CHAPTER 156: NOT SOMEONE SHE CAN TRUST

"Got the chance for?" Lucien arched his eyebrows. "It’s not like I would ever let you go. I told you that in the past my motive toward you was different, but now it’s completely different. You also know this, Leia."

Leia lowered her gaze and only listened to him.

"Why are you making me do something which both of us will hate? For me, your safety is most important. Whether you like it or not, I’m marking you now," Lucien said, his head buried in her neck.

"Lucien, I-I wanted... Mmph..." Leia’s mind shut as she was captivated by the pheromones of Lucien. She felt his teeth on her skin, making her pulse quicken.

Just then, the door opened and Kieran walked in.

"Lucien," Kieran called out, but paused seeing them in such an intimate position. His hold on the tray tightened when Leia gently pushed away Lucien.

"Why did you come inside without knocking?" he growled, turning his head to Kieran.

"Jennifer sent medicine for Leia. That’s why I brought it here. But what were you doing? Leia is injured, for God’s sake," Kieran stated, walking close to the bed.

"I was marking her," Lucien replied. "She always gets hurt when I am away. One of us must get informed at least when she falls into danger."

"But Leia won’t want your mark with force," Kieran said, turning to look at Lucien. "Look at her. She already is so pale and confused about everything. Why do you have to scare her more? If she has to get the mark, then she will do it willingly," he asserted.

"You two shouldn’t argue because of me," Leia finally said. "Kieran, this time your brother has the right to get angry on me. I did a blunder," she added.

"That doesn’t mean he should force a mark on you," Kieran said, glaring at Lucien.

"Then, what am I supposed to do? Do you even know how sharp that hunter is? She’s been planning to harm Leia for a long time. Leia needs protection. A real one. And the only way is getting her mate’s mark," Lucien argued, his voice rising in anger.

"Let her decide about the mark after she recovers. Don’t force her," Kieran said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Go downstairs, Lucien. Cool your head. I’ll give her the medicine."

Lucien was reluctant to leave. Every instinct screamed at him to stay, to guard Leia, to never let her out of his sight again. Yet beneath his anger, a heavier weight pressed on him, doubt. The recent attacks, one after another, gnawed at his confidence as an alpha. Was he failing to protect what mattered most?

Reluctantly, without another word, he turned and walked out. The door shut behind him with a muted thud.

"Thank you," Leia whispered, her voice soft but sincere as she glanced at Kieran. He nodded, setting the tray down and lifting the small bowl of medicine with steady hands.

"Lucien is aggressive at the moment. He was quite pissed when he found out Ronan made such a huge blunder," Kieran stated.

"I was a part of it. In fact..."

"Leia, that doesn’t matter. Ronan is a skilled warrior, an alpha by blood. He has led many battles, yet he couldn’t recognize a hunter. That’s what is infuriating Lucien more," Kieran explained to her.

Leia furrowed her brows together in worry.

"Here, you’ve to drink this. It will help your wound to heal at a faster rate," he advised, forwarding the bowl to her.

She hummed and took the bowl from him.

As Leia swallowed the bitter medicine, her face scrunched in displeasure and she stuck out her tongue. Kieran chuckled softly and slipped a sweet candy onto it.

"Mom used to give me one every time I had to take bitter medicine," he said with a smile.

Leia’s lips curved into a smile as the sweetness replaced the bitterness. She chewed slowly, savoring the taste, but her mind kept drifting back to her earlier confrontation with Lucien.

’I don’t know what’s stopping me from accepting his mark,’ she thought, guilt flickering in her chest. ’It’s not just him. Kieran, and Ronan... all three are my mates. My heart knows they’ll never betray me. They’ve already started to feel like family, closer to me than anyone else has ever been. So why do I keep hesitating?’

