Chapter 30
Lorenzo’s POV
The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind a dull ache in my muscles and a hollow ache in my chest.
I should have felt victorious.
I had her—my mate—under my roof, in my home, where I could protect her. But a part of me still felt unsettled, like something had slipped through my fingers the moment I walked out of Hell’s Pit with her in my arms.
Arielle was safe, but she wasn’t mine.
Not yet.
And that was what worried me the most, I ran a hand down my face, exhaling slowly as I leaned back in my chair staring at the half-empty glass of whiskey in my hand watching the amber liquid swirling under the dim light, but it did nothing to ease the tension coiled tight in my gut.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Rafe entered, his usual smirk absent and that alone told me he wasn’t here for small talk.
“You look like shit,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
I smirked.
" Thanks for the update.”
He dropped into the chair across from me, stretching his legs out in that lazy way of his, but his eyes were sharp. Assessing me and the table behind me
" Pour me a drink" he muttered and I sighed
" Get it yourself " I groused and he huffed grabbing the bottle off the table and pouring a glass and sipped at it and groaned then he dropped the glass and looked up at me
“So,” he said, tapping his fingers against the armrest,
“what now?” I exhaled slowly, setting my glass down.
"The council refused to let you step down.” he said and I hummed
" It's not surprising. You’re too valuable for them to let you go.”
“They have no problem letting others go,” I muttered.
“They let people go when it benefits them.” He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“And Arielle?”
I clenched my jaw. My mate.
“She stays,” I said, my voice firm.
"She’s mine.”
Rafe studied me for a long moment.
“Vincenzo isn’t going to let you just take her, you know that, right?”
I knew he wasn't going to let this go.
The bastard had made that much clear when he let me take her without a fight.
Which meant he was planning something.
I let out a low growl, my wolf stirring beneath my skin at the mention of that bastard’s name.
“I don’t care what Vincenzo wants.”
“You should.”
My eyes snapped to his, a growl forming in my throat but Rafe didn’t back down.
“That man let you take her way too easily. He’s not done with her.”
A muscle ticked in my jaw.
“I know.”
“Then what’s the plan?”
I exhaled slowly, leaning back.
"I don’t have one yet.” Rafe raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a first.”
I met his gaze, a ghost of a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips
“No, it’s not.” But it had not happened in a while.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have a plan. I had gone into Hell’s Pit knowing the risks, prepared to make a deal, to walk away from all of it.
But the council had tied my hands and I had no choice but to remain Alpha.
Until they decided otherwise.
I smirked, but it didn’t reach my eyes.
"I’ll figure it out.”
Rafe ran a hand through his hair, then leaned forward.
“And what about the curse?”
My wolf snarled at the reminder, but I kept my expression neutral. Arielle was more than just my mate. She was not just that but she was a dominant omega, she was the key to breaking the curse that had haunted my family for generations.
When the time was right, our bond would sever the chains binding me to my bloodline’s fate,but she didn’t know that.
Not yet.
“She’s my mate,” I said simply.
“That’s all that matters.”
Rafe sighed, shaking his head.
"You’re playing a dangerous game, Lorenzo.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” I smirked.
He let out a dry chuckle, then stood from his seat
" Fine. Just don’t get yourself killed.” I arched a brow.
“That a warning?”
“A promise.”
" I'll follow you to the pit of hell if you die" he muttered as he left
The house was quiet as I made my way upstairs, since most of my men had settled in for the night, though I knew better than to assume they were actually resting.
I stopped in front of the door I knew was hers but for a moment, I hesitated.
Maybe I should come back at another time, she had been through hell so I was sure she needed space.
Time.
But I needed to see her, I pushed the door open just as she stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around her like mist.
My breath caught in my throat almost immediately, she stood there, wrapped in nothing but a towel, water droplets trailing down her collarbone. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders.
For a second, she didn’t move.
Neither did I.
Then, slowly, she lifted her chin.
“You’re staring,” she said, her voice quiet but steady.
I didn’t deny it swallowing softly as I looked anywhere else but at her or tried to anyway.
I was staring.
Because she was here and she was mine, even if she didn’t realize it yet.
I stepped forward, keeping my movements slow, measured.
“You’re safe now, I hope you know that " I mumbled and she smiled her eyes flickering with something unreadable.
“Am I?” the question left me feeling sad because she didn't trust me enough.
“You are,” I promised.
She studied me, her expression unreadable.
“Why did you come for me?” she asked and I smiled, she didn't understand me or my intention, I got that I just wished it was different.
“I told you,” I said, voice rough.
“You’re my mate.”
She exhaled, looking away.
" I know that, you've said it a thousand times but that means what exactly?”
Everything.
It meant everything.
But I didn’t say that, instead, I took another step forward, closing the distance between us.
“It means you’re mine to protect, no matter what happens ”
She looked up at me then, something flickering in her gaze.
“And what if I don’t want your protection?”
My wolf snarled at the thought of not being with her when she needed me.I reached out, gently brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.
She tensed but didn’t pull away.
“You don’t have a choice,” I murmured.
She inhaled sharply, her pulse hammering in her throat.
Then, to my utter surprise, she smirked.
“You’re awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
I grinned.
“Always.”
She shook her head but didn’t step back.
" I thought as much "