Chapter 87

Chapter 87
The moment the words left my mouth, regret slammed into me so hard it almost stole my breath. But it was too late to take them back now. The silence that followed told me immediately that I had crossed a line I never should have touched. I did not even dare move closer to him. Heat prickled across my skin, sweat gathering at the back of my neck as panic settled heavily in my chest.

“Lucien, I’m sorry,” I rushed out quickly. “I’m so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I just got carried away. You’re a better man than every other man I’ve ever met. Better than every man I know. You’re not your father. You are brave. You are not a coward.”

He gave a slow nod, but his eyes looked past me, distant and cold, almost as though I no longer existed in front of him.

“Baby, please just talk to me,” I whispered, my voice cracking under the pressure building inside me. “You’re breaking my heart.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

The quietness of his voice hurt more than if he had shouted.

“That’s it?” I asked, frustration and desperation tangling painfully inside me. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“Pray tell, what exactly do you expect me to say?” His voice sharpened suddenly, cutting through the room like glass. “I would really like to know.”

“I got carried away,” I said quickly, swallowing hard. “I regret what I said.”

“Regret is not enough,” he replied, quieter this time, which somehow made it worse. “Have a good day, Allison.”

The air left my lungs.

“Wow,” I whispered faintly. “Okay.”

Silence stretched between us then, thick and suffocating. It pressed against my chest until breathing itself felt difficult.

Lucien turned slightly, like he was about to leave, and panic shot through me before I could stop it.

I grabbed his hand.

He froze.

Then suddenly he turned, his grip locking around both my wrists as he shoved me back against the door.

A gasp tore from me as my back slammed hard against the wood. Pain burst sharply through my spine, rattling the frame beneath me.

His eyes flashed gold.

“Lucien…” I breathed, fear instantly flooding my voice.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

The second he heard the fear in my tone, he let me go.

Immediately.

I stumbled forward slightly before catching myself, my knees weak beneath me. My breathing came out uneven as I lowered my gaze, trying desperately to steady myself before looking back at him.

He stood several feet away now, chest rising heavily, jaw locked tight with restraint. The gold still burned faintly in his eyes, and the sight of it twisted fear deep inside my stomach.

“I know I messed up…” I whispered finally, forcing the words out through trembling lips.

“My father taught me to always prioritize what matters most to me,” Lucien cut in roughly. His voice sounded strained, like he was barely holding himself together. “That is what I’ve been trying to do. I’ve been trying to get us out of this mess.”

“I know,” I said softly.

“But how can I do that when you keep fighting me?” Frustration cracked through every word now. “Every time I try to protect you, you push back. You disobey me.”

Guilt hit me instantly.

“I won’t anymore,” I said quickly, forcing a weak smile that did not belong there. “Pinky promise.”

His expression darkened immediately.

“You think this is a joke?”

The smile vanished from my face at once. Embarrassment crawled hotly up my neck.

“No,” I whispered. “No, it’s not.”

Lucien’s voice dropped lower then, rougher, darker.

“I’m going to have to tame that loud mouth of yours real soon.”

A nervous shiver slid down my spine.

Part of me should have been afraid of the promise in his voice.

Instead, my pulse quickened.

“What are you going to do?” I asked softly. “Punish me?”

His eyes darkened further.

“You know what, big wolf?” I murmured, trying to steady my breathing. “Maybe it’s about time you did.”

“You’ve done far more than misbehave, Allison,” he said coldly. “And I do not like insubordination.”

The way he said it sent another shiver through me.

“What are you going to do about it then?” I challenged weakly.

“Do you really want to know?”

My heartbeat stumbled.

“Yes.”

“You haven’t earned my vulnerability back yet,” he said.

I groaned softly in frustration. “Please,” I muttered, lifting my eyes toward him in the most pathetic attempt at persuasion imaginable.

A flicker of amusement crossed his face despite everything.

“No,” he said firmly. “You’re going to have to learn obedience first.”

“What do I have to do to earn back your trust?” I asked quietly.

“Sometime soon, I’ll tell you.”

“I want to know now.”

“Patience, baby girl,” he murmured. “I like taking my time. Besides, your punishment already started.”

Something strangely calm settled over me then.

“It started the day we matched,” I admitted softly. “You dragged me into this web of mystery, and even now you keep pulling me deeper into it.”

“And you love it.”

“You wish.”

“I don’t do wishes,” he said smoothly. “I know you do.”

“So confident.”

“Very.”

I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

“You crave it,” he continued. “You love it. You need it. You want me more because of it.”

I hated how right he was.

Then he took a step closer.

“Don’t you?”

“Y-yes,” I admitted weakly.

“Good girl.”

The praise sent warmth rushing through me so suddenly it embarrassed me.

Lucien’s voice softened after that, most of the anger finally fading away.

“I’ve shared more with you than I have with anyone else. Ever. And somehow I’m still a mystery to you.”

“Not for long,” I whispered, surprising even myself with how certain I sounded.

“There’s still something you haven’t shown me,” I added carefully, biting my lip.

He stepped closer, and instantly the room felt too small around us.

“What exactly do you want to see, baby girl?”