Her gaze fell on Kieran, who sat close, watching her with quiet concern. A soft warmth filled her heart. ’Maybe it’s time I prepare myself. Maybe it’s time I stop holding back... and accept their marks.’

~~~

Lucien struck the lighter, the tiny flame casting a brief glow he snapped it shut and slid it into his shirt pocket. He drew in a deep breath of smoke, the cigarette resting between his fingers, and exhaled slowly, letting pale wisps curl that dissolved into the night air.

"Lucien, are you free?" a soft voice called from behind.

He turned, his expression shadowed, the cigarette dangling loosely as he released another smoky puff. "Hmm. You didn’t leave," he said flatly, his tone laced with mild surprise.

Jennifer stepped forward, her eyes searching his face. "I was going to," she admitted. "But... I wanted to see you."

"Speak," Lucien said.

Jennifer crossed her arms while keeping her sharp glare at him. "Come on! We studied together, went to the same college. Why are you acting like we’re strangers now?"

"You’re getting me wrong," Lucien replied, lifting the cigarette to his lips again.

Before he could inhale, Jennifer closed the gap between them and tugged the cigarette from his mouth. "You always smoke when you’re like this," she said firmly. "I know things are stressful right now, but poisoning yourself isn’t the way to deal with it. Calm yourself first instead of hiding behind this."

Lucien’s jaw tightened. He stepped forward, snatching the cigarette back, and then retreated a few steps to put distance between them. He drew in a breath of smoke before speaking, his eyes narrowing on her. "And it calms me down. That’s all that matters. Now, what do you have to say to me?"

"Why haven’t you or your brothers marked Leia yet?" Jennifer demanded, her tone sharp but laced with curiosity. "Everyone in the pack whispers that she’s your mate. Then why hasn’t she been marked? What happened today could’ve been avoided if even one of you had done it."

Lucien exhaled a slow breath of smoke, his eyes hard. "Because she doesn’t love me yet," he admitted. "Or my brothers. That’s what she tells me every time I bring it up. She says she wants to confess her feelings first, so I should wait until then. But I don’t know how much longer I can wait."

Jennifer tilted her head, studying him. "So... Leia doesn’t like any of you?"

"She does," Lucien said quickly, his voice quieter this time. His gaze dropped, shadowed with frustration. "It’s complicated."

"I hope you make her agree to it," Jennifer said firmly. "This is the third time she’s been attacked like this. Maybe she’s simply irritated with your bad habits like smoking, that’s why she’s reluctant to take your mark."

Lucien gave a low chuckle, glancing at the cigarette between his fingers. For a fleeting moment, he remembered the promise he once made to himself never to touch one again. Yet here he was, breaking that vow today.

"The recent attacks on the pack..." his voice grew heavy, almost bitter, "they only expose my weakness as an Alpha. This never happened before. My brothers have been attacked, my mate has been attacked, and the cycle just keeps repeating. I don’t know what’s gone wrong, but suddenly everything is falling apart."

"Lucien," Jennifer’s tone softened, "such things aren’t new for any pack. Yes, the attacks have become frequent, but that doesn’t make you an incapable Alpha. No one controls the future. Some days are darker than others, but it doesn’t mean the light is gone."

Her gaze flickered to the cigarette at his lips. He was smoking again, and she knew what that meant. Every drag wasn’t for pleasure. It was when his mind was sinking deep into thought, burdened by the weight of everything he refused to say aloud.

"I heard about your grandmother too. I hope she can be saved," Jennifer said gently. "You’re not alone in any of this. Remember, the entire pack stands with you." She gave him one last glance, her eyes lingering as if she wanted to say more, then added, "Rest well, and I truly hope you stop smoking."

With that, she pivoted on her heels and disappeared from his sight.

Once the ember burned low, Lucien crushed the cigarette into the ashtray sitting on the garden table. He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair before letting it rest at the back of his head.

’A lot is happening all at once. Attacks from every direction: enigmas, hybrids, hunters, even witches. It’s like the world itself is testing me. Maybe I drowned too deeply in the idea of having a mate, too eager to claim Leia as mine. In that hunger, I forgot my responsibilities. I wanted her to see me as her protector... yet in her eyes, I’m still not someone she can trust.’