CHAPTER 139: WAIT FOR MY TURN

Lucien let the tablet rest on the desk as he leaned back in the chair. He pressed his fingers on his forehead, trying to relax his aching nerves.

Lowering his hand to the armrest, he simply closed his eyes, thinking of a way to catch the unknown wolf, who could still be in his territory.

The sound of the phone buzzing pulled him out of his thoughts. Checking who it was, he picked up the phone.

"Sorin?" he murmured and answered the call. "Did you find the evidence?"

"Fuck, evidence! Come and save me," Sorin said while running for his life. He was lost in a forest, but thankfully signal was still present.

"Where are you?" Lucien stood up from his seat with a panicked gaze.

"Eboncrest," Sorin said.

Lucien furrowed his brows together as he rushed toward the door. "The place is too far," he said.

Sorin stopped to breathe and rested against a tall tree. "Just come. Only you can save me. You can teleport, right? This forest is too deep. I don’t know when the signal will disappear," he muttered, cursing himself for coming to this place without much preparation.

"Send me your location," Lucien pronounced as he came out of his study. As he took long strides, his eyes met Leia’s, who was entering the house in a rush.

However, seeing him, Leia quickly changed her path. Because Lucien was in a hurry, he didn’t go after her and went out of the mansion.

"I sent you the location," Sorin said. But when he didn’t get any response, he quickly checked the signal of his phone.

"Fuck! What am I supposed to do? If they found me, I might end up like those lone wolves," he murmured, looking around the forest.

Meanwhile, Lucien looked at the driver, asking him for the keys. He had checked the distance and realized it was too far. Attempting such a long-range jump from within the territory would drain his energy to a dangerous level, leaving him unable to defend himself if trouble struck. And from the way Sorin sounded, it felt like trouble wasn’t too far.

Lucien gripped the wheel and sped toward the border.

Two hours felt like an eternity. By the time the familiar border markers came into view.

He pulled into a small, shadowed clearing just short of the checkpoint. Without wasting a second, he stepped out, striding toward the line of armored warriors stationed at the edge of his territory.

