Chapter 58 Chapter 58
My heart jumped to my throat. I knew the smell of trouble and I was standing right in front of one. In a blur of speed, Lucian crossed the room, his hand closing around Damian's throat so fast Damian barely had time to gasp. His fingers dug in with brutal force, lifting Damian off the ground like he weighed nothing.
“Lucian….stop” I screamed.
He didn't even hear me. His eyes were wild, feral. The sound rumbling out of him wasn't human. It was pure, territorial rage like something had snapped inside him.
"You dared touch her” Lucian snarled, his voice distorted, half-wolf.
“You put your hands on what's mine” Damian choked, struggling, trying his best to stay respectful despite the lack of air.
"A-Alpha…” Lucian slammed him against the wall so hard the wooden frame broke. My heart lurched violently in my chest.
Damian wasn't fighting back not because he couldn't, but because he wouldn'. Not against his Alpha. But Lucian didn't care. He was lost in instinct, in jealousy, in a rage so sharp it stung my skin. I ran towards them.
“Lucian Let him go! He didn't do anything” Lucian’s grip only tightened. His claws began to push through his fingers, slightly piercing Damian's skin. Blood trickled down. Lucian inhaled it. That made it worse.
His wolf surged forward, his eyes fully golden now.
"Say another word to her” he growled into Damian's face, "and I will rip your throat out”
“Alpha... I swear... I meant no disrespect” Damian’s voice rasped, barely a whisper. Lucian’s snarl shook the air. His muscles flexed, and for one terrifying second I knew… He was going to kill him. Right there. In front of me.
"Lucian!!!!” I screamed, grabbing his arm with both hands.
“Stop! Please”
The moment my hands touched him, everything shifted. His body froze. His wolf snapped its focus to me, his nostrils flaring with our scent that always seemed to anchor him. His breathing changed still heavy, but no longer chaotic. His grip on Damian loosened slightly, though he didn't release him.
“You're hurting him. Please. Look at me” I stepped closer, my voice trembling.
Slowly and agonizingly, Lucian turned his head. The rage in his eyes was still there but there was something else too.Fear. As if he had just realized how far he had gone.
"Ailsa..." he breathed, hoarse and strained. I touched his chest, feeling the rapid, violent thundering of his heart.
“Let him go” I whispered. "Please. For me” His jaw clenched hard enough to crack a bone, but he listened.
With a sound like a growl being strangled down, Lucian released Damian. Damian dropped to the floor, coughing, air rushing back into his lungs. Lucian never looked away from me. Not even for a second. His chest heaved. His hands trembled. His wolf was still right there beneath the surface, but I was the only thing holding him back from tearing this entire building apart. Damian, still gasping, attempted to bow.
“Alpha... forgive me…”
"Get out” Lucian said, voice low and shaking with barely checked violence.
"Before I change my mind." Damian turned to leave.
“Stop right there!” I was scared he was going to try and kill him again but that was not the case.
Lucian stood steadily, his stance was calm now. Every inch of the room seemed to shrink under his gaze. I could feel it in my chest, and the way my wolf stirred. Damian stepped back, his hands raised rightly in respect.
"Alpha Lucian" He said, his voice steady, careful and measured. Lucian's gaze didn't waver. They swept over Damian's once, slow and piercing. I could feel his wolf ready to erupt again but he was trying to control himself
"I’ll say this once" Lucian’s voice was dangerously low.
"Yes Alpha" Damian obeyed instantly, bowing slightly. The tension showed in his shoulders.
Lucian's gaze turned to me. My pulse hammared and my chest frightened.
His eyes were dark and unreadable and the weight of his presence made me feel exposed. His wolf scent with his own claiming the space around me without touching and I shivered. Lucian turned back to Damian.
"You'll not come here again, you will also not near her again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Alpha" Damian replied calm and respectful meeting Lucian's gaze without flinching.
"Now, get out!!” He commanded. He bowed and turned to leave.
After Damian was gone,my pulse thundered and I thought Lucian could hear it. I was expecting his anger but when his eyes flickered to mine, they were soft.
