CHAPTER 122: COAXING HER TO SURRENDER

Ronan caught a family of rogues, who injured some of the warriors while being chased.

"Sir, we were being thrown out of our pack. In search of food and shelter, we ended up entering your territory. I’ve a young boy. Please let him live here at least in your shelter home," the man said.

Ronan glanced at the boy in the arms of his mother. The boy looked no more than five years old. His face was pale and it seemed he hadn’t eaten in days.

Draven looked at Ronan as the decision was in his hands.

"I don’t think we should let them stay here. We are already burdened by many such rogues. If we keep doing this, then it can affect the pack’s finances too," he suggested.

"We will work here. Please for the sake of my child, accept us. If you want to punish me for breaking in, then I am willing to take it, Sir. But please spare my child and mate," the man pleaded.

"Send them to the shelter home," Ronan ordered.

"Thank you, Sir. We will never forget what you’ve done for us. We will stay forever grateful to you," the man, along with his mate, bowed to Ronan multiple times before they were taken away.

Draven turned to look at Ronan.

"I didn’t expect you to do that. Many such rogues had come in the past, too, to take shelter here. Did you not see what happened a few days ago? We let those rogues inside, not realizing they could be spies," Draven stated, feeling confused at Ronan’s decision.

"I will take the responsibility if any such thing happens. However, I know they aren’t traitors. They merely want to survive. Covered in debts, they were banished from their pack. The poor boy in his mother’s arms had no fault for growing up in such a miserable situation. That’s why I allowed them to live here," Ronan explained.

Then, a smile formed on his lips. "Besides Leia is planning to build two more shelter homes. She’s the pack development coordinator," he asserted.

Draven nodded at him. "I will keep a watchful eye on them for some time." With that, he turned around and left.

Ronan took out the car keys from the desk and left for the mansion. As he sat inside the car, the thought of Leia struck in her mind.

Taking out the phone from the pocket of his coat, he dialed Leia’s number. After a few rings, she answered the call while giggling.

"Why are you laughing?" Ronan asked.

"Nothing. I did some doodling on Lucien’s face while he was sleeping. I’ll send you his pic. He looked like an angry bird," Leia said, still laughing.

"How’s Lucien doing? In the morning, he looked pissed," Ronan said.

"He’s fine," Leia replied, gazing at Lucien, who was wiping the ink from his face. "We are not in the mansion. Maybe we will return a day after tomorrow. Hope you and Kieran don’t miss me too much," she affirmed.

"Well, we will miss you. But it’s good that you’re giving him time," Ronan replied.

Leia was quite surprised hearing that. Ronan, too, understood his brother more than she had expected him to.

"I’m heading home. Take care," said Ronan and hung up the call.

Leia lowered the phone on the bed before sending him Lucien’s doodled face.

"You’re a naughty girl, Leia." Lucien finally turned to her, lowering the towel. Running his other hand’s fingers through his hair, he continued, "You should be happy that I like you. That’s why I allowed this to happen to my face."

"I know," Leia smirked, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Because you like me, I’m going to bully you even more."

"Bully me?" Lucien echoed with a short laugh, tossing the towel onto the chair as he walked toward her.

Leia instinctively backed up on the bed, bracing herself on her elbows as he climbed up after her.

"Aren’t you hungry?" she asked, trying to distract him. "Let’s cook something together."

Lucien’s hand landed on one of her thighs, halting her retreat and keeping her right where he wanted. "Oh, I am hungry," he murmured with a devilish grin. "But I need *you* to satisfy it."

His hand trailed upward, fingertips grazing her inner thigh, until she caught his wrist, stopping him just before he reached the heat of his desire.

Their eyes locked. Hers, daring. His, darkened with mischief and longing.

"Keep your hunger inside," Leia said.

"Leia," Lucien murmured, brushing the space between them. "What if I make you beg me to touch you? That day will come... and I know it’s not far."

Leia met his intense gaze without flinching. "I’m not that easy to please," she said, her lips curving into a confident smirk. "I slipped once when I was in my heat. But don’t mistake that for weakness. I won’t bow to an Alpha. I don’t need to beg."

Lucien’s eyes darkened with a hunger that bordered on reverence. "Then I’ll make you crave it," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

’What’s this? Even his gaze on me makes me feel strange. My stomach... It feels like twisting,’ she thought.

"Let’s go and cook then," Lucien said, moving away. He got down from the bed first while Leia took a breath of relief. For a moment, she felt Lucien wouldn’t budge easily. And she would have easily give in to his touch and scent too.

She followed Lucien downstairs to the small kitchen.

"What will we be preparing? I’m not great at cooking, but I think I can learn from you, and maybe even help," Lucien said as he opened the refrigerator, scanning its contents.

Leia stepped beside him. "What about chili-glazed meatballs and garlic butter pasta?"

Lucien glanced down at her with a nod. "Sounds perfect. You really know how to tempt a hungry wolf."

She smirked and began gathering ingredients while Lucien rolled up his sleeves. Soon, he was attempting to chop the vegetables, but the onion fought back, slipping under the blade as his brows furrowed in frustration.

Leia, noticing his struggle, gently took the knife from him. "See, this is how you do it. Don’t be scared of the knife," she said, guiding his hand. "Just hold the onion steady from this side, and let the blade do the work."

Lucien made a noncommittal hum, but he wasn’t watching the onion anymore. His eyes had drifted, fixated instead on Leia’s concentrated expression, the soft movement of her lips as she explained, and the glow of her skin in the kitchen light.

"Did you get it?" she asked, lifting her head.

Their eyes met. Leia’s breath hitched, her words dying mid-air as she realized how intently he had been staring at her, not at her hands, but at her.

Lucien closed the gap between their lips and kissed her. She instantly shut her eyes, welcoming his warm lips. The knife in her hand faltered, but he caught it, resting it on the chopping board. His hand moved to her waist, inching lower enough to tease her.

Their mouths parted, only to meet again with greater urgency. As their tongues tangled in a deep kiss, their wolves rejoiced silently in the background, excited by the connection they were forming.

Lucien leaned back against the kitchen counter, drawing Leia between his legs. His hands slipped beneath the hem of her top, his fingertips brushing her skin with reverent ease.

’What am I even doing?’ Leia thought, her breath catching. But even as her mind questioned, her body responded, her hands snaking around his neck, pulling him closer. The invisible thread of their bond tugged at her senses, coaxing her to surrender, to stop thinking and feel instead.

Lucien was the one to pull away first, but not entirely. His lips trailed along her jaw before latching onto the sensitive curve of her neck. He tilted her head gently, exposing more of her skin, and his mouth found the spot that made her gasp.

A soft moan escaped her lips when his other hand moved over her top, fingers lightly caressing the curve of her breast through the fabric. Her chest heaved, the sensation making her knees buckle.

He grinned against her neck, his lips brushing hot over her skin. "You’re burning up," he whispered. "You want to feel pleasure, don’t you, Leia?"

Leia could hardly argue. Her body felt like fire, every brush of his fingers leaving embers in its wake. And yet, somewhere deep within her, a part still fought to hold on, to not completely give in.

Lucien looked at her for a brief moment before lifting her top this time.

"Wait!" Leia pulled it down, breathing hard. "We were in the middle of the cooking. You’re just distracting me. You should simply sit outside. Once dinner be ready, I-I will tell you." She tried to step away, but his hold on her wrist stopped her.

"Why do you deny it? What is your fear? Come to think about it, you never openly discussed. We can have our dinner later, but I want to know why you resist this?" Lucien asked, peering into her eyes.