s the reason, Alpha? I’m not the only one frustrated here. Morpheus saved my life. If that makes me ungrateful, then take this heart back — because this second life doesn’t feel like a lucky draw.”
Because I love you, Lulu — but claiming you will put you in more danger than I can shield you from.
“You’re pregnant.”
The answer sounded random, but at least she wouldn’t question it.
“Well… at least it sounds simple enough to not be a lie.”
A small relief loosened in my chest — along with a much bigger fear. Because once I started sharing the truth about Morpheus… nothing would ever be the same.
I stood straighter, inhaling deeply. “Recover first. Then… I’ll be ready.”
“For what?” she whispered.
“To tell you the truth.” I met her gaze, promising myself more than her. “Everything you don’t know… but has been haunting your life for a long time.”
This time, I managed to take her hand. Her pale face held a faint flush — a shade matching her hair I would never let my mate go.Even if it meant lying a hundred more times.