CHAPTER 172: STRUGGLED TO KEEP HER ALIVE

Lucien carefully held the glass to his grandmother’s lips, waiting until she had swallowed the last of her medicine. As he set it back on the bedside table, Azalea’s soft voice broke the silence.

"Are you still upset, Lucien?"

He turned his gaze to her. "I’m not upset, Grandma."

Azalea studied him closely, her frail hands resting atop the blanket. "You hardly spoke at dinner. It feels as though you’re still holding back, still unwilling to reconcile with Leia. Why do you let arguments come between you, when it’s clear how much you love her?"

A muscle ticked in Lucien’s jaw, but he said nothing. Instead, he drew the blanket higher around her shoulders. "It’s late. You should rest now."

She sighed softly but didn’t press further.

"Goodnight, Grandma," he whispered, switching off the lamp. The room sank into darkness, leaving a tiny lamp on. With quiet steps, Lucien moved to the door, pulling it closed behind him.

As Lucien crossed the living room, he spotted Ronan and Kieran standing there, clearly waiting for him.

"I’m not in the mood to talk right now," Lucien muttered with weariness.

"Oh, I see," Kieran shot back with a mocking smirk. "So you’d rather lock yourself in your room and smoke like a madman until dawn?"

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "Stay quiet when you don’t know the full story. This mess started because of you."

"Hey, calm down," Ronan interjected firmly, stepping between them before the tension could flare further. "We’re not here to fight. We need to talk today."

"Yes, I get it. I come last on her list of priorities. Look, I don’t want to argue. Let’s just call it a night. I’ve got too much running through my head. Maybe when I’m in a better mood, I’ll be ready to talk to you both," Lucien said firmly, turning to head upstairs.

"Lucien, don’t walk away," Ronan called, suddenly closing the distance in a flash of light. He grasped Lucien’s arm, thus stopping him.

"I know what’s going on in your head. You’re searching for Leia’s father all on your own. The truth I shared with you. It’s eating at you, isn’t it? But you don’t have to bear this alone. Let’s find him together. Still, before that, we need to sit down and have a real conversation. You brought Leia here with so many hopes, and now you’re shutting her out... and ignoring the depth of your own feelings for her."

"Let him go, Ronan," Kieran cut in bitterly. "He’s always run away whenever it came to explaining himself. Maybe Leia didn’t choose you because of this very attitude of yours."

"Kieran, don’t," Ronan warned sharply.

Lucien dragged his fingers through his hair, his voice low and heavy. "I understand what she wants. I don’t have a problem with it. And yes, I’ve got attitude problems," he muttered.

"Lucien, come on! Why are you acting like this?" Ronan pressed, tilting his head as if trying to read every flicker of his brother’s emotions.

"Leia shuts me out," Lucien admitted with frustration. "I think... first I need to talk to her, before I can even sort through my own thoughts. Right now, they’re scattered everywhere. Kieran, I’m not jealous of you. I was angry because Leia always steps away from me. I hope you understand what I mean."

"And I already told you why she does that," Kieran replied.

"Yeah, I’m the problem. Well, let’s drop it. She wanted a change of scenery and chose to go with Aunt, so let her be. If she truly feels anything for me, she’ll come back to me, to this house, to us," Lucien stated.

He moved toward the couch and sank into it, clasping his hands together as his gaze shifted between his brothers. "I went to see the Alpha King... and ended up finding something about Leia’s father," he finally revealed.

"What is it?" Ronan asked at once, leaning forward as he took a seat across from him. Even Kieran lowered himself into a chair with curiosity lingering in his eyes.

"Grayson Zirren wasn’t an ordinary wolf. He led a brutal campaign against witches and hunters in his territory. But here’s the strange part. His entire clan vanished in a single night. The Alpha King told me that some rumors say Grayson was poisoned, while others claim he died in a fire."

Lucien paused for a while.

"We must tell this to Leia," Kieran urged.

