Chapter 36
I can’t take my eyes off Lucian. My heart pounds against my chest, and for a moment, I can’t breathe as I stare at the man I have loved for years
I won’t lie—I hate Lucian. I hate him to my very cose. But at the same time, I can’t deny the way my heart races for reasons I wish I didn’t feel. Reasons I shouldn’t feel toward the man who betrayed me, casa me aside, and tormented me.
His gaze doesn’t waver from my neck, not even for a second, and my eyes widen as I realize what he’s looking at. The hickey. He’s not just staring at it–be’s practically glaring at it a mild but unmistakable killing intent radiating toward Damien. My hand instinctively reaches up to my neck. covering the mark before I even realize what Te doing.
I take a step back, fear creeping up my spine at the expression on his face. It’s the same one he wore when he threw me against the wall that day- deadly terrifying
His eyes flicker, and for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something softer–hurt, maybe? but before I can blink, that expression is replaced by his usual stoic demeanor. My shaky steps faher, my breath catching in my throat as I move away from him, desperate to put distance between us
Bat I must have forgotten that the clothes I’m wearing are practically designed to trip me up. I’m not careful, and in the blink of an eye, I’m falling again. My heart skips a beat as I gasp, my arms moving desperately, reaching for anything–anything–to stop try descent
“Ahh!” I scream, but as if some invisible force has pressed pause on everything around me, everything and everyone slows down I hover mid–air. suspended in time for just a moment.
My eyes flicker to Isabella, who’s standing to my right, closer than I realized. Her eyes widen in shock, and I watch as her hand reaches out instinctively, trying to stop me from falling
Then my gaze shifts to Lucian, who’s suddenly in from of me. His expression remains expressionless, but there’s a flicker of panic in his e
eyes–just a slight shift that I almost miss. Ban before he can get any closer, Damien appears at my left. A sinug grin curls at the corner of his lips, and with one swift motion, he kicks Lucian out of the way, blocking his path to me.
His arms find their way around my waist, pulling me closer to him, away from Isabella’s grasp. My breath hitches as I blink in confusion, unable to hear has words at first, because of the echoes of my pounding heart.
Then, like the visible force that paused time, releases its hold, everything snaps back to normal. The world rashes forcard, and I finally hem
Damien’s voice.
“I win, little mate,. He murmins, his tone low and almost teasing, as though he find some tinsted amusement in the situation “Does this mean i get a kiss from your His grip on me tiglstens, and for a moment, Lcan’t tell whether it’s out of concern or control
“W–what are you talking about?” Lask in a breathless whisper, memories from our last encounter flashing through my head, making my face heat up in embarrassment.
T’s not like we didn’t kiss earlier today. In fact, we did more than kissing.” Damien be
begins, his tone casual, as though he has no regard for anyone around us. Almou instantly. I feel the weight of the two other people’s gazes on us.
We already had sex, so a little kissing won’t make a difference. You were begging me to-
“Damn!” I yell, my voice sharper than usual, desperate to stop him from revealing more than I could handle. My face burns with embarrassment. and my heart races at the thought of what lie’s about to say.
Damion, however, seems unfazed. His lips curl into a smirk as he looks down at me, the gleam of mischief in his eyes. “What? You don’t want everyone to know how eager you were!”
I can feel the tension building in the air. Isabella’s eyes flicker between Damien and ine, her expression unreadable, while Lucian’s stare is coll, almost calculating.
“I swear, if you don’t shut up right now I trail off, my words catching in my throat as I try to control myself in my panic.
Hui Damien? The board smiles innocently, his eyes curving slightly with amusement as if he hasn’t just dropped a bombshell. I glare at bien in anger, my fists clenched tightly at my sides. Yet, as I stand there, seething, there’s something in his gaze that makes me freeze in place.
Before I can even register why my heart is racing, a throat clears, shattering the tense moment. My eyes flicker in Lucian, whose expression is as ley as the Atlantic Ocean. That’s when it hits me I’ve been staring at Damien this entire time.
1 place a hand on Dansuer’s chest, silkently urging him to let go. He hesitates for a moment, his grip lingering before he reluctantly releases me. His cyes nurou briclly at Luciam, a flicker of challenge flashing in his gaze, but then, as if on cue, his earlier expression vanishes, replaced with his
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Chapter 36
usual smug look as he mises a teasing brow at Lucian
I rub the bridge of my nose, unsure of what to say as my eyes dart between Lucian and Damien, both locked in a silent but intense stare–off. The tension between them is so thick it’s suffocating. I glance at babella, hoping she could save me out of this situation, but she watches the awkward interaction with an indifferent expression.
When our eyes meet, she seems confused for a moment before realization dasons on her face. I breathe a sigh of relief, thinking she’s about to helpi me out of this uncomfortable situation. But then she opens her mouth, and my hopes shatter as soon as I hear her words.
“I will take my leave. Alphas,” she says, her voice calm and composed, completely misinterpreting me.
No! That’s not what I meant! I don’t want her to leave!
She bows slightly and proceeds to walk out. The two men don’t even act as they hear her, still shooting daggers poin, honestly I give up.
between themselves and at
I raise my hands in the air in defeat before taking my gaze from the ridiculous scene, heading to my room. I give up, they can shoot daggers at each other for all 1 care.
I barely manage three steps before a hand grabs me and yanks me back. I gasp, colliding with a chest so hard I thought | hard in a brick m
wall.
Before I can process what’s happening. I look up–and freeze. Lucim towers over me, has ity eyes locked onto mine. His grip on my hand tightens, sending a shiver through me
“Lucian,” I breathe out, my voice barely above a whisper, unsure whether it’s fear, anger, or the once familiar emotion I had felt towards him.
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