Chapter 18 Lucien #2
“We have an accord. Prepare yourself in whatever way you deem necessary, and be on the beach one hour before sunset with your representative.”
“We’ll be there,” Kane said, the finality in his tone ringing through the room like a clarion call to war.
“Lucien! Lucien, please reconsider. You shouldn’t accept this challenge.” We were barely outside Asithius’s door when Olivia grabbed my arm, dragging me to a stop, sheer panic written across her features.
“Hellcat, that’s not an option. You heard Asithius. The champion chose me. I’m the one.”
“You can’t. It’s too soon after your trauma—your wounds haven’t fully healed yet.”
“You don’t think I’m capable?” The words were sharp, though I tried belatedly to soften them. It felt like she was questioning my abilities as a mate, not just in this challenge. If she thought I wasn’t capable of protecting her, what were we doing here?
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” She cast a glance at the pack who’d gathered around us in a ring, silently watching our fledgling relationship hit another massive iceberg. Her cheeks flushed, but she kept on doggedly. “You’re extremely capable. But as a healer, I can’t recommend it.”
“I understand. But as an alpha of this pack, I can’t reject the challenge.
” I took a step closer, gripping her elbows lightly, searching her face as I spoke again.
“We need this piece. Not just we the pack, but we as a couple. That mark on your palm means that one day, our child will be an omega. Kane and Brielle need that stone to forge a future in which she’s safe.
In which you’re safe. That’s worth fighting for, and that’s what will bring the rest of the packs to our side for the fight that’s coming. ”
“I’m not going to let you kill yourself for some noble feelings over a child who doesn’t exist yet!”
If she’d slapped me across the face, it would have been less shocking. Less painful.
“So you think I’ll lose.” I dropped her arms, taking a reflexive step back.
“I-I don’t know. I think you shouldn’t do this at all.”
I shook my head sadly, knowing we were at cross-purposes.
“Then I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong. I’ve committed now, and if I backed out for any reason, the piece would be forfeit.”
“Please,” she begged, taking a step toward me, which I dodged.
“No.” I walked away, back toward our lodgings, where I could strategize with the males in peace before the challenge.
Try to drown out the awful reality that my new mate might be into how I made her feel, but she still didn’t see me as a capable mate and alpha to protect her or our future.
But I didn’t make it five steps before a searing pain in my face brought me to my knees.
A choked grunt left me as I held my scar, bending forward almost until my face was in the grass as I grappled with the agony that was wringing me inside out. It felt like being caught midshift, and it was excruciating.
“Lucien!” Olivia was at my side in an instant, Brielle on my other, cool omega magic flooding me as soon as Bri put her hand on the back of my neck.
But it did nothing to stop the onslaught.
Claws grew from my fingertips, hair sprouted along the backs of my arms as my wolf fought for control, fought for vengeance, even though there were no enemies here for him to attack. It was the broken bond, and nothing I could do would stop it.
I stayed frozen, unable to stop the change. All I could do was exert vicious control over my muscles, force myself to stillness so I couldn’t harm anyone again.
Visions of Olivia’s bloody face haunted me, and I refused to hurt her a second time. Kane knelt in front of me.
“Is the healing power working?” he asked.
I couldn’t answer, but Brielle murmured something too softly for me to hear in response.
“Leave us. Elodie and Galyna, take the females back to our rooms and guard them. I don’t think the centaurs are up to anything shady, but we’re on neutral territory here, not friendly.” Kane’s order resonated with Alpha dominance.
“I don’t want to leave him,” Olivia argued anyway, closing her hand over mine where it was fisted in the grass. “I can help him.”
There was a long pause, but Kane finally agreed. I heard the receding footsteps as the females left, and silence surrounded us once again.
Olivia and Kane stayed there with me on the ground, silent but supportive. Slowly, the pain began to recede, and I regained a measure of control.
As I came back to myself, I felt Kane’s power through the pack bond, strong and steady, radiating into my chest like an anchor. A way to pull myself back to safe harbor.
When the last of the attack had left my system, I sat upright, every corner of my body protesting even the simple movement.
“Thank the Goddess,” Olivia whispered, searching my eyes and apparently pleased with whatever she saw in them. She tried to throw her arms around me, but I stopped her, hands on her shoulders. “You should go. Let Gael take you to wait with the other women.”
“But you need me. I can help. This is why you can’t accept this challenge.”
“That’s what you don’t understand, hellcat. I’ve already accepted this challenge. And that’s why I need you to go.” I stroked her cheek once with my thumb, then turned and gestured for Gael.
“Come on, Olivia. I know the others are worried. Leigh is frantic in our bond.” Gael tapped his chest, no doubt where he felt his mate’s emotions. When he gently took her by the hand, I couldn’t meet her accusing gaze as he pulled her away.
If this was the last time I ever saw her, I didn’t want to remember her looking at me like that.