CHAPTER 58: KISSED HER NECK

"Grandma’s throwing a fit about bringing Leia to the mansion," Kieran said from the other end of the call.

Ronan paced near the window of the wooden house. "Leia can’t go to the mansion. Lucien’s staying nearby in the cottage. Her presence, especially as an omega, could affect him."

On the mattress, Leia suddenly sat upright, hearing her name. Her brows furrowed in confusion and concern.

"I already told her that," Kieran muttered. "But she’s getting emotional, crying about our parents, saying it’s what they would’ve wanted."

"Then tell her I’m the one who refused to let Leia come," Ronan said flatly. "Blame it on me. That should shut her down."

There was a pause on the line.

"You sure about this?" Kieran asked, hesitant.

"Yeah. Just say I said no. She’ll stop whining once she hears my name," Ronan replied firmly.

Just then, Leia walked over to him. Without saying a word, she rose on her toes and leaned close to hear what was going on.

"I’ll see you in the morning," Ronan said before ending the call.

Leia tilted her head. "What was the call about?"

"Nothing serious," he replied, slipping the phone back into the pocket of his jeans. "Do you want to stay here a little longer or head back?"

Leia glanced around, "Well, I did want to stay for a bit... but it’s pretty far from the city. We should return to the hotel. Besides, I’m starving." She brought her hand to her stomach, running it slightly.

Ronan chuckled softly. "Alright."

He reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Leia lifted her gaze to meet his, and for a brief second, time seemed to pause.

Her thoughts wandered back to the kiss they had shared earlier.

Her first kiss.

With him.

She didn’t hate it. Not one bit. And that realization made her nervous.

’I’m not supposed to be drawn to him,’ she thought, quickly taking a step back. "Oh. It’s getting dark. Let’s go."

But Ronan reached out and caught her wrist, halting her retreat.

"Leia," he said as he drew her closer. His tall frame hovered above her, his eyes gazing right into hers. "About the kiss... I want you to remember it."

His eyes searched hers as he continued, "You’ve seen parts of me I don’t show to anyone. And I’m not just saying that. I meant it when I told you that I’ve started to grow fond of you. So please... don’t push me away when things get harder. I won’t force you for anything, but if you need anything, you can come to me any time without hesitating even a bit."

’Set the boundary,’ Leia told herself.

But her heart betrayed her mind. "Sure," she replied.

Ronan lowered his hand to hers, intertwining their fingers before taking her out of the house after switching off the lamps. He locked the door and the two of them went to the car.

Seeing Leia struggling with the seatbelt, he leaned toward her and fixed it for her.

"Thank you," she said.

Ronan started the engine and drove them back to the hotel.

~~~~~

Leia patted her face dry with the towel, the soft fabric still cool from the bathroom. After hanging it neatly over the chair, she sank into the seat and reached for her phone resting on the small round table beside her.

Her thumb hovered over Lucien’s contact, wondering whether she should contact him or not.

"He might get angry if I try contacting him. Let his rut pass first," Leia murmured to herself.

Still, unease gnawed at her. What if his rut had worsened? What if he was in pain and had no one around?

"Should I... help him? But why did he refuse any partner at such a time?" she whispered, her brows furrowed in thought. Her thumb idly hovered over the screen, and accidentally, it tapped the call button.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"Oh my god!" she gasped, instantly cutting the call and placing the phone back on the table as if it had burned her fingers.

Her heart raced. She stared at the screen, praying it wouldn’t light up again.

A sigh of relief escaped her lipd when no call came from Lucien’s side.

She stood up from the chair and the phone buzzed. Leia checked the screen and saw Lucien’s number flashing on it.

After contemplating for a moment whether to answer the call or not, she finally answered it.

"Lucien, I–I am sorry. The call wasn’t supposed to be for you. I accidentally called you," Leia said quickly, hoping he wouldn’t start yelling at her.

However, she didn’t hear any voice from the other side.

"Lucien, are you alright?" Leia asked, this time her voice turning softer.

"No. My body is burning. And you... you called me at the worst possible time." Lucien admitted the truth about his emotions.

Leia turned quiet as she felt her throat tightening. "It was an accident," she finally whispered.

"Why does it happen only with you?" Lucien questioned her.

"I don’t know. I’ll ask Kieran if he can help with your rut... maybe with some medicine," Leia offered, already inching her thumb toward the end call button.

"No medicine can stop this," Lucien said flatly. His voice was low and tainted with something bordering on desperation. "This pain won’t go away this time."

"An omega can help you though," Leia replied without thinking, the words falling from her lips like instinct.

Lucien stilled on the other end. "Are you suggesting I should take your help?" he asked, his tone suddenly shifting. His body reacted to the mere thought of her scent, her touch and her closeness.

"I heard from my mother," Leia said, "that an omega’s pheromones can ease an alpha’s rut."

"She was right," he admitted, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. A vivid image painted itself behind his lids. Leia kneeling beside him, her fingers grazing down his chest to his abdomen and then...

But before he could imagine more, her voice cut through.

"But I won’t help you," Leia said firmly.

Lucien’s eyes flew open, the fantasy vanishing like smoke. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Of course. I know," he muttered. "You want freedom. You want to live among humans." His voice grew deeper and darker. "But let me make one thing clear, Leia. Even if you try to run, I’ll always find you. You belong by my side... until your very last breath."

It wasn’t a threat. It was a vow. A possessive declaration that wrapped itself around her like invisible chains.

Leia inhaled sharply, but steadied her voice. "I am well aware of that. Even if you gave me my freedom, I know you’d still chase me," she replied. "You are aware of my scent now and it’s impossible to hide my scent from an alpha like you."

Lucien somewhat felt proud to hear that statement.

"I can help you," she said after a second, shocking him. "My pheromones... they might ease the pain. But I want something in return. When your rut ends," Leia continued, "I’ll name my price. And you’ll owe me. Do we have a deal?"

Lucien never thought Leia would ever throw such dices before him.

’Lucien, we need her,’ his wolf screamed in the back of his head. His hand tightened around the phone.

"I’ll give you only my pheromones and not more than that. Maybe I’ll touch your face or hands. But nothing more than that," Leia remarked.

The wall that Lucien had built around him started crumbling down.

"Where are you? In the mansion?" Lucien asked.

"No. I’m in the same hotel where Ronan is. The room adjacent to his," Leia said. "What about the deal? Give me your words."

The response didn’t come, but she felt a presence right in front of her.

"We have a deal. I’ll grant your wish this time," Lucien pronounced as his eyes turned deep red. She knew he had teleported instantly, but in such a state it was difficult too.

She saw his shirt was half-opened, his entire chest was visible.

As Leia rose to her feet, Lucien hugged her, thus stiffening her entire body.

She felt his nose nuzzling her neck and her breath caught in her throat.

"Lucien, this wasn’t the part of the deal. I was supposed to–"

"Shhh!" Lucien hushed her and the very next moment, he kissed her neck softly. Then, taking a step back, he took her hand in his and pressed it firmly on his chest. "You shouldn’t have called me, Leia. What if I actually lose control?" he murmured and brought her hand to his lips.

Leia’s heart thundered against her chest in worry and strange fear. She thought it would be easy for her, but she forgot that before an alpha, her strength was negligible.

"I already hate you. Do you want our relationship to sour more? And–and Ronan is in the next room. I’ll scream for his help," Leia said as her lips quivered.