b109 /bAfter

bMara /b

I woke in the middle of the night, Lucian still on top of me, his body warm and heavy, his ck still nestled inside me. I shifted slightly, just enough to getfortable–but the movement stirred him. He woke, blinking slowly, and rolled off me with a soft groan.

He sat up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face, and I slipped off to the bathroom.

When I returned, he was sitting at the edge of the bed, wearing only a pair of ck shorts. He smiled when he saw me and despite everything we’d just shared, I felt a little shy.

He watched me quietly for a moment before asking, “How did it feel? Watching his face drop like thatb?/b”

I gave him a faint smile, not proud, but not regretful either.

“He must’ve pushed you,” Lucian said gently.

I nodded, and he reached for me.

I crawled into hisp and curled against him, resting my head beneath his chin.

“Now he knows,” Lucian murmured, his hand stroking my back. “You’re not a pushover.”

I expected frustration or concern. Instead, he sounded proud. Solid. Like he was right behind me, even now.

He kissed the top of my head.

“I have to tell you, Mara… itnded him in the hospital. That’s how I found out. Lacy med you, said you

caused it. But I know you didn’t just tell him to start a war.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. I just nodded again, my body still heavy from everything.

He held me a little tighter.

“Let me get us something to eat,” he said. “You’ve got to be drained.”

I gave him a soft smile and leaned back against the pillows as he slipped out of bed.

He returned twenty minutester, tray in hand–stacked sandwiches, two juice packs, and that look in his

eyes that always made my chest warm.

I didn’t wait. I grabbed a sandwich and took a bite before he even sat down.

Lucianughed quietly as he set the tray between us.

“No shame, huh?”

I smiled through a mouthful. “None.

And just like that, the tension eased.

“Mind sharing how it went?” Lucian asked, finally breaking the silence as we neared the end of our midnight

sandwiches.

I set my half–eaten piece down and told him everything–start to finish. The tension, the threats, the moment Alpha Vander crossed a line he never should have. I spared no details.

III

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109 After

Lucian didn’t interrupt. But I felt the shift in him–jaw tightening, shoulders stiffening.

“I can’t believe he said that to you,” he muttered, voice low and sharp. “Mara… I’m sorry.”

I shook my head gently. “I doubt he’ll threaten me like that again.”

His eyes were still stormy.

“I’m tired of people talking about you like you’re property. Like you were ibought/i. Your parents didn’t sell you. They were iforced /iinto an impossible choice. Yes, my father gave them money, but that wasn’t ba /btransaction- it was coercion. They didn’t have a choice.”

It clearly still haunted him. The legacy he didn’t choose but was now bound to.

I reached for his hand. “It’s okay, Lucian. Purchased or not, we’re in love. And no matter how it started, what we have now? It’s real. It’s rare. It’s iours/i.i” /i

He looked at me, something softening in his expression as I leaned forward and kissed him.

Trying to lighten the mood, I asked, “So… how was your day?”

He exhaled, some of the tension melting off his shoulders.

“Not as entertaining as yours, that’s for sure,” he said with a dry smirk. “But we have to go to the mansion

tomorrow.”

I groaned.

“It’s about your usations against Martha,” he continued. “I’ve already had Mary send over a copy of her statement. There’s no point arguing with her in person–we’ll walk in with the facts.”

“I wanted to handle it alone,” I murmured, already feeling the familiar dread rise.

“I know. But my father’s demanding that we both be there.”

I sighed, slumping back against the headboard.

“I wish we never had to step foot in that ce again.”

Lucian reached out and pulled me closer, wrapping his arm iaround /imy shoulders.

“One day, we won’t have to,” he said. “But tomorrow… we finish what you started.”

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b710 /b

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