Chapter 68 Chapter 68
Lucian didn’t speak again until we were inside the room. The door closed with a quiet bang that made my pulse quicken. He stands near the door. I didn’t know what to expect when it came to Lucian’s moods. The space felt different, his scent was everywhere, steady and dominant but underneath it there’s something unsettled that made my stomach coil. He turned to face me slowly.
“Why did you go to the witch without telling me?” He asked, his voice sounded very calm which made it more worse. I inhaled slowly.
I had rehearsed what I would say in my head on the way back. A dozen explanations or lies, each that sounded better than the last but I couldn’t remember any of them right now as he stood in front of me, arms crossed, jaws tight and his eyes dark with something that wasn’t anger but wasn’t calm either.
“I’m sorry” I said first because that was the truth. “I knew you wouldn’t let me go that’s why I didn’t say anything” his brows furrowed.
“That doesn’t make it better”
“I know” I said quickly.
“My wolf almost went crazy today when I came back and i didn’t see you”
“I’m sorry for making you worry but the mark Lucian, it’s scared me. It still does and I needed to understand it and I didn’t want to fight you about it. You have too much on your shoulders already” his eyes flickered at that but just briefly.
“You still should have told me even if you thought I’d say no. I would have found a way” he said quietly.
“I know but I needed to visit her myself and hear from someone who knows about all this ancient stuff and I thought the witch would help with my confusion. That is why I went with Lina”
“And?” He asked. I knew he was asking what the witch had said.
“The witch didn’t explain anything clearly. She kept talking in parables and going in circles. I didn’t even get to ask about my mark directly. Every time I tried to ask directly something made it not happen” his jaw tightened.
“You see that’s why you should have told me, I would have had her come over and she would have gone straight to the point. She had no right to confuse you especially about something like this”
“No….she was not confusing me. I just didn’t get the chance to ask her about it” I said softly. He exhaled slowly and turns away, running his hand through his hair.
For a moment, he looks tired. He didn’t look like an Alpha now but a normal man.
“You don’t need to worry about the mark anymore” he said finally.
“Whatever it is, whatever it means I’ll handle it. And the witch had already told us that it’s a prophecy that has come to pass”
I studied his posture, the way his shoulders were broad and how different responsibilities weighed on those shoulders.
“You can’t handle everything alone” I murmured. He didn’t respond to that.
“I want to make things easier for you. I know you’ll handle everything but I just didn’t want to be confused anymore”
He turned back to me, his expression closed off again. The shift is subtle but unmistakeable. I hesitate, then decide to change the topic.
“You left earlier for pack business” I said carefully.
“Yes”
“Was it for something serious?” His eyes met mine and they were stone cold. Not because they’re angry but they were guarded.
Whatever he did today or whoever he spoke to it, it wasn’t something he was ready to share and somehow, that realization hurts more than if he had snapped at me. I nodded slowly.
‘You are also hiding something from him’ my wolf said but I shrugged it off.
“You don’t have to tell me”
Something in his posture loosened a bit at that.
“I’ll tell you another time” he said quietly, then after a moment.
“Come, let’s have dinner”
The word didn’t sound like a dinner. It was an offering.
Dinner is brought to us in our room instead of going down and it made my chest warm in a way, I didn’t comment on. The last time we had dinner was before our argument and I enjoyed that dinner. The servants moved quickly, silently and eyes carefully averted. When they leave, we are alone again.
We sat across from each other. The mood has become lighter since food was brought in. At first, the conversation is simple. He asked if the healers herbs are helping with my sore muscles. I tell him they are and I can finally go back to training but he said the healer would have to clear me first.
I asked about the patrols and if they are any new attacks, the pack is facing. He gives me just enough to satisfy my curiosity without revealing much.
Under his very word, something hums beneath. The bond. I can feel different emotions from the bond. Lucian set his cup down slowly.
“Don’t leave the pack grounds without telling me next time. I want to know where you are at all times” he said softly. I nodded.
“I promise not to leave the pack without letting you know” that earned me a smile from him.
“I felt a slight change in the bond earlier today. Were you in any sort of trouble today?” I shook my head.
“I was not. The witch noticed our bond had become stronger according to her the bond is shaping with consequences”
“What does it mean?”
“I don’t know. I kept asking her but she only made me more confused by saying life doesn’t announce itself. I have been trying to figure out what she meant but it only gave me a headache”
“Don’t stress yourself. I can just have her come over to make things clearer” I shook my head. I didn’t want him to invite her over again.
“I’ll eventually understand what she meant. I’ll understand what’s happening with me”
“With us” he corrected gently and I smiled.
“Yes” I agreed after a moment. “With us” I take a breath.
We continue with our food and our conversation shifted to stories from his childhood and I find myself laughing hard. It felt normal.
“Did Aiden follow you for pack business” he shook his head.
“No. Aiden had to take care of other things. I just took sone guards. The meeting didn’t take long”
“It was successful right?” He nodded.
“I took care of it”
“Aiden is a hardworking Beta. He knows his job so well and he takes charge like someone when you are not around”
“I’ll have to commend him on that. He does so well even though he can be very annoying” I heard the humor in his voice.
“How did you two meet?”
“We’ve known each other since we were kids. I always knew he was going to be my Beta. His father was the Beta then and he helped me a lot when my father died and I had to take over. His father was practically my second father and it broke my heart when he died too” I could hear the hurt in his voice.
“I’m so sorry for your loss” I sympathized with him.
“It’s fine. It’s been a long time. Aiden and I eventually got past that stage. What about your parents? I’ve never heard you speak about them or your childhood”
“My parents died when I was very young. I can’t remember much about them but the little I remember about them. They were very good people and my father he was the first person to teach me how to fight”
“Really?” He asked and I nodded.
“He would always take me whenever he went to train and I would sit and watch him for hours. He thought me to shoot an arrow” I laughed at that particular memory.
“What happened to them?”
“They were killed in an attack. I went out that day to play with my friends and when I came back I heard they passed away. I was so heartbroken that I couldn’t eat for days”
“You didn’t have anybody to comfort you? No sibling? No friend?” I tensed. Telling him would mean bringing up Lorcan and I didn’t want that.
“I’m the only child so I cried alone. As for friends, I had a few but they couldn’t do much, we were still little children”
“So you didn’t have anyone at all and went through such a moment alone?” I nodded.
“That must have been really hard. I don’t have any siblings from my parents but Aiden could pass as one. We mourned together”
“It’s all in the past now. I just cherish the memories I have of them and move on with my life”
“But what about other pack members? You had a pack when you were little, right. Which pack was it?” He asked.
“I had a pack when I was little. I forgot to tell you that my father was a Beta in my previous pack. I was supposed to be the next Beta”
“Really? A female beta. I’ve heard about one before in the Silver Moon pack but I never got to meet her because of the relationship I have with them” I have an awkward smile.
“You didn’t answer my question from before. I was asking which pack you lived with your parents”
“I-it’s the….”
Before I could complete the lie I had formed in my head, there was a knock on the door which saved me.