CHAPTER 23: DON’T HESITATE

Devon didn’t.

Lucien tried again. "Devon."

Still nothing.

Finally, the Alpha’s fingers brushed Devon’s jaw, gentle, warm, and guided his face up. Their eyes met. Devon’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. Lucien’s expression shifted instantly, shock, anger, worry, all tangled together.

"Devon," he whispered, "you misunderstood."

Devon swallowed hard. "Did I?"

Lucien parted his lips to answer.

But then Rowan barged in again, out of breath. "Alpha, we have a problem. A big one. Redstone’s warriors just crossed the border."

Devon’s heart stopped.

Lucien’s gaze snapped to him, suddenly fierce.

"Stay with me," the Alpha ordered.

But Devon... wasn’t sure he could. Not when his heart had already begun to crack.

The tension in the mansion was thick enough to taste. Redstone warriors had been spotted near the border. Lucien sent Rowan to strengthen security, but instead of following them, instead of responding as a commander and Alpha... He turned back to Devon.

The bathroom door closed with a soft click. Devon sat on the counter, shaking, unsure whether it was from fear or the lingering fever or the painful mess in his chest.

Lucien stepped toward him, slow, deliberate, every movement measured like he was approaching a wounded animal ready to bolt.

"Devon," Lucien murmured, "look at me."

Devon stared at the floor. "I... should go."

"No." Lucien’s voice dropped, firm enough to freeze the air. "You’re not going anywhere."

Devon’s throat tightened. "Redstone came for me. They’ll cause trouble. I don’t want to bring danger to your pack."

Lucien stepped closer until their knees brushed.

"You’re not the danger," he said softly. "They are."

Devon squeezed his eyes shut. "I don’t want to cause problems."

Lucien leaned down, his forehead almost touching Devon’s. "You didn’t cause any of this."

The warmth of his breath sent a tremor through Devon. Before Devon could argue further, Lucien straightened and pulled a folded set of papers from inside his coat.

Devon froze. He recognized it immediately. The marriage contract.

"No," Devon whispered, something fragile snapping in his voice. "Alpha, please..."

"Devon." Lucien placed the contract gently on the counter beside him, not forcing it into his hands. "Listen to me before you say no again."

Devon shook his head frantically. "I can’t. I’m just an omega. A rogue. A..."

"A man," Lucien cut in quietly. "And there is nothing wrong with that."

His words struck harder than any blow Devon had ever taken.

Lucien continued, voice low, steady, almost pleading. "Redstone wants to force a marriage alliance. They want me tied to their Alpha’s daughter, to control Ravenmoon and extend their influence. They think they can use you to bait me."

Devon’s breath caught. "I’m... bait?"

Lucien cupped his jaw gently, tilting his face up.

"No," he said. "You’re my way out."

Devon blinked, confused.

Lucien leaned closer, golden eyes softening. "If you marry me, they can’t force a political marriage. They can’t touch you. They can’t claim you. And they will never be able to take you back."

Devon’s heart twisted painfully. "Alpha... you don’t have to sacrifice your future for me."

Lucien let out a quiet laugh. "Devon, you think marrying you would be a sacrifice?"

Devon stared, breath trembling. "Wouldn’t it?"

Lucien’s voice dropped to something dangerously honest. "No."

Devon felt his entire body go still. Lucien stepped even closer, one hand anchoring Devon’s waist, the other brushing lingering sweat from his temple.

"I’m not doing this out of duty," Lucien said. "Or pity. Or obligation."

"Alpha..."

His thumb traced Devon’s cheekbone. "I’m doing this because I want you protected. Because I want you here. Because you matter more than you realize."

Devon’s eyes widened, breath shaking.

Lucien softened his voice to a whisper. "Devon... let me protect you. Let me keep you safe. Sign the contract."

Devon looked away, tears stinging his eyes. "If I stay... won’t it ruin your pack’s reputation? Their faith in you?"

Lucien leaned down until they were nose-to-nose.

"Let them talk," he murmured. "Let them doubt."

"You..."

His hand slid to Devon’s back, warm, steady. "I only care about what keeps you alive."

Devon tried to speak, but his voice cracked. "Alpha... I’m scared."

Lucien rested his forehead against Devon’s gently.

"So am I." A soft exhale. "Scared of losing you."

Devon’s breath stopped.

Lucien pressed the pen into Devon’s trembling hand.

"You don’t have to decide now," Lucien whispered. "But know this... I will do everything in my power to make you choose to stay."

Devon stared at the contract. At the pen. At Lucien. His heart thundered. His world felt unsteady. Yet for the first time in his life... staying didn’t feel like a cage. It felt like a possibility. It felt like hope. Devon stared at the contract.

His vision blurred, not from fever this time, but from the weight of everything pressing down on his chest. The Redstone warriors were hunting him. The near-death ambush. Lucien was dragging him back from the border like he mattered. Rowan’s suspicions. The bond he kept denying. His hands trembled.

Lucien stood so close his warmth seeped into Devon’s bones, steadying him just enough to breathe.

"Devon," Lucien whispered, "you’re shaking."

"I know," Devon breathed, voice breaking. "I know, but... I can’t go back. I can’t let them take me. I can’t..."

His breath hitched, and he clutched the counter to stay upright.

Lucien instantly moved closer, a hand sliding behind Devon’s back to support him. "Hey. Breathe. I’ve got you."

Devon didn’t know if it was fear or exhaustion or the instinct to survive, but something inside him finally snapped into place. He pressed the contract flat against his knees.

Lucien blinked, startled. "Devon...?"

Devon took the pen with shaking fingers. He didn’t think. Thinking would break him. He just moved. A scratch of ink. A trembling signature. His name spiraled across the bottom of the page like a confession.

When it was done, Devon’s chest rose and fell sharply, as if he’d run miles. He let the pen slip from his hand, clattering against the tile.

Lucien froze.

"Devon," he breathed, voice suddenly rough, "you signed it."

Devon swallowed hard, eyes burning. "I... I couldn’t risk them taking me back. I’m tired of running. Tired of being scared."

Lucien lifted the contract with slow, careful hands, like it were something sacred. His eyes softened in a way Devon had never seen. Something relieved. Something reverent. Something dangerously close to joy.

"You’re mine now," Lucien murmured, voice dropping so low Devon felt it in his spine. Not a claim of ownership. A promise. A vow.

Devon’s breath stuttered.

"I didn’t sign it for romance," he tried to say, but it came out weak, barely believable even to himself.

Lucien’s thumb brushed Devon’s jaw, turning his face up. "Too late..."