ALINA’S POVb. /b

“Now, what am I going to do with you?” He muttered.

The smirk on his face darkened considerably.

bOh /bbno/b.

He tilted my head to the left, then to the right, his eyes scanning my body to check if I was hurt. When he bwas /bsatisfied, a tinge of relief shed through his eyes–but only for a brief second before his re returned

“Why do you keep on defying me?”

His tone held genuine curiosity, even though his re remained cold and hard.

“I’m sorry, Lucian. it’s not what-!--

/* ![CDATA[ */

fpm_start( "true" );

/* ]] */

--

“You’re not sorry.” He cut in sharply, cing his thumbs between my lips.

His sudden proximity made me freeze. His next question came low and dangerous.

“Did he touch you?“,

My brows scrunched in confusion.

Was he talking about the guard?

“Did Vaughn touch you?” He repeated through clenched teeth.

Oh.

He was referring to Adrian

I quickly shook my head in response, my lips still parted under his thumbs.

“Why?”

He asked again, this time removing his thumbs so I could speak

“Huh?” I blinked, confused again.

Was he asking why Adrian didn’t touch me?

“Would byou /bbhave /bpreferred if he had touched bme/bb!/b”

My voice was barely above a whisper,ced with confusion and vulnerability.

His re sharpened and his beyes /bdarkened. His hand bmoved /bto wrap around my neck–firm, but not tight

“Do not test me, Alina. I will kill that little boyfriend of yours and lock you baway/b. Don’t think because I love you, I won’t.”

He growled the words, his bvoice /ba mixture of fury and possessiveness.

His use of my name told me he wasn’t messing around and that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“II you’re hurting me.” I whispered, tapping weakly at his hand.

He wasn’t really hurting me, but acting weak was the only way bI /bcould think to defuse his wrath.

His hand immediately dropped from my neck, and he shuffled away from me quickly, staring at his palm like he couldn’t believe what he’d bjust /bdone.

I stood slowly from the ground and cautiously approached him.

“Ludan.” I called softly.

5.28 AM

“Don’t.” He warned, his eyes shing as he took another step back then he stormed out of

training room.

I rushed after himb. /b

“Lucian, wait… please!”

1 nearly tripped as I hurried up the stairs. I was only a few feet behind him when he entered his room blocking /bit

sroom and mmed the

bin /bmy face,

“Lucian, please open up!” 1 banged on the door, but there was no response.

“Lucian!” I shouted, knocking harder. Still nothing.

“If you don’t bopen /bup, I’m just going to sit out here and wait until you open the door and let me exin!” I yelled, then slowly lowered myself to the floor, settling in for however long it would take.

Let me tell you, do not be deceived by how fancy the flooring was, it wasn’tfortable at all.

With a sigh, I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed Talia.

“I’ve been waiting for your call, are you bokay/b?”

That was the first thing she said to me bas /bsoon bas /bshe picked up.

“Yeah, I am.” I replied quietly.

“I take it the visit with Adrian went well then?”

“It did… but that’s not why I’m calling though.” I admitted. I didn’t want to talk about Adrian now.

Not when everything that was happening was his damn fault.

“It’s Mr. ckwood, isn’t bit/bb?/b” She guessed knowingly.

“Yes. He’s mad–pissed at me right now,” My tone was helpless.

“Is that news to you?” She asked, confused. “You’re always pissing him boff /band not caring about it. Besides, I told you, he wouldn’t like it if he found out you snuck our. Worse, that you went to see Adrian.”

Talia was bas /bblunt as ever.”

“Wait, why do you care that he’s upset!” She pressed. “You never cared before.”

“Was I that bad?” I muttered.

But she heard me.

“Trust me, byou /bwere horrible. Now answer me. Her tone was firm and demanding.

“Because… I realize he genuinely loves and cares for me. I don’t want to bpiss /bhim off banymore/b.” bI /bconfessed quietly.

“Well, bthat’s /bsurprising.” She bsaid/b, obviously caught off guard. “Tell me what exactly bhappened/b?”

I quickly gave her a summary of what I met t

moment I came back home.

“Uhmm wow.”5

She let out a breath of astonishment.

“Help me, Talia” I whined.

“How She asked, exasperated

What would you do in my bposition/b?”

see my ex–l

-lover knowing how hurt and pissed it would make my current

“Nothing.” She answered tly. “Because I would never go see m bTover/b.”

Her tone was nonchnt, it was maddening.

6.29 AM P

b“/bbTalia/b.” I groaned, ring at the space in front of me bas /bif bshe /bwere sitting there.

“Fine,” She sighed. “I don’t know why I’m the one doing damage control for damage yo

created.”

0

I could feel her rolling her eyes through the phone.

“I owe you one.” A wide grin spread across my face despite everything.

“Firstly, you owe me plenty. Secondly, wipe that silly grin off your face.”

How the hell did she know I was grinning?

I grinned wider.

“Fine. Just help me this once.” I pleaded.

Talia let out a dramatic sigh on the other end of the line, as if preparing herself for something she hadn’t signed up for.

Okay, listen, because I’m only going to say this once,” She began. “You’ve poked the bear, Alina. Your Fiancee’s ego is bruised and his pride is wounded, his temper is hanging by duct tape and delusion at this point.”

Yikes ‘So what do I do?”

“You don’t just do Ally. You feel. You stand there and you mean every bdamn /bword you’re going to say to him. No attitude. No games. No sarcasm. You hurt him, you have to own it.”

I was quiet, letting her words sink in.

You don’t need to exin yourself yet, not while he’s tense. The man just about tore a guard’s fingers off with pliers. He is hardly in the mood for logic. What he needs–what he’s dying for–is to be assured that he matters to you, despite Adrian.

I swallowed hard. “But he is.”

Then show him. Use your words, your eyes, your silence–whatever you have left. But for once in your life, bAlina/b, be vulnerable.”