CHAPTER 59: LIKE A LOST PUPPY

Lucien chuckled softly at her reaction, then gently lowered her hand and rested his head on her shoulder, his breath brushing against her skin.

"I often wonder why you hate me so much," he murmured, inhaling the faint scent of her pheromones. "All I’ve ever done is try to protect you, from people who never deserved your trust." He paused, his voice dropping. "But maybe... I’m the only one who can endure your hatred."

"Ronan is in the next room. He’ll sense your presence," Leia said quickly, pulling back, but Lucien didn’t budge.

"You’re coming with me," he said simply.

Before she could protest, the room around her vanished, and the next thing she knew, they were inside Lucien’s cottage which was enshrouded in dim lights. Objects were strewn across the floor, and the pillows lay discarded far from the bed.

"I never agreed to this," Leia snapped, stepping back. "Take me back now. Ronan was supposed to have dinner with me." Her eyes scanned the chaos in disbelief.

Lucien pulled out his phone and dialed quickly. "Leia is with me," he said to Ronan, she assumed. "Don’t worry. She’s going to help me ease through the rut. She promised me."

"What?!" Leia rushed to him to snatch the phone, but Lucien smoothly stepped out of reach.

"This is exactly why I don’t like you," Leia spat, her frustration bubbling over. "You’re nothing like your brothers. You always do whatever you want, no care for how it affects anyone else. And I was a fool to believe you were actually in pain. You look perfectly fine."

Lucien’s gaze darkened, but he stayed calm. "I was managing just fine... until you came into my room that night. After that, it became impossible to keep control."

Leia froze. Did he suspect the reason she had appeared in his room that night? Her pulse quickened.

Without another word, she turned her back to him. "Let me clean this place up first," she muttered.

She began tidying the mess, collecting scattered bottles, realigning the bed, and straightening the room. All the while, Lucien stood still, watching her. Her presence alone seemed to calm the storm within him. He closed his eyes briefly, feeling his body relax in response to the natural aura of her omega scent. That was the power of an omega she-wolf.

"If only you’d accepted me as your alpha..." he began, "then it would’ve been easier... to release."

Leia’s eyes snapped to his. She folded her arms tightly across her chest.

"You look perfectly in control to me. I’m leaving," she declared, turning toward the door.

But Lucien moved swiftly, blocking her exit.

"I’m not fine," he said firmly, eyes holding hers. "Look around, this is what holding back looks like. Yes, I’ve trained myself to endure it... but it doesn’t mean I’m not suffering."

A second of silence passed. Then his tone softened. "Alright. I won’t tease you anymore. Just... give me your hand."

He held out his palm to her.

Leia looked at him suspiciously, but then placed her hand in his. Her brows furrowed slightly.

"Your hand feels rougher," she said, almost absentmindedly.

Lucien gave her a faint smile. "Guess that’s something new I learned tonight."

"Your wolf is beautiful," Lucien said suddenly, his voice softer than before.

Leia’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at him. "You saw me?"

He gave a slight nod. "I never imagined your wolf would be as white as the moon."

"Then why did you act like you never saw me?" she asked.

Lucien shrugged faintly, his eyes lingering on her. "I didn’t think I’d ever talk about it. Back then, I didn’t know if I even would say it out loud."

"I never let anyone see my wolf," Leia murmured, her gaze distant. "It’s strange... you’re the first."

Lucien’s expression softened. "You could come on a run with me sometime."

"I don’t want to," she replied instantly.

He laughed, the sound light but tinged with amusement. "You didn’t even consider it. Tell me, what have I done wrong, aside from buying you at the auction?" His voice dipped to a more sincere one now. "You won’t find another alpha who keeps his calm even during his rut."

Leia tilted her head slightly. "I agree... but you do annoy me sometimes," she mumbled under her breath.

Lucien grinned. "I killed the one who tried to kidnap you. Malrik won’t trouble us again. And no one will dare look at you the wrong way."

Her eyes widened. "So that blood... it was Malrik’s?"

"Hmm," Lucien hummed, stepping slightly closer. "He was getting on my nerves for a long time."

Leia instinctively took a half-step back but held her ground as his gaze lingered on her face.

"Earlier," Lucien began, eyes narrowing slightly, "I caught Ronan’s scent on your skin. Did you... kiss him?"

Leia’s breath hitched. "What?" she asked, startled not only by his perception but by the heat rising to her cheeks.

"You did," Lucien confirmed, watching her flush deepen.

Feeling cornered, Leia decided to play him instead.

"He said he liked me," she stated coyly. "And I liked the way he kissed me. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m a grown woman, Lucien. Ronan’s a really great kisser, too. I can still feel the touch of his—"

Lucien stepped in before she could finish, gently pressing his index finger to her lips.

"I don’t want to hear it," he said quietly, his finger slowly trailing away.

Then, with a breath that sounded closer to restraint than calm, he asked, "Was it your first kiss?"

Leia smirked as her voice turned lower. "Why? Are you jealous that your second brother got there before you?"

Her eyes searched his, waiting for his answer.

"You shared a bed with Kieran... you let Ronan kiss you," Lucien murmured, his tone laced with frustration. "But when it comes to me, you recoil at the idea of anything more. That’s cruel, Leia."

His eyes met hers, deeper red than usual, clouded not just by his rut, but by something more fragile underneath.

"Even when I was deep in my rut," he continued, his voice lower, rougher, "you asked me not to cross the line... and I didn’t. I held back. I still am. But it hurts to know you don’t even consider me in that way."

He looked away for a moment, exhaling sharply. His restraint was admirable, but the emotional toll was written all over him.

If he weren’t in this vulnerable state where he was physically tormented by his rut, he would’ve never admitted it. He would’ve never voiced the insecurity knotted tightly beneath his usual dominance.

Leia tiptoed, her hand gently finding the back of his neck. Without a word, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

Lucien’s eyes widened in shock. His wolf growled low within him, startled by the tenderness he hadn’t expected. But just as he leaned in, ready to deepen the kiss, Leia pulled back.

"You still need to earn my trust," she said calmly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "And honestly... you look like a lost puppy when you’re in rut. You whine, you sulk, and you let down every wall you’ve ever built. It’s almost... strange to witness."

Lucien blinked, her words sinking in, but he wasn’t listening to her teasing.

"You shouldn’t have kissed me, Leia," he muttered, his voice gravelly, ignoring everything else she’d said.

Before she could respond, he stepped forward and gently cupped her face in his palms. His touch was warm and firm

"Now I won’t be able to stop myself," he added softly, his eyes fixed on her lips and he captured them for a kiss.

Leia knew exactly what she had stepped into, but resisting him now felt nearly impossible. Her hands rested against his chest, not to push him away, but perhaps to ground herself in the storm of sensations he stirred within her. Part of her wanted this kiss just as much as he did.

’I’ve truly lost my mind,’ she thought before her mind stopped processing.

Lucien coaxed her lips open, gently nibbling until she finally parted them. His tongue slid into her mouth, claiming her with a hunger that made her knees weak. The kiss deepened as if he had waited far too long for this moment.

His hands glided down to her waist, and in a blink, he had lifted her effortlessly. The world tilted for a second, and the next thing she knew, the soft press of the mattress greeted her back as he hovered above her.

Leia’s breath caught as she felt the hard press of his rock hard bulge against her abdomen, straining against the fabric of his trousers to be freed.

"Fuck!" Lucien cursed as he withdrew from the kiss with ragged breathing.

Meanwhile, Leia’s chest rose and fell to not with fear but anticipation of what would happen next. She realized she had awaken a beast she shouldn’t have.