"You will not entertain that warrior again. I knew from the way he behaved that he wanted you"
My mouth widened.
"You won't scold me?”
"Were you expecting me to scold you?” I nodded.
"You already tried to kill him, I was expecting my own. I thought you would scream at me or something else" He folded his lips.
"I'm only trying to control myself. My wolf wants to tear him into pieces for touching you right now. I'm only forgiving it this one time, if he comes close to you again, he will regret it" I swallowed hard.
My cheeks burned and my wolf stirred restlessly and I couldn't find the words to respond.
"You understand what this means?" He asked quietly, though the intensity in his eyes made the question feel like a command.
"Yes" I whispered. I knew he would never allow us to be alone in a room again and in as much Damian went overboard, he was still my friend.
"You said you don't like people showering their attention on me right?" He nodded.
"I’ve said it before that you are mine, so no one has the right to show any affection to you. Damian should know that. That’s the more reason why I should have killed him”
"So why don't you want to lay claim on me. You almost marked me but you stopped. Why?" I decided to ask the question I couldn’t some time back. He let out a sigh.
"Are we back to this? I’ve told you I can’t mark you yet”
"Why" I asked again but he remained silent.
"You don't want to tell me?"
"It's to protect you. The moment I mark you, you become a target to my enemies" he said flatly.
"Is that the only reason or you are just telling me a convenient answer that is easy to believe” I raise a brow.
Damian made mention of another mate earlier today. I knew he wouldn't just say it even if it was true, but I wanted to know if he would give a hint.
"I'll tell you when the time is right" I nodded deciding not to push him further.
Lucian lingered for a moment, watching me with controlled intensity,before moving to sit in the chair beside my bed.
"Do you feel any pain anywhere?" He asked, his voice softening ever so lightly. I shook my head.
"I'm just tired" His jaw flexed.
"Good" His hands hovered but doesn't touch me yet.
"I'm sorry" He says quietly.
"I shouldn't have lost control like that,you are still healing. I frightened you".
He finally let his fingers touch me. He grips my wrist, his thumb strokes over the spot, slow and gentle and my breath catches. His voice drops even lower.
"Seeing his hands on your....." His jaw tightens
"It made something in me snap" His eyes rise to meet mine, and his gaze was intense.
“If I ever hurt you, even by accident. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself”
The way he looked at me, it was overwhelming. Like I was something precious, something fragile. He lifts his hand, hesitated then touched my cheek. Just his fingers but it felt like more. Like he was touching a part of my soul that I wanted to keep hidden.
My breath stutters. I should pull back and tell him to leave but my wolf pushed me closer. She liked the proximity. My heart betrayed me too, it was pouring too fast and it was too obvious. Lucian noticed and his eyes dropped to my lips. Everything inside me goes still.
He leans closer slowly as if giving me time to stop him but I don’t. His forehead pressed against mine. The warmth of him wrapped around me.
“I don’t want anyone else touching you” he whisper was so faint, that it could barely be heard.
His thumb traces my jaw, tilting my face. This is too close and too intimate. My stomach flips and my skin burns from his touch. I think he might kiss me. I know he wants to and I want that too.
But then..he stops. His eyes close and his jaw clenched as if he’s fighting himself. With a soft curse under his breath, he pulls back enough to break the moment.
“I can’t” he mutters. “Not when you are still hurt” he said shaking his head.
“This isn’t fair to you”
Fair? Him stopping was not fair to me. He stands abruptly run a hand over his face.
“I’ll have the healer come check you again in the morning” he said, his voice was controlled. “I don’t want you leaving this room until you’re fully healed” his alpha tone slips in, but it was not harsh.
I didn’t argue with him this time. He moves to the door then pauses, looking over his shoulder. His eyes soften again.
“Rest, Ailsa” he said. “And don’t let anyone else kiss you” I glared at him but he only smirked then he leaves.
The moment the door clicks shut, I crumble back against the pillow my heart racing. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to breathe.
What are we doing?