Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lucifer
Her warmth, her scent, her heartbeat—all of it right here in my arms.
I felt every tremor running through her body. The lily and bay leaf wrapped around me, richer than memory, more real. My wolf let out a low whine deep inside, satisfaction surging from my bones, threatening to melt me from the inside out.
Five years.
Five years I'd thought about her every single day. Her scent. Her touch. How she felt in my arms.
And now she was here.
I didn't go all the way—I knew she wasn't ready to accept me yet—but my fingers tightened, drawing her closer. Her breath spilled across my neck, warm and quick. I lowered my head, released her lips, pressed my forehead to hers, and closed my eyes.
"Elena..."
She bit me hard, and it only made me want her more. I pulled back to look at her.
My wolf lay beside that warmth, tail swaying slowly behind him. He was purring with contentment, like a beast that had finally found home.
Mate.
We found our mate.
I kissed her forehead, then between her brows, then the tip of her nose. Her lashes fluttered. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something, then swallowed it back.
"Don't talk." My voice came out rough. "Just let me hold you."
She didn't move.
I buried my face in the curve of her neck and breathed deep. Lily and bay leaf flooded my lungs, mingling with my own scent. I felt her pulse jump beneath my lips, fast and urgent.
This was enough.
Even if she wouldn't forgive me yet. Even if she was still fighting this. She was in my arms. She hadn't pushed me away. Her body was responding to mine.
This was enough—
A phone rang.
Elena's body went rigid.
The ringtone kept going, sharp and piercing from inside her bag. She shoved me back hard. I stumbled a step, watched her bend down to grab her bag and fish out her phone.
She glanced at the screen. Her face changed.
"Hello?" She answered, voice shaking. "Anya?"
I stood there, watching her.
Her hair was messed up, lips swollen, cheeks flushed in a way that wasn't normal. She turned away from me, fingers clutching the phone tight.
"Mommy's coming home soon," she said, voice steadier now. "Be good for Amy, okay? Mommy will be there soon."
She hung up and shoved the phone back in her bag. Then she took a deep breath and turned around.
Those amber eyes looked at me, emotions locked away again. She straightened her coat and smoothed her hair. She was back to being that calm, distant Elena.
"I have to go," she said.
I stepped forward. "Elena—"
She stepped back and pulled the door open.
"Wait." I caught her hand. She tugged once but didn't break free. I stared at her face, my gray eyes locked on hers.
"Will you give me a chance?" I asked, voice tight.
She bit her lower lip. Said nothing.
"Elena," I gripped her hand tighter, "please."
She yanked her hand away and walked out.
The door closed behind her.
I stood in the private room, staring at that closed door. Her scent still hung in the air—lily and bay leaf, mixed with something I couldn't quite name. Something intimate.
My wolf stirred inside me, tail still wagging.
She hadn't said yes.
But she hadn't said no either.
The corner of my mouth tugged up.
She hadn't said no.
By the time I got home, it was completely dark.
I pushed the door open. The living room lights were on. Liam stood in the hallway, face thunderous. When he saw me, his eyes went cold.
"You're back," he said, barely containing his rage.
"What happened?" I walked in and glanced at the living room. Broken porcelain littered the floor. Looked like a vase.
"Lina went into that room," Liam said, voice dropping lower, but the anger spilling out anyway, unstoppable. "She broke the vase in there."
That room.
The room Elena had lived in.
My hands balled into fists.
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs." Liam shot me a look. "I had the maid clean it up."
I nodded. "Go to your room."
"I don't want to see her," Liam said, voice dripping with disgust. "Why is she still here? Why won't she leave?"
"Liam—"
"Forget it." He cut me off and turned toward the stairs. "You won't kick her out anyway. You always take her side."
His footsteps pounded up the stairs, each one heavy with fury. Then his bedroom door slammed shut with a bang.
I stood in the living room, staring at the broken pieces on the floor.
Footsteps came down the stairs. Lina appeared, holding a handkerchief, eyes red-rimmed.
"Lucifer..." Her voice caught. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just trying to clean that room, and I accidentally knocked over the vase..."
I didn't say anything. Just looked at her.
She walked up to me, biting her lip. "Liam's so angry. He said awful things. I know he doesn't like me, but I really didn't mean to..."
"Why did you go in that room?" I cut her off.
Lina froze. "I-I was just cleaning—"
"That room gets cleaned regularly," I said coldly. "You didn't need to go in there."
Her face paled. "I just..."
"Where were you tonight?" She suddenly changed subjects, voice trembling. "Lucifer, where did you go tonight?"
I looked at her. Didn't answer.
"Is..." She bit her lip. "Is Elena back?"
My fingers tightened.
"I saw the business news," Lina continued, voice getting more frantic. "Windsor Fragrances is opening a branch in Silver pine. That's her store, isn't it? She's back."
Still, I said nothing.
"Lucifer, you've changed," Lina said, tears starting to fall. "You're getting colder to me. You won't let me near you, won't let me take care of you, won't even let me look after Liam anymore. Why?"
"Because I've always loved her," I said, each word crystal clear.
Lina went completely still.
"I've always been clear about that." I stepped forward. "Lina, I don't have those feelings for you. I never did."
"But—"
"I've made arrangements for you," I interrupted. "There's a house on the north side, registered in your name. And money. Enough for you to live on."
Lina's face went white. "You... you're kicking me out?"
"Not kicking you out," I said. "But it's not right for you to stay here. Liam doesn't like you, and I need space."
"But I have nowhere else to go!" Her voice rose. "Lucifer, the Hale family took me in. This is my home—"
"This was never your home."
When those words left my mouth, Lina reeled back like she'd been struck.
"You're doing this for her?" She stared at me, eyes full of disbelief. "For Elena, you're throwing me out? But she hurt Liam! She's a liar! She—"
"Enough."
My voice turned cold, laced with Alpha pressure. Lina's words stuck in her throat.
"Elena never hurt Liam," I said, each word grinding out. "She saved him. I was the one who got it wrong."
Lina stared at me, lips trembling.
"You have three days," I said, turning toward the stairs. "Three days, then you move out."
"Lucifer—"
I didn't look back.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard her crying behind me. That choked, desperate sound, like she'd lost everything.
But I didn't stop.
I'd always been clear. I didn't have those feelings for her. She just refused to believe it.
And now, I was getting Elena back.
I couldn't let Lina stay here and let Elena misunderstand. Couldn't let Liam keep hating what he saw.
I stopped at Liam's door and knocked.
"Go away."
"Liam, it's me."
Silence for a few seconds. Then the door cracked open. Liam stood there, anger still written across his face.
"What?"
"Lina's moving out," I said. "In three days."
Liam's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
"Really."
He looked at me, those gray eyes—the exact same gray as mine—flickering with something.
"What about..." He bit his lip. "What about my mom?"
My heart clenched.
"I'm working on it," I said quietly. "Liam, I'm going to win her back."
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he nodded, stepped back, and quietly closed the door.
I stood outside, hand resting on the door frame. This time, no matter what, I wasn't letting go.