Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Lucifer
You've been smiling. My wolf's voice cut through my thoughts.
"Have I?" I froze, instinctively denying it. "No, I haven't."
Sunlight leaked through the blinds, carving thin stripes across the desk. Dust drifted in the beams. I sat in my study, files open in front of me. Hadn't read a single word. My mind kept circling back to Elena.
"You have. You've been sitting there staring at the light with your mouth curved up." My wolf called me out without mercy. "And you've stayed with her five straight days, no matter how busy you were."
I flipped a page. Tapped my fingers on the desk edge.
"That's just because she saved Liam."
"Oh." My wolf drew out the syllable. "I see. You're just repaying a debt. Repaying it so hard you practically threw yourself at her the second she woke up. Whether she noticed or not, I don't know, but I'm your wolf—in that moment, you almost cried."
I said nothing.
Because I couldn't argue.
When that knife went through Elena's body, something in my brain snapped. Panic. Terror. Emotions I hadn't felt in years flooded my body and mind, then drained away just as fast, leaving nothing but emptiness.
I held her. So much blood from her abdomen. Eyes closed, leaning against me. Her breathing getting weaker. Only one thought in my head.
She's going to die.
Die meant she'd leave me. Forever.
When the healer was working on her, I stood to the side. Liam clutched my sleeve, his voice breaking. "Is she gonna die?"
I crouched down, pulled him close, and tried to soothe him. "No, she won't die. We have the best healer on the entire Moonfall Continent." Even as I said it, my heart kept sinking.
I realized—I didn't want her to leave.
I wanted her near me.
It was strange. She'd barely just married in, and already I cared this much.
I'd gotten irritated when she ignored me, so much so that at the banquet I couldn't help asking her—when had I ever humbled myself like that?
Especially in front of a woman. I'd fallen apart when she got hurt, kept vigil while she was unconscious, and finally, when she woke, held her so tight I nearly wept with relief.
She'd taken control of every emotion I had.
My wolf stayed quiet. In the study's silence, I gradually admitted—had to admit—I could no longer treat her like a piece of furniture. She had some special pull on me, made me want to get closer, want to kiss her, want to have her.
But she wasn't my mate.
"Lina's not either, but you're way colder to Lina than you are to her," my wolf said flatly.
"You don't hate Elena either," I said.
My wolf didn't hesitate. "No. She puts me at ease. Lina—I hate her. That's all." Then it curled up and went silent. Always did that. Said something that made me think, then ignored me.
"Lucifer." Someone knocked. Lina.
She opened the door, movements and tone both careful.
Her eyes searched my face, looking for something.
I could see the caution in them—she was reading my expression, trying to figure out if I still cared about her.
I leaned back in my chair. Said nothing.
She waited, then slid her hand across the desk, pushing her teacup forward with a soft scrape.
"Lucifer... about that night. I've been wanting to explain."
I didn't speak.
"I was so scared." Her voice softened, dropped low with a tremor. "When the knife came at us, I froze completely. I didn't think he'd go after Liam... I haven't been able to sleep thinking about it. I raised Liam. How could I possibly—"
I cut her off. "Lina, don't."
Lina's mouth closed. Hurt flashed across her face. She swayed like she might collapse from the pain. "Lucifer... why are you being so cold?"
I didn't want to explain. The reason was simple—I'd started questioning how much her feelings really weighed. Yes, she'd taken care of Liam for five years. Yes, it was hard. But Elena had barely arrived, Liam had actively hated her, and yet she'd still thrown herself in front of that knife for him.
I knew I couldn't demand she sacrifice herself for Liam. But still. It left a knot in my chest.
Lina looked at me, eyes reddening. I saw that familiar fragility, the way she stood there wringing her hands like someone awaiting judgment, like I'd wounded her deeply.
I took a breath and changed the subject. "Where's Liam?"
Lina's tone brightened instantly. "In the garden. Let's go see him. I... haven't seen Liam in a while either." Suddenly she looked forlorn again, tears pooling. "Liam's been distant with me."
I didn't want to see her like this. I was tired of consoling her.
"Let's go."
I stood, walked around the desk toward the door. Lina followed, heels clicking on stone. When I pushed open the garden side door, sunlight hit my face, warm and thick. The smell of sun-baked grass filled the air.
"You apologize to Liam right now!"
Even from a distance, I heard Elena's voice.
Elena stood in the middle of the garden, back to me. Three kids in little noble uniforms faced her. I recognized them—children of nobles, probably here because their fathers were paying taxes. They were half a head taller than Liam, huddled together.
The kids exchanged glances. None dared speak. Liam pressed into Elena's side, small hand gripping her skirt, face hidden against her waist. He never hid behind anyone. Except Lina.
Grass stains marked Elena's hem. Her back was rigid, but she bent slightly forward—her wound still hadn't healed.
