CHAPTER 144: MY PUNISHMENT TO BEAR

"Caleb, you’ve been working yourself to the bone," Lucien said, his voice carrying warmth as he slid open the top drawer of his desk. From within, he withdrew a plain, cream-colored envelope and held it out. "Take this."

Caleb’s brows knitted in curiosity. "What’s this?"

"A token of appreciation," Lucien replied simply, leaning back in his chair.

"I can’t accept it, Alpha," Caleb said firmly, the title spoken with the respect of loyalty. "I swore to serve you as your beta. That is my reward."

Lucien stood, stepping around the desk with unhurried authority. "Consider it as a small vacation for you," he said, pressing the envelope into Caleb’s palm despite his resistance.

Caleb’s jaw tightened. "This isn’t the time for any of us to rest. You were attacked by a hybrid in Eboncrest. I need to investigate. A threat from a hybrid is not something we can afford to ignore." Deep lines furrowed across his forehead.

"I’m aware," Lucien said. "And I’ve already placed someone I trust on that matter. What I want from you is a week away." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "I’ve also heard your parents are growing restless about... certain personal matters."

Caleb’s expression hardened further. "If you mean marriage, I’ve no interest in anyone right now."

"Then perhaps it’s time you started showing some," Lucien replied with a faint smirk. "Take the week, Caleb. Handle what needs handling outside these walls. I’ll keep things in order here."

"Lucien, you know I won’t be able to relax, even if I’m on vacation," Caleb protested.

"I don’t want you to work for a week," Lucien replied, his tone turning firm. It was an Alpha’s command rather than a suggestion.

Caleb exhaled slowly, recognizing the finality in Lucien’s words. "Fine," he conceded. "Since you won’t listen to reason, I’ll do as you wish." His gaze shifted, assessing Lucien. "How are your wounds? Healed?"

"They’ve already closed," Lucien said with a brief nod, as if the matter was hardly worth mentioning.

Caleb tilted his head slightly. "I’ve heard the servants whispering about how Kieran’s been tending to you. That’s... unexpected. He used to keep his distance, never showing this kind of concern."

Lucien’s gaze softened. "It seems Ronan told him something I never had."

"About your struggles," Caleb said. "Kieran blamed you for a long time for what happened back then. I always told you that you should at least let him see what you went through during those years."

Lucien’s gaze hardened. "I don’t think I dare to face my brother like that."

He slid his hands into the pockets of his trousers, a small act of retreat. "You should go. I’m heading to my room to rest."

Caleb nodded, glancing down at the envelope in his hand. He didn’t speak another word as he turned and left.

Lucien ascended the stairs, his steps slow and deliberate. But when he entered his room, he stopped short.

Kieran was seated in a chair by the window.

"What are you doing here?" Lucien asked, clearly surprised.

Kieran rose from the chair, meeting his brother’s eyes with a steady, unreadable look. "I was thinking... if I could help you," he began.

Lucien’s brows lifted. "Help me with what?"

"In your work," Kieran said. Then, after a pause he continued, "And I want to find out which hybrid attacked you."

"Kieran, you don’t have to do that," Lucien said. He sat down on the edge of the bed, clasping his hands together. "What did Ronan tell you last night?"

Kieran’s gaze didn’t waver. "What you never let me see," he replied. His tone was calm, but there was an ache beneath it. "You really don’t consider me anything, do you?"

Lucien exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "You’re like a child to me, Kieran. And sometimes... not everything can be shared. Tell me, with what face was I supposed to explain? I was drowning in my own regrets. I could never give you, or Ronan, the time you deserved. I couldn’t allow you both to see what I’m undergoing. That was my punishment to bear."

His voice grew a little solemn. "Let’s not reopen those wounds. The past has taken enough from us."

"I blamed you for everything," Kieran admitted.

Lucien’s gaze softened. "Well... I don’t blame you for that. I deserved it," he murmured.

"No," Kieran said firmly, shaking his head. "I’m sorry for wrongly judging you all this time. I truly regret thinking the worst without once trying to understand what you were going through. And even when I could have... I chose to ignore it."

Lucien’s expression held no trace of reproach, only quiet relief. "Kieran, I have no complaints against you. But I’m glad that you’ve said this to me."

"Then... we should hug," Kieran said, pushing himself up from the chair.

Lucien rose as well, a faint, rare smile tugging at his lips. He opened his arms, and the brothers stepped toward each other until they closed the space between them.

Their embrace was filled with warmth. The years of unspoken words folded into that single moment. Lucien patted Kieran’s back, then let his hand rest against the back of his brother’s head, holding him there just a little longer.

~~~~~

"Shouldn’t we be heading home?" Leia asked, glancing at Ronan as he steered the car toward the market district.

"We should," Ronan admitted, a faint smile playing at his lips, "but there’s somewhere I want to take you first."

Leia tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Where?"

"To a coffee shop," he said. "An old lady’s daughter from our pack opened it recently. She asked me to visit at least once... and I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her."

Leia’s smile warmed, her tone teasing yet kind. "See? You do have well-wishers in this pack after all."

"Yes. Honestly... it’s never happened before. No one’s ever invited me like this," Ronan admitted.

"Maybe because you weren’t visiting the pack as much as you do now," Leia suggested.

Ronan considered her words for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That’s... kind of true," he murmured. In truth, he’d always avoided too much interaction. I was convinced the pack felt uneasy around him.

He glanced at her briefly, a faint sincerity slipping into his tone. "I’d say... after you came into my life, a lot has changed for me."

Leia’s lips curved into a small smile. "You’ve told me that before."

"Leia," Ronan began, "I never thought any woman would care for me the way you do. I’m grateful you chose me as your mate, especially when our wolves never formed a bond."

Leia’s lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes flickered away from his. "There was no reason not to choose you. I caught your scent first," she replied. The words came smoothly, but they were a lie, one she told to shield his heart from the truth.

She turned her gaze toward the window, watching the blur of streets and passing faces. ’If our wolves never connect... what then?’ The thought lingered heavily in her mind. ’And if he ever finds out that Lucien’s wolf has already bonded with Zei... it will break him. I’ve to find out why his wolf isn’t responding to mine thought we caught each other’s scents.’

Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap, as if she could hold the secret in place.

Ronan noticed the faint shift in Leia’s expression but chose not to press her about it. Moments later, the car rolled to a stop in front of a quaint little café tucked between two brick buildings.

He eased into a parking spot and glanced at her. "We’re here. Come on," he said, stepping out. Leia, too, exited the car and looked around.

Inside, the café was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of freshly ground coffee and the quiet murmur of conversation couldn’t go unnoticed. Potted plants lined the windowsills, and golden light spilled across polished wooden tables.

The owner, a young woman with kind eyes and dark hair pulled into a loose bun, approached them with a quick, welcoming stride.

"I’m so glad you came, Ronan, especially on my grandmother’s request," she said warmly. Then her gaze shifted to Leia, and she offered a friendly smile. "Welcome to my little café. I hope the two of you enjoy the coffee here."

Leia and Ronan followed Lilith to a quiet table tucked away at the far end of the café, where the soft glow of a wall lamp cast a warm pool of light.

"What about Viennese coffee?" Leia asked, glancing at Ronan with a small smile.

"Sounds good," he replied without hesitation.

"I’ll bring it for you," Lilith said with a nod, before turning and walking gracefully toward the counter.

"There are pastries on the display. I’ll come in a while," Leia said and walked away. Ronan glanced in her direction and admired her silently.

’What if Leo and Zei can never connect? What if the bad fate of mine does something to her?’ he suddenly thought.