They straightened and greeted him, but he barely spared them a glance. There was no time for pleasantries. Without a word, Lucien crossed the border, focused his energy, and vanished, teleporting straight into the heart of Eboncrest.

~~~~~

Back at the mansion, Leia dropped the damp towel into the laundry basket and lingered in front of the washbasin. She stared back at her reflection in the mirror.

"I thought he’d come after me," she murmured under her breath. "So why did I ignore him? He’s definitely going to question me later." She froze mid-thought. "Wait—"

Straightening her posture, she crossed her arms, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "I’ll just go to the club tonight. If I come back late with Kieran, I can avoid Lucien altogether."

A knock at the door interrupted her plotting.

"Miss, are you inside? Young Master Kieran has sent snacks for you," a maid’s voice called from the other side.

Leia stepped out of the washroom, unlocking the door to her bedroom.

"Thank you," she said with a polite smile.

A knock sounded at the door before it creaked open. Ronan stood in the doorway, his hands clasped neatly behind his back.

The maid offered him a respectful bow before slipping out of the room, closing the door halfway behind her.

"You did well in the morning training," Ronan remarked, his tone even but carrying a trace of approval.

Leia let out a faint laugh. "You’re jesting. I could barely keep up. I was supposed to run five miles, and I ended up exhausted halfway through."

"Not halfway," Ronan corrected calmly. "You managed nearly four miles. That’s not bad, considering you never started your training at an earlier age."

As he stepped fully into the room, he shut the door behind him and began walking toward her.

Leia’s gaze fell on the fruit bowl brimming with ripe berries. She plucked a few and popped them into her mouth, then turned, holding one out toward Ronan in an unspoken offer.

"I bought something for you," Ronan said, extending a sleek white bag toward her.

Leia blinked, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. "Ro–Ronan... you didn’t have to," she stammered.

"Why not?" he asked.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, unable to find an answer.

"You should check it," Ronan urged. "If you don’t like it, you can tell me."

"Anything you buy for me, I’ll like," Leia replied softly. She popped the last berry into her mouth, then accepted the bag from him.

Sitting on the bed, she reached inside and drew out a slim velvet box. The moment her fingers brushed over it, her pulse quickened. It was jewelry, she guessed.

When she flipped open the lid, her breath caught. Nestled inside was a diamond pendant, the gem catching the light like frozen starlight. Also, it was engraved delicately with her name.

"This is... beautiful," she whispered as she lifted her gaze to meet his.

Then, rising from the bed, Leia turned her back to him.

"Put it on me," she whispered.

Ronan stepped closer, taking the pendant from her hands. She swept her hair forward over one shoulder. His fingers brushed lightly against the warm skin at the nape of her neck as he fastened the delicate clasp.

Leia turned and drifted toward the vanity. Standing before the mirror, she studied her reflection as her fingertips traced the pendant’s smooth curve. A soft smile played on her lips, one she couldn’t quite suppress.

"So... did you like it?" Ronan asked from behind her with anticipation.

"Of course," Leia replied, turning toward him with a glimmer in her eyes. "You chose it so thoughtfully." Her hand dropped to her side. "Thank you."

"Leia, don’t thank me," Ronan said gently. "It makes it sound like you’re... obligated to me. I don’t really know the perfect way to win a woman’s heart, but I’m trying my best to be a good man for you."

Leia’s eyes softened. "You are a good man, Ronan. You might not realize it, but you already have a special place in my heart." Her voice grew warmer, almost shy yet certain. "Being with you... It feels safe. More than safe, actually."

"You’re blushing," Ronan murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Leia didn’t bother denying it. Her gaze dipped as her lashes lowered. She barely had time to breathe before his mouth claimed hers in a sudden kiss. She instinctively stepped back, only to feel the vanity chair press against her legs.

Ronan pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. They searched hers with desire before his arms slid around her, drawing her against the solid warmth of his chest. His lips returned to hers, teasing, nibbling, coaxing them apart until his tongue slipped past with an unhurried, heated stroke.

For a brief second, his eyes opened, catching the sight of hers softly closed in surrender. A grin curved his mouth before he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. The moment their bodies sank into the mattress, the kiss deepened again.

Filling the need for oxygen, they both pulled away at the same time. Laughter escaped from both of their mouths as they kept staring into each other’s eyes.

A mischievous glint sparked in Ronan’s eyes before he dipped his head to her collarbone. His lips brushed her skin in a sloppy kiss, then lingered to suck gently, searching for the perfect spot to claim as his own.

"Leia," he murmured against her skin in a rough voice, "what if I wanted to mark you? Would you accept my mark?"

Her breath caught, but no words came. Her thoughts drifted to Kieran. It was his mark she had long imagined, the one she wanted first.

Ronan’s gaze lingered on her face, reading the silence as clearly as spoken words. "I understand," he said. Straightening, he eased himself upright and offered her a hand to do the same. "You need more time... to be ready." His voice held no accusation, only an acceptance of her decision.

"I want to be honest with you," Leia murmured, her fingers fidgeting together in her lap.

"Hmm? Go on," Ronan prompted as his fingers combed through her hair.

She hesitated before saying, "I... want Kieran to mark me first." Her gaze shifted away from him.

Ronan’s brow furrowed slightly. "Why?"

"Because Kieran never asks for anything in return. He’s always patient with me... and I think I’ve hurt him the most. I hope you understand what I mean."

Ronan studied her face. "So it’s because he’s been understanding toward you from the start? That’s why you want his mark first?"

Leia shook her head faintly. "No... it’s more than that. I can’t put it into words right now."

"It’s alright," Ronan said. "I have no problem if someone else marks you first. As long as you’ll let me mark you too... I’ll wait for my turn."