"What's going on here?"
I walked up beside Elena, steadied her, and barked at the kids.
All three looked up, saw me, and went pale. Elena turned. When she saw me, her eyes lit up for a moment. "They said some things," she said.
"What things?" I stared coldly at the children.
Elena paused, covered Liam's ears reflexively, and lowered her voice. "They said... Liam doesn't have a mother. That he's some kid from nowhere."
Her gesture tugged at something in my chest. Even now, Elena was protecting Liam's feelings. Her words were gentle—I knew what those kids actually said was far worse.
Lina came around from behind me, bent down, and reached for Liam. Her voice dripped with sweetness. "Liam, come to Lina."
Liam didn't move. He clutched Elena's skirt, knuckles white, lips pressed tight, shoulders trembling slightly. He didn't look at Lina. Lina's hand hung in midair before she pulled it back.
I looked at Liam's flushed face, at his fingers refusing to let go of Elena's skirt, at the expressions those three kids hadn't quite wiped clean.
I understood everything. Gossip about Liam's origins had never stopped circulating among Silver pine nobles—just not openly.
But I hadn't expected these children to be bolder than their parents.
"How dare you?"
The three kids kept their heads down, trembling, silent.
"The Silver pine King's child," my voice stayed level, but carried the natural weight of an Alpha, "is not for you to discuss."
The kids looked ready to cry. Then one lifted his head and pointed at Elena behind me. "It was her! She told us to say it! She taught us those songs!"
Like a button had been pressed, the other two started yelling too.
"Yeah! She taught us!"
"It was her—"
I glanced sideways. Elena held Liam's shoulder, fingers tightening then releasing. She didn't explain. Just looked at me, tension and... hope in her eyes.
She was waiting for me.
"My God," Lina covered her mouth. "Elena, how could you? Liam, come here, let me check if you're hurt." She tried to pull Liam, but he twisted away.
I ignored Lina and faced the three kids. Gave a cold laugh. "Her?"
"She nearly died saving Liam." My tone stayed calm, but anger burned hotter inside. "She almost took that knife through the heart. You think she'd turn around and humiliate him?"
The kids stood there speechless.
"Do you know who she is?"
The children stared silently.
"She's Reserpine's Luna." My voice didn't rise, each word deliberate. "You're standing in front of me, pointing at my wife, saying she's hurting my son?"
My wife.
The instant those words left my mouth, from the corner of my eye I saw Elena's eyes go wide. Something warm flooded through me. The phrase had slipped out so naturally—like it was meant to be.
The garden went dead silent. The three kids looked at each other, faces white.
The boldest one choked out "Sorry, Luna," nearly crying.
The others echoed him. But Elena crouched down, pulled Liam from behind her, gripped his shoulders, and turned him toward the three children.
She didn't speak for him. Didn't defend herself.
Just held his shoulders and made him stand in the sunlight.
"Who should you be apologizing to?" Elena's voice was ice.
The kids lowered their heads, one by one saying to Liam, "Sorry." The timid one was already crying.
"You can go." I stared at them, moved to Liam's other side—flanking him with Elena, becoming his support together. "I'll be speaking with your fathers. They'll teach you some manners."
The kids bowed and ran off, footsteps quickly fading behind the hedges. Elena's back suddenly went soft. I caught her as she fell into me. Lina turned to look at me.
"You're not healed yet," I said, chest tight. "Why'd you come out here?"
"I wanted some air," Elena said quietly. Liam held her hand.
Sunlight came from behind her. She looked smaller than she had days ago—I hadn't noticed when she was lying in bed those five days, but now that she was standing, I could wrap my arms completely around her.
I bent and lifted her without hesitation. She weighed less than I expected—light enough to make something in my chest clench.
"You've lost weight," I said, thinking of before the Grays took her back, when she'd been working odd jobs. She must have suffered a lot.
"I—" Elena tried to get down. "I can walk."
I frowned. "Stop talking." Her body was so soft. I wanted to hold her.
Elena went still in my arms, stopped struggling. Her fingers rested on my shoulder, cool through the fabric. I watched her ears turn red and couldn't help smiling.
"We're going back. You need rest."
"I wanna come too."
Liam spoke up suddenly.
I looked down. He stared up at me, lashes still damp. He glanced at me, then at Elena. His small hand gripped her finger tightly.
"Lucifer—" Lina came over and forced a smile. "You take Luna to rest. I'll look after Liam."
She reached for Liam.
But Liam pulled away. "I wanna come too." He repeated it, this time gripping Elena with both hands. Today he'd avoided Lina three times.
Lina stared at her empty fingers. Her smile finally cracked, froze, then dissolved.
"Lina," I said, "in that case, go rest."
I carried Elena toward the exit. Liam followed closely. Lina didn't chase us. She just stood there, watching us leave.