"No. Not yet. This is only half the truth," Lucien replied firmly. "Grayson was said to be the strongest wolf in the world. Ronan also gathered some information in North Calimore. Hunters still hold a deep grudge against Grayson, and that’s why they’re after Leia. And Delia... she’s already met their leader. Now, here’s the other half of the truth: Grayson is alive. He’s not dead, at least not in my knowledge. He’s hiding."

"But why would he do that?" Kieran asked, disbelief lacing his tone.

"His clan was wiped out in a single night. Why wouldn’t he?" Ronan muttered grimly.

"So Grayson really did abandon his daughter, just like Delia told you," Kieran said, his eyes fixed on Lucien.

"He didn’t abandon them," Lucien said firmly. "He told Leia’s mother to run away the night it all happened. Leia shared a strange nightmare with me. It felt too real to her. She saw fire, and people screaming all around."

"Wait! Does that mean the rumor about the fire is true? But who would do such a thing? They were supposed to be a strong pack," Kieran muttered, his confusion evident.

"Well, there’s still a lot we need to uncover. But one thing is certain that Leia’s father is the reason so many are after her life. And if he’s alive, which I’m convinced he is, he will definitely come for Leia," Lucien said, his expression grim.

"Did you interrogate Delia?" Ronan asked sharply.

"No, not yet," Lucien admitted. "Tomorrow morning, I’ll ask her."

"I’ll be present too," Ronan added.

"Are we supposed to keep it from Leia?" Kieran asked.

"Yes," Lucien replied firmly. "We’ll tell her when we have all the answers. For now, we still need to interrogate Delia again."

Kieran’s jaw tightened. "Hmm. Leia is going to break when she learns the truth. I can already imagine how much her parents must have struggled to keep her alive and safe. That’s why she was hidden among the humans. But Lucien, what if her life comes into danger because of us? We’re the ones who found her." His voice carried a worried edge.

"Delia sold her information intentionally. It was destined to happen, Kieran," Lucien said with a frown. "And we’ll protect Leia. Just give her your mark. At least then, through you, we’ll know if she’s ever in danger."

"Leia doesn’t want any of our marks," Kieran said with a sigh.

"She won’t refuse," Lucien replied, then glanced at Ronan. "Well, it’s getting late. Good night." Rising to his feet, he headed upstairs.

Ronan and Kieran exchanged a look.

"So, Lucien isn’t the only one at fault here. It’s Leia too. She keeps running away from him," Ronan murmured.

"Maybe she doesn’t fully trust him," Kieran whispered.

"No," Ronan stated. "She doesn’t understand how to hold on to Lucien either."

Meanwhile, upstairs in his room, Lucien stepped out onto the balcony. The cool night air brushed against his face, and he closed his eyes for a moment. Taking out his phone, he stared at Leia’s number before finally pressing the call button once again.

He knew she wouldn’t answer this time, but still, he clung to the fragile hope that she might.

And, surprisingly, she did.

"Hello." Leia’s soft voice came from the other side.

A silence stretched between them as Lucien struggled to speak.

"Hey," he finally said.

"Say it," Leia whispered.

"What?"

"You already know," Leia replied.

"If I say it, will you come back to me?" Lucien asked.

"That depends on the way you say it," she answered.

"I’m sorry," Lucien apologized. "I should have known that I’ve always been the desperate one in your eyes. I don’t care anymore to whom you give your consent first, nor do I care whose mark you take first," he stated.

Leia hadn’t expected him to say that.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Lucien confirmed.

"What if you get jealous?" Leia crossed her arms as she gazed at the moon glowing outside her balcony.

"I won’t. You can try me," Lucien replied.

Leia smiled softly and hummed. "I’ll hang up. I’m sleepy."

"Sure. Good night," Lucien said before ending the call.

Leia stared at the phone’s screen and smirked, "Lucien, you’re going to regret it. I am going to give you a surprise soon."

Then, walking back to her room, she prepared to go to bed. As she switched off the main lights, she slid into the blanket when her phone buzzed. A message from Ronan had popped up. Before she could reply him, even Kieran sent her a message.

A smile graced her lips and her heart fluttered against her chest.