Chapter 122 Chapter 122
I woke up with a huge smile on my face. I was happy and so was my wolf. Before I even opened my eyes, I knew.
The warmth against my back. The weight of his arm draped possessively over my waist. The slow, steady rhythm of Lucian’s breathing against my neck.
And the ache. It was not painful. I blushed thinking about how hot we were for each other last night. I was sore from Lucian’s love making but I’ll gladly do it again.
My fingers moved instinctively to my neck. To my mark. I haven’t had time to look at it properly but I would do that once I stand up. The fresh bond mark throbbed faintly beneath my skin , it was warm, alive and undeniable.
Mine.
And his.
The memory of last night came rushing back all at once. The public confession. The way he rejected Elara without hesitation. The kiss in front of everyone. The way we left the party when we still had guests. The way Lucian looked at me like he was afraid I might still disappear.
My heart swelled so full it almost hurt. I turned slightly in his arms, careful not to wake him. But Lucian was never a deep sleeper. His lips brushed lazily along my shoulder before I could even speak.
“Good morning” he murmured against my skin.
Heat bloomed across my cheeks.
“How are you so certain it’s morning”
“I just feel it”
His fingers traced the curve of my waist slowly, possessively, as if reassuring himself I was real.
“How do you feel?” he asked quietly.
“Like I’m on top of the world” I didn’t hesitate to say that. He smiled against my neck.
“I’m glad you feel that way” I tilted my head slightly so I could look at him.
He looked relaxed and satisfied just like I was. Content in a way I hadn’t seen before.
‘Why wouldn’t he content? You didn’t leave again after all’ my wolf said and I smiled.
“Are all the guests gone?” I asked softly. He hummed.
“I don’t know. Some may have stayed overnight. Aiden will handle it” Relief flickered through me.
Good. Let Aiden deal with that. At least, Lucian and I would spend some time in bed. I took a small breath.
“Lucian…I want to speak with you”
I had finally decided to tell him everything, seeing Lorcan last night made me realize how important it is that I tell him.
He groaned softly. His hand slid up my side, warm and distracting.
“Not now”
“It’s important”
He leaned down and pressed his lips gently over mine, cutting off my words. His hand cradled my face as if I might slip away.
“Its early. Instead of talking, I know something that could keep us both busy” he murmured against my mouth. My resolve wavered.
“It’s about my past” I whispered. His thumb brushed my lower lip.
“I don’t care about your past”
“But I do” he shook his head slightly.
“It’s not necessary
“It matters…..”
He silenced me again with another kiss, deeper this time and full of desire. His hands mapped over my body slowly, like he was memorizing every inch.
“I just want to lose myself inside you” he murmured low against my ear.
My wolf purred in agreement. My mind tried to argue.
This is important. I need to tell him. I said to myself
But the warmth of him, the way he was touching me and the way my body was responding drowned everything else.
And I gave in.
When I woke again, sunlight flooded the room. It was very bright. I blinked slowly, disoriented for a second. The bed was warm but felt empty. My hand moved across the sheets instinctively.
Cold.
He was gone. A small flicker of disappointment stirred in my chest. I had wanted to tell him, I had made up my mind to finally open that door and stop hiding my past.
My wolf stirred gently.
You still can. I nodded faintly to myself.
I will.
I pushed myself upright, wincing slightly at the pleasant soreness that reminded me of earlier today. A soft smile curved over my lips again ad I remembered everything.
He had marked me and I had marked him.
The bond between us felt different now. It was stronger, deeper and unshakable. I rose from the bed and moved toward the bathroom. The water was warm and soothing against my skin.
As I washed, I studied my reflection. The faint mark on my neck. The new light in my eyes. I didn’t look uncertain anymore. I looked claimed. I didn’t know being marked and mated could make you feel different.
But beneath that…a whisper of unfinished truth.
I dried myself and dressed simply, a soft gown that felt comfortable against my skin. Then I left the room in search of Lina.
She found me first. Her gasp echoed down the corridor when she spotted me.
“Oh my goddess!” I laughed softly as she rushed toward me.
