CHAPTER 21: LEIA BECAME MINE...

"I want to see her," Leia said firmly.

"You heard the lady," Lucien replied as he looked toward the house butler. Despite addressing someone else, his eyes remained locked on Leia’s face, keenly observing the sudden shift in her expression. There was a flicker of unease, anguish, and anger that unsettled him.

"Come," Lucien said after a beat, turning toward the couch and lowering himself onto it. Leia followed him, but instead of sitting, she remained standing.

Moments later, the butler returned, leading someone behind him.

Delia stepped into the room.

Her face lit up the moment she saw Leia. "Leia!" she cried out, rushing forward with joy brimming in her voice.

But Leia instinctively stepped back with a furious look on her face.

Delia halted mid-step, her smile faltering.

"I don’t recall ever granting a witch entry into my mansion, but I had to make an exception for someone special," Lucien said, his gaze fixed on Delia now.

Leia’s eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to face him. ’A witch?’

Her thoughts swirled in confusion. Why would he call Delia that?

On the other hand, Delia froze, her breath catching in her throat. ’How does he know?’

"There’s no need to act surprised," Lucien said sternly. "If you found Leia, you must’ve known exactly whose territory you were stepping into."

With that, Lucien rose from his seat and moved to stand beside Leia, asserting his protective presence.

"You should throw out the traitor who sold you to the auction house, for nothing more than a handful of coins," he added, eyes locked on Delia.

"I didn’t do it," Delia whispered, shaking her head desperately. Her voice trembled, but her eyes pleaded for Leia’s trust. "You have to believe me, Leia."

Leia didn’t respond right away. Her brows were furrowed in thought.

"How did you even find this place?" she asked at last in a skeptical tone. "I never contacted you."

"Tell the truth," Lucien cut in again. "Tell her how you used your witchcraft to track her down."

Leia shot him a glance. "Why don’t you sit down and let me speak to her?" she said pointedly.

Lucien held her gaze for a moment, then gave a silent nod and stepped back. He returned to the couch, sitting down, and waved a hand dismissively. "Go ahead. Talk."

Leia turned back to Delia. "Follow me," she said, already moving toward the staircase.

But Lucien’s voice stopped them.

"Speak to her here," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "I won’t allow a witch to roam freely through my mansion."

Leia met Lucien’s burning gaze before turning back to Delia. Her voice was steady, but her eyes revealed a storm of betrayal and pain.

"The auction house owner told me it was you," Leia said coldly. "You were the only person I ever trusted with the truth about who I really am. We were best friends since childhood, so why did you have to betray me? Tell me, how did you find me? And why are you here now? Answer everything, but don’t utter a single lie."

Delia’s lips trembled. She took a tentative step closer, her voice cracking. "Leia... I needed money. My boyfriend got terribly sick. I never told you before, but it was serious. He needed surgery, and we couldn’t afford it."

She paused, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, trembling.

"Then, one day, I ran into this man asking questions... asking about the last she-wolf. I didn’t know what he really wanted. He offered a huge sum of money, and I—" her voice broke, "—I told him what I knew. I swear, Leia, I didn’t know they would kidnap you. I thought... I thought maybe he just wanted to meet you, or... I don’t know. I didn’t think it would end like that."

Delia stepped closer, grasping Leia’s hands while her eyes brimmed with tears. "I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please... please believe me. As far as how I found you..." Delia began with guilt. "I tracked down the man I sold the information to... and found out he was the owner of an auction house. He’s dead now. But one of his staff told me you had been sold to an alpha. That’s how I found this place. That’s how I found you."

Leia’s gaze dropped to their joined hands. A moment later, she pulled hers away.

"So, to save your boyfriend," Leia said slowly with a look of disbelief in her eyes, "you chose to throw me into the one place no one even dares to dream about escaping."

Delia’s lips parted as tears freely flowed down her cheeks.

"You could’ve just told me," Leia continued, her voice rising slightly. "You could’ve said a word, and I would’ve helped you. You know I would’ve done anything for you. But instead... You sold me."

Leia’s voice broke on the last word as tears cascaded down her cheeks. If there was anyone in this world whom she trusted more than her life, then it was Delia.

"Why did you have to go to such lengths, Delia?" she asked. "Was I really worth so little to you? We were practically sisters who were supposed to stay together through every storm of life. But it seemed, only I looked at you with that bond. For you, I meant nothing."

"That is not true, Leia. I seriously wanted to ask for your help, but I couldn’t bring it up. I don’t know why I made such a grave mistake. Now, I have found you, I will be taking you back with me," Delia stated with a hopeful gaze.

"Don’t make me bury you alive along with your boyfriend," Lucien’s voice thundered throughout the hall. Before they blinked, he was right beside them. With a swift pull, he drew Leia closer, his grip on her waist tightened, and his red eyes met hers.

"Leia became mine the day my eyes were set on her. And whoever tries taking her away will have to die," he pronounced with a stern gaze.