“You look different” she said dramatically, grabbing my hands.
“I feel different too” I blushed.
“You are glowing” my cheeks warmed. She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“You are well and truly marked” I nodded slowly.
Her eyes filled with excitement.
“Yes! I knew last night would change everything” I couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’m happy” I admitted softly.
“Good. Because you deserve to be” She squeezed my hands.
“Everyone knows it now. There’s no room for doubt. No room for Elara.”
At the mention of Elara, a shadow flickered faintly in my chest.
“She humiliated herself” Lina continued with satisfaction.
“Did you see her face when he rejected her?”
I hadn’t bothered to look at her. I only heard her scream.
“I hope she leaves soon” Lina added.
“After that? How could she stay?” I swallowed.
“I’ll speak to Lucian about that”
“If she had any shame, she wouldn’t remain here after that disgrace”Lina said firmly.
We began walking slowly down the corridor together. The pack felt different this morning.
Lighter or maybe it was because I was feeling that way.
“You were magnificent yesterday” Lina said.
“I was terrified”
“You didn’t look it” I laughed softly.
We spoke of other things, she told me how much she enjoyed herself last night. She also talked about some guests who had gotten drunk, of a Luna who had nearly fallen. All these happened after Lucian and I left the party.
I laughed so hard. We missed the better part of the night. Today, felt like a new beginning for me. A beginning of something steady and real.
We turned slightly as we rounded the corner and I froze. She stood at the far end of the corridor.
Marie. My ex-best friend.
The first thought that came to my mind was what was she doing here? Lucian told me some guests would stay overnight but I didn’t expect her to remain. If she was here, then Lorcan was still in this pack.
Damn!
She was dressed simply but she still carried herself like she owned every room she stepped into. Her eyes lifted slowly and when it found mine, she curved her lips.
The air changed instantly. Lina’s grip tightened slightly on my arm.
“That’s her” Lina whispered.
“Who?”
“The Luna that almost fell or rather she fell because she was too drunk” Lina giggled.
Marie began walking toward us. Her steps unhurried like she had all the time in the world. I didn’t know if I wanted to talk to her yet.
‘Ground yourself. You are not that girl anymore’
Yes, I would speak to her.
Marie stopped a few feet away. She looked me up and down slowly. Then her gaze landed on my neck. On the mark. A flicker of something unreadable passed across her face.
“I see you snagged yourself an Alpha” she said lightly.
“Lina, you can go now. I’ll talk to you later” she nodded and left. I stepped forward slightly.
“What do you want?” Her lips curved faintly.
“To talk”
“We have nothing to discuss”
“Oh, I think we do. You vanished without a word” she said softly.
“You betrayed me”
“It wasn’t betrayal” I scoffed.
“Really? So what was it? A prank?” She sighed lightly.
“You always were dramatic” anger flared inside my chest.
“You lied to me and you were seeing my so called mate at my back”
“And you chose to run? What happened to talking?”
“Was I supposed to stay? How did you expect me to cope when the two people I trusted the most betrayed me?”
“You ran away because you couldn’t handle losing to me?” My pulse quickened.
“You don’t get to rewrite history. If you liked him, you could have said so rather than pretend you hated him meanwhile you were fucking him” I spat out. She tilted her head slightly. Her eyes never left mine.
“Would you have left him for me if I told you?” I paused and thought about it.
“It would have been better than deceiving me. Anyways, it all worked for good right? I met someone even better”
“You look happy” she said quietly.
“I am happy. I should be grateful to you in a way for making me realize I didn’t love Lorcan”
She studied me for a long moment.
“Are you really sure you are happy?”
The question slid under my skin. I lifted my chin.
“Yes”
Her gaze flicked briefly to my mark again. Then back to my eyes.
“Be careful” she said softly.
“Of what?”
“Of believing that public declarations fix cracks”
My stomach tightened. What the hell did she mean by cracks?
“There are no cracks” She smiled faintly.
“We’ll see” I scoffed.
“I hope you have a nice life, Marie. And I hope this is the last time I see your face”
“No baby, you’ll keep seeing my face”